Ottawa fire????

[nfdlieu308]

Hi,
I am interested in learning more about scanners. Right now my interest is the Ottawa Fire Services, so I have a few questions that I has hoping someone would be able to help me with.
What type of scanner do I need to scan the Ottawa Fire Services?
How hard is it to program?
What is the range of the scanner I live about 45 minutes South East of Ottawa?

thanks for the help in advance

 

[Forts]

Ottawa Fire is on an EDACS trunked system. Pretty much any trunk tracking scanner (and all semi-recent ones) can be programmed for these types of systems. How difficult is it? Well it really depends on how well you can follow the users manual and catch on with this type of stuff, but overall.... really not that difficult. Certainly nothing that we couldn't help you with on here.

Now that being said, your distance from the system might be a problem. 45 minutes out is a fair ways away but that doesn't mean it can't be done. Lots of factors will come into play here... the terrain between you and Ottawa, the type of antenna you are using etc etc. I can say with reasonable certainty that you won't be able to hear the system without using an outdoor antenna, but don't hold me to that. I'm not at all familiar with the area up there so I could certainly be wrong. I'm sure someone else on here can comment on the range of that system.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

Ottawa fire does operate on the Ottawa City EDACS system. A trunk tracking scanner is needed.
They operate Analog.

Your best reception would be from the North Gower tower, from your location 45 mins south east of ottawa

Look for the frequencies
for Site 1 and Site 7

Although the North Gower Tower will be better for you in reception, NOT all fire talkgroups are simulcast off of this tower. I have recieve north gower tower, as far south as almost prescott.

Receiving the Main Tower right in Ottawa, might be a challenge.
You may need to get a directional gain antenna, for 800mhz, and point it towards ottawa, and attach
it to your scanner.

The Main Tower in Ottawa, puts out more RF watts then the North Gower site Tower and has a RF larger contour, so you might be able to get it, depending on topography.


Good Luck

 

[Jammin_Jay]

This is a document from the Ottawa Fire Service that shows how to operate the radio, inside the firetruck, and also how to work with the vehicle repeaters and towers, from a firefighters perspective for operations. I know it has nothing to do with the original question, but if gives a perspective on what fire personal must do with certain operations of the radio

Vehicle Repeater Operations
Fire Chief, Ottawa Fire Service

http://www.oafc.on.ca/lib/db2file.asp?fileid=2120