KMDT Approach Feeds (Harrisburg, PA)

[MikeGranby]

Full info here...

http://www.mikeg.net/hobbies/aviation/liveatc.htm

Pictures attached below.

[PHL Approach]

Nice job, its good to see another local facility come up. Have you tried these two ZNY freqs? You're not that far from the transmitters so it might be worth a shot..

132.2
133.47

[MikeGranby]

Thanks. I'll give those a go. I've got a preamp on order, so that might help things if I can't get a clear enough signal yet...

[MikeGranby]

Just gave it a try. I can hear both the planes and ATC on both freqs, with some noise on the 132.2 ATC transmissions. The quality on 132.2 is about what I get on 124.65, while 133.47 is about what I get on 124.10. Looks like I'm going to be buying some more scanners...

[PHL Approach]

That's awesome, 133.47/ "Harrisburg 10 High" can get to be very busy for southwest bound New York departures. Are you ok with putting those two freqs on one feed and combine the two MDT App freqs on another. Just until you get another scanner.

[MikeGranby]

I'd rather keep the KMDT freqs on their own scanners for now, as one of the reasons I wanted to put this up was for IFR students out of my home airport to be able to listen to recordings of their transmissions to improve their radio technique, and that works best with discrete feeds. But I will make sure 133.47 is the next feed I put in. I had planned on addding the local tower freqs first, but Harrisburg High will be top priority. Shouldn't be too long. I've got a PC (a $139 off-lease machine, which is perfect for this!) coming Tuesday to act as a dedicated box for the feeds, and I've also ordered a Delta 44, so I'll be able to add another scanner PDQ. My biggest question now is what kind of splitter / preamp to use. I've got a simple preamp on order, and I was figuring on passive splitters after that, but I might bite the bullet and switch to an active splitter like an ASA15.

[PHL Approach]

Sounds good, looking forward to hearing ZNY.

[MikeGranby]

I'll keep everyone updated.

BTW, do you work at PHL Approach?

[PHL Approach]

hehe, no not yet.

[MikeGranby]

Well, forget the ASA15. It's only spec-ed up to 70MHz.

[JetScan1]

I'd rather keep the KMDT freqs on their own scanners for now, as one of the reasons I wanted to put this up was for IFR students out of my home airport to be able to listen to recordings of their transmissions to improve their radio technique, and that works best with discrete feeds.

Great to have another feed up ! And it's really nice having another "discrete" feed that concentrates on one area rather than trying to please everyone at the same time by loading up one radio with too many different sectors/frequencies. I wish more people could see the advantages of doing it this way. DJ

[dave]

Great to have another feed up ! And it's really nice having another "discrete" feed that concentrates on one area rather than trying to please everyone at the same time by loading up one radio with too many different sectors/frequencies. I wish more people could see the advantages of doing it this way. DJ

I think everyone can see the advantages.    The issue is that not everyone can afford the setup and/or manage the complexity.  That is one of the issues we've been trying to solve in the busier and more interesting airspace with the "superfeed" machines.

We can fund or help fund setups like this for feeders who may not have the financial means but who live in very good locations near busy airspace.  As long as they commit to do their part in helping to keep the feed(s) running.

Dave

[MikeGranby]

Just managed to pick-up a couple of PRO-2055 scanners (new in box) for $67 each on eBay. Bad displays, but I don't need the display for this application. They list at $199, so that's a pretty good deal.  Should be able to add another couple of feeds in the next week or so...

[JetScan1]

I think everyone can see the advantages. The issue is that not everyone can afford the setup and/or manage the complexity.  That is one of the issues we've been trying to solve in the busier and more interesting airspace with the "superfeed" machines.

You're missing my point, of course more radios are better, but what I'm getting at is if only ONE radio is available it's better to concentrate on one area or sector rather than trying to scan everything at once. This is especially evident at moderately busy airports that have clearance/ground/tower/approach on all ONE radio. The BWI/CLE/CMH/DAY/MHT/PBI/SAT/SDF feeds are some examples with too many frequencies on them. I realize it's a matter of personal taste and some people think that it's better to scan everything. I just don't think it is and all I'm saying is it's nice to see new feeds, like MDT here, that don't do this. DJ

[MikeGranby]

Just an update on this... I've finished moving the two KMDT Approach feeds over to a Linux box with a Delta-44 audio card, and I've got some more scanners and a splitter coming tommorrow, so I'll be able to add another couple of feeds. I'm going to start with KMDT Tower and a combined ZNY feed from 132.20 and 133.47, and then when the second Delta-44 turns up next week, I'll split ZNY and add KLNS Tower and KCXY Tower. That'll leave me one spare channels -- better start looking for other freqs! Are suggestions as to what I might be able to pickup from here? I might try the Potomac freqs south of here.

[JetScan1]

That'll leave me one spare channels -- better start looking for other freqs! Are suggestions as to what I might be able to pickup from here? I might try the Potomac freqs south of here.

Are you saying there is going to be 4 separate radios ? If so this is what I would do as an initial test.

Radio 1 - MDT approach

124.100
118.250
126.450

Radio 2 - ZNY 1

132.200
133.475

Radio 3 - Towers

124.800
119.500
120.900

Radio 4 - ZNY 2 (option 1)

128.000
132.500
134.325

Radio 4 - ZNY 2 (option 2)

134.800
123.625
124.900
132.875
128.575

A few questions. Does MDT approach use 118.250 very often ? Can you hear LNS Tower from your location ? Can you hear MUI Tower 126.200 from your location ? (maybe include that on the Tower feed).

If you didn't have it already this is the latest ZNY frequency info.

http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/airspace/ZNY_LTA0601.pdf

I believe the ZNY Joliet site is 28nm northeast of MDT, can you hear the ZNY controllers at all on 132.500 or 128.000 ? (note: the LRP sector frequency is listed at 133.675 but they have been using 128.000 instead, I'm not sure if the transmitter site for 128.000 is at the same Joliet location ? Anyone know ?). DJ 

[MikeGranby]

From my experience flying in the area, they rarely use 118.25 unless they've got a problem with another transmitter. And, yes, I can get KLNS tower on 120.9 fine from here. Re the setup, it's going to six radio to start with, and hopefully eight in the end. I'll check out those ZNY freqs and see what I can find. My location is N40.00723, W76.55731 if it helps.

[PHL Approach]

FYI, I think the new 128.0 freq has been possibly swapped with the old backup 33.17. They can't make up their mind. Yes that transmitter is in Joliet still. I was looking for Joliet on GE while looking for the location of Big Flat and I just couldn't find Joliet. I could have sworn it was somewhere out there.

[MikeGranby]

Just tried putting the Joliet freqs in the scanner, and I can pick-up ATC and airplanes. I'm going to work through the ZNY freqs and see what else I can get... Which ZNY sectors already have feeds?

[JetScan1]

I think the new 128.0 freq has been possibly swapped with the old backup 33.17. They can't make up their mind.

I see what you mean, a couple of days ago when I checked that sector they were using 128.000, but just checking now (at 2000 EST) they are using 133.175.

Yes that transmitter is in Joliet still. I was looking for Joliet on GE while looking for the location of Big Flat and I just couldn't find Joliet. I could have sworn it was somewhere out there.

You can find Joliet PA using MapQuest, it's position is around N40 36 43 W76 27 14, that would put it around 36 nautical miles north of the feeders location.

I'm going to work through the ZNY freqs and see what else I can get... Which ZNY sectors already have feeds?

Modena, about 40 nautical miles east of your location, also has a ZNY frequency on 135.450, and ZDC has a transmitter at Modena as well on 132.525. Can you hear the controllers on those two frequencies ? There is also a HIWAS off the Modena VOR on 113.200, can you get that ?

DJ 

[MikeGranby]

Can't get Modena, Millville or anything else beyond Big Flat and Joliet.

Still, that's not too bad! Might try some Potomac freqs next. Anyone got a map?

[JetScan1]

Might try some Potomac freqs next. Anyone got a map?

I don't have a sector map. If you didn't already know about it, you can pull up the Baltimore-Washington VFR Terminal Area Chart off the Skyvector site.

http://skyvector.com/

Here is a basic overview of the Potomac frequencies I'm familiar with.

118.675 = high (west)
118.950 = DCA initial departures (south, west, northwest)
119.000 = low (northeast) (status ?)
119.300 = ADW arrivals (final)
119.700 = BWI arrivals (final)
119.850 = DCA arrivals (final)
120.450 = IAD arrivals (west)
121.050 = high (southwest) (*)
123.825 = high (northwest)
124.000 = ADW area (status ?)
124.200 = DCA arrivals (north)
124.550 = BWI initial departures (northeast, south)
124.650 = IAD arrivals (south)
124.700 = DCA arrivals (final) (*)
125.050 = IAD initial departures (northwest, northeast, south)
125.525 = BWI arrivals (northwest, north)
125.650 = DCA initial departures (northeast)
125.800 = IAD arrivals (final) (*)
126.100 = IAD arrivals (north)
126.550 = high (east) (status ?)
126.650 = IAD initial departures (west, southwest)
126.750 = low (northwest-north)
128.350 = BWI arrivals (southwest, south)
128.700 = BWI initial departures (northwest, west)
134.200 = IAD arrivals (final) (*)

(*) = used when required

Any updates or corrections appreciated. DJ

[senduhelp]

I believe there are a couple Potomac frequencies covered by the BWI feed.  I know that 125.52 is one.  I would like to hear Harrisburg Ground on 121.7.

[MikeGranby]

I doubt I'm close enough to MDT to get Harrisburg Ground.

[PHL Approach]

These are the freqs for just the (CHP) Chesepeake Area in PCT in other words BWI.

PALEO - 133.75 / 254.35 - PALEO provides initial service to BWI prop arrivals over ENO, PXT and SBY,
BWI/DCA/ADW arrivals over BILIT.

GRACO - 124.55 / 317.425 - GRACO works all BWI departures and PCT overflights over PALEO, SWANN,
DAILY, SBY and PXT.

BWIFS - 119.7 / 290.475 - BWIFS is primarily responsible for arrivals to BWI RWY10, 33L, RWY4

BELAY - 125.525 / 291.625 - BELAY is responsible for CHP (Chesepeake/BWI), MTV (Mount Vernon/DCA) Area arrivals and over flights 9,000 feet and above. - Feeder to BWI from North.

BWIFN - 119.0 / 282.275 - BWIFN is primarily responsible for arrivals to BWI RWY15L, 33R.

WOOLY - 128.7 / 307.9 - WOOLY provides initial service to BWI Westbound departures, SHD and MTV Area over
flights and MTV Area arrivals.

BUFFR - 123.82 / 254.25 - High departure - Handles MTV (DCA) high departures.

BWIMS - 119.4 / 257.8 - Monitor

BWIMN - 123.75 - Monitor

SHILO - 126.75 / 307.9 - Works north satellites - Handles (MTV) DCA arrivals via BAL.


I do have Maps, but its just so many sectors. Making maps for Consolidated TRACONs is not fun.