MSP Helo Radios

[mlevin]

Today I heard MSP Trooper 1 enroute to a medevac call in Baltimore Co. say they had an 800 MHz radio and requested TG information. However, after a few moments of trying to get tune to the correct correct TG, it seemed like they reverted back to the lo-band patch. This is definitely an interesting development. I wonder if MSP helos now have updated Wulfsberg radios. Anyone with info please chime in.

 

[doctordave]

Good to hear from you, Mo! Back in the area for very long?

 

[ka3jjz]

Likewise, Mo. Tho I suspect you kinda got stranded here due to the storm.

I don't know this for certain, but there's a good chance that the helo had a portable, like many MSP units have been getting. It is equally possible that they got some new model radio in the 'copter, tho. Just a logical guess. 73s Mike

 

[2gigch1]

I could be wrong but I think many of the Troopers have an 800mhz radio seconded from the jurisdiction they are based in: I've heard Trooper 1 come up directly on Baltimore County talk groups for years, and also debates with Baltimore County units when a Trooper other than 1 shows up for a job as to why they can't dial up so easily.

I also believe Trooper 8 has a Montgomery County radio, same idea.

 

[mlevin]

Likewise, Mo. Tho I suspect you kinda got stranded here due to the storm.

I don't know this for certain, but there's a good chance that the helo had a portable, like many MSP units have been getting. It is equally possible that they got some new model radio in the 'copter, tho. Just a logical guess. 73s Mike

Not really stranded (the planes were running), but I did decide to stick around for an extra day. I was wondering the same thing since I've heard MSP units come up on County police TGs. However, I was also under the impression that a portable couldn't be used inside a chopper. Also keep in mind that this was a fire TG. In the end they wound up using the patch anyway.

 

[fourwd1]

I've heard Trooper 1 come up directly on Baltimore County talk groups for years

That's strange, I've never heard a Trooper directly on a Ba Cnty TG.
They're always patched thru on the 46.28 or 39.56 low band freqs. Try monitoring those next time.

 

[billn]

Sys.Manager

As a System Manager on the Eastern Shore I have 8 MSP birds with Motorola 800 Mhz trunking radios on my system

 

[Whistler]

Well the last time that I did a ride-along on a Trooper helicopter they had one of the newer Dauphins. Not sure of the tail number for the helicopter but the Global Wulfsburg had I believe 6 heads and they said two of them were for 800 Mhz. We don't have very much 800 in Allegany County so I guess those guys didn't use that much. The first ride-along I did about 6 months before that was an older model and the Wulfsberg didn't have the same amount of heads and I don't think it did 800.

 

[Whistler]

The Helicopters are moved around the state periodically so the unit the Trooper 8 may have had 6 months ago is now being used as Trooper 3 in Frederick. They just change the placard behind the pilots side. Of course now since all of Maryland has some sort of 800 system they may have updated all the radios.

 

[GARRETT]

Just an FYI; down here in TROOPER-7's 1st due area Calvert & ST. Marys both use a 154.280 to patch the trooper to the 800mhz system Unsure about Charles.?

 

[ocguard]

Whistler is correct - the helicopters are rotated between the bases (and out of service for routine maintainence) frequently so no one helicopter is specifically designated Trooper 1, etc.

The MSP helicopters (some of them anyhow) have had 800mhz capabilities for a few years. I remember sitting at BCo dispatch one night, and the trooper came up on the air - much to my surprise, I had not yet enabled the patch to lowband. This was probably about 2002 or so. And often times I hear Trooper 7 come up on FMARS conversing with St. Marys county, and St. Marys asks them if they have their 800 portable. Usually they say no because the were airborne from a previous mission. I can't imagine trying to use a portable in one of the things!

 

[cohenner5377]

Okay... Now here's one for you... If they are rotated between bases, why do they all say Trooper 1, Trooper 2, etc on them? Is it possible that Trooper 1 is really Trooper 1, but operating out of different bases?

David

 

[Uttoxeter]

As Whistler said, the Troopers have removeable placards in them that have the ship's designation. That's what you see through the side windows. When Trooper 8 sends N57MD (or whatever) out for maintenance and they start flying N52MD, they just move the "Trooper 8 Norwood" placard from one ship to the other.

 

[maus92]

Yes, you can use portables in helicopters.. it's a bit cumbersome for the pilot when flying and not on autopilot, but there is no technical reason why you can't. Also, I think it's standard practice for the pilot to communicate with ATC, while the Medic/Trooper/Observer communicates with ground units/hospitals - and could more easily utilze portables. That said, pilots also talk with ground units and SYSCOM as well.

CA
Annapolis

 

[GARRETT]

Interestingly The other night the had a armed robbbery in Mechanicsville (St. Marys co. ) Trooper-2 came down to light up the scene and they used the NLEEF freq. 155.475 instead of the Leonardtown Barracks freq. to patch the trooper to St. Marys 800 EDACS system. I have been a scanner buff since 1977 and this is the first time I have heard any activity on this freq.

 

[Whistler]

Trooper Radio Update

In the N3 helicopters they have NAT control heads in the front. They can control 4 radios at a time. There are four radios on the display-- RT1 is the 800mhz Motorola Spectra Astro which just got online a week or so ago but only in ONE aircraft. The eleven other helicopters do not have 800 and rely on conventional "patch" channels. RT2 is VHF/Lowband, RT3 is Lowband only and RT4 is UHF. In the N2's and a few N1's they still have the C5000 Wulfsberg's.