Iflows

[w4rez]

In the early 90's before I moved to NC, I recall monitoring some sort of net on a repeater somewhere up in the 170 MHz range. The way this net was handled was much like an amateur radio net on 2 meters, complete with touch tones to link repeaters together and all. I don't remember much else about it except that there were radios in a lot of EOCs around the state, and quite a few mobiles as well.

Does anybody remember this system? Who sponsored it? Does it still exist? I think they called it "IFLOWS" and that it was an acronym for something.

 

[wb8oif]

The only IFLOWS I remember was for monitoring water levels of certain rivers and streams as well as rainfall. They used packet radio to send the data back to a collection point central in the county or group of counties. If I recall it was in the 170MHz area. I don't recall a voice net, but that doesn't mean it doesn't or didn't exist. I believe that if you Google IFLOWS that there is still a site on the web with maps showing where the gages are located. To the best of my knowledge the system is still in use. The last time I saw a part of the system was at one of the EOCs and they were using a 486 PC connected to a KAM TNC. That's my $.02....
73,
Bob

 

[w4rez]

I think that's it. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me to google it. But yes they had a voice net in the upper part of the VHF high band. I seem to recall the net being pretty much a role call type deal, and when the repeaters weren't being used for the net you heard quite a bit of random chitchat on there. I'm not sure where all of the repeaters that were a part of the system were located but I'm pretty sure the one I listened to was up on Bolt Mountain.

 

[wvscanner]

In the Beckley area, are you referring the tones and beeps that occur on the standard wireless freq. in the 170's Mhz? I think it had something with the sewer systems. I have never had heard voices on it but the FCC database it will come back to City of Beckley, on the Sanitary freq. you can hear power outages in there system as well the workers. As far as the location’s I’m not sure. Picking them up I get a strong signal on RT 3 in Harper Hts, and near Cellular One on Eisenhower Dr.

Jeffery Smith
http://209.225.8.65/wvsmith98/
Scanning Beckley

 

[w4rez]

In the Beckley area, are you referring the tones and beeps that occur on the standard wireless freq. in the 170's Mhz? I think it had something with the sewer systems. I have never had heard voices on it but the FCC database it will come back to City of Beckley, on the Sanitary freq. you can hear power outages in there system as well the workers. As far as the location’s I’m not sure. Picking them up I get a strong signal on RT 3 in Harper Hts, and near Cellular One on Eisenhower Dr.

Jeffery Smith
http://209.225.8.65/wvsmith98/
Scanning Beckley

Nope the frequency I listened to was a voice repeater. I was in Man, in Logan County.

 

[wm8s]

The IFLOWS Integrated Flood Observance and Warning System voice repeater system (there were [roughly] parallel voice and data repeater systems that offered linked coverage over a pretty good chunk of the state) is out of service and has been for years. You might have heard technicians on the voice system, or perhaps the regular roll call conducted some mornings, with base units being toned out by the State EOC using three-digit DTMF codes.

The data system is still at least partially operational; most of the repeaters (voice and data) are/were on VHF highband hydrological frequencies (mostly between 169 to 172) and down at the bottom of the federal UHF segment (406-420). They store-and-forward rainfall from scattered gauges to data collection points running PC software that reports rain amounts. I think that the voice system, at least, fell victim to poor management and a bad funding model.

And besides, what in the world does anybody need with a statewide voice repeater system, anyway!! ;^) Ok.. maybe it was a little ahead of its time, too...

...R

 

[gcgrotz]

Hi guys:

I know Iflows here in VA is still operational. The site at BearDen, just north of I-64 on the Parkway, has recently had its old GE MastrII replaced with a new Motorola radio. It is on 171.900. The old voice repeater GE radio is still there but it looked like the antenna was disconnected.

 

[wm8s]

Maps galore

If you get bored, here are the IFLOWS system diagrams in various states of antiquity.

...R

PS When I said the voice component was out of service, I meant in WV. No info on the other states.

 

[wm8s]

The rest when I get back from my meeting...

 

[wm8s]

Some more...

 

[wm8s]

Wouldn't you know it,

 

[wm8s]

...the Virginia 8.5 x 11 file is a little too big to upload. If you REALLY need it, let me know and I'll put it somewhere.

...R

 

[w4rez]

Wow! What a wealth of information! Thanks.