US Postal Service Radio Systems & Operations Re: [FedCom] Re: FedCom Digest, Vol 35, Issue 16

[Ken]

Interesting Mike, perhaps you can find that article ---- Is USPS  using 
either a business SMR trunking system or perhaps some low powered or 
otherwise UHF frequencies (on site low power repeaters) licensed to that 
radio provider?  I would think that if any repeater operations are being 
used on site the FCC records would indicate an address that matches a USPS 
facility address.  Might take a bit of digging.

I don't recall anyone here on the list ever posting any information about 
monitoring USPS activities on business band frequencies.   I would think 
that places like Bulk Mail Center Sorting Facilities & large post office 
operations, would be prime candidates for an on civilian contracted site 
system low power repeater systems.  BUT even the Springfield MA BMC facility 
changed some frequencies about 3 years ago & now operate on 164.3875R 
(110.9), 165.05R (114.8) , 172.30 Simplex (94.8)  -- most of those comms are 
pretty routine e.g. a mail jam on sorter #1 that's got to be cleared, etc.. 
My understanding is also at times because of the speed of the equipment if 
the envelopes get caught in the convenyeor belt system, they sometimes catch 
on fire!!!)  USPS Postal Inspectors/Security utilize UHF freqs (415.05R 
(analog Simplex remote base & repeater -- may now be used only by the alarm 
maintenance division) now 409.9375R (P25/inclear/encrypted).  There may be a 
cross band capability at large mail processing facilities.

A list of Bulk Mail Processing Centers can be found at: 
http://www.kdmailing.com/mailing_services/bulk-mail.asp

Also some pictures & additional information on these Bulk Mail Centers can 
be found at:
http://www.teterboro-online.com/news/news03/usps/afsm.shtml

Also a pretty good site to visit from time to time is: 
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/
especially looking at the "Inspectors in the News" page.    Of course if you 
use www.google.com  news portion and use the term "USPS Inspectors" you will 
also get some good information.

There's also been some reports on this list about government radio systems 
set up between large USPS delivery trucks moving mail between certain 
sorting facilities to delivery facilities (NYC, Northern NJ)  - this may be 
exception rather than the rule.  Generally, the movement from the major 
sorting areas to/from the smaller/medium size post offices are done by 
contract carriers, and at least the ones I've observed don't seem to have 
any radio communications.  I'm assuming that they at least have a cellphone 
in case something happens to the truck BUT that might be stretch for some of 
them!!!

As far as I've seen, the local USPS mail carriers & contract carriers (home, 
work, as well as mobile) that delivers the mail really doesn't have a USPS 
provided radio communications device.  I think most of them have personal 
cellphones and possibly have some unpublished telephones number they can use 
for urgent operational/security matters.   Perhaps in some high crime 
delivery areas, delivery employees have some sort of emergency communication 
device that they carry with them.  I know the carriers are subject to 
surveillance both by management and USPS investigators at any time.

Ken



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mws72 at qconline.com>
To: "Fedcom (e)" <fedcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: US Postal Service Re: [FedCom] Re: FedCom Digest, Vol 35, Issue 
16


> There is a contract with a radio provider suppling the USPS with business 
> band HTs for use at postal stations and venues.
> I saw a mention of this  in a radio business magazine last summer.
....snip..snip..snp..
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Ken" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>
> Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:34:31
> To:"Discussion of Federal Government Communications" 
> <fedcom at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: US Postal Service Re: [FedCom] Re: FedCom Digest, Vol 35, Issue 
> 16
> ..snip..snip..snip..
> Not sure what your comments infer, but the USPS uses federal government
> assigned radio frequencies in it's operations.    Locally in the 
> Springfield
> (MA) area we have the Postal Inspectors/Security, Bulk Mail Center Sorting
> Operations, & Transportation Nets