statewide inter-agency channel?

I've noted from the database 155.370 is the Statewide Inter-Agency frequency for NY. My question is, for those familiar with our dispatching in NJ, is this frequency utilized the same way we use SPEN 1 here in NJ? If not, is their another that agencies use?

Those not familiar with what SPEN 1 is here in NJ, it is our inter-agency frequency we can use to call neighboring jurisdictions and put out alerts such as wanted persons/vehicles, road closures, agency requesting mutual aid for a fight or other disturbance, etc..... this frequency is simplex and is utilized statewide. It is a mandatory frequency that is monitored at every dispatch desk, and must be available in all emergency vehicles in the state if needed.

In NY, 155.370, correctly known as NYLAW1, is a law enforcement only channel. It is mainly a mobile to mobile and mobile to base channel for law enforcement interop.

45.88 (LFIRE4D) is more commonly used for inter-dispatch communications. Although local customs may vary. In the Albany area they have CDERN, a UHF repeater for dispatch-dispatch broadcasts.

As Thunderknight points out, the "proper" use of interop channels varies by region. While 155.370 has always been designated as mobile, several WNY counties call it "Point to Point" and use it between base stations. The real Point to Point channel was supposed to be 39.46, but with the general abandonment of low band in the 1980s and 90s, most dispatch centers lost access to that channel. Some never had it.

There are several NY "statewide" channels that are used by local entities in ways not "authorized" in any State plans. Home Rule in action.

Wow, 155.370 was known (to us that have been scanning for may years ) as Statewide P.D. Channel. Its still listed that way on some sites that have not been updated in years, like fordyce . But like Dave says, its use seems to vary.

Its in the wiki,

155.370 was formerly designated by the FCC to be used exclusively as a law enforcement intersystem frequency. It is used for this purpose in many states and is often called "Point-to-Point".

155.475 and 155.4825 are available nationwide for use in police emergency communications networks operated under statewide law enforcement emergency communications plans. 155.475 is often called "National Law Enforcement Mutual Aid"

155.370 started out at least in the Westchester, Putnam Counties area as County-Wide in the mid 70's when the new LEAA VHF radio systems were being installed. I know that in New Jersey Tri-Borough Comm was using it as their main PD dispatch channel. I informed a number of local PD agencies of this and it became a way of quickly getting NJ DMV info and vice-versa. All the agency had to do was switch to channel (ch-4) and punch in 4A PL that was in the multi PL head, and they could talk back and forth. This was on the old 110 watt Micor mobiles with 4 channel system 90 heads with 4 PL capability. Oh yea and MODAT

Now a days 155.310 is the County-Wide which is West Co PD channel 1.

Another common point to point now being used a lot are the V-tac channels.

DaveNF2G said:

There are several NY "statewide" channels...

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To expand upon this point, New York State's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has issued a number of Communications Guidelines in a long overdue effort to standardize the naming and toning of select frequencies used for interop purposes.

Law Enforcement
39.460, tx 156.7
LLaw1D (rarely used, as noted in posts above)

155.3700, 110.9
NYLaw1

Emergency Medical Services
155.1750, tx 156.7
NYMed175

155.2200, tx 156.7
NYMed220

155.2800, tx 156.7
NYMed280

155.2950, tx 156.7
NYMed295

155.4000, tx 156.7
NYMed400

155.7150, tx 156.7
NYMed715

Search and Rescue
155.1600, tx 127.3
VSaR16

Fire / Rescue Services
45.880, tx 156.7
LFire4D

46.220, tx 156.7
NYFire22

46.300, tx 156.7
NYFire30

153.8300, tx 156.7
NYFire83

The channels listed above are recommended to be programmed into public safety radios in addition to all the standard L, V, U, 7, and 8 Call, Tac, GTac, Law, Med, and Fire interoperability channels detailed in the National IO Field Operations Guide, version 1.6.1.

Many of them are NIMS channels with NY names. However, some of the designated national interop channels are used for local communications, such as one of Bethlehem's (NY) fire channels. They even have it set up with the recommended nationwide CTCSS tone (156.7 Hz).

DaveNF2G said:

Many of them are NIMS channels with NY names. However, some of the designated national interop channels are used for local communications, such as one of Bethlehem's (NY) fire channels. They even have it set up with the recommended nationwide CTCSS tone (156.7 Hz).

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Not sure what "NIMS" channels are, but...

Only the FCC designated national interop channels are restricted for that purpose. Eg VCALL10, VTAC11-14, UCALL40, UTAC41-43, 7 and 8CALL and TAC, etc.

Channels like VMED28, VSAR16, VFIRE22, NYMED715, etc are subject to regular and existing licensed use and normal FCC licensing. The State was just trying to standardize the name for what is otherwise a "common channel" that may be used in many agencies that could have it in common (eg NYLAW1).
If the NIFOG designated a name, the State did not assign a conflicting name. Anything starting NY... is not in the NIFOG.

What Bethlehem Fire channel are you referring to? If it's like a VFIRExx channel, as long as it's licensed they can use it for normal ops.

Statewide SAR

Did a story for National Communications on a statewide SAR drill that was held in Letchworth State Park, They used 155,160 with the PL of 131.8. Also have some county to county law comms on 39.46 206.5.

n2ops said:

Did a story for National Communications on a statewide SAR drill that was held in Letchworth State Park, They used 155,160 with the PL of 131.8.

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The NYS Federation of SAR teams had 131.8 as the NYS standard until recently, however when a recent NIFOG update adopted 127.3 for the nationwide standard, the NYS Federation adopted 127.3.

Thanks for the Update

Thanks for the correction on the SAR PL for 155.160.