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Boston Area Federal Frequencies

I've been scanning a few different Federal VHF/UHF frequency ranges, just to see what's out there that isn't on the MA Radio Reference page. The two main ranges I've been scanning are 162-174 MHz and 406.1-420 MHz.

I picked up a few interesting things like a frequency associated with a CBP Air Surveillance unit and also the Postal Inspectors (but they were encrypted). What follows is a running list of the hits I've gotten and the agency their potentially associated with. Most Federal Agencies use P25 and there is a helpful list of NAC Codes that can help tie things back to an agency.

These are in no particular order. Some of them are published on the Radio Reference Massachusetts Federal page and some aren't. There were some frequencies I found that were just noise and/or control channels which won't be included here.

  • 166.9500 MHz - 109 NAC - Boston National Historical Park Rangers (On RR)
  • 168.8375 MHz - 293 NAC - Commonly associated with CBP Air 1. I heard them calling out the position of a car. Possibly not in Boston area if they were in the air.
  • 172.9000 MHz - 040 NAC - TSA Repeater at Boston Logan Airport (On RR). Not sure if encrypted or if it's just coming in weak.
  • 170.3750 MHz - 131.8 PL - USPS Vehicle Operations (On RR).
  • 168.4875 MHz - 167 NAC - FBI A2. Usually heard in the clear (On RR).
  • 168.6250 MHz - 167 NAC - FBI A4. Usually heard in the clear (On RR).
  • 172.0750 MHz - 167 NAC - FB1 A1 (On RR).
  • 167.4375 MHz -167 NAC - FBI Interop. Partially in the clear (On RR).
  • 419.3750 MHz - 156 NAC/156.7 PL - Commonly associated with the DEA.
  • 418.8750 MHz - 156 NAC - Commonly associated with DEA surveillance/ops. Partially encrypted.
  • 419.4250 MHz - 156 NAC - Commonly associated with DEA surveillance/ops. Partially encrypted.
  • 418.6250 MHz - 156 NAC - Commonly associated with DEA surveillance/ops. Partially encrypted.
  • 416.6250 MHz - 156 NAC - Commonly associated with DEA surveillance/ops. Partially encrypted. Potentially a false hit.
  • 418.6750 MHz - 156 NAC - Commonly associated with DEA surveillance/ops. Partially encrypted.
  • 409.9375 MHz - 482 NAC - Commonly associated with Postal Inspectors. Encrypted.
  • 418.500 MHz - 114.8 PL - Commonly associated with the GSA. Potentially security for a building.
  • 411.4125 MHz - 243 DCS - Unknown.
  • 170.7500 MHz - 293 NAC - Potentially US Marshals. Only heard twice.
  • 163.7500 MHz - 300 NAC - Based on the NAC this is CBP/ICE. Will check recordings at some point. I may have gotten the NAC wrong as this is listed as ICE Boston 1 with a different NAC on RR.
  • 165.7375 MHz - 291 NAC - Listed as ICE Boston 2 (On RR).
  • 408.2000 MHz - 201 NAC - Federal Protective Service Primary. Partially Encrypted (On RR).
  • 414.9375 MHz - 131.8 PL - Simulcaast of Stoneham Fire for some reason.
  • 164.9000 MHz - 293 NAC - US Coast Guard. Encrypted.
  • 139.9625 MHz - 85.4 PL - Boston National Guard Repeater
  • 166.0750 MHz - 123 PL - Department of Veteran Affairs Maintenance NET in Jamaica Plain per RR.
  • 164.0625 MHz - 123 PL - Department of Veteran Affairs Maintenance NET in West Roxbury per RR.

I also heard what sounded like pager tones while scanning in my car but I'll need to verify the frequency as it might be hydrologica/meterlogical data.

As I hear more I'll update this list though the Boston area isn't super busy Federal chatter wise. Huge thanks to The Fed Files Blog which has a lot of frequencies by agency.

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