Siren Activation?

[linkinpark9812]

Ok, so I know that most sirens are radio controlled and are set off by DTMF tones.

I know that Lowell, Indiana uses their fire frequency to activate their tornado alarms/ volly fire.

However, Munster tests their sirens every Saturday during tornado season at 12 PM (just a few minutes ago lol).

Before, I would wait for them and scanned all frequencies that Munster had registered as well as some County and State EMAs. Could never find them. There is no way it is hard wired. We have 5 of them and they are spread around all over town.

My question is this. Is it possible that they do set them off using their frequencies, but only during a real activation? I never had my scanner scanning and recording when they really did activate them a while ago so I may have missed it.

Is it possible that the Sirens do it themselves every Saturday at 12PM? Can sirens be programmed like that? In Lowell, they test theirs everyday, and they do it the normal way with DTMF tones.

Anybody know how Munster does it? Thanks in advanced!

[w8fcc]

I would need to look up there new freq but most county’s got stimulus money and are upgrading the sirens for example Marion County up graded them and they are now back on a VHF freq and no longer use Tone or DTMF they use a digital data burst and send info to a siren and the siren can send digital data back of its status. Chances are they changed there freq or you may just have missed this weeks test

[W9NES]

You might check the following freqs for Lowell for them to test the sirens when you hear them. Lowell PD- 151.325, Lowell Fire 154.445 and Lake County EMA Repeater 154.085. Test should be able to be heard by a Dispatcher saying something about a Siren Test.You might check out those freqs and see what you hear.Otherwise the system is connected by Telephone line to all the sirens via a central control point for the Dispatcher to activiate.If the system is DTMF you should be able to hear the DTMF or the control tones sent out to activiate the sirens to turn them on.Just a idea only for you to try.Best Requards,Tim DeLong W9NES NW Indianapolis and have knowleadge of the Lowell(Lake County) area.

[linkinpark9812]

Originally Posted by W9NES

You might check the following freqs for Lowell for them to test the sirens when you hear them. Lowell PD- 151.325, Lowell Fire 154.445 and Lake County EMA Repeater 154.085. Test should be able to be heard by a Dispatcher saying something about a Siren Test.You might check out those freqs and see what you hear.Otherwise the system is connected by Telephone line to all the sirens via a central control point for the Dispatcher to activiate.If the system is DTMF you should be able to hear the DTMF or the control tones sent out to activiate the sirens to turn them on.Just a idea only for you to try.Best Requards,Tim DeLong W9NES NW Indianapolis and have knowleadge of the Lowell(Lake County) area.

No, I know the Lowell PD does that. They say it every day about the test, and the DTMF, IIRC, is 077####DD8.

The problem is is I don't know how Munster tests them. I have done it twice, scanning Munster's licenses frequencies (two of which I am unsure of what they are used for) and the County and State EMA. I really thought it would have been one of the unknown frequencies but apparently not, unless i miss it which would be odd.

I am going to try to sign up for the Police Explorer program, and eventually I get to sit in the radio room, so I will probably find out eventually, but the sooner the better!

Thanks for the replies in advanced!