Washington center question ?

[peten1vak]

I'm located in Greenville North Carolina and have a question regarding what I'm hearing on 132.22 or maybe 132.25. I'm using a pro 96 with a discone about 40 ft in the air. Im hearing what I believe is Washington Center. For some reason I cannot find these frequencies in the database. A lot of traffic on these frequencies. I stumbled across it when I was trying to find the RCAG site closest to Greenville North Carolina hoping I might be able to hear the center's transmissions. Does anybody know where these frequencies are out of?

 

[BM82557]

Looks like I have 132.2 as New York Center's site in Harrisburg PA and 132.225 as Washington Center's site in Rocky Mount NC.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Looks like I have 132.2 as New York Center's site in Harrisburg PA and 132.225 as Washington Center's site in Rocky Mount NC.View attachment 181033

Just a note that the Benson RCAG on 132.225/363.225 (FAA information dated 2/20/2025)is at the long-range CARSR radar (N 35 30 40.5 W 78 32 56.5). It is a short distance east of I-40 on NC-210 . though not that close to Raleigh, it is sometime called the Raleigh radar. Some RCAG are at CARSR or the coastal ARSR-4 radars. It is quite distant from Rocky Mount.

 

[BM82557]

Just a note that the Benson RCAG on 132.225/363.225 (FAA information dated 2/20/2025)is at the long-range CARSR radar (N 35 30 40.5 W 78 32 56.5). It is a short distance east of I-40 on NC-210 . though not that close to Raleigh, it is sometime called the Raleigh radar. Some RCAG are at CARSR or the coastal ARSR-4 radars. It is quite distant from Rocky Mount.

Not sure why I have listed in my records as Rocky Mount, I'll update it.

 

[AirScan]

Not sure why I have listed in my records as Rocky Mount, I'll update it.

Previous FAA data (2019-AFF) listed the RCAG site for 132.225 as "Rocky Mount" (N 35 57 28 W 77 55 30). If you look at the latest from Google Earth there is still what looks like an RCAG installation at that location.

The latest copy of the ZDC SOP I have (2023) lists Benson as the BUEC (Backup Emergency Communication) site for 132.225 but for some reason it does not list a Primary RCAG site, like it does for other frequencies. For the "Primary RCAG site" it just lists "none".

So can anyone confirm that the Rocky Mount site is really no longer in use and that Benson is now both the primary and BUEC site ? Or is it's omission from the FAA databases maybe a clerical error ?

The Rocky Mount site is about is about 34nm from Greenville while the Benson site is 58nm. 58nm reception range of an RCAG would be pretty impressive, which leaves me wondering if maybe what the OP is hearing is actually from the Rocky Mount site ?

 

[AirScan]

I'm located in Greenville North Carolina and have a question regarding what I'm hearing on 132.22

There is another RCAG located at what's called "New Bern" by the FAA AFF and "Dover" by the RRDB and ZDC SOP (Google Earth N 35 12 15 W 77 22 55), this is about 25nm south of Greenville. Listed frequencies are 118.825 and 123.850. I'm just wondering if you can hear the controllers on those 2 frequencies ?

Also listed by the RRDB at "Dover" is 135.500 but I believe this frequency has been decomissioned since the ZDC airspace in that area was taken over by Cherry Point Approach ?

 

[peten1vak]

On 132.225 I hear a lot of traffic but only planes. I cannot hear the controller. About a year or two ago I used to hear the actual Washington center controller on 135.5. I believe that at this time that this was located in Dover. The copy was really weak but I could hear it at times. I hear nothing on 135.5 now and I am now currently monitoring 118.825. We have an airport here and I hear plane traffic on 122.800. But my question is what controller frequency should I be listening to for planes that are flying over this area?

 

[AirScan]

But my question is what controller frequency should I be listening to for planes that are flying over this area?

It's a complex area as you are near the border of multiple sectors. But, directly overhead the Greenville airport would be.

123.850 Washington Center (SFC to FL230)
124.025 Washington Center (FL240 to FL350)
118.825 Washington Center (FL360 to FL390, or FL360 and above)
127.275 Washington Center (FL400 and above, used as required)

Attached is a sector chart showing the High Altitude Sectors in relation to Greenville.

 

[peten1vak]

Thank You!

 

[AirScan]

This might be clearer

 

[jaymatt1978]

On 132.225 I hear a lot of traffic but only planes. I cannot hear the controller. About a year or two ago I used to hear the actual Washington center controller on 135.5. I believe that at this time that this was located in Dover. The copy was really weak but I could hear it at times. I hear nothing on 135.5 now and I am now currently monitoring 118.825. We have an airport here and I hear plane traffic on 122.800. But my question is what controller frequency should I be listening to for planes that are flying over this area?

Hearing the controller is extremely rare. Conditions have to be just right

 

[dlwtrunked]

Previous FAA data (2019-AFF) listed the RCAG site for 132.225 as "Rocky Mount" (N 35 57 28 W 77 55 30). If you look at the latest from Google Earth there is still what looks like an RCAG installation at that location.

The latest copy of the ZDC SOP I have (2023) lists Benson as the BUEC (Backup Emergency Communication) site for 132.225 but for some reason it does not list a Primary RCAG site, like it does for other frequencies. For the "Primary RCAG site" it just lists "none".

So can anyone confirm that the Rocky Mount site is really no longer in use and that Benson is now both the primary and BUEC site ? Or is it's omission from the FAA databases maybe a clerical error ?

The Rocky Mount site is about is about 34nm from Greenville while the Benson site is 58nm. 58nm reception range of an RCAG would be pretty impressive, which leaves me wondering if maybe what the OP is hearing is actually from the Rocky Mount site ?

I agree the coordinates you give are certainly look like an RCAG site. The FAA current information (which certainly could be wrong), lists 132.225 only at Benson for that entire FAA region. A 2019 USAF IFR Supplement (not been public information since then) does show "Rocky Mount" on 132.225 and other frequencies but that is rather old); and that does not show any Benson RCAG. RR is also messed up on this as ARTCC RCAG should not be associated with nearby airports: Nash County, North Carolina (NC) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
RR list both locations with 132.225 but I am not convinced that is true/current.

 

[kc2asb]

Hearing the controller is extremely rare. Conditions have to be just right

Proximity to the ATC Center as well, I would assume, just as it is for reception of airport towers. I live near Newark, JFK and LaGuardia and can only hear Newark tower. (approx 5 miles away)

 

[AirScan]

The FAA current information (which certainly could be wrong), lists 132.225 only at Benson for that entire FAA region.

There's a LiveATC feed that appears to be located in the vicinity of KRDU that monitors 132.225 and you can hear the controller there. KRDU is 25nm from Benson and 43nm from Rocky Mount, so the Benson site as published would seem to be accurate.

Also, the ZDC SOP (2023) lists the 123.850 RCAG's at Rocky Mount (RWI) and Norfolk (ORF), while the latest FAA AFF lists the 123.850 RCAGs at New Bern and Whalleyville. My guess is the ZDC SOP is more accurate and that the 123.850 RCAG is actually located at Rocky Mount ? Is there anyone on the forum that can hear the controller on 123.850 to confirm ?

 

[alcahuete]

Proximity to the ATC Center as well, I would assume, just as it is for reception of airport towers.

No. Centers use what are called RCAG (Remote Communications Air/Ground). The actual radio sites could be hundreds of miles from the centers.

@AirScan 123.85 (RCAG/BUEC) is at Rocky Mount as is 135.55 (RCAG).
132.225 RCAG is at Benson, BUEC is at Morrisville, NC.

 

[kc2asb]

No. Centers use what are called RCAG (Remote Communications Air/Ground). The actual radio sites could be hundreds of miles from the centers.

I learned something new today. (long time in the hobby, but just recently getting more serious about aircraft comms) Thanks!

 

[alcahuete]

I learned something new today. (long time in the hobby, but just recently getting more serious about aircraft comms) Thanks!

My pleasure! It's a great hobby to have. I should have been a little more in-depth, but I was on my phone at the time. To better answer, some centers do have radio sites at the center itself, but it's generally just a couple frequencies. The rest (dozens of frequencies at large centers) are spread out all over the airspace the centers cover, using the RCAGs like I mentioned above, and BUECs, which are the backups. Generally, the BUECs are at different locations than the RCAGs, but not always.

 

[kc2asb]

My pleasure! It's a great hobby to have. I should have been a little more in-depth, but I was on my phone at the time. To better answer, some centers do have radio sites at the center itself, but it's generally just a couple frequencies. The rest (dozens of frequencies at large centers) are spread out all over the airspace the centers cover, using the RCAGs like I mentioned above, and BUECs, which are the backups. Generally, the BUECs are at different locations than the RCAGs, but not always.

Appreciate it! I have some homework to do. Makes sense considering the wide geographic area each Center covers. Interestingly, aircraft comms are what first got me into the hobby, (age 10-11 circa 1985) when I grabbed my father's multi-band radio and heard the aircraft overhead near Newark Airport. I was hooked on radio after that.

 

[AirScan]

@AirScan 123.85 (RCAG/BUEC) is at Rocky Mount as is 135.55 (RCAG).

Thanks ! Any chance you can tell me what your source is for that ? The FAA AFF and RRDB don't list 135.550 and the SOP lists it as a workload frequency but doesn't show the RCAG location. I have heard them use 135.550 on occasion as an apparent sub in other sectors and was wondering where the RCAG was, so much appreciated.

 

[richardbritt]

123.85 is Co-field which is in Hertford NC not far from Greenville. 133.825 is Sector 34 Hi Norfolk. A lot of aircraft flying over northeastern NC are on 133.825 and 123.85. Hope this helps