Blanchard's USA Radio Rentals

The National Book Festival, which took place last Saturday, was using rental radios from Blanchard's USA Radio Rentals. In doing some research in the FCC database, the only license I could find for the UHF simplex frequencies they were using was for an expired license for coordination of the 2009 Inaugural events. This license lists forty-eight frequencies with 500 4-watt portables on each one. These frequencies might be a good starting point for future events in the DC area where Blanchard's provides the radios. (Local outfit Blanchard's seems to be the second most-popular radio rental company in the area, after BearCom.)

Prince William School Security

A hazmat incident at a school in Prince William afforded the opportunity to learn a bit more about the talkgroups used by school security in the county. School security has their main talkgroup (48848) as well as an alternate (48880). The alternate appears to be known as Channel 7. But when the units operate encrypted on that alternate, it's known as Channel 8.

Virginia State Fair

Although the Virginia State Fair is in Caroline County (just north of Richmond), the talkgroup that the state police is using for traffic control might be active on some of the Northern Virginia STARS sites. That talkgroup is 6125.

Pepco Benning Generating Station FCC License

The Pepco Benning Generating Station, located at 3400 Benning Road in the District, recently was granted a license by the FCC. The power plant will operate a repeater on 463.4125.

More Info on Quantico Fire

A few more talkgroups have been noted for Quantico Fire, as they transition to Quantico's trunked system:

32201 Dispatch

32202 Response

32203 Incident 1

32213 Unknown

The VHF frequency (149.3500) appears to be silent.

National Book Festival Frequencies Found

Here's what I found today at the National Book Festival. The first set of frequencies were the channels used by the organizers. The rental radios were from Blanchard's USA Radio Rentals. The Library of Congress frequency was mostly used in simplex mode.

461.0750 [ d371] (S)
461.1250 [ d072] Line Control/Volunteers (S)
461.5125 [ d306] (S)
462.4250 [ d343] Distribution/Materials (Channel 8) (S)
463.9750 [ d712] Security/First Aid (S)
466.3750 [ d703] Golf Carts
466.5250 [ d155] Book Sales Tent (Channel 6)
467.1750 [ d134] Base Command (Channel 2)
469.6750 [ d532] Author Escorts

166.8500 [127.3] Park Police (S)
410.3375 [ d411] Library of Congress Security (input 419.3375) (R/S)
463.5125 [ 67.0] Videorecording (S)
464.3250 [ d532] Catering (S)
467.8750 [ d432] Borders Books

Weekend Events

Here are this weekend's events:

The National Book Festival is tomorrow on the Mall from 10-5:30. Frequencies from last year:

151.5125 [173.8] Pavilion Managers/Ushers (Channel 2?)
152.9150 [123.0] Base Command (Channel 1?)
155.9100 [146.2] Transportation Command/Golf Carts (Channel 3)
157.8150 [141.3] Electrical
158.0100 [156.7] Volunteers?/Line Captains

410.3375 [ d411] "LSOs"; OSEF units; Security
467.8750 [ d432] Borders Books (Book Sales Tent)
469.5000 [ d125] Audio/Visual

The Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull is tomorrow from 11-4.

DC United plays tomorrow at 7:30.

The Nationals play tonight at 7:05, tomorrow at 1:05, and Sunday at 1:35.

Dulles Airport Update

I did some scanning at Dulles Airport on Saturday. I've updated the page, particularly the "Operations," "Airline Ground Operations," and "Rental Car Companies" sections.

Airport Exercise Talkgroups Found

Here are talkgroups that were in use for the exercise at Reagan National Airport this past Saturday:

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Trunked System talkgroups:
1744 Police (Tac 3)
2288 Fire Command (Channel 3F)
2640 Fire Operations (Channel 3L)
2688 Encrypted

Tysons Corner Update

Spent some time at Tysons Corner Center this past Saturday, and was able to update several frequencies. Here's the latest list:

461.9875 [ d054] Security (R)
464.3750 [ d047] Housekeeping (Channel 2) (R)

151.7000 [ 71.9] Restoration Hardware
154.5150 [ d172] Gap?
154.6000 [ d331] Old Navy
158.4000 [ 74.4] Banana Republic
458.6625 [ ] frequency counter hit near Sony Style
461.1125 [ d412] Sephora
461.1125 [ d606] Auntie Anne's
461.1875 [ d712] Apple
461.2125 [114.8] AMC Theater Techs?
461.3125 [ 74.4] Pottery Barn Kids
462.6125 [ 67.0] Gordon Biersch Brewery
462.6625 [ CSQ] Macy's Operations?
462.6750 [ 67.0] Puma?
463.5625 [ d506] Nordstrom
463.8375 [146.2] Nordstrom Security (R)
464.5000 [ d503] La Sandia
464.5000 [ d612] Macy's Security
464.5000 [ 67.0] Sony Style
464.5000 [100.0] Williams-Sonoma
464.5500 [ d612] Macy's Security
464.5500 [ 67.0] Express
464.5500 [ 67.0] Wasabi
464.5500 [ 91.5] Garage
464.5625 [ 94.8] Ann Taylor/Ann Taylor Petites
464.5625 [203.5] Aeropostale?
466.0375 [ 94.8] Ann Taylor Loft
466.1125 [ d606] Armani Exchange
466.1875 [ d506] Hollister
466.1875 [ d516] Unknown clothing store (strong near Banana Republic)
466.2875 [ d155] H&M Staff
466.3125 [ d412] abercrombie
467.1375 [173.8] Lord & Taylor Security
467.7625 [ 67.0] West Elm
467.7625 [179.9] Pottery Barn
467.8125 [ 67.0] New York & Company?
467.8125 [ 77.0] FYE
467.8500 [ d546] Abercrombie & Fitch
467.8500 [ 67.0] American Eagle
467.8500 [ 74.4] Foot Locker?
467.8500 [173.8] Charlotte Russe
467.8750 [ d712] Disney Store
467.8750 [ d723] Guess
467.8750 [ 67.0] Brio Tuscan Grill
467.8750 [ 67.0] LL Bean
467.8750 [ 74.4] Champs Sports
467.8750 [110.9] The Limited
467.9000 [ d632] Bath & Body Works
467.9250 [ d732] Pink
467.9250 [ d743] Victoria's Secret
467.9250 [ 67.0] TGI Friday
467.9250 [ 88.5] AMC Theater
467.9250 [110.9] Coastal Flats Restaurant
467.9250 [218.1] Urban Outfitters
468.0250 [ 77.0] Nordstrom Housekeeping
468.8375 [ d155] H&M Staff
469.7625 [ d155] H&M Security

Quantico Fire Using 380 MHz System

Quantico Fire is now using the 380 MHz system installed at the base. The talkgroup is 32201. Unknown if they are simulcasting on 149.3500 [141.3].

Weekend Events

Not as busy as last weekend for events:

• There will be an aircraft accident/river rescue drill at Reagan National Airport Saturday morning from 9-11 AM. Expect to see lots of little-used talkgroups on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority trunked system active, particularly from the Fire and Operations groups.
• The Redskins play at 4:15 on Sunday at FedEx Field.

Nationals Park - 464.7500

464.7500 [233.6], which is in use for some sort of security at Nationals Park, may be used by CSC Event Staff. I haven't heard their 463.8000 [ d152] frequency in use during several recent Nats games.

Georgetown University Using 463.5625

Georgetown University is using 463.5625 [ d364] for maintenance. 463.3750 [ d606], which was previously used by Georgetown for the same purpose, is still active.

Nation's Triathlon Frequencies Found

The Nation's Triathlon was this past Sunday. Here are frequencies and talkgroups that were in use:

166.7250 [127.3] Park Police (Ch. 1)
461.2250 [ d624] Organizers (S)
464.5000 [ d205] Organizers (R)

DC Trunked System talkgroups:
2112 DCFD Special Events 2
2640 DCFD Fireboats
20800 MPD Harbor Branch
21232 MPD Citywide 2

Stafford Project 25 Trunked System Update

The Stafford Project 25 trunked system has been on the air for several weeks now. The control channel is 774.18125. So far, only radio techs are using the system, but they're not formally testing the system yet. 4505 and 4712 are the only active talkgroups. These talkgroups are P25 Phase I, but when the system is fully online, it may be a Phase II system. (Phase I can be monitored with current scanners; Phase II cannot.)

The Fairfax FCC App

The Fairfax, a retirement home near Ft. Belvoir, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 464.8750 and simplex on 461.5625 and 463.3250. Note that 464.8750 [ d664] has been used unlicensed by The Fairfax for several years.

Weekend Events

Several major events this weekend:

• The Nationals play at 1:05 Saturday and 1:35 Sunday.
• The National Black Family Reunion is all day Saturday. In 2006, organizers used 152.9150 [123.0]. Also check Park Police frequencies.
• The Nation's Triathlon is Sunday, beginning at 7 AM. Listen for DC Fire on talkgroups 2096/2112/2128, and MPD on talkgroups 16656/21232.
• The Redskins play at 8:20 Sunday.

FedEx Field Update

I did some scanning at the Virginia Tech/Boise State game at FedEx Field on Monday. Here's an updated list of FedEx frequencies:

451.3875 [ d043] Centerplate
451.4625 [ d023] Food
451.4875 [ d073] Centerplate
451.5625 [ d115] Centerplate - Human Resources/Supervisors?
451.6875 [ d074] Centerplate - Management
451.8000 [ d612] TV
456.6875 [ d134] Centerplate
456.6875 [ d152] Centerplate - Engineering/Maintenance
461.0750 [ d627] Parking (R)
461.1125 [ d351] Food/Beverage (R)
461.1500 [ d731] Audio/Visual (R)
461.1375 [ d152] Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC)
461.3875 [ d152] Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC)
461.5125 [ d152] Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC)
461.7625 [ d723] Parking
461.9500 [ d526] Engineering (R)
462.8125 [ d205] Parking
462.8125 [ d712] "suite"; "kitchen"
462.9125 [ d346] Electricians
462.9125 [ d664] "Trailer 1"
462.9125 [ d734] Merchandise
463.4625 [ d023] Food
463.5000 [ d662] Ushers? (S)
463.5125 [ d023] "suite"
463.5375 [ d606] Food/Concessions?
463.8000 [ d664] Facilities - Suites? (R)
463.8125 [ d606] "cocktails"; "server"
463.9250 [ d654] Guest Services - Inside (R)
464.1000 [ d703] Housekeeping (R)
464.5000 [ d125] "equipment to trailer"
464.5000 [ 94.8] ESPN?
464.5500 [ d664] "stadium sections"; "clambake"
464.6000 [203.5] Comcast SportsNet?
464.7750 [ d244] Concessions/Food
464.8000 [ d624] Guest Services - Golf Cart Transports/Gates (R)
464.8500 [ d632] Suites (R)
464.9500 [ d631] Facilities - Club Level? (R)
466.1125 [ d351] Food
467.7875 [ d051] Housekeeping
468.2375 [ d026] "beer"
469.1125 [ d023] Food
469.5000 [ d612] "need to get anthem singers"
469.5125 [ d624] Food
469.5500 [ d612] "referee wants to be wired"; "repair jumper"

Nationals Park New Frequency

Nationals Park is using a new frequency: 464.7500 [233.6] (R). It's unclear exactly who this is, but it appears to be some sort of security. (Nationals Security was previously confirmed on the MOTOTRBO system at the ballpark.)

Georgetown University Using 463.5625

Georgetown University was confirmed using 463.5625 [ d364] yesterday. There wasn't too much radio traffic, but it appears to be used for maintenance/engineering.

Six Flags America Update

Here's an update for Six Flags America. They have started to use some of the frequencies they licensed earlier this year.

151.8800 [ 67.0] Food/Concessions
451.2375 [ d423] Restaurants/Shops Alternate (Channel 8) (S)
451.6625 [192.8] Security Alternate (Channel 11) (S)
451.8500 [ d261] Engineering (Channel 3) (R)
452.1250 [ d606] Security (Channel 5) (R)
452.2125 [ d261] Housekeeping (Channel 4) (R)
461.4125 [ d261] Guest Relations (Channel 1) (R)
463.6375 [ d261] Restaurants/Shops (Channel 2) (R)
464.3250 [192.8] Guest Relations Alternate (Channel 7) (S)
464.8750 [ d261] Shows (Channel 6) (R)
465.6500 [ d331] First Aid?
467.3875 [ d261] Shows Alternate (Channel 12)
467.8500 [ d261] (Channel 10)
468.5375 [ d331] Cleaning
468.6250 [192.8] Special Events? ("tables," "catering")
468.9625 [ d261] Shows/Concerts

Prince George's TDMA Talkgroups

Prince George's County used many TDMA talkgroups for last night's Virginia Tech/Boise State game at FedEx Field. Here are the ones I saw:

57, 97, 199, 205, 2001, 2005, 2043

Note that some of these may not have been used for the game itself, but several of them have not been identified on the RadioReference page.

All of the PGPD and PGFD personnel that I saw were using the APX 7000 portable radio--looks like they've completely abandoned the UHF-T frequencies they previously used at FedEx Field.

Weekend Events

Several events this holiday weekend:

• DC United plays Saturday night at 7:30 at RFK Stadium.
• The Nats play Monday afternoon at 1:05 at Nationals Park.
• WWE Raw is Monday night at 8:15 at the Verzion Center.
• Virginia Tech plays Boise State Monday night at 8:00 at FedEx Field.