[FedCom] TopOff2 After Action Report - Chicago

[Ted and Kim Moran]

-Low cloud deck over the southside prevented a multi-copter assault on the
old Board of Education Bldg. Only one copter was used by the FBI. Both the
national Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and the Chicago office SWAT team
participated. HRT made mention of using both Hotel-8 and Delta-8. We don't
have either of these freqs, naturally. And they werent found via searching.
But we found 'em using Chicago channels anyway. Very impressive looking
scene out on Pershing. Like something from a bad Sci-Fi novel. Somebody
(FBI?) had a video feed equipped light aircraft circling the scene for a
long time. FBI HRT Helo callsign was FALCON-#

-As predicted here, the Midway Airport disaster produced less radio traffic
than anticipated.

-Both Illinois Central and North Weapons of Mass Destruction teams
activated, responded and staged. These are multi-agency, multi-disciplinary
units. Possible related traffic on the ISP District Chicago's 800 Mhz
trunked system TG 08-141, also used by the ISP Tactical Response Team. (In
lieu of Starcomm?).

-Many observers noted the almost total lack of use of dedicated
"interoperability" freqs like IREACH. Nothing on Illinois V-Tac or U-Tac,
nothing on any federal law enforcement aid or incident channels, no 800
Nipspac traffic. Kinda strange considering all the hoopla.

-As with most exercises, outside radio observers weren't deeply moved. But
all the participants I've heard from said a lot was learned and it was money
well spent.

Freqs: (feel free to add yours!)

 47.4200 (000.0) Red Cross, linked w/460.575 Repeater
123.0250 (AM)    Media Copters
123.4500 (AM)    FBI Air to Air
138.5750 (118.8) FEMA Region 5 Repeater (little used)
146.7600 (107.2) Salvation Army & MEPS Fire Canteens
153.7700 (156.7) CFD Englewood Southside (Midway)
154.2650 (000.0) IFERN at Bedford Park Drill
154.2800 (000.0) Bedford Park FD Alternate at Drill
154.2950 (156.7) CFD HIT & RID Teams on Admin simplex
154.2950 (000.0) Bedford Park Drill Blue Channel Ops
154.3850 (156.7) CFD VHF Command Channel simplex
154.4300 (000.0) Bedford Park FD at Drill
154.9650         Dupage County OEM
154.9950 (107.2) Cook Co at bedford Park Drill
155.6400 (107.2) Cook Co Band 5 Repeater Command Post
164.5500 (DES)   FBI repeater
165.2375 (100.0) U.S. Customs Chicago Office Ops
170.6250 (167.9) FBI HRT/SWAT on Chicago repeater
170.7250 (167.9) FBI Chicago Primary
172.9000 (ASTRO) TSA Police OHare
409.5250 (ASTRO) unknown
410.4000 (ASTRO) Unknown, apparently encrypted
415.2000 (103.5) GSA Police Misc. Ops.
460.2500 (162.2) CPD Citywide 6 (Pershing Rd)
460.3500 (097.4) CPD Citywide 5 (Midway Apt)
460.6250 (156.7) CFD EMS South
462.9750 (156.7) CFD EMS F4 Alternate
464.6250 (162.2) Loyola Hospital Ops Maywood

There's the report. Again, feel free to add your freqs if I missed anything.
Government full report on the exercise due out in September. Here at CARMA,
we move faster for you. Happy Scanning! - Ted