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Post by canton1 on Sept 18, 2003 4:20:18 GMT -5
There are a few things have I have noticed since the switch to the new Pisgah site. There are alot of areas that we used to be able to talk to BCR that can no longer happen. In Roaring Branch Area we can not hear BCR on Portable but the Can hear our field units moderately at best. There are several places that are much much better like in towna dn in some of the tougher buildings.--Finish later
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Larry
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by Larry on Sept 19, 2003 15:36:38 GMT -5
Kim, We havn't notice any change in our fire district, do have a little better pager coverage in the Valley. Is this on F1 or F3?
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Post by canton1 on Sept 19, 2003 22:33:38 GMT -5
Frequency 1---the others are still on the same tower.
After todays fire---IT rots
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Omega
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by Omega on Oct 30, 2003 6:10:57 GMT -5
The Warren Tower just plain sucks, unless you are near Harrisburg then it picks up pretty clear.
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Post by BCDISP on Oct 31, 2003 7:18:40 GMT -5
Hey Blue,
The problem that you can't hear Bradford County isn't a Bradford County issue. We currently use the Bear Mt repeater to dispatch Dushore. We don't use our towers to dispatch Dushore because we don't have a license for the Sullivan Cty dispatch frequency. We have been in contact with your chief and have done some radio testing off our towers. So however the reason you can't get pages from either county is a Sullivan/Lycoming county problem not a Bradford.
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Post by chief322 on Nov 1, 2003 0:13:55 GMT -5
Blue;
Since you were listening off a 5 watt portable, which department, in which zone was being dispatched that you heard. Sitting in Monroeton, even with the repeater being used, I have trouble hearing dispatches from the warren and round top sites. But this is based off a 5-watt portable.
Having lived in the HBG. area for 10 year and utilizing Bradford primary as our 4th incident channel, I too heard Bradford dispatching. THis of course was while the county was still low band. which has a travel range much less than highband.
Receiving pages in Sullivan County and hearing them off a portable in Franklin County doesn't constitute a problem.
Am I wrong here?
Tim
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Post by 911guy on Nov 1, 2003 7:47:30 GMT -5
From a technical standpoint, all of you have valid points. It is the nature of radio waves. I can talk from a 4 watt UHF portable to Bradford County from the intersection of Route 6 and 660 by the "Y" Drive-in 4-5 miles west of Mansfield like I was standing next to it, but from Troy borough, it is scratchy (only 4-5 air miles from Pisgah site). The ongoing problem with local communications is not by any means unique to this area. There is only one true solution - more towers. In Bradford County, practically every publicly-owned property of any value to radio coverage has already been utilized. That is why we are now expanding into the areas that are more difficult financially....private land. Counties with a much larger financial base often have 20-70+ towers. Bradford County has 6, and is the second largest county in the state. In all honesty, I have received 100% support for building new towers from the Commissioners. The fact that they are not built yet is not because of a lack of financial committment, it has been a paperwork nightmare Both the Bridge St and Rome sites (under construction) are on private property and will incur a "forever" leasing cost. The same is true of the site in Canton we are working on. Just to add insult to injury, all indicators point to the fact that Public Safety Communications will ultimately migrate from both hi-band AND UHF to 700 Mhz........which will mean we will need a lot MORE towers. Have a nice day ;D
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Post by 911wacker on Nov 1, 2003 16:35:20 GMT -5
AHHHHHHH- As once an "older and much wiser" dispatcher had once told me----- "pisgah, the king of towers" I couldn't resist!! The planets must have been aligned with the moon and sun, just 10 degrees of the north star................. or was it just a fluke!!
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Nov 1, 2003 21:58:29 GMT -5
I can tell you from my perspective the issue of communications (or lack there of) is ongoing statewide (for the most part). And unfortunately I believe it will get worse before it gets better.
All state agencies are going to 800 Mhz. Our Departments radio designee has told me that we can expect this (for DCNR) within the next 2 years. Everybody I talked to is VERY apprehensive about 800 Mhz. Their best guess is that the system will be a benefit but not for multiple years of de-bugging it. Our Department is also considering keeping the current High Band license for up to 15 years. They are that uncertain of the 800 system. That may not mean a lot at first glance but what it would mean is two service contracts for repairing two systems. Considering all the current radios we have and are about to receive that is quite a bit of $$. There is even talk of bidding out vehicles for Fire Supervisors with bucket seats because we will have soooo many radios to install in them.
Now having said that all state agencies are going to 800 Mhz don’t think we will be able to talk to all of them, 911 centers or FD’s. If each radio isn’t the same make and hasn’t had an upgrade installed they won’t be able to communicate. Also take into account that we will have to send two or three people to training so they can train the rest of our staff how to operate the radios. I understand all of your concerns and frustrations because we are going through them as well.
So the entire state has some tough roads ahead of us. I firmly believe everything will work our in the end. It will just seem like forever getting there!!!
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Nov 2, 2003 7:46:04 GMT -5
151.385 is receive for the Tioga Forest District (Tioga & Bradford Counties)
151.295 is receive for the Tiadaghton Forest District (Lycoming Co.)
I am not sure what receive is for the Lackawanna Forest District (Susquehanna Co.). That info is at my office and I am not right now.
If there are any other questions regarding our radio system please ask. I plan to work on the authorization process for FD's to use our system during incidents the Bureau is involved with. There are a few FD's that currently do have transmit / receive capabilities for our system. I would ask that any FD currently having those freqs installed to please contact me via telephone or e-mail. This is just to verify an authorization has been granted. And if one has not I will work on getting the authorization for them.
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Nov 3, 2003 10:35:27 GMT -5
but when you're near the fire and the message to hug a tree b/c the air tanker is coming in has to go through five individuals... The only warning you get is the sound of the water breaking trees in half a couple hundred feet away... This doesn't have anything to do with communications but to avoid any misconceptions. If an air tanker is working a fire you are on (and in particular the same area of fire you are) you DO NOT want to hug a tree. If air tankers are called to a fire a Bureau representative will need to be at the fire or in contact with command. The tankers MUST have a ground contact. An attempt will be made to notify everybody of incoming tankers. If that notification doesn't get to everybody this next statement is important to remember. Our tankers make what is called a "dry" run. This is to let any ground forces know where exactly they plan to drop their load of water and for them (tanker) to determine the best approach. If you are caught in the "drop zone" and cannot get out the area the best thing to do is lay face down with your head pointing to the aircraft. Avoid any snags overhead and have your tools away from you. This sounds crazy but it is the safest position for you to be in. I realize the reference to hugging a tree was probably hypothetical but it is a safety issue that cannot be misunderstood. SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERTATION FIGHTING FIRES!!!! FYI The State only contracts air support for the spring fire season. Typically they are on deck from mid or late March until around May. We have two tanker bases and three heliports. As far as the distribution and authorization for FD's to use our freqs. I think it would be a great benefit for both DCNR and FD's. However the concern is if too many radios have our freqs that system will have the potential to become jammed with routine radio traffic. I have on my to do list to contact the communications committee on this subject to identify procedures, protocols, etc. Tioga Counties communication committee has already approached me on the very same subject.
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Nov 3, 2003 21:26:16 GMT -5
I can't speak for other districts or other fires I wasn't involved with but we (Tioga Forest District) will have an employee there or on the way. The only way to communicate with the tankers is through our radio network. If we can't see the fire or are in contact with someone that can how can we tell the tanker where to drop? There is only one time I recall we didn't have someone there and that was a few years age in New Albany. That was unusual circumstances though. The tanker was initial attack.
But staying on the communications side of it. There MUST be a ground contact with the tankers.
FYI the tanker bases are in Hazleton and Black Moshannon. They do refill at Williamsport and I'm working with the airport in Towanda to see about getting them reloaded there (not sure if the bigger tankers can use it yet).
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Post by valleytech36 on Mar 29, 2004 6:03:21 GMT -5
What was the problem with Med. 9 on Saturday 3/27/04 with all the squelching?
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W4SFD
Junior Member
"Condemnation without investigation is the ultimate ignorence" Albert Einstein
Posts: 16
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Post by W4SFD on Oct 18, 2004 19:40:28 GMT -5
OK! Here it comes! When is somebody going to talk to Joe Babe about getting on Armenia Mt. It's only the highest point in the county? What, no guts? There is also free tower sections available for the asking if you look for them. AND This CRAP about "It has to be on County Property" is total nonsense. I can access over 1600 feet of tower section. Just Ask! I'll tell you where to get it! And line you up with a towerjack to erect towers wherever you want! Do you need to save money on tower radio systems? They're ripping VHF High band systems down here and replacing with 800Mhz. There are some great bargains if you look for them. Why buy New at premium Price from Motorola when you can get five year old E.F.Johnson or GE . Kenwood's New Stuff is far cheaper than the Big M. and it's better quality.
W4SFD
Skip, give me email!
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Post by 911guy on Oct 19, 2004 11:40:16 GMT -5
Whoa, boy! Let's take this one at a time!! First of all, your statements about appropriate use of frequencies is refreshing and long overdue (not to mention true!) As far as tower availability...Armenia mountain (where I hail from) IS the highest point in the county - BUT - Troy FD has had a tower there for years, as well as other businesses. The sad reality is that, despite its height, it does not offer coverage in the areas in most need of coverage. As far as where towers are built, you may feel free to talk to the Bradford County Office of Community Planning and Grants (as I did and did and did and did...) about what is and is not permissible for erecting on private property. Believe me - Bradford County has utilized more "free" tower space than any county I know of in the norther tier! Lastly, as far as using Station Masters and E.F. Johnson stuff, yes you can get them cheaper, but we could talk about buying Fords and Chevys and Dodges all afternoon. When the dust settles, I will put Motorola Quantars up against any of the competitors stuff and ask them to do what is needed (including simulcast) and see where things wash out. You might want to ask Lackawanna County how they feel about GE stuff..... Big M is more expensive, but they have the infrastructure to make it work and fix it when others do not.
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