Air Force High Frequency Regional Broadcasts In  the  late  1980s,  with  the  loss  of  the  NWS meteorological alphanumeric and facsimile HF radio broadcasts, the Air Force initiated a High Frequency Regional  Broadcast  (HFRB)  program  to  transmit alphanumeric information from the AWN and graphic products from AFWA on several regional broadcasts. These  broadcasts  are  available  and  compatible  with Navy shipboard receivers. Either alphanumeric or graphic data may be directed to the TESS or IMOSS systems. Alternatively, alphanumeric data may be directed through a converter to a shipboard teleprinter, and the graphic data directed to a facsimile recorder. These broadcasts carry AFWA regional graphic products on the upper sideband of the listed frequency and  AFMEDS  alphanumeric  regional  information  on the  lower  sideband  of  the  frequency.  Broadcast frequencies and transmission times are available from the  Worldwide  Marine  Radiofacsimile  Broadcast Schedules  published  by  the  Department  of Commerce/NOAA. This publication lists worldwide transmissions  of  meteorological  and  oceanographic products. Few observational data broadcasts are listed since these are not designed for use by the average mariner. Products are listed by the scheduled UTC transmission  time  of  the  product.  HFRB  sites  broadcast only one frequency at any given time with routine frequency shifts at sunrise and sunset at the transmitter site.  The broadcast is normally unencrypted, but may be encrypted for special Air Force support. When tuning a receiver to copy the sideband transmissions, you must tune your receiver 1.9 kHz higher than the listed frequency for an upper sideband (USB) signal and 1.9 kHz lower for a lower sideband (LSB) signal. There  are  three  active  HFRB  broadcast  sites currently  operational:  a  United  States  HFRB  site  at Elkhorn,   Nebraska;   a   European   HFRB   site   at Croughton, England; and a Caribbean and Central American HFRB site at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. U.S. Navy Fleet Broadcasts NAVMETOC  regional  centers  still  have  HF facsimile broadcast capability that may be used as a backup  source  for  meteorological  data  aboard  ship. Navy Mobile Environmental Teams and Marine Corps METMF van sites may copy HF broadcasts as their primary data source when routine fleet meteorological communications are not available. However, these HF broadcasts  are  activated  on  a  contingency-on-request basis only. Special request for activation of a particular HF   broadcast   must   be   sent   to   the   appropriate NAVMETOC  regional  center. The content of the HF broadcast is controlled by each  NAVMETOCCOM  regional  center  to  provide support for U.S. Navy units operating within their AOR. Most products are computer-generated graphics of surface and upper-air analysis and forecast products. The data signals for the graphic products are sent from the regional centers to naval communications stations via   landline.   The   communications   station   then transmits  the  signal  on  HF  radio.  Transmission frequencies and the broadcast time of each particular product are available by mail from each regional center, and are also included as part of the broadcast. U.S. Coast Guard Facsimile Broadcast The U.S. Coast Guard transmits a high-frequency facsimile broadcast of National Weather Service charts and satellite imagery. Broadcast stations include San Francisco,   New   Orleans,   Boston,   and   Kodiak. Schedules and frequencies are available via the Internet. As with other HF meteorological transmissions, a listing of broadcast frequencies is available in the latest edition   of   Worldwide   Marine   Radiofacsimile Broadcast  Schedules. Foreign HF Broadcasts Many meteorological and oceanographic data broadcasts containing either radio teletype or facsimile information  are  also  available  by  copying  HF  radio transmissions  from  different  countries  of  the  world. U.S. Navy ships conducting an exercise or operation in a  particular  area  may  require  more  detailed meteorological  information  than  is  available  on  the Fleet Environmental Broadcast or regular military HF facsimile broadcasts. You may have to tune into a foreign  HF  radio  meteorological  broadcast  and  copy  all of the information that country is willing to share with the rest of the world. Two publications are very useful in determining the frequency  and  content  of  the  various  indigenous broadcasts. We have already mentioned the Worldwide Marine   Radiofacsimile   Broadcast   Schedules publication.   Another   useful   publication   for meteorological or oceanographic data collection is Air Force  Manual  100-1,  Global  Weather  Intercepts.  A portion   of   this   publication   lists   meteorological broadcast frequencies and transmission times grouped according  to  the  type  of  broadcast-continuous  wave (CW),  RATT,  or  facsimile-region,  country,  and transmitter  site. 1-35