Transportation Security Administration
From The RadioReference Wiki
Contents
Overview
The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, was formed in 2001 and is a part of the the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Transportation Security Administration is charged with the responsibility to oversee and ensure the security of all modes of transportation within the United States. The majority of their activities center on aviation and airport security.
To aid in the fulfillment of their mission, the TSA employs approximately 45,000 Transportation Screening Officers, Federal Air Marshals, and Transportation Security Inspectors. The most common and visible employee is the Transportation Screening Officer, who are stationed at airport terminals to control access.
More information on the TSA can be found here, and here.
Scanning the Transportation Security Administration
The following is the channel plan used by the TSA's Transportation Screening Officers. As you can see, some of the channels have the same frequencies (i.e. 1 thru 4).
These channels use digital "Network Access Codes" (or NAC's) which are similar in function to PL or DPL tones.
They allow the channels to function independently from each other while still using the same frequency; the exception to this is Channel 10 which can be heard on Channel 7.
- 2016-12 - TSA has begun making changes at various airports, some changes involve moving away from the Common $001 NAC, others involve Frequency Changes. With this change, each Airport has its own unique NAC
- 2021-10 - TSA has begun the conversion from VHF to UHF
- The use of encryption will vary from airport to airport.
National Radio Channel Plan
Ch 1 172.1500 NAC 001 S1 Simplex 1 Ch 2 172.1500 NAC 002 S1 Simplex 2 Ch 3 172.1500 NAC 003 S1 Simplex 3 Ch 4 172.1500 NAC 004 S1 Simplex 4 Ch 5 172.9000 NAC 002 S2 Simplex 2 Ch 6 169.3000 NAC 009 S3 Simplex Ch 7 172.9000 NAC 001 R1 Repeater 1 Ch 8 172.9000 NAC 002 R1 Repeater 2 Ch 9 172.9000 NAC 003 R1 Repeater 3 Ch 10 172.9000 NAC 001 S2 Simplex 1 Ch 11 172.9000 NAC 003 S2 Simplex 3 Ch 12 166.4625 PL 103.5 F1 Simplex 1 (Analog, DHS Common) Ch 13 166.4625 NAC 001 F1 Simplex 2 (Digital, DHS Common) *Note: Channel 6 (169.3000) was used as the input to the R1 (172.9000) repeaters in channels 7, 8, and 9. The use of different NAC's allows traffic on Channel 6 to remain seperate and function as a simplex channel without activating the repeater.
Some airports use frequencies which are not found in the standard national channel plan. Most times, this is done to reduce interference with other nearby airports. Sometimes, the TSA will contract their screening services out to a private security company (such is the case in San Francisco). In these rare cases, the private company may opt to use their own radios and frequencies.
Other Frequencies
166.2875 NAC 001 Logan Int'l Airport Millimeter XRay 169.1625 NAC 128 Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l 169.1625 NAC 001 Chicago O'Hare 169.1875 Unk Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l 172.9000 NAC 128 Dallas Love Field (Ch 5) 469.5000 DPL 023 San Fransisco Int'l (Security Contractor)
The TSA is now deploying their "new" analog radio fleet in an effort to make the security checkpoints at the airports "calmer". These radios have been reported to be the ICOM F-50 portable with Voice Inversion scrambling. They are being used on the existing frequencies in the ANALOG mode usually with a PL of some sort. Below are the new frequencies that have been discovered.
Analog Frequencies
169.1625 PL 136.5 Chicago O'Hare International Airport 169.1625 PL 131.8 Oakland Airport 169.1625 PL 123.0 Chicago O'Hare 169.1625 PL 136.5 Chicago O'Hare 169.3000 Unk Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport 169.3000 PL 123.0 Manchester Boston Regional Airport 169.3000 PL 123.0 Tampa International Airport 172.1500 PL 136.5 Newark Liberty International Airport 172.1500 PL 131.8 Chicago O'Hare International Airport 172.1500 PL 123.0 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 172.1500 PL 136.5 Portland International Airport 172.1500 DPL 145 Portland International Jetport 172.9000 PL 162.2 TF Green International Airport
Radio Codes
- Code Bravo - security checkpoint breach
- Code Lima - unknown (used at DCA)
- Code 3 - supervisor needed (ORD)
- Code 5 - security checkpoint breach (ORD)
- 10-4 copy (ORD)
- 10-9 repeat (ORD)
- 10-97 radio check(ORD)
- 10-100 - bathroom break requested (ORD)
- CSS - supervisor needed
TSA - Data From the States Database
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | M | SMF TSA | TSA Ops | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | M | SMF TSA | TSA Ops | P25 | Federal | |
166.28750 | M | 0BA NAC | SMF TSA | TSA Ops | P25 | Federal |
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | SJC TSA | SJC TSA | P25 | Federal |
John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | SNA TSA | TSA Operations | P25 | Federal |
169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | SNA TSA | TSA Operations | P25 | Federal |
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 168.30000 | RM | 013 NAC | TSA 7 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | M | TSA 1 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal | ||
169.16250 | M | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - Terminal 3 Ops | P25 | Federal | ||
169.30000 | M | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - Terminal 3 Ops | P25 | Federal |
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 019 NAC | TSA MIA | Miami International Airport Screeners | P25 | Federal |
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
406.13750 | 415.13750 | RM | USPS Tampa 1 | United States Postal Service - Tampa Aiport Facility | DMR | Federal | |
163.85000 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 163.05 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
166.73750 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 166.7375 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
168.08750 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 168.0875 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
168.83750 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 168.8375 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
168.96250 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 168.9625 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
169.30000 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 169.300 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
172.15000 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 172.150 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | M | 0CA NAC | TSA 172.900 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
406.13750 | 415.13750 | RM | USPS Tampa 2 | United States Postal Service - Tampa Aiport Facility | DMR | Federal |
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 076 NAC | TSA Ops R1 | TSA Operations | P25 | Federal |
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 028 NAC | TSA 172.9 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
169.66250 | RM | 292 NAC | CBP-GOAA EMS | CBP - GOAA EMS Dispatch Simulcast | P25 | Federal |
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
169.30000 | M | TSA 169.3 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA 172.9 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | M | 109 NAC | TSA 172.15 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
- Georgia
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | BM | ATL TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | BM | 001 NAC | ATL TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field (AGS)
Frequency | Type | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | BM | TSA | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal |
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | BM | 1A2 NAC | TSA Midway1 | TSA Ops [Ch 1] | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | BM | 1A2 NAC | TSA Midway2 | TSA Ops [Ch 2] (Primary Use) | P25 | Federal | |
166.46250 | M | 103.5 PL | TSA Midway3 | TSA Ops [Ch 3] (also P25) | FMN | Federal | |
169.30000 | M | TSA Midway4 | TSA Ops | FMN | Federal | ||
406.73750 | 415.73750 | RM | 070 NAC | TSA MDW | Operations (Midway Airport) | P25 | Federal |
Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA BMI | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
Frequency | Type | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | M | TSA Officers | TSA Officers | P25 | Federal |
Quad-City International Airport (MLI)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | MLI TSA R | TSA Operations | FMN | Federal | |
172.85000 | M | 136.5 PL | MLI TSA M | FAA Airwaves Navigation Maintenance | FMN | Federal |
172.15000 | BM | MLI TSA 2 | TSA Operations | FMN | Federal | |
172.90000 | BM | 001 NAC | MLI TSA 3 | TSA Operations [Encrypted] | FMN | Federal |
- Indiana
Indianapolis International
169.3000 - analog with Voice Inversion
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Blue Grass Airport (KLEX) '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-0000000F-QINU`"'
- Blue Grass Airport (KLEX) '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000010-QINU`"'
- Louisville International-Standiford Field Full Encryption '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000011-QINU`"'
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000012-QINU`"'
- Massachusetts
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
170.77500 | 162.87500 | RM | 319 NAC | ICE BOS | Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Ch. 5A | P25 | Federal |
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.41250 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA MAIN | Airport Ops | P25 | Federal |
169.41250 | M | 001 NAC | DTW TA 1 | Talkaround 1 | P25 | Federal | |
172.15000 | M | 001 NAC | DTW TA 2 | Talkaround 2 | P25 | Federal | |
169.41250 | M | 003 NAC | DTW TA | Talkaround | P25 | Federal | |
172.15000 | M | 003 NAC | DTW TA | Talkaround | P25 | Federal | |
172.15000 | M | 004 NAC | DTW TA | Talkaround | P25 | Federal |
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | GRR TSA Ops | TSA Operations | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | RM | 205 NAC | GRR TSA Ops 1 | TSA Operations Primary | P25 | Federal |
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | BM | 001 NAC | TSA DTW | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
170.16250 | RM | 001 NAC | CBP DTW | Customs and Border Protection | P25 | Federal |
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK)
Frequency | Type | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | BM | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Security |
'"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000018-QINU`"'
- New Hampshire
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 1A8 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | MHT TSA | Transportation Security Administration (With Analog Speech Inversion) |
FM | Federal |
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
- North Carolina
Raleigh Durham (RDU) International Airport
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
169.30000 | 0B2 NAC | TSA 169.3 | Transportation Security Administration | P25 | Federal | |
166.73750 | M | 0B2 NAC | TSA Precheck | Precheck Screeners | P25 | Federal |
- North Dakota
- Ohio
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-0000001D-QINU`"'
- Oklahoma
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA Screen 7 | TSA Passenger Screening -- Ch 7 (encrypted) | P25 | Federal |
- Oregon
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Frequency | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | 001 NAC | TSA F1 | TSA A/B/C Concorse Checkpoints | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | 002 NAC | TSA F2 | TSA International Arrivals Checkpoints | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | 003 NAC | TSA F3 | TSA D/E Concorse Checkpoints | P25 | Federal |
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
Frequency | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | TSA | Transportation Security Admininstration | P25 | Federal |
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | BM | TSA 172.150 | TSA - Operations | P25 | Federal | |
169.30000 | RM | TSA Chan 6 | TSA - Channel 6 | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA 172.900 | TSA Repeater | P25 | Federal |
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 1C6 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
- Texas
Midland International Airport (MAF)
Frequency | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|
172.15000 | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Security |
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
410.95000 | F | NWS ASOS Dat | National Weather Service - Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Data |
Telm | Data | |
406.73750 | RM | 061 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
406.73750 | RM | 0DB NAC | TSA KSAT SEC-1 | SAT Airport Security 1 | P25 | Federal |
San Antonio International Airport '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000026-QINU`"' Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 128 NAC | TSA172.9N128 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal | |
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA Rptr | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
410.07500 | F | NWS ASOS Dat | National Weather Service (NWS) - Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Data |
Telm | Data | |
413.11250 | F | FAA SAWS Dat | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Stand Alone Weather System (SAWS) Data |
Telm | Data | |
162.30000 | F | FAA 162.3 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Data | Telm | Data | |
406.73750 | RM | 07C NAC | DAL TSA Ops | TSA Operations | P25 | Federal |
El Paso International Airport (ELP) '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000028-QINU`"'
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | DCA TSA Pri | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - Primary | P25 | Federal |
932.70000 | F | DCA FAA 932 | Federal Aviation Administration - Data | Telm | Data | ||
172.15000 | M | 136.5 PL | DCA TSA Agnt | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - Agents (Voice Inversion) |
FM | Federal | |
410.07500 | F | DCA FAA 410 | Federal Aviation Administration - Data (Automated Surface Observing System?) |
Telm | Data | ||
172.90000 | M | 013 NAC | DCA TSA N13 | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | RIC TSA Ops6 | TSA Ops 6 | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | M | 002 NAC | RIC TSA T/A | TSA Simplex | P25 | Federal |
172.85000 | RM | 001 NAC | RIC TSA/FAA | TSA/FAA | P25 | Federal |
172.15000 | RM | 0B5 NAC | RIC TSA Ops9 | TSA Ops 9 | P25 | Federal |
Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
Frequency | Input | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
172.90000 | 169.30000 | RM | 001 NAC | TSA Tactical | Tactical Operations | P25 | Security |
172.15000 | M | 1C3 NAC | TSA Primary | Spokane Primary | P25 | Security |
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Frequency | Type | Tone | Alpha Tag | Description | Mode | Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
411.43750 | M | 0AF NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
411.48750 | M | 0AF NAC | TSA | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | P25 | Federal |
- Wyoming
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Related Links
- The Fed Files TSA frequency list
Return to Wiki page: Common Frequencies