Militia Radio Frequencies | RadioMaster Reports

The militia-patriot movement in America has embraced radio communications in a big way. Within the past decade, the methods and communications gear have evolved from basic CB or FRS radios, to now include VHF-UHF FM, HF SSB, and HF digital communications. This article focuses on some of the radio gear and channel frequencies utilized by various groups. Radio comms now play an active role in armed confrontations, as part of rump militia training, in outreach, and in organizing groups.

Militant in Oregon 2016 using VHF UHF radio

Photo shows armed militant in Oregon using a VHF-UHF radio. A closer look at the radio display shows the channel frequency is…

The original source of this article is RadioMaster Reports.

Zoom enhanced image: VHF-UHF radio of militant in Oregon 2016 shows Baofeng UV-5R tuned to Channel MURS 3 

An enhanced zoom into the above image shows the militant radio is easily recognizable as a Baofeng model UV-5R. There is a blue A/B button on the left side of this radio (obscured by the upper receiver of the assault weapon) that selects which of the 2 displayed channels is active. Showing on the display, the channel name CPOINT2 is at top, and the lower line shows the active channel name MURS 3. The triangular symbol ► at the lower left of the alpha numeric characters indicates the active talking channel: MURS Channel 3 ( 151.9400 MHz FM simplex ), which has become the nationwide primary MURS channel for the militia patriot community. MURS is the longest range VHF radio service that can be legally utilized by anyone without the need for a radio license.

Listening To Militia Radio Frequencies

SWL Short Wave Listeners, UTE utility radio listeners, Ham operators, and radio scanner buffs enjoy tuning into unusual activities on the radio spectrum. When a militia activates its radios for a training exercise or mission in any given area, it is likely to pop up on the receiver of some radio listener. There are thousands of radio aficionados everywhere, they are in every county in America. Many tend to mutually share information about unusual activity and the frequencies they hear it on. This RadioMaster Report includes such information, along with validation imagery, some data gleaned from internet sources, and some captured through real time monitoring by anonymous sources close to the scenes.

Armed militants at Missouri 2015 demonstration with Wouxun KG-UV6D VHF-UHF radios

Militia Frequency List – Short Range

Militant in the Oregon 2016 standoff show of force displays a tactical vest outfitted with radio and accessories. Baofeng UV-5R with add-on throat microphone earpiece and big PTT button.

Typical SDR (software defined radio) USB dongle as utilized in the interception of VHF-UHF FM signals such as MURS-FRS-GMRS transmissions, set up on a remote hilltop

Typical handheld beam antenna capable of long range interception and radiolocation of militia patriot tactical radio traffic

Militant in southeastern area during 2014 field training exercise with Baofeng UV-5R and earbud

Florida militant radio operator at field exercise in command tent with Icom IC-7000 HF-VHF-UHF and Baofeng radios

No Big Secret

Some radio users in the militia patriot community want to keep their frequencies a big secret. But more knowledgeable radio techs don’t see the need for it, since all VHF-UHF FM transmissions can easily be received with a common scanner or Ham radio. A nearby scanner listener simply pushes the seek button and the frequency is displayed on their screen within a few minutes. Using a modern consumer-grade scanner (in the $100 range), the process of intercepting a local transmission frequency is nearly instantaneous (less than 1 second). Spectrum analyzers, band scopes, or scanner features such as Close Call or Signal Stalker make finding a militia frequency simple. Newer SDR software defined radio dongles (in the $50 range) that plug into the USB port or bluetooth of a smartphone, pad, or laptop can display the radio frequency spectrum visually in real time. The SOI standard operating instructions of patriot militia radio operators teaches never to give away secret channels, to keep some compartmentalized or covert frequencies, and to fly under the radar whenever possible. Some channels frequencies are considered public, others are considered private, and others are reserved as part of a rotating pool of tactical channels for missions. Anyone using plain old VHF-UHF FM who thinks they can have their own secret channels or maintain frequency comsec is creating a false sense of security that deceives only themselves. Radios send RF signals in all directions, not just to those who are the intended receivers of the transmission. Even a small HT can be picked up by a scanner at a safe distance a few miles away. With a handheld beam antenna or a mobile unit parked on a hilltop, a militant VHF UHF tactical net can be monitored up to about 10 or 20 miles away, depending on terrain. Aerial drones or UAV can easily receive tactical militia communications at visually and audibly undetectable distances away from the action. The average militia individual can’t afford the $7,500+ price tag of a 5 watt VHF HT radio that has high levels of encryption combined with frequency hopping capability; anything less than that (such as DMR or P25) is easily intercepted and decrypted in realtime. Some militant groups or individuals are known to posses Motorola iDEN DirectTalk type PTT 900 MHz handsets and similar low power HTs (900 MHz or 2.5 GHz) which use FHSS frequency hopping spread spectrum. But these devices often are: undependable to keep paired/connected, easily jammed, too low-powered for ground clutter terrain at tactical distances, or easily decrypted by governmental interception systems. Instead of investing in costly advanced radio technology, militia members train to use Brevity Code words when communicating in the clear and often try to obscure the true meaning with terse phrases or slang terms that only other team members should know. Whether in the heat of an action or during common training drills, human nature often exposes the weak points in code-word verbal obfuscation. Savvy radio scanner fans listen in and catch on rapidly to comsec jargon codes.

Stock image of Baofeng model UV-5R, a VHF-UHF handheld transceiver, popular among militia

Baofeng: The Militia Radio

Beginning around 2012, the Baofeng VHF-UHF handheld transceiver (HT) rapidly became the field communication device of choice for militias. This Chinese-made import HT is extremely cheap, at around $25 to $35 per unit. Out of the box, it is capable of being easily field-programmed for Ham, MURS, FRS, GMRS, Marine, and other land-mobile radio services. It transmits and receives FM and FM-narrowband in the frequency range of 136 to 174 MHz on VHF and 400 to 520 MHz on UHF. Militants really go for the low cost, and the wide array of accessories such as: extended battery packs, range-extending antennas, headsets, and speaker-microphones. The ubiquitous nature of the Baofeng model UV-5R (and its variants) can be seen in many of the following images of militant activities.

Militant at Oregon 2015 mine standoff using a Baofeng UV-5R radio with the add-on optional AA cell battery pack

Militia Radios In Action

During the mid-2015 militant mine standoff in Oregon, radio techs assisted the militia with maintaining VHF-UHF radio communications. Both MURS and FRS radios were utilized. MURS Channel 3 and FRS Channel 3 were the calling channels. Several other frequencies were utilized for tactical and control point contacts. The volunteer radio techs programmed radio channel frequencies using Chirp cloning software with a common channel plan that was utilized by those individuals who owned Baofeng and other brands of VHF-UHF radios. MURS channels were favored by those who had capability, due to its longer range, while more common FRS (Channel 3) radios were utilized by those who didn’t have capability for MURS. Multiple monitoring reports from these and various other militia sites indicate continued use of these channels for interoperability and initial calling purposes. Generally speaking, all FRS and GMRS channels are widely utilized by militia and patriot groups in their tactical and localized activities and during field exercises.

Militant in Oregon 2016 using Baofeng UV-5RB with add-on NSKI model NA-771 VHF-UHF antenna to extend the distance

Some of the militants from the mid-2015 Oregon mine standoff action went on to attend protests during December 2015 in eastern Oregon, and then later showed up with their Baofeng radios (utilizing the same or similar channel programming) on MURS Channel 3 at the 2016 Oregon standoff.

Whether paired with sidearms or long guns, accessories add flair to the look and feel of battle-rattle gear. Accessories really make the outfit.

Oregon 2016 standoff – last of the armed militant holdouts dug in and communicated using VHF-UHF HT radios

Extending The Reach of Mobile Militia

The trend toward equipment standardization on VHF-UHF HT radios for tactical use in the militia community has led to a modular approach for vehicular mobile units. Simply by attaching an external magnet mount antenna (in the $15 range) to the top of the car or truck, the handheld transceiver becomes the heart of a versatile mobile radio system.

Accessories such as external VHF UHF magnet mount antenna and battery charger / battery eliminator with 12VDC cigarette lighter adapter, form a versatile inconspicuous vehicular mobile station with extended range

Cigarette lighter plug charger cables provide continuous 12 Volt DC power (in the $15 range), and the car battery has enough power to run a militia HT radio for many days without even starting the car engine. This vehicular mobile antenna setup extends the range of the militia VHF radio from 2 miles to about 5 miles, and provides effective communications to handheld or base units within a large area of operations.

Militia convoys may talk car-to-car, or engage in mobile patrols ranging much further from the base station, due to the increased communication distance. This alleviates the need for militia vehicles to maintain a conspicuous visual distance apart while travelling in convoy. The mobile radio system enables militants to coordinate a rendezvous point or carry out a mobile tactical maneuver quickly on the fly.

Michigan militia using VHF UHF radio in vehicle with external antenna

Mobile VHF UHF radios capable of 40 Watts transmit output provide more dependable communication at longer distances. Linear amplifiers which increase a handheld’s transmitter output power in the vehicle are also available. A militia radio officer in such an equipped vehicle, parked on a hilltop with a relatively inexpensive radio setup, thus becomes a very effective command and control asset (or radio relay station) covering a 30 mile diameter area of operations.

Militant in Oregon 2016 with Baofeng walks near a militia vehicle equipped with a quarter-wave VHF magnet-mount antenna capable of operation with a Baofeng or other transceiver on MURS, HAM 2 meters, marine, etc

CB Radio Use By Patriot Community

Militant Oregon 2016 standoff vehicle has CB radio

CB radios using AM and SSB on 27 MHz are still utilized for car-to-car/car-to-base by some militia mobile units. CB has remained popular over the years due to its superior distance range in hilly terrain, the ability to communicate within the rural community, and the ability to communicate with or monitor truck drivers when travelling. CB is also utilized for patriot culture and militia community morale; it includes extreme long distance skip talking at distances of 300 to 3000 miles. But, due to the erratic nature of ionospheric propagation in the upper HF spectrum, CB is not usually dependable on a daily basis for militia operations via skip at such long distances.

Militant in Oregon 2016 standoff waves around a Baofeng UV-B5 during a major network media circus tour

Most militia groups tend to have a local focus, and CB lends itself well to coverage of an entire rural county. The 27 MHz radio airwaves are not crowded anymore, since most of the older casual users in the suburban and urban population have long ago stopped using CB. An SSB CB radio in a vehicle can easily cover a distance of 10 to 15 miles car-to-car.

Michigan militia show of power at rally in 2016 using Baofeng UV-5R on MURS and GMRS

This makes CB SSB an attractive ancillary communication method for those militia units projecting force over a wide rural area of operations in forested terrain that is not very suitable for FM simplex VHF-UHF line-of-sight propagation.

Radios As Symbolic Power

California militants at 2014 rally show UHF VHF radios with speaker microphones

In addition to the utility of free instantaneous off-grid communication, HT radios have turned out to be a great prop that exudes a powerful air of militia authority.

Militant in Oregon 2016 standoff flaunts a Baofeng UV-B5 radio

The 16-inch long flexible VHF quarter-wavelength antennas (in the $10 range) are sold as an aftermarket accessory to attach to Baofengs and other HTs. These antennas are perfectly suited to be waved around for emphasis and are tremendously useful as a pointer for press cameras during network media circus tours. The wiggle of the antenna adds exciting visual accent to the look and feel of social media videos.

Prominent display of a Baofeng radio on the front of tactical vest rigs is just as important as the properly slung gun in the militia fashion accessory ethos. When a gun is not being actively displayed, the radio has surpassed the role of the knife in taking the gun’s place as a power statement.

Militant armed bodyguard in the Oregon 2016 standoff swaggers along whipping a Baofeng antenna

The symbolic power of the radio stems from its ability to instill fear: it has the potential to project unseen levels of armed militia force to bear, upon a simple voice command, or at the touch of a button. The radio is not so stylish if worn under clothing or attached to the back of the vest. When no tactical rig is being worn, the HT may be grasped firmly and prominently in the hand while walking, to add vital purpose to the gait.

Militia Guard and Sniper Nest Comms

Militant snipers in commandeered fire lookout tower at Oregon 2016 standoff talking on VHF-UHF radio. A government repeater antenna is visible on the side of the tower.

Militant at Oregon 2016 standoff in commandeered fire watchtower uses Baofeng UV-5R radio and Simmons 20-60x60mm spotting scope

Militant 2016 Oregon standoff guard on fire watchtower with Baofeng

Militant gate guards in Oregon 2016 standoff use Baofeng model UV-5R V2+ radio with Nagoya NA-771 antenna to communicate with security perimeter and lookout tower (commandeered track vehicle in background is roadblock)

Militant Oregon 2016 standoff resupply wish list shows Midland radio (FRS) and Ham radio, along with batteries and other common items

Militia Logistics Resupply Comms

A logistics resupply wish list issued by the Oregon 2016 standoff militants includes Midland FRS radios from Walmart, a HAM radio, and batteries. These items were part of a generic list of other common items such as warm blankets, flashlights, snacks, first aid, domestic essentials, and food items. It also shows that FRS bubble pack radios were treated as a common commodity during the armed confrontation.

The contents of this wish list and the fact that it appeared on the second day of the armed standoff tends to indicate that these particular militants were neither preppers nor survivalists. They forgot to bring sleeping bags and food; but they remembered to bring ammo and Baofengs.

Militant at Oregon 2016 standoff using a commandeered government radio on a VHF government frequency to communicate about logistics resupply with a compatriot in a commandeered government vehicle

Police capture Oregon 2016 standoff militant on resupply run with commandeered government vehicles containing VHF radio on government frequency

Government VHF repeater antenna on fire watch tower at Oregon 2016 armed militia standoff

Commandeering Of Radios

Oregon 2016 standoff militants commandeered government buildings and vehicles. The facility included a radio base station on a government VHF frequency (about 170 MHz), a repeater on the fire watch tower, and many vehicles with VHF mobile radios. The militants utilized the government VHF radios to communicate around their immediate area of operations and to arrange resupply logistics runs to nearby towns.

In one instance, it appears that the legitimate government users of that radio system may have overheard the militants talking about their resupply convoy to the supermarket and reported the vehicle location to police. The police ended up arresting one of the militants and taking the vehicles away.

Militia Frequency List – VHF Common TACTICAL Channels

Michigan militants at 2016 rally with VHF UHF Midland GXT FRS-GMRS radio RadioShack Pro-651 scanner Baofeng radio, etc.

Militant in training exercise with FRS radio

Militant at Oregon 2016 armed standoff uses FRS radio

California militant showing loadout gear with Baofeng UV-5R with earphone and PTT microphone accessory set

Pennsylvania militant showing loadout gear with Baofeng UV-5R V3+ utilized on GMRS frequencies

Militia radio operator on hilltop position at a 2014 California rally action

Militia Frequency List – Short Range UHF Common Tactical FRS GMRS

Militant at Nevada 2014 standoff uses VHF UHF radio to coordinate forces

Other Possible Militia Frequencies

Many militias pride themselves on law and order; they often make prominent public statements about their respect for the law. For militia patriots who don’t have a Ham Radio License, and who don’t want to run afoul of the law, there are only 3 types of channel frequencies available:

1. CB (40 channels on 27MHz) see list here.
2. FRS/GMRS (14+ channels on 462 and 467MHz) see list below.
3. MURS (5 channels on 151 and 154 MHz) see list above.

Coast Guard remote radio tower in the Nevada desert

Any other channel frequencies that militia may program into their radios are considered either freeband or bootleg operation. A good example of bootleg operation is the use of Marine VHF boat channels, which are widely bootlegged on by the general public. However, the Coast Guard monitors and records some of the Marine VHF channels from their remote monitoring sites. While most Coast Guard remote sites are near the coasts and major bodies of inland waters and navigable rivers, there are other government monitoring sites which are far inland. Around big urban harbor coastal areas, Marine channels are recorded and monitored 24/7 by the Coast Guard.

Militia VHF-UHF Freeband Channels

Some frequencies that militia can easily program into Baofeng radios are the Business Band Itinerant VHF channels in the 151 to 158 MHz range and UHF channels in the 457 to 469 MHz range. Some of these are commonly called the Color Dot or Star Channels, or they are widely known for their Motorola event business radio channel numbers. These channels are often utilized by retail stores (such as Costco or Walmart), private security services, taxi, towing, businesses, and various radio rental services. It is possible for militia to freeband on these channels for covert or tactical purposes occasionally without drawing too much attention.

Militant at Nevada armed standoff 2014 unboxing a truckload of Baofeng UV-5R radios

Militia Frequency List – Long Range

Militia Patriot Ham Radio HF Activity

Oregon 2016 standoff militant leaders travel in Ham Radio equipped vehicle with Nevada Amateur Radio callsign license plate and Little Tarheel brand HF screwdriver antenna capable of wide area regional communications

KTVZ television twitter video clip of Oregon 2016 standoff militants in Ham Radio HF-VHF-UHF equipped vehicle with Little Tarheel brand HF screwdriver antenna on right side

Militant 2016 Oregon standoff Ham Radio vehicle showing Little Tarheel brand HF screwdriver antenna

A southern militia radio operator in a field training exercise communicates using a Yaesu model FT-857 with LDG Z-100Plus antenna autotuner. The Yaesu is a 100 Watt radio capable of HF-VHF-UHF.

Militia radio techs are commonly recruited from the ranks of amateur radio operators. The level of involvement and commitment to the cause varies quite a lot. Some patriot-minded amateur radio operators participate actively in militia training or field exercises. A relatively small number of ham operators are willing to risk stiff fines or loss of their amateur radio license by using ham radios to assist armed standoffs, or while actively using radio communications to facilitate militant-related crimes. A larger number of hams tend to volunteer in a more aloof way to help set up radios or program the channel frequencies for friends who are militia or patriot group members. Most ham operators are cognizant of the rules against using codes or ciphers on ham radio. However, some militia-associated ham nets flout that rule and have been monitored using codes to try to obscure the meaning of messages on the air. The cipher rules don’t apply to MURS, however; a fact which contributes to the popularity of MURS channels among militants.

A number of amateur radio patriot nets, militia nets, and calling frequencies exist on the HF (high frequency shortwave) bands. The most active HF frequencies are included in the Long Range list above. These frequencies cover wide regional areas using ionospheric propagation, and many involve SSB single sideband voice mode using radio station setups with 100 Watts to 2 kiloWatts of transmit power and large antenna systems. Portable HF stations or mobile HF vehicle radios are utilized for long distance field communications. Regular scheduled nets for militia and patriots groups mostly happen in the evening, with their schedule times usually posted on their group websites. Most of the nets use SSB, but there are several which use ham radio digital modes such as Contestia 4/250 or PSK31. A few nets use CW morse code.

Some of the SSB late night patriot nets on the 75 meter band (3.9MHz) tend to be raucous opinionated bull sessions which may often encounter intentional interference, jamming, or harassment by other ham radio operators. Extreme long-winded political or religious diatribes may commonly be heard on the 75 meter nets. Very little useful communication goes on with these nets, but they serve the important cultural purpose of stoking the fires of discontent and encouraging us-versus-them groupthink.

On the other hand, there are militias and patriot groups which engage in more organized HF nets for the purpose of emergency SHTF communications training. These tend to be less boisterous and more centered on discussions of how to relay messages or set up stations, or the subject of prepping. Some of the militia nets use obscure acronyms or innocuous-sounding names for their nets and try to blend into the woodwork with normal ham radio activity on the air. Most casual HF radio shortwave listeners (SWLs) and Hams would probably not notice these hiding-in-plain-sight militia HF nets, simply by listening to their mundane conversations on the air.

Militia Bootlegging On Ham Radio Frequencies

VHF UHF RDF Antenna with real-time Radio Direction Finding capability

Many militia have also programmed their radios on Ham Radio frequencies. Militia use of those Ham Radio frequencies to transmit without a license is probably not too smart. It is way more stupid than freebanding on Marine or Business Itinerant frequencies. Hams are everywhere; they tune in and monitor Ham band frequencies all the time; hams have frequency-vigilante groups who make it their patriotic mission to track down frequency-lawbreakers.

Ham Radio frequency-vigilante groups geolocate any transmitter from many miles away

Hams tend to be extremely protective of their own frequencies, and many have RDF Direction Finding equipment or beam antennas that can easily geolocate militia bootleg transmissions. Also, Hams have a nasty tendency to file monitoring reports to the government, which leads to hefty fines and costly legal processes for the perpetrators. But, there are 3 really big common sense reasons for militia not to use ham radio frequencies:

1. Ham operators are very likely to notice militia operating on VHF-UHF Ham Radio Frequencies, and they often record the transmissions and send those recordings to the government. This isn’t a good situation for those militia wanting to keep a low profile comsec status.
2. Ham Radio laws forbid the use of any cipher or code meant to obscure a message. Hams will record anything suspicious and report it. This kind of examination under a microscope can’t be good for militia comsec.
3. Hams have extremely powerful radios that can easily jam militia tactical HT reception from miles away. Some Ham operator with a huge kilowatt radio may lie in wait, then decide to jam militia bootleggers at an opportune moment, thus blinding the militia comms in the heat of a mission. The pitiful Baofengs are no match against this kind of electronic warfare attack. It is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Militia won’t win that battle.

Ham Radio kiloWatt transmitter

Militia Patriot – Shortwave Broadcasts

Shortwave stations, including both legitimate commercial radio stations and pirate radio stations, have aired militia patriot oriented programming. Shortwave has the potential to reach wide regional areas via ionospheric propagation of the radio waves. The most popular frequency range for clandestine shortwave pirate radio stations is 6.850MHz to 6.995 MHz just below the 40 meter Ham band, using AM Amplitude Modulation, LSB Lower Sideband, or USB Upper Sideband. The widely published militia patriot clandestine broadcast channel is 6.900 MHz, but few bonafide militia pirate radio stations have actually been monitored broadcasting on it. It is thought that it may only be activated in the event of some sort of uprising or SHTF scenario, since there is no need for it while the internet provides an excellent outlet for militia patriot podcasting and social media.

Logo of a militia parody pirate radio station

In early 2001, a Kentucky militia station using the self-assigned callsign KSMR broadcasted programming called “The Militia Hour” at a power level of 800 Watts on 3.260 MHz LSB and 6.890 MHz LSB. The program included coded group messages, in the clear militia messages, and a militia slant on the news. The militia station, run by a militia member who was a Ham radio operator, planned to also operate on 12.181 MHz USB but there were no reports at the time of it being active on that frequency. The station operator used threats of armed force when FCC notified the owner to get off the air. Some other non-militia pirate radio stations which operated on nearby frequencies were not fond of the increased FCC focus on their operations due to the militia station, and humorous parody broadcasts imitating the style of the militia station were heard. After the KSMR militia station had been on the air for a few months, the radio operator of it was pulled over in an unrelated local traffic stop for having a tail light out. He responded by opening fire on deputy sherriff officers, and fled the state. He was on the run for over a year before being featured on the “America’s Most Wanted” television show, which led to his capture in 2002 and eventual prison sentence.

Beam antenna

RadioMaster Reports wishes to thank several sources, which shall remain anonymous, for their contribution of monitoring reports, imagery, and detailed information for this article.

Disclaimer: Content provided in RadioMaster Reports is included for the sole purpose of providing educational information on a passive basis. This information may be useful to the public in the event of emergencies. Users of this educational information are solely responsible for their actions. 

©2016 RadioMaster Reports