Meteor Scatter and MSK144
Usher, NN4EE, sent out an email about the Perseids Meteor Shower, which is included below. In it, he mentioned using the ionized trails left behind by meteors to bounce 6-meter signals and communicate using MSK144. Since I already have WSJT-X installed for FT8 and my dipole antenna will tune on 6 meters, I thought I would give it a try. Although I still have not made a contact this way, I have seen some other stations on the air. I remain hopeful.
[AthensRadioClub] Perseids Meteor Shower Peaks This Week
A great time to try out MSK144 Mode on 6 meters to bounce your HF signals off meteor trails!
How to use MSK144 and when to watch below.
MSK144
MSK 144 is used for Meteor Scatter operation, where you bounce your signals off the ionised trails left by meteors. Usually on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. These reflections are called "pings", and don't last long long (on 6m, around 2 seconds). MSK144 (like its predecessor FSK144) transmits your message continuously in a loop for a while, and you hope a well-placed meteor will allow somebody to receive your signal. Before these digital MS modes, operators used very fast morse code, played from tapes. They would receive and record to tape, and playback the recording slowly to decode by ear. If you have FT8 setup you can use MSK144 as it is a part of the WSJT-X program.
When to watch:
The peak is predicted** for 14:53 UTC on August 13, 2026. So the mornings of August 12 and 13 are probably your best bets. But August 11 and August 14 might be good as well. Watch your weather! And be aware that the Perseids tend to rise to a peak gradually, then fall off rapidly after their peak.
When to watch: Watch in the hours before dawn. Do not watch in early evening; the radiant won’t have risen yet. The radiant – in the constellation Perseus – rises in late evening and is highest at dawn, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. That’s why the meteors are best before dawn.
Southern Hemisphere: For many populated areas in the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant doesn’t rise above the horizon. Unless you live at a latitude closer to Earth’s equator than about 30 degrees S., the Perseids probably aren’t a major shower for you. But you can still see Delta Aquariid meteors flying in a dark sky!
Nearest moon phase: The new moon falls at 17:37 UTC on August 12. So the peak mornings for the Perseids will be moon-free. Plus! Those lucky enough to be observing the August 12 total solar eclipse might catch a Perseid during totality. That would be crazily wonderful!
Duration of shower: July 14 to September 1. This time period is when we’re passing through the meteor stream in space. But, remember, the meteors tend to fall off rapidly after the peak mornings.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, skywatchers frequently report 90 meteors per hour, or more. The August Perseid meteor shower is rich and steady. The meteors are colorful, and many are bright. And they frequently leave persistent trains. All of these factors make the Perseid shower the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere.
Enjoy,
Usher NN4EE
My Experience So Far
Getting started was as easy as clicking Mode on the menu at the top of the WSJT-X screen, selecting MSK144, and switching to 6 meters. I immediately started receiving some signals.
Some questions immediately came to mind. So I resorted to AI for the answers. I will share them here.
How long is the transmit receive window in WSJT-X? The standard MSK144 transmit/receive period is 15 seconds. Your station transmits for 15 seconds and then listens for 15 seconds. This is similar to the 15-second timing cycle used by FT8. Due to the longer cycle, heat could be an issue for your transmitter. Be sure to adjust your transmitter power level to account for the heat that may be generated during transmission. Note: My WSJT-X defaulted to 30 seconds and the T/R box had to be adjusted.
How long will the ionized trail from the meteor last? It varies considerably. A usable meteor reflection may last only a fraction of a second, while stronger ones can last several seconds or even longer. MSK144 is designed to make use of extremely short reflections, or “pings.”
If the window is only 3 seconds long and you are transmitting for 15 seconds, how do you get a reply before the window closes? You don’t. MSK144 repeatedly sends the same message throughout your transmit period. A brief meteor reflection may allow the other station to decode that message, but by the time it is the other station’s turn to transmit, that particular trail will usually be gone.
How do you get a reply? You keep your fingers crossed and hope another meteor leaves an ionized trail in exactly the right place so that you can communicate again. You and the other station continue alternating transmissions until the necessary messages get through. This can take many minutes, particularly when meteor activity is low.
If you see someone calling CQ, can you just click on them and let WSJT-X work its magic, just like FT-8? Yes. Double-click the station calling CQ, and WSJT-X will set up the response and use the opposite transmit interval.
If one wants to call CQ, are there any rules one should follow? Yes. As a general rule, the western most station transmits during the first, or even, sequence. In North American MSK144 operation, the general convention is Point East, Transmit Even (PETE). If you are calling toward the east, transmit during the first, or even, sequence. If you are calling toward the west, transmit during the second, or odd, sequence. In WSJT-X, check the box labeled Tx even/1st to transmit during the even sequence and uncheck it to transmit during the odd sequence. Current MSK144 operating guidance describes this as east = first/even and west = second/odd.
If you are responding to someone else’s CQ, just double-click on the station and WSJT-X will take care of the timing.
In practice, if most of the signals you are seeing are transmitting during the even time slots, you would generally want to call CQ during the odd time slots so those stations are listening when you transmit.
Additionally, if there is another meteor-scatter station close to you, you do not want to be transmitting while that station is trying to receive. Ideally, nearby stations should use the same transmit interval so that they transmit and receive at the same time. By “close,” I mean close enough that your transmitted signal could reach the other station directly and interfere with its ability to receive weak meteor-scatter signals.
Why is the Fast Graph screen not showing any useful information? You should click the Auto Level button near the bottom of the screen to adjust the levels.
Why do I seem to be transmitting for 30 seconds when everyone else seems to be transmitting for only 15 seconds? In my version of WSJT-X, v3.1.0 improved PLUS, it defaulted to 30 seconds. The correct interval for the US on 6 meters is 15 seconds. I needed to change the T/R 30 x to T/R 15 s, near the middle of the screen.
I am seeing signals on the fast graph that last for nearly the entire 15 second receive interval. Are those Meteor Scatter signals? Probably not. You are probably receiving those signals by some other means. Contacts via Meteor trails are usually somewhere between 0.1 and a few seconds.
I see someone sending CQ265. What does that mean? That is shorthand for someone who is sending CQ but wants to move off of the standard frequency of 50.260 to the alternate frequency of 50.265. Just click on that signal like you normally would and WSJT-X will automatically change to the new frequency and attempt the contact.
What distances should I expect from my Meteor Scatter contacts? 300–1,500 km (175–925 miles) is a good estimate. Contacts closer than 150 miles are probably not Meteor Scatter.
Do I need to identify my station after transmitting? No, your call sign is transmitted as part of the digital message so you normally do not need a separate voice or CW identification. Note: If you use the Sh option, MSK144 sends a Short Hashed version of your call sign, not your actual callsign. This puts you into a legally grey area of identification. Best practice is to keep Sh unchecked as it provides no significant advantage on 6 meters.
When is the best time to do Meteor Scatter? Generally, 4:00 to 8:00 a.m. local time is a very good period, although useful meteor scatter is certainly possible from about 3:00 to 10:00 a.m. The period from about 6:00 p.m. to midnight is generally the least productive.
The reason is Earth’s motion through space. On the morning side of Earth, your location is rotating toward the direction in which Earth is traveling around the Sun, so the atmosphere encounters more meteoroids and, generally, faster ones. Faster meteors also tend to produce stronger ionized trails useful for radio propagation. Early morning is consequently the preferred time for ordinary meteor-scatter operation.
What is the radiant? The radiant is the point in the sky from which the meteors in a particular shower appear to originate.
For the Perseids, that point is in the constellation Perseus, which is why the shower is called the Perseids.
This is a perspective effect. The meteors are actually traveling along nearly parallel paths through space, but from our viewpoint they look as though they are spreading outward from one point—much like railroad tracks seem to converge in the distance.
For meteor scatter, the radiant matters because it affects the orientation of the meteor trails. That can make some radio paths much more productive than others at a given time. You do not point your antenna at the radiant; you still point it toward the station you want to work.
Must you be in a meteor shower to do MSK144? No. You can use MSK144 for meteor scatter year-round, even when no named meteor shower is occurring. Those contacts use sporadic meteors, which enter the atmosphere every day. Major showers simply increase the number of opportunities for useful reflections. MSK144 can be used throughout the year, with particularly good opportunities during seasonal meteor showers.
When are some other significant meteor showers?
Perseids Aug. 12–13, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
Orionids Oct. 21–22, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐ Good
Leonids Nov. 16–17, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐ Good
Geminids Dec. 13–14, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
Ursids Dec. 21–22, 2026 ⭐⭐ Fair
Quadrantids Jan. 3–4, 2027 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent, but short peak
Lyrids Apr. 22–23, 2027 ⭐⭐⭐ Good
Eta Aquariids May 5–6, 2027 ⭐⭐⭐ Good, especially before dawn
Where can I find more information? You might try Meteor Scatter: Getting on the Air — How it Works by Jim Wilson, K5ND.
My First Meteor Scatter Contact
Thanks to Usher’s email, I managed to make a contact Sunday morning with W5LDA on 6 meters using MSK144. The entire contact took about 6 minutes to complete.
My antenna is a multi-band dipole for 10, 20 and 40 meters. It just happens to tune up on 6 meters. It is about 25 feet above ground hanging in the trees.
I never did get a confirmation for this contact. In retrospect, I don’t think I hung in sending my 73 back long enough.
More Good Tips — One might say they are Meteoric
I found some useful tips on the QRZ page of John Price, WA2FZW. Rather than re-write them I will just paste them here.
My favorite mode is meteor scatter on 6 and 2. My favorite would probably be EME which I'm working on slowly but slowly! You can find me on every morning around 6AM eastern time on 6 and 2 meters using MSK144.
For those wanting to try it, there are a couple of rules we follow:
Transmit on the 2nd (odd) sequence when looking to the west of your station and the 1st (even) sequence when looking east.
Use 15 second sequences.
Use Contest mode and ‘SH’ on 2 meters and higher.
If you decide to try meteor scatter, get on pingjockey.net. Most of the meteor scatter folks are on there. It makes coordinating contacts easier.
Here's an excellent article from Jim (K5ND) on getting started on meteor scatter. Just note that there are some links at the end to articles on 'physics.princeton.edu' which are no longer valid. Those articles can now be found at https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/refs.html.
And here is a video of a talk on meteor scatter given by Rob Suggs (NN4NT) at the HamSCI 2026 Workshop. In the talk, he mentions the Virgo app, which no longer exists. It has been replaced by Swan.ms, which is an excellent tool for determining the best directions to aim during meteor showers. He also has an incorrect URL for pingjockey.net.
Just another note which applies to all digital operations: If I don’t get an ‘RRR’ or ‘RR73’ from you, you ain’t in my log!
Another update.
I have still been unsuccessful in making a confirmed 6 meter meteor scatter contact. This is not unexpected given the fact that I don’t have a 6 meter antenna, I am just tuning up a multi-band dipole. It also doesn’t help that meteor activity is not very high. However, something interesting did happen recently. One of my neighbors, W4IMD, who lives about 22 miles from me as the crow flies, was calling CQ on 6 meters using MSK144. When he calls CQ, my “waterfall”, called the Fast Graph in WSJT-X, looks like Figure 1 below.
At some point, his signal started to sound funny. It sounded similar to what we used to call “picket fencing” or multi-path interference. The Fast Graph looked like the top line in the image below.
So, of course, I showed it to ChatGPT and asked her what was going on.
“What you are seeing in the top trace of the first image is very likely aircraft-induced multipath — “aircraft flutter.” It does not look like a change in the MSK144 modulation itself.
The clue is the green amplitude trace. In the normal signal in your second picture, the level stays essentially constant. In the unusual one, the signal level rises and falls very regularly — but, importantly, the spacing of those fades changes during the 15-second transmission. Early in the transmission the ripples are roughly 8–9 per second; toward the end they are closer to 4–5 per second. A modulation-related artifact would normally stay locked to a fixed repetition rate. MSK144 standard frames, for example, are 72 ms long and repeat continuously.
What probably happened is that you were receiving two copies of the same station:
direct signal → your antenna
and
station → moving airplane → your antenna
The aircraft-reflected copy has a small Doppler shift relative to the direct signal. When the two copies combine, they alternately add and cancel, producing the very regular amplitude ripples you see. As the airplane moves, the Doppler difference changes, so the beat rate changes. That's why the ripple spacing gets progressively wider from left to right.”
Aircraft scatter is a well-known cause of this effect on VHF, and I was excited to figure out which aircraft was causing the reflections. However, despite feeding historical ADS-B data for a number of aircraft in the area to ChatGPT and having her calculate the theoretical flutter based on each aircraft’s position and velocity relative to the two radio stations, I have not yet found one whose calculated motion matches this particular trace (Fast Graph) closely enough to identify it as the reflector.
Alfred (Al) Cade Lester - KN5ACL - Silent Key
December 30, 1946 – June 29, 2026
Al Lester, KN5ACL, passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the age of 79, and is now a Silent Key. This is the term used by amateur radio operators when one of our own dies.
Al was an active member of the Athens Radio Club and was always looking for something new to get involved with. His enthusiasm for amateur radio and his continued interest in learning and participating in the hobby were evident to those who knew him. Al was a former pilot and continued to stay close to his friends in the aviation community.
His gentle manner and kind heart will be missed by our club.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Field Day 2026
ARRL Summer Field Day was a blast. A special shout out to Colin (KO4IZK) for coordinating this year’s activity and Claude (AC4SH) for all the work he does a club president. Chris (N5TOY) smoked some BBQ for lunch and Kevin (KR4BDR) cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. Many others provided equipment and helped set up and take down the station. A big thank you to everyone that came out and made this year a success. I have included some of the pictures here but there are more pictures of the event available in our photo album.
Kevin (KR4BDR) and Andy (KQ4VVW) work radios in the rain with Rob (N2WGK) helping.
Tom Foley (VK1CAT) was visiting from Franklin, Australia and decided to spend Field Day with our club. We enjoyed spending time with Tom.
Carolyn, daughter of Daniel (KR4LOE), made 4 contacts on the GOTA station under the superb tutelage of Kevin (KR4BDR).
Solar panels provide power near the Field Day operating tents and radio equipment.
Spring to 10K
As of this morning, June 13th, the "Spring to 10K" goal was met, surpassing 10,000 QSOs on POTA for the club call, KD4QHB! Thanks everyone for the work and support!
In case Jess needs to know, this was Redlands Wildlife Management Area, nestled within the verdant expanses of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, situated predominantly in the historic County of Greene—with secondary tracts extending into the neighboring jurisdictions of Oglethorpe, Oconee, and Morgan Counties—located within the northeastern quadrant of the State of Georgia, positioned in the southeastern region of the United States of America, which is located on the Continent of North America, situated in the Northern and Western Hemispheres of the round Planet Earth, the third celestial body from the Sun within the Solar System, located in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, inside the Local Group of galaxies, which exists within the boundless expanse of the Observable Universe. Also known as POTA parks US-7142 and US-4473.
Kevin (KR4BDR), Andy (KQ4VVW), and Bob (KE4JLL).
Kevin (KR4BDR), Andy (KQ4VVW), Bob (KE4JLL), and Jess (N4JAH).
I think I saw a UFO once, but I’m not sure because, I couldn’t identify what it was.
With the latest news feeding frenzy about the “release” of UFO sightings, here are some sites to feed your interest.
UFO Sites
Government Sites
This is the “new” site:
The PURSUE Archive: The newest and most comprehensive clearinghouse is located on the Department of Defense's dedicated portal. Launched as part of the Presidential Unsealing, Reporting, and Distraction System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), this centralized database hosts dozens of recently declassified videos, military sensor footage, and historical files dating back to the 1940s.
The following sites were already in place when Trump “released” his files. All of the ‘PURSUE’ documents were already available to the public:
The AARO Official Portal: The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, created during the Biden administration, houses its official repository of military-captured footage at www.aaro.mil. This includes categorized clips under their Official UAP Imagery page featuring unresolved radar and infrared files, such as the famous Navy "FLIR", "GIMBAL", and "GOFAST" videos alongside drone footage from global deployment zones.
The National Archives (NARA): Historical records, transcripts, and related media are cataloged under the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection (Record Group 615).
The FBI Vault: Historical files and investigations regarding older, legacy sightings can be reviewed directly via the FBI Vault's UFO Collection.
Independent Collections (may include consipiracy theories and less than reliable information)
The National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) is an independent, non-governmental non-profit organization that serves as the largest civilian clearinghouse for documenting UFO and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) sightings. Founded in 1974 by investigator Robert J. Gribble, NUFORC acts as an alternative, community-driven archive that preserves public experiences that might otherwise be dismissed by mainstream institutions. Users can filter sightings by date, location, or the specific shape of the craft (e.g., orb, triangle, or "Tic-Tac").
The War Zone is focused on military defense, aerospace technology, and global geopolitics. They are known for leveraging Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and in-depth technological analysisproviding extensive coverage of weapon systems and investigative UAP reporting.
NASA Watch is an independent, civilian-run blog and news website that provides insider information, internal memos, and sharp commentary regarding the United States space program and NASA It is completely unaffiliated with the government. It acts as a watchdog site dedicated to monitoring the space agency’s executive management, political maneuvers, and budget shifts. The platform was launched in March 1996 by Keith Cowing, a former NASA space station payload integration engineer. He started the site to critique agency policy during a wave of massive internal layoffs. It is highly regarded for publishing leaked internal documents, whistleblower complaints, and operational rumors before they hit mainstream news.
Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) is a military pilot-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization focused on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) as a matter of aviation safety and national security. It serves as the largest advocacy community of its kind, bridging the gap between military witnesses, commercial pilots, and Washington policymakers. The organization was founded by Ryan Graves, a former U.S. Navy F/A-18F pilot who was the first active-duty pilot to testify before Congress regarding regular UAP encounters during his deployment.
The Disclosure Foundation is a prominent, nonpartisan civil society organization and public charity dedicated to advancing government transparency, policy research, and public education regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). The foundation shifts the focus from simply asking if UAP exist to actively preparing society, scientific institutions, and legal frameworks for how the world operates as information is systematically declassified.
NewsNation’s UFO/UAP news hub provides comprehensive coverage of government disclosures, military whistleblower testimonies, and aerospace anomalies. The section heavily features investigation, including the Ross Coulthart "Reality Check" segments and deep dives into the PURSUE file releases.
Scientific Perspective
What’s up with this batch of UFO files? Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses what the Apollo astronauts were actually seeing and what to keep in mind when UFO files get released. Tyson is a prominent American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who has served as the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City since 1996. Widely recognized for making complex science accessible to the public, he is a leading voice in popularizing astronomy.
Breaking Down UAP Footage with the Head of The Pentagon’s UAP Taskforce, Dr. Jon Kosloski. Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Paul Mecurio get to the bottom of identifying the unidentifiable with Dr. Jon Kosloski, Director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). They explore the data pipeline: how AARO collects, verifies, and investigates reports, including the role of AI-generated fakes, confirmation bias, and false positives like Venus over Brooklyn. With 98% of cases explained and 2% still mysterious, Kosloski shares insights on working with law enforcement, geographic bias, sensor kits, and what defines a “hot spot” and what makes something “classified”? They break down specific sightings like GoFast or the Mount Etna Object.
NASA has made available a summary of their Apollo Light Flash Investigations online. A copy of the Study’s Report is also online. Spoiler alert. The light flashes were caused by high energy cosmic rays penetrating the spacecraft and striking the astronauts’ retinas in their eyes.
You can search the Case Resolution Reports from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
This written transcript of a Media Roundtable with Dr. Jon Kosloski, Director of AARO answers a lot of questions about how and why AARO does things. This question and answer session was held with the media in response to the AARO releasing its FY24 Consolidated Annual Report on UAP.
Why are so many of the documents concerning UFOs or UAPs still classified? What is the government hiding? It could be, as some have speculated, that the government is hiding proof of extraterrestrial life at the Area 51 facility because, if knowledge of their existence leaked out, our beliefs in religion, and thus society as a whole, would collapse. Or the answers could be found in the document AARO and the Declassification Process. This document discusses: What are UAPs? Why is so much UAP-related information classified? How does AARO declassify UAP-related information? How does AARO release declassified data and documents to the public?
The Union Pacific railroad will join the nation in celebrating 250 years of American independence and innovation this year with its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour led by the legendary Big Boy No. 4014. A daily schedule with additional stops along with a map of the route will be released closer to the tour’s launch. The eastern leg of the tour, anticipated to start in late spring 2026 (after April), is still being finalized and will be announced soon.
Unfortunatly, the Big Boy will not be coming close to Georgia.
4014 Big Boy Steam Engine
Artemis II Mission
NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT Wednesday, sending four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a planned test flight around the Moon and back.
The successful launch is the beginning of an approximately 10-day mission for NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. As the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemisprogram, among its objectives, the flight will demonstrate life support systems for the first time with crew and lay the foundation for an enduring presence on the Moon ahead of future missions to Mars.
After reaching space, Orion deployed its solar array wings, enabling the spacecraft to receive energy from the Sun, while the crew and engineers on the ground immediately began transitioning the spacecraft from launch to flight operations to start checking out key systems.
If all systems remain healthy, mission controllers will give Orion’s European-built service module a command to conduct the translunar injection burn on Thursday, April 2. This move is an approximately six-minute firing to send the spacecraft on a trajectory that will simultaneously carry crew around the Moon, while also harnessing lunar gravity to slingshot them back to Earth.
During a planned multi-hour lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, the astronauts will take photographs and provide observations of the Moon’s surface as the first people to lay eyes on some areas of the far side. Although the lunar far side will only be partially illuminated during the flyby, the conditions should create shadows that stretch across the surface, enhancing relief and revealing depth, ridges, slopes and crater rims that are often difficult to detect under full illumination. Crew observations and other human health scientific investigations during the mission, such as AVATAR, will inform science during future Moon missions.
Following a successful lunar flyby, the astronauts will return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10th.
How to Watch:
Yet another Artemis tracker
NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast) This feed will provide continuous coverage of Artemis II mission activities with live commentary
NASA's Artemis II Live Views from Orion As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from Artemis II's Orion spacecraft, without commentary
Artemis Live tracking map from ISSInfo.net
Multi-Camera views during flight
Lunar Fly-by Images
Updates are available on the Artemis blog.
Search Artemis II Press Album
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Out of all of the government agencies, the NSA is my favorite. It’s the only one that really listens.
VP Visit to Athens
There was a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) in place from April 14, 2026 at 1645 EDT to April 14, 2026 at 1959 EDT, tomorrow, for the Athens Airport. Apparently, JD Vance will be flying in to attend a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia / Akins Ford Arena. Erika Kirk is also scheduled to appear at that event.
Prep your scanner with the following frequencies:
132.475 AM — Atlanta Approach
291.100 AM — Approach UHF
126.300 AM — Athens Tower
338.275 AM — Tower UHF
121.800 AM — Athens Ground / Clearance
132.875 AM — ASOS (automated, real-time weather and airport data)
Look for Vance’s aircraft on ADSB Exchange, since it will usually show military planes. By clicking the “U” in the top right of the map screen you can limit the view to just military aircraft. It has been reported that he will come in a C-40 (the military version of the Boeing 737). On the radio, listen for “Air Force 2”. On the ADSB map, it is likely that the callsign is not reported as AF-2 but will likely be the only military jet coming to Athens.
Air Force Two (AF2) and SAM2A on their way to Athens. From ADSB Exchange.
Air Force 2 on final for runway 27 in Athens, GA
Air Force 2 taxis to the ramp.
I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I would see if I could catch a glimpse of Air Force Two arriving at the Athens Airport. It turns out that security was pretty lax and I managed to park in the Hertz parking lot, next to where the club meets.
I managed to hear SAM2A and AF2 talk on the Approach frequency, 132.475, and on the Tower frequency, 126.300. They used the civilian aircraft band and were not on the UHF military air band. The first 737, callsign SAM2A, was already pulled up in front of the building, unloading when I arrived. I was there about 10 minutes when Air Force Two was cleared to land. AF2 taxied right next to SAM2A.
I also monitored the ACCPD motorcade on 8TAC93, 852.5125 MHz. I got one hit from the Secret Service on my scanner. It was around 165.45 MHz but was encrypted. I didn’t write down the frequency so that is not the exact frequency but it was in that band. I didn’t do much scanning due to the noise and all of the activity. I did try to go into the terminal building, to take a picture of the aircraft through the windows, but the Secret Service would not let me in because “they had the building secured.”
If you are like me, you are interested in the radio aspect of a visit so I tried to take some pictures of the antennas on the vehicles. Unfourtunatly, the camera on my phone is pretty poor so the pictures are lacking in detail.
SAM2A sittng on the ramp.
This is very likely a LAIRCM / DIRCM laser turret—the gimbaled jammer assembly. On these systems, the turret tracks an incoming heat-seeking missile and points a laser at the missile’s seeker to confuse or jam it. Official descriptions of the AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM system say it uses a Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly to track the inbound missile and aim the laser jammer automatically.
This vehicle might be the new White House Communications Agency Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (MC2V) vehicle nicknamed Roadrunner. Its primary job is to maintain high-bandwidth satellite and radio links for the entire convoy, which it can do from the rear while remaining protected by the motorcade's outer security layers. It is interesting to note that it look like the antennas are mag mounts.
Most of the Secret Service vehicles in this motorcade are the new Jeep Wagoneer L (specifically the 2025 Command Operations Vehicle or COV variant) equipped for government and high-security motorcade duties.
Most of the local vehicles in the motorcade, such as the ACCPD cars and the GSP cars, were sporting a mag mount antenna supplied by the Secret Service.
This vehicle is probably Watchtower (Electronic Countermeasures Vehicle). To effectively protect from remote-controlled explosives and drones, this vehicle must stay in close proximity to the principal. It provides:
Signal Jamming (Counter-IED): Its most critical task is to jam radio frequencies within a specific radius, creating a "dead zone" for cell phones and other wireless devices. This prevents the remote detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by blocking the signals that would trigger them.
Missile Warning: It provides the entire convoy with laser and radar warnings, identifying when a threat (like an anti-tank guided missile) is using a laser for designation or ranging.
Signals Intelligence: The vehicle constantly analyzes the local electronic environment to distinguish between harmless consumer electronics and potential weaponized transmissions.
The HAMMER (Hazardous Agent Mitigation Medical Emergency Response) unit. The unit is part of the Secret Service Special Operations Division and is designed to provide immediate rescue, decontamination, and specialized medical care in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack on the motorcade.
This looks like the CAT (Counter Assault Team) vehicle. They are responsible for counter-attacking and neutralizing any incoming threats. Notice the driver is already outfitted in full battle gear.
There are two “identical” armored vehicles for the protectee. One has the protectee and the other is a decoy. In these two pictures, you can see a satellite antenna mounted on the roof racks of one while the other appears to have a surface mount satellite antenna above the driver’s area.
Read more about the Presidential Motorcade.
Read more about the Roadrunner vehicle and the newer stretched version.
Read about the conversion of old Roadrunner vehicles into Crisis Response Team vehicles for Special Operations Command North.
Air attack on the Highway 82 Fire.
Area burned by the Highway 82 Fire.
Resources staged for the Highway 82 Fire.
Georgia WildFires
There are currently a couple of high profile fires occurring in Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp has declared a State of Emergency in response to these fires and the lower half of Georgia is under a burn ban.. Here are some resources to help you keep up with forest fires in Georgia.
Current Wildfire Information from the Georgia Forestry Commission. There is an expandable section for each current fire. You must toggle the section open to see the details of the fire.
Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory for April from the Southern Area Coordination Center of the National Interagency Fire Center.
US Drought Monitor – Georgia
Maps:
Georgia Forestry Commission Fire Incidents and Air Quality Index (AQI) Map. Red Diamonds on the map are active fires.
National Forest Service Fire and Incidents Map.
Regional Fire Map from Western Fire Chiefs Association.
Smoke Map from Accuweather.com
South Georgia Fires:
Video of resources attacking the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County.
More images and videos of the Highway 82 Fire.
Video of Pineland Rd Fire at night.
More images and videos of the Pineland Rd Fire.
Monitoring the Fires:
Watch the air resources fight the fire in real time on ADSB Exchange or Flight Aware or Flight Radar 24.
Look for the Georgia Forestry Commission on your scanner on the following frequencies although they have been moving their communications to SouthernLinc, which cannot be monitored:
151.3700 FM Central Response
159.1200 FM Central Response
159.2400 FM Central Response
159.4650 FM Central Response
158.9250 FM Air Guard
159.2550 FM Air Ops
159.2850 FM Southeast Compact
159.3600 FM Base to Base
159.3900 FM Tac 1 Mobile to Mobile
159.2925 FM Air to Ground
122.9250 AM Air to Air
Georgia Forestry Commission personnel on scene at the Pineland Rd Fire.
Pineland Rd Fire at night.
Firefighting Equipment arriving at the Pineland Rd Fire.
National Forests
There are currently no active fires in the National Forests of Northeast Georgia but when there are, many of the following frequencies will be active. Unless stated otherwise, these frequencies will most likely be P25 digital. The AM aircraft frequencies below could likely be used in south Georgia as well:
171.5750 P25 Brasstown Repeater
170.4625 P25 Glassy Mt Repeater
171.1375 P25 Long Creek Repeater
168.7750 Tac 1
166.5625 Region 8 Tac 4
168.6500 National Flight Following
167.4250 Air to Ground 13
167.7000 Air to Ground 46
168.5375 Air to Ground 54
166.9500 Air to Ground 81
122.1250 AM Air to Air
122.9250 AM Air to Air
122.9250 AM Air to Air
123.1500 AM Air to Air
123.2750 AM Air to Air
How do you talk to a spacecraft that is going to the moon or beyond?
The Deep Space Network (DSN) is NASA’s international array of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, plus a few that orbit Earth. The DSN also provides radar and radio astronomy observations that improve our understanding of the solar system and the larger universe.
The three Deep Space Network complexes are located at Goldstone, near Barstow, California; near Madrid, Spain; and near Canberra, Australia. The strategic placement of these sites permits constant communication with spacecraft as our planet rotates – before a spacecraft sinks below the horizon at one DSN site, another site can pick up the signal and carry on communicating. You can read more about the DSN at this site.
This online tool will let you see what the DSN is up to right now. Which antennas are currently in use? Which spacecraft are talking to us? How quickly is data being received? How long does a signal take to get there, and back? Click on an antenna to see more technical information about the live link between the spacecraft and the ground.