so I see both 46.26 and 33.96 eventually being phased out as Dutchess County is slowly doing with 46.38. In Dutchess there have been proposals at some Chief meetings to go VHF or UHF digital paging as I have seen in South Carolina, but I have no time frame for that. I do like some of the cell phone text systems(Red Alert and others) out there, but I don't trust them to work properly in the event of an large scale emergency.
Quite"
In my own opinion, these cell phone apps are not reliable as the radio when it comes to being notified of alarms.
I agree and have said so on many threads on the subject as an alternative to sirens.
As far as Dutchess County and the Low Band system, about 10 years ago the County stated they would no longer support the Low Band system. The back lash was pretty intense and the County modified their position to support it as long as they could get parts. My agency actually went out and replaced all the 40+ year old Plectrons with new UHF controllers in anticipation of the eventual shutdown. I don't know what was being on other sites, but at Hosner Mt they had a POS Quintron paging transmitter. I actually gave them a Vocom 350 watt power amp to help when it died. It's about that time that digital paging was brought up and it didn't go over well. I doubt now that any site is exceeding 100 watts on the Low Band.
It's going to be interesting if they decide to go with NYCOMCO's proposal for 700 mhz ( I am sure mother M is in there pitching too). There are a lot dead spots now on UHF, now multiply that by 10 for 700 mhz. They are going to need a lot more towers. Even cell service in the North county area is spotty at best even after 35 years.
HiKC2GSP, I have been a volunteer firefighter for many years and just became a New York State Exempt due to my area going all career.
46.26 is used for tone-out dispatch for MOST areas in Wetchester County. 33.96 is used for the fire pagers. 46.06 is used for the following departments: Greenville/Port Chester/Rye Brook/Pelham Manor/ fire departments which is low band. 46.06 uses a PL and 46.26/33.96 or CSQ. 60 Control dispatches for all departments except Mt. Vernon, Yonkers and New Rochelle. I'm thinking White Plains Fire just reverted back to their own dispatchers but anyone can correct me if I'm wrong. Also Westchester County Fire uses Motorola Smart Zone II for everything. Example: Fire 15 is (sound shore)Mamaroneck town/Mamaroneck Village/Rye/Larchmont/Harrison. 46.14 is not used much. It was for mutual aid before the advent of the trunking system.
Sonic-I'll add further comments on this thread. I'm a New York State Exempt Firefighter with the Eastchester Fire District, Eastchester, NY and also have a valid FEMA Certificate dated back from 2006 that never expires.I recall 33.96 being a page out frequency for County Coordinators. ( Back in the 1980s} When Mutal Aid was requested for a working fire, 60 Control would alert Coordinators.
Also, 33.96 is currently used for “House Alert” for every New Rochelle alarm and Medical call.
Just want to share in this thread. It will be interesting to see the next year or so with the changes.
New Rochelle is dispatched by 60 control as I monitor them daily at my job I’m wondering if this is something fairly new I am unaware of them not being dispatched by 60 although I have only been monitoring them a year or soWhy Westchester County, NY Has (2) Seperate Fire Dispatch Frequencies
HiKC2GSP, I have been a volunteer firefighter for many years and just became a New York State Exempt due to my area going all career.
46.26 is used for tone-out dispatch for MOST areas in Wetchester County. 33.96 is used for the fire pagers. 46.06 is used for the following departments: Greenville/Port Chester/Rye Brook/Pelham Manor/ fire departments which is low band. 46.06 uses a PL and 46.26/33.96 or CSQ. 60 Control dispatches for all departments except Mt. Vernon, Yonkers and New Rochelle. I'm thinking White Plains Fire just reverted back to their own dispatchers but anyone can correct me if I'm wrong. Also Westchester County Fire uses Motorola Smart Zone II for everything. Example: Fire 15 is (sound shore)Mamaroneck town/Mamaroneck Village/Rye/Larchmont/Harrison. 46.14 is not used much. It was for mutual aid before the advent of the trunking system.
New Rochelle is dispatched by 60 control as I monitor them daily at my job I’m wondering if this is something fairly new I am unaware of them not being dispatched by 60 although I have only been monitoring them a year or so