Superior Ambulance Frequencies

SirScanalot · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2006, 08:29 AM

Hello to the group.

Does anybody out here happen to know the frequency or frequencies for Superior Ambulance here in the metro Detroit area? I've seen quite a few of their new rigs (different color schemes too..neat !) in and around town lately. I'm not sure if they are the same Superior Ambulance from decades ago or not??

Thanks,

Chris

fnnm400 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2006, 11:51 AM

It is not the same Superior from years ago, this company is based out of the Chicago Area. They Have a location I'm told around Taylor and there is one here in Roseville at Groesbeck Hwy & I-696. They best I can tell at this point is they may be operating on Nextels, But I will keep check to see. I don't see any Antenna's on any of the rigs on this side of town. The antenna's on the bldg appear to be left by Mobile Communications that operated there previous.

Garry

jagr707 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2006, 06:21 PM

Working as an EMT I have run into Superior from time to time. All they do is non-emergency transfers coming out of or into Henry Ford hospitals. Yes they do use Nextels, pagers BUT they also use MDTs. No one I talked to knew anything much about the MDT system. The MDTs have little cellular antennas on the console itself. Since they are non-emergency, the reliability of the system is not that important.

And yes they do have antennas on their rigs. Little 1/8 (I think) wave VHF jobbies. As I just learned a few weeks ago, ambulances HAVE to have a way to contact hospitals via radio by regulation/law. This is the HEAR (or HEARN depending on where you are) system and can be heard anywhere on 155.3400. Multiple hospitals are put onto the system with PL tones.

J

PS. I used my bct396t in CC mode to pick up the PLs for most of the hospitals we use in Oakland county. I have the list somewhere, I'll post it when I find it.

Alpha432 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2006, 07:52 AM

Superior only does non emergency transports? From having worked private ambulance, I realize that non emergency transports is where the money is, but that would suck! No emergency responce to nursing homes or backing up a FD? Where is the excitement in that. I would be boared to tears knowing I am going to do transfers all day and nothing more. Plus I hate the multi color scheme of the rigs. I know they didn't but it looks like they bought a used rig from somewhere and slapped their name on it. Plus none of the rigs I have seen have a light bar. Just the square red lights on the sides. I don't like their uniforms either. Black pants, white shirt and a black tie. They look like they should be working for the "Geek Squad" fixing computers at Best Buy.

fnnm400 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-11-2006, 09:25 AM

http://www.superiorambulance.com/locations.htm

jagr707 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 02:28 AM

I agree Alpha. They were offering huge bucks just to sign on (plus $50 in gas just for an interview). I like where I work and I toally agree that I would go insane with just transfers. Note that it is only the Detroit office that is non-emergency. Other areas might have emergency contracts.

There is speculation that they chose their Roseville location so they could go at it with UMAS, but thats only heresay at this point. God knows how EMS is good at being a rumor mill :P

J

xconfusionx · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 10:16 AM

Superiors got nothin on UMAS, I can't imagine them bein' around here too long.....as they're already having contract issues.

fnnm400 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 06:23 PM

I did a ride by the Roseville location, all the ambo's on the lot have no antenna's on them.. I'm not sure they need vhf's if they are just doing non-emergency transports.. That is why they don't have light bar's I'm sure. I agree, what a goofy idea on all those different colors..

jagr707 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2006, 11:39 PM

Hrmm, have must have ONE antenna on them. Just today I saw one that had two, one obvious VHF and one cut down to what must be 800mhz. The condition of the rig is starting me to think that them might be buying used. It wasnt bad but looked like it had been at it for a while. Come to think of it, they did set up operations in a big hurry.
Ambulances do look REAL funny without the lightbar. GAH who am I kidding, I love my priority 1s!

J

SEMTTP · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagr707

Hrmm, have must have ONE antenna on them. Just today I saw one that had two, one obvious VHF and one cut down to what must be 800mhz. The condition of the rig is starting me to think that them might be buying used. It wasnt bad but looked like it had been at it for a while. Come to think of it, they did set up operations in a big hurry.
Ambulances do look REAL funny without the lightbar. GAH who am I kidding, I love my priority 1s!

J

I hope your report writting is much better than you talk!!!

Without lightbars they odviously are not responding pri 1 or 2. They are simply non-emergent. However, and garry I am not sure if you know this or not, but they would have to have at least 1 antenna, because they have to let the hospitals know that they are bringing a non-emergent pt in. Going from nursing home to nursing home does not require it. Maybe they only have one or two units that transport to the hosptial?? They do have paramedics on board those ambulances, so they have to be able to communicate with Med Control....

RadioRon · #11 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 04:15 PM

By Michigan MEDCOM rules, every licensed ambulance in the state must have a radio for 155.340. When Detroit when 800 some brainchild said to remove all the VHF radios since they didn't need them anymore ... they are now all going back in. Oh, and they disposed of the old ones so they get all new ones ......

ffexpCP · #12 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioRon

By Michigan MEDCOM rules, every licensed ambulance in the state must have a radio for 155.340. When Detroit when 800 some brainchild said to remove all the VHF radios since they didn't need them anymore ... they are now all going back in. Oh, and they disposed of the old ones so they get all new ones ......

Yeah- and 800 MHz is supposed to make things easier...

jagr707 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioRon

By Michigan MEDCOM rules, every licensed ambulance in the state must have a radio for 155.340. When Detroit when 800 some brainchild said to remove all the VHF radios since they didn't need them anymore ... they are now all going back in. Oh, and they disposed of the old ones so they get all new ones ......

So thats where the aquarium money went!

How does Detroit EMS contact the hospital anyways? I have never heard any reports coming though the Detroit MSPCS system. I have heard something along the lines of "Medic xx you are patched in priority 2 to Receiving..." and thats all I hear. Do they use something similar to Macomb's MEDCOM system?

J

P.S. Ok, I'll go for two questions. What would the TX power of the VHF radio in an ambulance be?

ffexpCP · #14 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 11:46 PM

Do you have PL turned on?

The tone is sometimes different for each hospital and the rescue unit.

Thunderbolt · #15 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagr707

So thats where the aquarium money went!

P.S. Ok, I'll go for two questions. What would the TX power of the VHF radio in an ambulance be?

I have seen them licensed up to 110 watts, with an erp of 330 with a 5/8 gain antenna. Lately, 40-65 watts seems quite common, but the more rural areas have higher powered radios, and gain antennas so the units can be heard from out in the sticks. I know that Raisin Twp. Fire Dept's rigs have no trouble talking back to Lenawee County from here in Ann Arbor at 100 watts.

73's

Ron

Thunderbolt · #16 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 06:06 PM

Superior Ambulance has always had a tradition of using different color rigs, ever since they first started in the Chicago area in 1959. I have never really understood why this is, but it does set them apart from many of the other EMS organizations that have used a one or two-color paint schemes. Just drive around Chicago or visit their quarters and you will see what I am talking about.

The old Westland based, Superior Ambulance Company, used the traditional white and orange paint scheme, which was very effective on their old Cadillac and Pontiac rigs. Moreover, they were the first ambulance company to use a helicopter for air ambulance service, starting in 1967 in the Great Lakes area.

Bell Ranger 47-J: Ann Arbor, Mich. 1967.

73's

Ron

xconfusionx · #17 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 08:51 AM

Talkin' with a coworker of mine that knows someone in the Chicago area superior, the reason for the different color paint schemes is a PR thing. Supposedly it makes them stand out and helps people to remember they're company. I don't really know how much truth there is to this, but that's what I've heard. Also back to the initial topic of the post, I ran into someone from Superior yesterday and inquired about they're dispatch system, what I was told is that they do have radios on board, but they are rarely used. They get most of they're run information over the MDT's, and the extent of the radio traffic is to inform the crews of an incoming run on the MDT screen.

PMatchett · #18 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 07:07 AM

So with all this discussion, we have yet to answer the original question, what frequencies are they working off of? As far as light bars go on the rigs, the rig doesn’t have to have a light bar to go priority 1 or 2, Medstar’s new trucks don’t have light bars either, and Superior dose do several emergency runs in both Michigan and the Chicago area. They are dispatching by radio but there is still nothing listed as far as what frequencies are being used. If anyone has any ideas please post them for the rest of us. Thanks!! P.S. There call information goes out to each crew via pager

FFPM571 · #19 (**permalink**) 08-15-2009, 10:11 AM

I worked for Superior in chicago from 1986-1992. I still have some connections there. The reason as stated for the colors is the PR. You noticed that there is all the different colors and schemes. They buy all their rigs new from mostly Osage ambulance in MO. Unless they buy out another company then they repaint and reuse them. They have a huge fleet shop. The lightbar issue stems from even when I was there as a safety issue. It was believed if you did not have a lightbar the driver would drive safer knowing he did not have it. They run allot of emergenies here. They do alot of nursing home and rehab but do have Specaized critical care units too. I see them all the time as I am stationed across the street from a large Level I trauma center. They use pagers for dispatch, MDC and a UHF trunked system for voice. They have VHF Kenwood MERCI radios . You wont see the antennas on the roof as most are flat transit style. I was recently in Metro Detroit in July and did see a Superior ambulance running with its emergency lights and siren when I was at the Henry Ford museum.

Wyandotte · #20 (**permalink**) 08-16-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioRon

By Michigan MEDCOM rules, every licensed ambulance in the state must have a radio for 155.340. When Detroit when 800 some brainchild said to remove all the VHF radios since they didn't need them anymore ... they are now all going back in. Oh, and they disposed of the old ones so they get all new ones ......

When downriver went digital, the reason the VHF stuff was removed was so the installers wouldn't have to do a second install. The old radios were pulled out, the new radios went in the same spot, re-using the same two prong power plug, the old VHF antenna was removed and an 800 antenna was put on, using the same NMO mount and coax run. Literally a 5 minute install, opposed to pulling headliners, popping a hole in the roof, running new coax, landing power for the radio, etc.