Redding FD

[JS11581]

I've been monitoring Redding FD being dispatched on 453.0625 for the past few days. That includes West Redding VFD, Redding Ridge VFD and Georgetown VFD. I did read somewhere that Redding FD is moving to UHF. So I'm guessing this is the new dispatch frequency???

[MarkB513]

The FCC site has that listed as KCE601 Georgetown at 2 watts.
Think maybe you live close to a member with a mobile repeater?
Is 33.720 active at the same time?

[Lynch_Christopher]

The way that the Redding FD dispatch system is set-up is that the main dispatch frequency for all three departments is 33.7200 MHz. The departments use HT1250 radios to link into the UHF Repeaters. Redding Ridge, West Redding, and Georgetown have separate UHF repeater frequencies that link in with the 33.7200 frequency. West Redding repeater frequency is 453.8875 MHz, Redding Ridge is 479.3875 MHz and Georgetown is 453.0625 MHz which you have been hearing. Each piece of apparatus and chiefs' vehicle has a UHF repeater. In addition each department also has their own fire ground frequency. On the 453.0625 frequency you should only be hearing the Georgetown FD, have you been hearing Redding Ridge and West Redding in addition to Georgetown FD?? There has been talk of the Redding FD going to UHF but that is just in the planning stages, It will be a little bit of time before that happens. Redding is currently redoing their communications center but this just involves new consoles and the Redding PD going over to Digital.

Hope this answers your question.

[JS11581]

Today I had my radio set to 453.0625 for a few hours to be sure that it wasn't just Georgetown I was hearing. In that time I heard 3 different calls go out for Georgetown, 2 different calls for West Redding, and a tone test with announcements for all the departments where the dispatcher used the call sign "WNQU666" I'm still scratching my head about this one because I don't see info on this anywhere. Anyone else hearing this? Whatever the case may be, it definitely seems like a active dispatch frequency for all the FD's in Redding.

[Lynch_Christopher]

It's interesting that you are hearing dispatches for both West Redding and Georgetown. What I am thinking is that maybe a repeater is left on somewhere and that could be causing you to hear the dispatches. When Georgetown is dispatched on the 33.7200 frequency and they get on scene they switch on the repeater and they will let Redding Comm know that they are on repeater. How far are you from the Georgetown FD?

[Lynch_Christopher]

Have you heard any dispatches for Redding Ridge on the 453.0625? The Redding FDs' have a tone test at 630pm each night, see if you hear the tone test on both 453.0625 MHz and 33.7200 MHz.

[izzyj4]

I know for a while WNQU666 has been thier call sign for 33.7200 when they switched over to it. They used to be on the Fairfield County Mutual Aid frequency of 33.86 using the county PL. I remember this because I live near Shelton who also operates on 33.86 (PL of 91.x) and listenting to all of Redding's dispatches. I want to say they went to 33.72 about seven to eight years ago. As for changing frequencies, I though the "buzz" was they were going to VHF-hi. I guess not now.

[Lynch_Christopher]

Yeah I have heard people saying that the FD's may go to VHF-Hi and other people saying that they are going to go to UHF. I think they are still exploring various options of what they want to do.

[JS11581]

I heard the tone test today at 6:30 for all the departments on 453.0625 with nothing heard on 33.7200. The tone test was for Georgetown, West Redding and Redding Ridge followed by an announcement for the West Redding and Redding Ridge members. The call sign used was WNQU666. I live about 8 miles north of the Georgetown FD (in Bethel) When the calls go out for Georgetown (the other side of Redding from where I live), there is some static but readable. When calls go out for West Redding (right down the road from me) there is no static so that tells me that this is being transmitted from 2 different locations.

[JS11581]

Christopher, to answer your question... a couple of hours after the tone test i DID hear Redding Ridge getting dispatched on 453.0625. (smoke in a house)

[Lynch_Christopher]

That is interesting that you live in Bethel and are able to pick up the Georgetown 2 watt mobile repeater. In terms of the transmitter locations. When Georgetown is Dispatched on 33.7200MHz they dispatcher uses a separate transmitter that is located at the Georgetown Firehouse and at Meadow Ridge. When West Redding and Redding are dispatched they use a transmitter located at the Redding PD. I am working on trying to figure out an answer for you about whether or not this 453.0625 is being used as a primary dispatch frequency and not just a 2 watt repeater. The reason that you may not have heard the tone test on 33.7200 is that in some spots the coverage is kind of iffy.

[JS11581]

I would have to agree about 33.7200 being iffy in some spots because both of my scanners do struggle picking up Redding PD. I guess its just my location. Another thing I noticed is that when I hear these calls for Redding FD going out and ect. the signal for some reason on both my scanners go in and out... as if I'm in my car and driving while listening to them. Very strange. Goes from very strong for about 3 seconds then just drops off for about half a second. This repeats itself the entire time that dispatch is transmitting. This only happens for West Redding and Redding Ridge. But again, its probably just my location. I am able to hear the mobiles transmit without any problems depending on there location.

[Lynch_Christopher]

Are you still hearing transmissions on 453.0625? The FD is indeed still using 33.7200 MHz as the primary dispatch frequency and 453.0625 is still the Georgetown repeater. Apparently what is happening is that the repeater is being left on and that is causing you to pick up the dispatches. Eventually they will be going over to either VHF-hi or UHF but that is a long ways off.

[eclipse175]

i believe they have already licensed VHF frequencies. i would double check - no way a 2watt repeater is reaching him from the FD to bethel. Either a vehicle close by or they are testing new UHF repeating/paging equipment. I will have a concrete answer tomorrow.

[Lynch_Christopher]

Yeah I agree that it would be tough for a 2 watt transmitter to reach all the way from Georgetown to Bethel. I'm Just not sure what else would explain it. Thats nice that you are going to get more of a concrete answer. Let us know what you find out

[Lynch_Christopher]

Now that the PD has switched to the new digital frequencies does anyone happen to know what is going on with the FD switching to either UHF or VHF. I saw a article recently in The Redding Pilot Newspaper saying that the town got a 30K grant for a new pd vehicle and upgrades to the the FD radio system. The article also mentions that the police has had talks with the towns' three fire chiefs about the new system .I have also heard conflicting reports saying that nothing is happening to the fire band.

Does anyone have a concrete answer about what is actually going on?

Thanks

[Cskib32087]

We use mobile repeaters and all of ours are 2 watts, but some of the trucks have 5db antennas on them and its about 5-7 watts ERP. add a top of the hill or someone close it could carry quite far. OR someone has patched them together with higher power radios like 2 CDM1250s uhf & low. now your looking at 45watts out. You are hearing ALL the dispatches because you are listening to 33.72 repeated over the mobile repeater, so ANY department on 33.72 is going to come over that.

As for what the FD is going to i would look at towns that touch redding, then see what town has s
say 2 VHF channels they don't use because they are on UHF and maybe keep an eye on those channels.

[Lynch_Christopher]

Originally Posted by Cskib32087

We use mobile repeaters and all of ours are 2 watts, but some of the trucks have 5db antennas on them and its about 5-7 watts ERP. add a top of the hill or someone close it could carry quite far. OR someone has patched them together with higher power radios like 2 CDM1250s uhf & low. now your looking at 45watts out. You are hearing ALL the dispatches because you are listening to 33.72 repeated over the mobile repeater, so ANY department on 33.72 is going to come over that.

As for what the FD is going to i would look at towns that touch redding, then see what town has s
say 2 VHF channels they don't use because they are on UHF and maybe keep an eye on those channels.

Hey thanks for the response. That make sense now about hearing the dispatches over the repeater frequencies.

If the Redding FD's ever did decide to switch frequencies I have a feeling that they might be UHF since Weston, Wilton, Ridgefield (Repeater and Fireground), Danbury (Repeater and Fireground), and Bethel all use UHF. The only question would be with Newtown and Easton since I don't believe that they are UHF.

[Lynch_Christopher]

Looks like the money from the stimulus grant is going towards 2 more receive sites for the FDs low band radio system to add a little more flexibility.