WCPO Chopper 9

[Jester519]

WCPO in Cincinnati just got a new chopper after having been out of the air for at least 10 years or more. Any info on how to pick up any communications for them? Thanks for any info.

 

[wa8pyr]

WCPO in Cincinnati just got a new chopper after having been out of the air for at least 10 years or more. Any info on how to pick up any communications for them? Thanks for any info.

Their connection to the TV studio most likely uses microwave, but you can search 450-451 and 455-456 MHz to see if they're sending voice traffic reports to radio stations there. If WCPO has any UHF repeaters used by the assignment desk that will also likely be there.

 

[jsoergel]

WCPO in Cincinnati just got a new chopper after having been out of the air for at least 10 years or more. Any info on how to pick up any communications for them? Thanks for any info.

123.025 for rotary-wing advisory. They'll use it to coordinate with other helicopters. Air Care makes heavy use of the freq.

 

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (BREW; Opera Mini/6.0.3/27.2354; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 320X240 LG VN530)

Besides 450-451 and 455-456 MHz, try these VHF-High channels to see if there's any media activity on them:
161.640
161.670
161.700
161.730
161.760
166.250
171.150
Otherwise, they'll be using microwave links from the helo to the station, or to remote sites that then relay to the station.

 

[jsoergel]

The only license they have is WQRV580; 151.6625 and 151.5575 handhelds, so the microwave link will be the primary communication.

However, Tom brings up a good point about the radio partners. All of the freqs I can find for them are UHF.

WAKW
WGRR
WOSL
WRRM
WUBE
WVXU

 

[newsnick175]

All TV choppers use the Broadcast band two way freq's to communicate with their microwave receive control center to line up their microwave signals. They also use those freq's to que the chopper reporter (IFB) and get directions from there assignment desks. Cell phones aren't reliable at altitude.

 

[Jester519]

Thanks for the info guys.