USCG: Can anyone identify and decipher this unit/transmission?

[devicelab]

I've been tracking an unknown USCG channel in the area for a long time. Transmissions are rare and 99% encrypted. Probably once per year, I get one or two brief recordings of them in the clear. On 12/8 at about 8pm local time, there were several. Sadly, I can't even identify where this is coming from exactly so the signal decode is often wonky at best. Frequency is 413.2 which I believe maps to NET 418.

One point: of the very few clear recordings I've heard, they all have "drill" in them... so make of that what you will...

Here's one really good recording... can any former USCG identify this unit/location, etc..? The other recordings are not useful or are of broken decode.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejkbdggu289142a/uscg4132.mp3?raw=1

Here's another recording from just before Thanksgiving 2019:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8wuq17ayg6jgal/413DRILL.mp3?raw=1

 

[hill]

Most likely the local CG Station even though then mostly use the VHF LMR Channels. I am not on the west coast, East Coast.

Sounds like they are doing towing training with two Coast Guard small boats from the station. In the first you can hear them starting to ask questions that would ask of any disable boat when getting ready to tow.

The second one is of two of their boats getting underway you hear the last three numbers of each boat. Also the number of people on it.

Never really did get any station location. A lot of time when their boats are working with the station they won't use the name of station on the radio, since all already no who they are talking with.

It will just be like this. "101 this station"

I don't see that frequency on any online list for the USCG. Going forward I know it's the Coast Guard, but just don't see that frequency listed. Are sure it the correct one?

 

[mmckenna]

I don't see that frequency on any online list for the USCG. Going forward I know it's the Coast Guard, but just don't see that frequency listed. Are sure it the correct one?

Might be a long shot, but based on the location, it ~could~ be interop with the Canadian Coast Guard.
Usually that would be the station out of Bellingham or out on the Olympic Peninsula.

They do cooperate, in fact, the USCG small boats that work in that area often have "POLICE" on the side, since that's how the USCG's law enforcement role is defined in Canada. Having them labeled as such and having the agreements in place allow them to interoperate in Canadian waters.

Based on the infrequency of the traffic, it could be semi-annual training done with Canadian assets.

Maybe see if someone local can compare those boat numbers to what they have at those stations.

 

[hill]

Based on mmkenna comments and looking online I guess it most likely Station Bellingham. I don't know anything about the West Coast Coast Guard, since my 35+ in the Auxiliary have been spent in D5.

I really didn't see anything with boat numbers, but they have a few extra boat types. Like two special purpose law enforcement boats. I know in the past some site online had a list of boat numbers and locations, but can't find on Google or its long gone or way out of date by now.

This really could any type of training with USCG or an outside partner agency. It kind of sounds like training to breakin new crewmembers or coxswains. Going forward I hope more recordings can be made in clear and look forward on be able to hear via radio reference.

 

[devicelab]

Thanks for the help guys. A friend has monitored USCG Sector Puget Sound base closely and it's not coming from there -- we're pretty sure of that. I know USCG has some assets that help with security around Bangor, WA sub pens so that was my first thought -- especially given that they're always in/out of decode range. That waterway is on the western side so it kind of makes sense.

There's also an air station out of Port Angeles, WA on the peninsula. I haven't been able to get over there yet. So it could be like McKenna suggested and be security patrols for the border waterways.

I don't think it's Bellingham -- as that's pretty far north and my outdoor antennas are blocked that direction.

I'm going to have some time off this spring so I'm definitely planning a drive up and around the area to see if I can track this one down.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, they run some special escort craft with the subs. They may drill with towing exercises and similar stuff.

Something up on the Peninsula would make sense. Didn't see Bothell, yeah, you'd be shielded from Station Bellingham pretty well. Station Port Angeles is your likely source, unless it is something out of Seattle in a bad location.

 

[devicelab]

Station Port Angeles is your likely source, unless it is something out of Seattle in a bad location.

I have caught the 413.2 RID on NET 401 so I'm pretty sure it's USCG. Although, the RID is a bit unusual. Our typical Seattle-area RIDs are 58xxxxx and the 413.2 RID is 2100061.