Question on Alabama EMA UHF Frequencies

[wise871]

Alabama listeners
I need some assistance on verifying a submission on the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) UHF Repeater system. Recently a user has submitted new information on the new channel line and CTCSS tones. Like all submission I will try and verify the information that is being submitted for accuracy, especially from a new user. If I have a question I normally will PM or email the submitter for additional information or references. This way we open up communication and I can be educated if needed. Sometimes the submitter works for the actual agency and if so, that’s all I need for verification.

Anyway, the frequencies are good but there are questions on the CTCSS. I checked the Alabama AEMA web site and the Alabama Department of Homeland Security and all there information from 2007 – 2009 is saying all the repeaters are using a CTCSS of 162.2 MHz. The ones recently submitted have them using all kinds of different CTCSS. When I checked the web searching for those frequencies using some of the CTCSS that were submitted all I got hits on were AEMA Statewide UHF NET Repeater Programming from 2003 and 2005. Can someone look at AL Emergency Management Agency Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference and verify if this correct and if it’s not point me to any online documentation. You help is appreciated.

 

[puzzleriddle]

To my knowledge, THE AL EMA Frequencies have not been used for a number of years whatsoever, I have all of em in my 2 scanners & frequent Montgomery & Birmingham & have heard nothing at all.. The 162.2 tone was in use for several sites ( countys) in The Montgomery area at 1 time & most recently ( in the Montgomery area) 1 morning I caught 107.2 tone on either 453.300 or 453.400 In the Montgomery area.( was later posted here & was told by someone this tone was NOT used in AL s but have not heard an actual tx in in probably 5 years or more.

 

[cornbread33]

if this is any help I can offer this , My best friend is the Ema director in Fayette county, and they just went to narrow bands in the past 3 or 4 months , whether or not they use these may depend on such things as weather or disasters and it is my understanding that they are mostly used for different county's to talk to each other , when nothing major is happening most Ema just uses their local freq's to talk on for example Fayette county Ema talks on the Fayette Sheriff's repeater on a daily basis , hope this may shed some light on the subject at hand and if not sorry i couldn't help.

 

[trace1]

Every once in awhile I'll catch AEMA doing "radio checks" on 453.400, so that is good for the Cheaha repeater, not sure about the PL though because I've never seen that come up and I do have my scanner set to "search" for PL.

However, I have heard a near by county using the same freq. for VFD dispatch/paging and although it is not very often, I'm thinking it is from Clay Co. and while there has been a PL showing I've never written it down, so I don't remember for sure what it is.

Guess I'll have to pay better attention now, huh?

 

[wise871]

Thanks for the information everyone. I know there are a lot of folks who don't have scanners that can display CTCSS. This system is one of those that are very seldom used so it's hard to verify unless someone has an actual listing. Keep me updated and thanks again.
Dan

 

[BamaScan]

Sad to say this is a UHF system this under used. The plan was to link the UHF Repeaters to Clanton. I know in my county there is a UHF Antenna at the EMA office and the EMA Director was told to use it only during an Emergency. They all have a output tone of 162.2 tone. The input tone is different. The SouthernLinc is the primary radio for EMA. The EMA puts out weather bullentins over the Southernlinc radio all day. EMA operators in South Alabama hear bad weather reports even for weather that is close to the Tennessee line. When I go to the Montgomery Ham Fest in November I will see the individual who works on the EMA UHF Radios. I will ask him what the future plan is for the UHF EMA Repeaters. I would like to know if any of the EMA Repeaters were active during the last Alabama Tornado outbreak.??

 

[cornbread33]

I do know every single Ema Director in the state of Alabama have a southern linc and they are all on a group talk channel called " main" where they hear anytime Mobile , Birmingham or Huntsville weather keys up , this being the NWS in these three areas, They can also talk privately on these same links or they can get on main and key up and everyone hears them.

It gets comical at times because 1 of the NWS has keyed and automatically put every radio on main and the ones who had conversations going just key up thinking their still talking privately and all you hear is others saying " YOUR ON MAIN" lol

 

[morganAL]

Here is what I have:
All Frequencies are Narrowband

Lauderdale 453.400 146.2
Madison 453.425 173.8
Dekalb 460.2875 146.2
Marion 460.1375 127.3
Cullman 453.650 151.4
Etowah 453.650 136.5
Fayette 460.4125 151.4
Jefferson 453.725 127.3
Tuscaloosa 453.650 146.2
Chilton 460.6125 151.4
Cleburne 453.400 127.3
Lee 453.400 146.2
Sumter 453.725 173.8
Elmore 453.650 127.3
Barbour 460.450 127.3
Dallas 460.2375 173.8
Wilcox 460.2375 136.5
Crenshaw 453.425 127.3
Clarke 453.425 146.2
Escambia 453.650 173.8
Covington 453.400 151.4
Baldwin 453.400 173.8
Houston 453.725 151.4

AEMA S-1 453.400 CSQ
AEMA S-2 453.425 CSQ
AEMA S-3 453.650 CSQ
AEMA S-4 453.725 CSQ

 

[morganAL]

So much for formatting

 

[puzzleriddle]

Hmm when did some change to 460.xxx? thanks for the updates.

 

[trlrdrdave]

The pl's are for the input to the repeaters. All repeaters transmit 162.2 according to my list that i got in May.

 

[puzzleriddle]

hmm is at a "complete list" I've noticed some counties are not listed??

 

[morganAL]

hmm is at a "complete list" I've noticed some counties are not listed??

Regional Repeaters. I have another list on my flash drive at home that I got a few months ago. I'll check it to see if it is any different.

 

[trlrdrdave]

You have the same list I do. Except all repeater tx pl's are 162.2. and the inputs use the pl's you listed.

 

[puzzleriddle]

Regional Repeaters. I have another list on my flash drive at home that I got a few months ago. I'll check it to see if it is any different.

thanks, Perhaps someone has a map or can make 1 woud be nice
Thanks!!

 

[wise871]

So have we verifed that 162.2 is correct?
Here are the two maps for the system.

 

[BamaScan]

Good Luck on hearing the radio traffic. Stick the frequencies in a bank and only monitor them during bad weather. I would not monitor them all of the time.

 

[puzzleriddle]

So have we verifed that 162.2 is correct?
Here are the two maps for the system.

these maps don't match up with the regions here AL Emergency Management Agency Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference or do they? hehe.. that is there is NO region 5 on the maps??

 

[morganAL]

I am pretty certain that the output CG tones are the ones previously posted. I am reasonably sure they are not 162.2.

 

[Avery93]

I am pretty certain that the output CG tones are the ones previously posted. I am reasonably sure they are not 162.2.

Yeah, I can verify that, at least the Marion County repeater, transmits the tone shown in your list (127.3Hz).