Customs Over The Horizon Enforcement Network

COTHEN Badge

The Customs Over The Horizon Enforcement Network (COTHEN) uses a Rockwell/Collins ALE (Automatic Link Establishment) protocol to connect users to each other over the HF spectrum. If you listen to frequencies in use on the COTHEN network, you will hear the ALE sounding calls which units periodically and automatically initiate to determine the best frequency to use for calls to other units.

COTHEN Network Frequencies

Frequency (Khz) Mode
---------------------------
5732.0		USB
7527.0		USB
 8912.0		USB
10242.0		USB
11494.0		USB
13907.0		USB
15867.0		USB
18594.0		USB
20890.0		USB
23214.0		USB
25350.0		USB

COTHEN Terminal

The COTHEN network now uses the MIL-STD 188-141A protocol. It formally used the FED-STD-1045A ALE protocol, developed by Rockwell Collins. The FED-STD protocol is Rockwell Collins proprietary and goes by the tradename Selscan. Selscan is no longer actively used by the COTHEN network.

Note: 8912 is also used by the HFDL (HF Datalink - also referred to as HF ACARS) net, particularly out of Riverhead NY, and is the source of other digital data heard here

COTHEN Transmitter Locations

Albuquerque, NM			35º 05' 02" N	105º 34' 23" W
Arecibo, PR			18º 17' 26" N	66º 22' 33" W
Atlanta, GA			32º 33' 06" N	84º 23' 35" W
Beaufort, SC			34º 34' 22" N	76º 09' 48" W
Cape Charles, VA		37º 05' 37" N	75º 58' 06" W
Cedar Rapids, IA		42º 00' 09" N	91º 17' 39" W
Denver, CO			39º 15' 45" N	103º 34' 23" W
Fort Myers, FL			81º 31' 20" N	26º 20' 01" W
Kansas City, MO			38º 22' 10" N	93º 21' 48" W
Las Vegas, NV			36º 21' 15" N	114º 17' 33" W
Lovelock, NV			40º 03' 07" N	118º 18' 56" W
Memphis, TN			34º 21' 57" N	90º 02' 43" W
Miami, FL			25º 46' 20" N	80º 28' 48" W
Morehead City, NC		34º 34' 50" N	78º 13' 59" W
Oklahoma City, OK		34º 30' 52" N	97º 30' 52" W
Orlando, FL			28º 31' 30" N	80º 48' 58" W
Reno, NV			38º 31' 12" N	119º 14' 37" W
Sarasota, FL			27º 12' 41" N	81º 31' 20" W
Wilmington, NC			34º 29' 24" N	78º 04' 31" W

ALE Call IDs (Base)

CRB	CBP AMOC Caribbean Regional Communications Node
CS1	COTHEN Remote Atlanta, GA used frequently by TSC, voice call "SERVICE ENTER"
CS2	COTHEN Remote Memphis, TN 
CS3	COTHEN Remote Oklahoma City, OK 
CS4	COTHEN Remote Lovelock, NV 
CS5	COTHEN Remote Wilmington, NC 
CS6	COTHEN Remote Kansas City, MO 
CS7	COTHEN Remote Denver, CO 
CS8	COTHEN Remote Albuquerque, NM   
CS9	COTHEN Remote Beaufort, SC often used by OPBAT voice call 
       "PANTHER" and by toms Surveillance Support Center,  Jacksonville 
       voice call "JACKKNIFE"
EST    CBP AMOC Eastern Region Communication Node
OPB    OPBAT Service Center, Nassau, Bahamas, voice call "PANTHER". Also used as
       a remote by HAMMER.
PNR400 OPBAT base, Georgetown, Bahamas
TSC    CBP Orlando, FL Customs National Law Enforcement Communications 
       Center -- Technical Service Center 
WST    CBP AMOC Western Region Communication Node

ALE Call IDs (Mobile/Air)

D14 	CBP P-
D23 	CBP P-
D31 	CBP P-3B "Slick" #N431SK/BuNo 153431, Jacksonville AMB, FL, voice "OMAHA 31"
D41 	CBP P-3B "Slick" #N741SK/BuNo 152741, Jacksonville AMB, FL, voice call "OMAHA 41SK" 
D42 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N142CS/BuNo 153452, Corpus Chrisiti AMB, TX 
D43 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N143CS/BuNo 153447, Corpus Christi AMB, TX, voice call "OMAHA 3CS" 
D44 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N144CS/BuNo 153446, Corpus Christi AMB, TX, voice "OMAHA 4CS"	
D45 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N145CS/BuNo 155299, Jacksonville AMB, FL 
D46 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N146CS/BuNo 154605, Jacksonville AMB, FL 
D47 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N147CS/BuNo 152722, Jacksonville AMB, FL 
D48 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N148CS/BuNo 154575, Corpus Christi AMB, TX 
D49 	CBP P-3 AEW&C #N149CS/BuNo 154581, Corpus Christi AMB, TX, voice call "OMAHA 9CS"
D69 	CBP P-
D70 	CBP P-3A "Slick" #N16370/BuNo 152170, Corpus Christi AMB, TX
D90 	CBP P-3A "Slick" #N15390/Buno 151390, Corpus Christi AMB, TX  
D95 	CBP P-

I00 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N1200N, Tucson Air Branch  
I01 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N37201, voice call "OMAHA 201", San Diego AMB 
I08 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N5408G, "OMAHA 08G", logged on UHF in Seattle
I14 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N4614N, Tucson Air Branch, "OMAHA 14N"
I1L 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N6001L, voice call "OMAHA 01L"  
I21 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N26621, voice "OMAHA 621", New Orleans AMB 
I31 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N2531K, San Diego AMB, CA  
I34 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N2734K, New Orleans AMB 
I37 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N6637G, Houston Air Unit
I3L 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N6763L,
I43 	CBP BEECH 65-A90 #N43SA, Miami AMB, voice "OMAHA 3SA"
I49 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N12549
I4J 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N5314J,  logged on UHF in Arizona, 
I52 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N752CC, SW US, voice call "OMAHA 2CC" 
I53 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N753CC 
I54 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N1254X, Miami AMB
I55 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N1255K, Miami AMB
I57 	CBP CESSNA 550 #1257B
I62 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N3262M 
I63 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N2663Y
I75 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N6775C, logged on UHF in Arizona, "OMAHA 75C", w/OPB
I76 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N6776T, voice "OMAHA 76", San Diego AMB, CA  
I86 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N586RE, logged on UHF in Arizona and Washington
I94 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N26494, San Angelo, Houston, or New Orleans based 
I96 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N26496
I97 	CBP CESSNA 550 #N797CW