Hmm, "Monitoring Times" magazine, May 2011 (electronic edition "MT Express") (http://www.monitoringtimes.com/), 'MILCOM -- Monitoring Military Communications' column has some HF/ALE frequencies posted covering 7 regions, with about 40 HF/ALE frequencies listed. The author claims these are CAP's new regional HF/ALE frequencies ??? >:(
Wonder what type of equipment the author is running to find all these military and federal HF frequencies ??? I believe he also has a blog called "Milcom Blog" http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/
RM
He has a host of folks reporting callsigns and frequencies, some of whom are running PC-ALE (soundcard digital program) on any/every frequency on which they hear ALE signaling.
Then, of course, there are the blabbermouths who seem to take some perverse delight in "outing" anything they lay their hands-on...
Not much you can do about it, unfortunately, short of engaging crypto.
When Iread the article I believe he mentioned the specific software program he was using.
He probably knows someone in CAP who told him.
As long as you're not the person who gave the frequencies to the magazine, no problem. You did not violate the FOUO designation.
It's not like we transmitting anything classified...
((*yawn*))
People with too much time on their hands culling information to give out to others with too much time on their hands.
And no one in that circle has any use for it, except to kid themselves that "being informed" is important.
So while we're keeping our frequencies super-secret from most of our own membership the scanner jockeys are enjoying themselves listening to me telling the MSA that I want mayo on my sandwich...
Why are we still kidding ourselves with FOUO? The only people that care are the ones that think it's some uber-kewl status...
One thing that tickles me is the "utility listener" who like to listen (and report on) the Emergency Action Messages read over the Air Force global HF network (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkeTAlQ1yi4).
I suppose the upside is that if you listen to them long enough, you WILL learn the phonetic alphabet!
Skyking, Skyking, this is Shark Bait, do not reply, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot... ::)
"Need to know" means exactly that. Either you do or you don't, and the average CAP member has absolutely no use for a list of our frequencies, tones, or related information. I have 4 VHF radios in my possession, three issued, one owned, and absolutely no need to know the frequencies they use, any more than knowing the frequency of HBO on the coax would do me any good.
Anyone internal or external to CAP who actually needs that information, for whatever reason, can get it easily by just asking.
The two other salient points here are that nothing we send over open channels is a secret, any more than local PD dispatching is a secret, however just because some goober wastes his time between watching X-Files reruns to figure it out, doesn't mean we publish it for the general public. Second, the ability to intercept information doesn't necessarily relieve or change the severity of the consequences for using that information incorrectly, though admittedly that issue has been in and out of the courts for years.
If you want to sit in your basement and listen to net checks and high-bird roll calls, whatever, however if it can be shown that you interfered with official operations, either by disclosing information to parties who get in the way, or using frequencies illegally, prosecution, both civilly and criminally might be in your future.
Probably my favorite people in the world are those who regulalry monitor public service bands "just in case they need the information, or can help..." ::)
Quote from: Eclipse on April 21, 2011, 03:44:06 PM
If you want to sit in your basement and listen to net checks and high-bird roll calls, whatever, however if it can be shown that you interfered with official operations, either by disclosing information to parties who get in the way, or using frequencies illegally, prosecution, both civilly and criminally might be in your future.
Probably my favorite people in the world are those who regulalry monitor public service bands "just in case they need the information, or can help..." ::)
For the most part I don't see the stay at home monitoring hobbyists getting in trouble with anyone for what they report & hear unless it specifically violates the Electronic Communications Privacy Act provisions (cellphones, news transmitter links, encrypted transmissions, & pager digital transmissions). The FCC has already ruled on the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934. Again it all gets down to COMSEC/OPSEC-- If your radio system is unencrypted you should assume someone else other than your agency is passively listening, been that same concept in the AF training for 50+ years. Now if someone gets on one of our HF or VHF frequencies and starts to jam our transmissions that's quite a different story and IF found will likely be prosecuted.
As far as people wanting to help and showing up, etc, arrest them if they get in the way. Responsible radio monitoring hobbyists don't play wanna bees. Again I think it's the challenge to the hobbyists to find all frequencies being used by ANY agencies, CAP by far isn't the primary interest. I find having the radio receivers/scanners gives one "electronic situational awareness" that isn't possible any other way. I avoid trouble spots IF I hear anything that may affect me in my travels (BUT hey if a BOLO comes across and I see the vehicle I would call it in). HF wise is pretty much a bust at my home due to a very high noise level, likely from something inside the house, so unless the transmitter is very powerful I generally won't hear the signals. :(
RM
Quote from: jks19714 on April 21, 2011, 03:17:05 PM
One thing that tickles me is the "utility listener" who like to listen (and report on) the Emergency Action Messages read over the Air Force global HF network (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkeTAlQ1yi4).
I suppose the upside is that if you listen to them long enough, you WILL learn the phonetic alphabet!
Skyking, Skyking, this is Shark Bait, do not reply, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot... ::)
I find it still to be interesting the USAF uses HF/SSB for one way broadcasts when the nuclear force is equipped with SATCOM and even the ground bases units have hard wired alert system. I'd assume that they want multiple ways to get the message to the appropriate nuclear unit.
See: http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/08/dod-emergency-action-message-eam.html
Remember that CAP as part of our communications methods can also initiate one way radio broadcasts (on HF, VHF/UHF, or AM VHF Aero). So a transmission 'ATTENTION ALL CHARTER OAK STATIONS & MONITORS, (REPEATED 3 TIMES), DO NOT ANSWER -- MIKE KILO FOXTROT 5, (I SAY AGAIN), MIKE KILO FOXTROT FIVE, CHARTER OAK 555 OUT" Those folks with the appropriate need to know code books would look up what MKF5 means.
RM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on April 21, 2011, 10:04:32 PM
So a transmission 'ATTENTION ALL CHARTER OAK STATIONS & MONITORS, (REPEATED 3 TIMES), DO NOT ANSWER -- MIKE KILO FOXTROT 5, (I SAY AGAIN), MIKE KILO FOXTROT FIVE, CHARTER OAK 555 OUT" Those folks with the appropriate need to know code books would look up what MKF5 means.
RM
Except you'd say "DO NOT TRANSMIT". :)
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on April 21, 2011, 10:04:32 PM
Remember that CAP as part of our communications methods can also initiate one way radio broadcasts (on HF, VHF/UHF, or AM VHF Aero). So a transmission 'ATTENTION ALL CHARTER OAK STATIONS & MONITORS, (REPEATED 3 TIMES), DO NOT ANSWER -- MIKE KILO FOXTROT 5, (I SAY AGAIN), MIKE KILO FOXTROT FIVE, CHARTER OAK 555 OUT" Those folks with the appropriate need to know code books would look up what MKF5 means.
RM
Which my Ovaltine Secret Decoder Ring decodes as "the Squadron CC is buying lunch today". :-X
I totally want one of these.
Olde Schoole Encryptione!
(http://www.urbachletter.com/0612/OvaltineDecoderRing_200x223.jpg)
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on April 21, 2011, 10:04:32 PM
Remember that CAP as part of our communications methods can also initiate one way radio broadcasts (on HF, VHF/UHF, or AM VHF Aero). So a transmission 'ATTENTION ALL CHARTER OAK STATIONS & MONITORS, (REPEATED 3 TIMES), DO NOT ANSWER -- MIKE KILO FOXTROT 5, (I SAY AGAIN), MIKE KILO FOXTROT FIVE, CHARTER OAK 555 OUT" Those folks with the appropriate need to know code books would look up what MKF5 means.
RM
Except that CAPR 100-1 prohibits the use of local codes in CAP radio transmissions. It does not make an exception for one-way traffic.
"John has a long mustache..."
"Roger, Overlord commenced!"
"No, seriously, Lt. Smith needs to get a shave, he's out of grooming..."
...
...
"...overwhat now?"
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on April 21, 2011, 03:16:50 PMWhy are we still kidding ourselves with FOUO? The only people that care are the ones that think it's some uber-kewl status...
When it comes to CAP frequencies, FOUO is not something we have imposed on ourselves. It is something that the Air Force has imposed upon us as a condition of using them. And as long as that is their rule, it is the responsibility of CAP members to follow it. Personal opinion is irrelevant.
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on April 21, 2011, 10:04:32 PMRemember that CAP as part of our communications methods can also initiate one way radio broadcasts (on HF, VHF/UHF, or AM VHF Aero).
My unit is working on encompassing that into our notification procedures as sort of a last-resort option if there is zero telephone service available. Except we wouldn't be issuing coded messages, it would instead be something along the lines of "All available personnel please report to ________".
Obviously the chances of ever needing to use it are very slim and the personnel equipped to receive such a broadcast would be limited (though, probably only limited to those capable of responding in such a situation anyway). It is good have as many bases covered as possible.
Quote from: Eclipse on April 22, 2011, 02:02:31 PM
"John has a long mustache..."
"Roger, Overlord commenced!"
"No, seriously, Lt. Smith needs to get a shave, he's out of grooming..."
...
...
"...overwhat now?"
Now THAT'S funny! :clap: ;D :clap:
Quote from: N Harmon on April 22, 2011, 02:25:56 PM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on April 21, 2011, 10:04:32 PMRemember that CAP as part of our communications methods can also initiate one way radio broadcasts (on HF, VHF/UHF, or AM VHF Aero).
My unit is working on encompassing that into our notification procedures as sort of a last-resort option if there is zero telephone service available. Except we wouldn't be issuing coded messages, it would instead be something along the lines of "All available personnel please report to ________".
Obviously the chances of ever needing to use it are very slim and the personnel equipped to receive such a broadcast would be limited (though, probably only limited to those capable of responding in such a situation anyway). It is good have as many bases covered as possible.
We've done some very limited testing with portable radio scanners/ham radio portables (that are capable of receiving other frequencies) and of course the repeater output frequencies are the best to use for monitoring due to the power output of the repeater and geographic coverage area. HOWEVER, one of the other simplex channels probably would be necessary unless your wing allows repeater talkaround channels than only the applicable repeater output(s) in your area would have to be programmed into the receiver.
Another option is to get an agreement with another public safety agency to do the paging for you, but this would require the purchase of a radio receiver/pager ($300 or more depending upon options, you would be better off buying a used Motorola portable HT1000) and you would have to ensure you had a way to communicate with that particular public safety agency to have them page your members.
My preference would be to authorized the ES qualified members the option to program a consumer grade radio scanner/receiver, do to the other capabilities (e.g. aero monitoring, other public safety, etc). Generally CAP in a potential disaster situation would utilize a pre alert mode, likely email and/or text messages to other mobile devices, so this would prevent monitoring fatigue for those not interested in listening constantly --- only turn it on when pre alerted.
RM