Militia Radio Nets - Militia Logs Richmond VA "Lobby Day" 01/20/2020

[R4002]

January 20th, 2020 Lobby Day downtown Richmond Virginia.  Thousands of militia users arrived.  Did some monitoring of their various radio nets (or "nets" - some were a lot more professional/military-sounding than others.  Also including some public safety radio traffic heard.

The vast majority of traffic was heard on the MURS channels and the FRS/GMRS frequencies.  Many nets appeared to be carrier squelch, with different users transmitting various PL (CTCSS) tones but leaving their radios in carrier squelch or open receive mode.  Lots of actual FRS radios were heard, in addition to folks obviously using Baofeng UV-5R, UV-82 and similar radios on the MURS, FRS and VHF/UHF business band frequencies.  The Baofeng radios have a distinctive "roger beep" that many folks apparently decided to leave switched on. 

Use of the channel 3 system was noted (MURS 3 - 151.9400 MHz / FRS 3 - 462.6125 MHz) as a calling/general meetup frequency), but FRS 1 462.5625 MHz was also very heavily used. 

Militia Nets:

Frequency   Tone   Remarks   
151.5050   CSQ   Militia net (portables, various tones)   
151.6250      DMR (strong digital voice traffic on frequency causing QRM to the various users)   
151.6250   CSQ   Militia net (CSQ), with QRM from DMR and other nets on frequency   
151.6250   79.7 PL   Militia net (possibly tone protected net)   
151.6250   100.0 PL   Tone protected militia net    
151.6250   114.8 PL   Tone protected militia net    
151.6250   136.5 PL   Construction?  Likely unrelated traffic, mixing with other traffic on frequency   
151.6250   156.7 PL   Tone protected militia net    
151.6250   167.9 PL   Possibly Crane Master (licensed user)   
151.6250   179.9 PL   Tone protected militia net    
151.7000   CSQ   Militia net, various tactical callsigns heard (no CTCSS or DCS tones)   
151.7600   CSQ   Militia net with radio checks, various CTCSS tones (100.0 PL, 88.5 PL, 77.0 PL, etc.) heard in the same net   
151.8050   CSQ   Single militia net heard here, tactical callsigns (portables) "Longshot" and other callsigns   (one station was TXing 77.0 Hz PL)
151.8200   CSQ   Multiple nets heard, various CTCSS tones   
151.8200   CSQ   "Virginia militia" "net 1" "MURS 1"    
151.8200   77.0 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.8200   88.5 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.8200   100.0 PL   Tone protected milita net (Baofeng roger beep heard)   
151.8200   107.2 PL   Militia net   
151.8200   162.2 PL   Tone protected milita net   
151.8200   192.8 PL   Voice inversion noted   
151.8800   CSQ   Multiple nets heard, various CTCSS tones   
151.8800   100.0 PL   Tone protected net heard with 100.0 Hz PL   
151.8800   156.7 PL   Simplex repeater    
151.8800   167.9 PL   Tone protected net heard with 167.9 Hz PL   
151.8800   192.8 PL   Talking about parking (likely related to event)   
151.9400   CSQ   Multiple nets heard, various CTCSS tones   
151.9400   74.4 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.9400   77.0 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.9400   114.8 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.9400   123.0 PL   Possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.9400   173.8 PL   Militia net, possibly CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
151.9550   77.0 PL   Militia net, possibly CSQ, tactical callsigns heard   
151.9550   88.5 PL   Militia net    
154.5275   100.0 PL   Militia net, possibly tone-protected   
154.5275   136.5 PL   Construction?  Likely unrelated traffic    
154.5400   67.0 PL   Portables (weak)   
154.5700   CSQ   Multiple nets heard, various CTCSS tones (CSQ net, users transmitting differnet tones)   
154.5700   77.0 PL   Likely CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
154.5700   88.5 PL   Likely CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
154.5700   100.0 PL   Likely CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
154.5700   156.7 PL   Likely CSQ net user transmitting PL tone   
154.5700   162.2 PL   Tone protected net heard with 162.2 Hz PL   
154.6000   CSQ   Multiple nets heard, various CTCSS tones (CSQ net, users transmitting differnet tones)   
154.6000   88.5 PL   Carrier heard with sound effects and people talking in background   
154.6000   136.5 PL   Militia net   
154.6000   162.2 PL   Militia net, mobile to mobile chatter (strong signals)   
154.6000   627 DPL   Tone protected net heard with 627 DCS/627 DPL   
462.1250   69.3 PL   Militia net (tone protected, likely Baofeng BF-888 radios)   
462.5500   CSQ   Various nets heard here   
462.5500   67.0 PL   Militia net (tone protected FRS radios)   
462.5500   110.9 PL   Militia net (tone protected FRS radios)   
462.5500   127.3 PL   Militia net (tone protected FRS radios)   
462.5625   67.0 PL   Various tactical callsigns heard, including DCE-11, XZ-11, NCW-13, NCW-14 - net control appeared to be XZ-11   
462.5625   67.0 PL   "Group 4" "meeting location" (with FRS roger beeps)   
462.5625  74.4 PL      Heard mention of "free parking" (with Motorola FRS roger beeps)
462.5625   77.0 PL   Different net heard, mixing with numerous stations on freq   
462.5625   156.7 PL   Separate net heard, multiple stations   
462.5750   CSQ   Militia net    
462.5750   67.0 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.5750   131.8 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.5875   67.0 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.5875   71.9 PL   "Pennsylvania" "copy that" "bring it back to Cary St."    
462.5875   77.0 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   100.0 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   127.3 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   131.8 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   141.3 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   233.6 PL   Militia net   
462.5875   250.3 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.6000   67.0 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.6000   136.5 PL   Militia net    
462.6125   74.4 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6125   127.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6125   141.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6250   CSQ   Militia net (portables with Baofeng roger beep)   
462.6250   110.9 PL   Militia net (portables with Baofeng roger beep)   
462.6250   127.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6375   CSQ   Various nets heard   
462.6375   77.0 PL   "Virginia" heard, possible Virginia milita freq   
462.6375   131.8 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6375   156.7 PL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
462.6500   71.9 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6500   123.0 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6625   67.0 PL   Weak UNID traffic heard   
462.6625   71.9 PL   Talking about "Broad Street"    
462.6750   CSQ   Militia net (portables)   
462.6875   CSQ   Coordinating meeting locations, mobiles/portables   
462.6875   82.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6875   91.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.6875   100.0 PL   Militia net (portables with FRS roger beeps)   
462.7000   CSQ   Militia net   
462.7000   71.9 PL   Possibly a TX tone only member of the CSQ net on frequency   
462.7000   100.0 PL   FRS call tone heard    
462.7000   136.5 PL   "Floyd" "copy that" "radio check" (portables)   
462.7125   CSQ   "Virginia 10th" "team 1" "channel check" radio checks   
462.7125   85.4 PL   Militia net   
462.7125   94.8 PL   Militia net    
462.7125   97.4 PL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
462.7125   167.9 PL   Militia net    
462.7125   225 DPL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
462.7250   CSQ   Militia net (portables with Motorola FRS roger beep)   
462.7250   67.0 PL   Militia net (Baofeng UV-5R roger beeps)   
462.7250   136.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.7250   141.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
462.7250   754 DPL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
462.7625   026 DPL   Likely TV or camera crew (simplex)   
462.8875   565 DPL   Camera crew/TV crew coordinating camera shots, etc.     
462.9125   177.3 PL   Coordinating parking, etc. (portables, simplex)   
462.9125   703 DPL   Camera crew/TV crew   
464.5500   88.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
464.5500   100.0 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.5625   CSQ   Militia net (portables)   
467.5625   82.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.5625   85.4 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.5875   CSQ   Militia net (portables)   
467.5875   82.5 PL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
467.6125   85.4 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.6125   107.2 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.6375   67.0 PL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
467.6375   97.4 PL   Portables (weak)   
467.6625   69.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.6625   123.0 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.6875   82.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.6875   192.8 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.7125   192.8 PL   Militia net (portables)   
467.7125   250.3 PL   Militia net (FRS radios, tone protected)   
467.9250   123.0 PL   Unknown if related to event, possibly news media?   
467.9250   196.6 PL   Unknown if related to event, possibly news media?   
469.5000   69.3 PL   Militia net (portables)   
469.5625   155 DPL   Unknown if militia users or TV crew/media    
469.9500   203.5 PL   Militia net (portables)   
469.9500   210.7 PL   Militia net (portables)   








PUBLIC SAFETY:

  39.5400 MHz [CSQ]  - Virginia State Police car-to-car chatter "barrier" "command post" (statewide interop frequency - SIRS)
154.6650 MHz [CSQ] - Virginia State Police car-to-car and air-to-ground (old statewide "TAC" car to car channel)
155.8950 MHz [91.5 Hz PL] - Virginia Department of Emergency Management analog/backup EOC repeater - radio checks
852.5125 MHz [156.7 Hz PL] - 8TAC93D Interoperabilty - simplex
853.0125 MHz [156.7 Hz PL] - 8TAC94 Interoperability - repeater - patched to statewide VHF P25 trunking system

853.0125 MHz [156.7 PL] was patched to the Virginia STARS VHF Project 25 trunking system talkgroup "RIC 3" (Richmond 3) - identified as "Unified Command".  Several other STARS talkgroups were active as well as special event/interop talkgroups on the Richmond metro area 800 MHz trunking system.    852.5125 MHz [156.7 PL] was also used for unit-to-unit communications (portable to portable)

[Josh]

That splains why the US Army's elint spyplane was circling the city.



Surely they mapped out tha malishee's electronic order of battle!

400 million guns and rising, trillions of rounds of ammunition, 80 million gun owners. Good luck defeating that army.

[R4002]

Considering the sheer number of people with radios (Motorola FRS gear and Baofengs for everyone), there was little to intentional jamming or QRM noted. 

The radio nets were pretty straightforward for the most part...which is actually reassuring.  Keep it simple.  Virginia is pretty heavily armed in general.  I’m part of that “unorganized militia” as well.  Radio gear cached with ammo and medical supplies.

On another note, there were a LOT of CB antennas to be seen on the various militia trucks too.  I did a very small amount of listening on 11m and only heard locals chatting away on their usual channels.  I imagine that at least a fair amount of the CB gear is at least capable of operating above/below the legal 40 CB channels.

[Josh]

This is the epic tale of a brilliant USMC General officer who woooped ass on a technologically superior foe by not playing their game;
https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/that-time-a-marine-general-led-a-fictional-iran-against-the-us-military-and-won

[R4002]

I found a list of militia/prepper frequencies for programming into Baofeng radios, open-banded ham rigs, etc. and it fits pretty closely with the nets that I heard:


*151.9400 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF Primary (MURS 3)
*462.6125 MHz - Militia/Patriot FRS UHF Primary (FRS 3)
*146.4200 MHz - Militia/Patriot 2m VHF FM Calling/Working

*151.8200 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF MURS 1
*151.8800 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF MURS 2
*151.9400 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF Primary/Calling MURS 3
*154.5700 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF MURS 4
*154.6000 MHz - Militia/Patriot MURS VHF MURS 5
*151.6250 MHz - Militia/Patriot Red Dot VHF Red Dot - Business Band
*151.9550 MHz - Militia/Patriot Purple Dot VHF Purple Dot - Business Band
*156.6250 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF Marine Channel 72
*156.8250 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF Marine Channel 76

*464.5000 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS BROWN DOT 1
*464.5500 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS YELLOW DOT 2
*467.7625 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS UHF BUSINESS J DOT 3
*467.8125 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS K DOT 4
*467.8500 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS SILVER STAR 5
*467.8750 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS GOLD STAR 6
*467.9000 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS RED STAR 7
*467.9250 MHz - Militia/Patriot UHF BUSINESS BLUE STAR 8

*151.6250 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS RED DOT 1
*151.9550 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS PURPLE DOT 2
*152.8850 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 3
*154.5700 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 3A (MURS 4)
*152.9150 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 4
*154.6000 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 4A (MURS 5)
*151.7000 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 5
*151.7600 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 6
*152.9250 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 7
*151.8200 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 7A (MURS 1)
*151.8350 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 8
*151.8800 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 8A (MURS 2)
*151.8050 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 9
*151.9400 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 9A (MURS 3)
*151.5125 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 10
*151.6550 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 11
*151.6850 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 12
*151.7150 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 13
*151.7450 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 14
*151.7750 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 15
*151.8650 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 16
*151.8950 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 17
*151.9250 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 18
*152.7000 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 19
*154.4900 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 20
*154.5150 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 21
*154.5275 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 22
*154.5400 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 23
*153.0050 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 24
*154.6550 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 25
*158.4000 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 26
*158.4075 MHz - Militia/Patriot VHF BUSINESS 27


The VHF business frequencies are taken almost exactly out of the Motorola VHF business radio manuals...including the misprint for 152.700 MHz (listed as VHF 19 or Channel 19).  The radios appear to actually use 151.700 MHz as frequency 19.  The other possibility is its a misprint for 152.870 MHz.  152.7000 MHz is not a business frequency and falls within the Part 22 paging band (the 152.690 MHz paging frequency is only 10 kHz away).  Of course, in a SHTF situation, the paging transmitters would likely be switched off and 152.700 MHz would actually be, at least in theory, a good place to "hide". 


HF frequencies

*26985 kHz / 26.985 MHz AM - CB Channel 3 AM Militia AM CB Calling (see also: 151.940 MHz, 462.6125 MHz)
*27365 kHz / 27.365 MHz LSB - CB Channel 36 LSB Militia CB SSB
*27375 kHz / 27.375 MHz USB - CB Channel 37 USB Militia CB SSB
*28305 kHz / 28.305 MHz USB - Militia 10m SSB
*28333 kHz / 28.333 MHz USB - Militia 10m SSB
*14130 kHz / 14.130 MHz USB - Militia 20m digital (USB)
*14110 kHz / 14.110 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB
*14242 kHz / 14.242 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB
*14315 kHz / 14.315 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB
*14330 kHz / 14.330 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB
*14337 kHz / 14.337 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB (also 14337.5 USB 14.3375 MHz USB)
*14342 kHz / 14.342 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB (also 14342.5 USB 14.3425 MHz USB)
*14345 kHz / 14.345 MHz USB - Militia 20m SSB
*6900 kHz / 6.900 MHz LSB - Militia 43m SSB "broadcast" (poor frequency choice if you ask me)
*7110 kHz / 7.110 MHz LSB CW- Militia 40m CW/digital (LSB)
*7242 kHz / 7.242 MHz LSB - Militia 40m SSB
*7230 kHz / 7.230 MHz LSB - Militia 40m SSB
*7235 kHz / 7.235 MHz LSB - Militia 40m SSB
*7275 kHz / 7.275 MHz LSB - Militia 40m SSB
*3545 kHz / 3.545 MHz CW - Militia 80m CW
*3588 kHz / 3.588 MHz USB/LSB - Militia 80m digital (listed as USB)
*3818 kHz / 3.818 MHz LSB - Militia 75m SSB
*3838 kHz / 3.838 MHz LSB - Militia 75m SSB
*3860 kHz / 3.860 MHz LSB - Militia 75m SSB
*3888 kHz / 3.888 MHz LSB - Militia 75m SSB
*3930 kHz / 3.930 MHz LSB
*3933 kHz / 3.933 MHz LSB
*3939 kHz / 3.939 MHz LSB
*3950 kHz / 3.950 MHz LSB
*3995 kHz / 3.995 MHz LSB