Beaver County - Radio System Changes

kirkwoodcr · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2012, 8:09 AM

As announced, Beaver county will be undergoing a radio system change.

See reference Times Online - Radio system will improve and Beaver county EMA Newsletters

Let's use this thread to track the changes and updates.

Below is what has been confirmed:
Fire Dispatch Channel will be used for tone-outs.
Several towers have been built.
System is undergoing live testing
Go-live expected at new year.

Tom_Pa · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2012, 12:14 PM

What band is the new system? The articles don't really say.

kirkwoodcr · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2012, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom_Pa

What band is the new system? The articles don't really say.

Haven't a clue, some of the firemen indicate they're still on VHF due to the M4/5s in use.

kirkwoodcr · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2012, 9:08 AM

Update article from Times

New radio system - Timesonline.com: Local News

The video shows a sheet with listings, but I can't much of it. I do see VHF, but who knows what that sheet means.

So far, the fire depts have been updated.
Police updated as well.

2 Weeks to field activation.

redbeard · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2012, 10:59 PM

I have all the new freqs. and will have them up shortly. Dec. 17th is the tentative go-live date.

kirkwoodcr · #6 (**permalink**) 12-09-2012, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbeard

I have all the new freqs. and will have them up shortly. Dec. 17th is the tentative go-live date.

Thank you good sir.

n3obl · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2012, 9:01 PM

DB will be updated in due time...

that is all I can say on subject

kirkwoodcr · #8 (**permalink**) 01-06-2013, 7:53 PM

Current activity.

Testing going on and PLs have changed on existing channels.

TAC B 154.3400 PL Changed to 186.2
Voice and odd sounds being heard

NW Fireground 155.7225 PL Changed to 103.5
Voice testing on this channel.

redbeard · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 2:26 PM

Obviously there have been some delays. I am waiting to see how things shake out before committing any changes. Many frequencies will change the PL and the usage. An old police channel may become a fire channel and a fire channel may become an EMS channel and so on. Fire Dispatch isn't changing except for going narrow but there will be no more talking on the dispatch channel (except in the event of a failure). It will be paging only and simulcast from all 5 new tower sites.

To my knowledge there have been no waivers filed so the county is operating outside of FCC rule at this point.

kirkwoodcr · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 2:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkwoodcr

Current activity.

Testing going on and PLs have changed on existing channels.

TAC B 154.3400 PL Changed to 186.2
Voice and odd sounds being heard

NW Fireground 155.7225 PL Changed to 103.5
Voice testing on this channel.

155.7225 is testing zone 4 PD. Repeater in operation

kirkwoodcr · #11 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 5:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbeard

Obviously there have been some delays. I am waiting to see how things shake out before committing any changes. Many frequencies will change the PL and the usage. An old police channel may become a fire channel and a fire channel may become an EMS channel and so on. Fire Dispatch isn't changing except for going narrow but there will be no more talking on the dispatch channel (except in the event of a failure). It will be paging only and simulcast from all 5 new tower sites.

To my knowledge there have been no waivers filed so the county is operating outside of FCC rule at this point.

I hear you on that.

kirkwoodcr · #12 (**permalink**) 01-24-2013, 5:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkwoodcr

155.7225 is testing zone 4 PD. Repeater in operation

Changes today:

Zone 4 migrated back to 155.010 PL 151.4 with a repeater

Zone 3 has moved to the 155.7225 PL 103.5, their turn to get transitioned.

Issues are still popping up on 154.340

All I have for now.

kirkwoodcr · #13 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 5:52 PM

Zone 3 has moved back to 154.7400 with same PL 88.5 now using repeater.

Zone 5 is now in transition and moved to 155.7225 PL103.5 for now.

Medic Rescue has changed their tone-out tones.

fire42man · #14 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 6:23 PM

I am getting no better signal on fire dispatch than before, note that I am about 10 miles east of New Sewickely Twp., however I get good reception on the zone 2/4 and 3 PD channel, and can occasionally hear units key up. Is only dispatch on repeaters, or are mobiles also on it?

kirkwoodcr · #15 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 6:52 PM

Fire has not been touched, yet.
Everything is on mobiles for Police. It's been a long process, but they're making sure it's being done right.

kirkwoodcr · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2013, 9:10 PM

Zone 5 PD is back on 155.565 new pl 167.9 with a repeater.

kirkwoodcr · #17 (**permalink**) 03-04-2013, 4:41 PM

EMS Dispatch has been transferred to the old TAC B Channel 154.340 using a new PL of 186.2

Also, 155.475 PL 88.5 was seen active, although this could be an input freq as it was very low powered.

fire42man · #18 (**permalink**) 03-04-2013, 4:49 PM

What else changed with the EMS channel? I had no problems receiving dispatch on the old frequency, though I didn't receive any mobiles. Now I only get a poor signal from both.

kirkwoodcr · #19 (**permalink**) 03-04-2013, 4:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fire42man

What else changed with the EMS channel? I had no problems receiving dispatch on the old frequency, though I didn't receive any mobiles. Now I only get a poor signal from both.

They just moved to the Tac B repeater, I don't think they did anything with the old EMS as of now. Time to time I still hear weak signals on the old EMS channel.

Also, Fire Response is in use 155.7225 PL 103.5 by Fire Units.

kirkwoodcr · #20 (**permalink**) 03-04-2013, 5:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fire42man

What else changed with the EMS channel? I had no problems receiving dispatch on the old frequency, though I didn't receive any mobiles. Now I only get a poor signal from both.

If anything, there is another agency using 155.22 with a PL 82.5 which is the old EMS channel. Maybe you're hearing that.