Question regarding recent updates to Alameda County

[b52hbuff]

I saw that there has been an update in Alameda County:
Alameda County, California (CA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
151.62500 WPEW701 M CSQ EBAYRFS East Bay Regional Fire Support FM Emergency Ops
464.50000 WQJB449 M EBAYRFS East Bay Regional Fire Support FM Emergency Ops
464.55000 WQJB449 m EBAYRFS East Bay Regional Fire Support FM Emergency Ops

My concern is that three itinerants without tones have been added with a 25mi radius. In a busy county like AlCo there is a high probability that the frequency will be active with something most likely not associated with Fire Support. We had a similar discussion here:
http://forums.radioreference.com/san-francisco-bay-area-discussion/188209-holy-cross-batman.html
...and someone agreed that a MURS frequency w/o a tone is useless. I would extend that common itinerants w/o tones are also useless.

So my question:
1. Does someone have (or can easily get) a tone so that the frquency could be more closely aligned with the service?

2. Should we refrain from entering itinerants with unknown tones, until a tone can be properly identified? The DB Admin guide says that only verified information should be put into the database. The current understanding of verified is that it can be a frequency with an unknown tone. If tone is specifically known not to be used, then CSQ is the proper setting. So technically, this is 'verified', but practically, there are going to be many users and without a tone, you won't know who's talking...

 

[WayneH]

The submission should have been rejected for reasons exactly as you state.

 

[K6CDO]

The submission should have been rejected for reasons exactly as you state.

Also, as a business / industrial radio service license issued to an unincorporated association of volunteers, the listing should be in the business section of the page, and not listed as a component of a governmental entity (East Bay Regional Parks District).

 

[b52hbuff]

Also, as a business / industrial radio service license issued to an unincorporated association of volunteers, the listing should be in the business section of the page, and not listed as a component of a governmental entity (East Bay Regional Parks District).

I always enjoy a good debate...

Serious question for you, should frequency placement be based upon usage or based upon license type? I have no idea how those frequencies are being used, but let's assume they are used to coordinate activities at a fire...

...I would expect to find them with the rest of the fire frequencies. Especially for larger counties, I'll bet many 'firebugs' would never think to go into the business section to look for fire frequencies.

Since I don't know how these are used, I can't comment in this sepcific instance. But generally I'd prefer organizing frequencies by usage and not by license type.

 

[kma371]

Well if look at the actual license,it appears this is not the actual East Bay Park District we all know. Looks as if this is a private business with a very similar name and a licensee address (a residence) in Livermore, where EBRP has no offices.

 

[jland138]

Looks like they're a rehab group. In Santa Clara County, Fire Associates (Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley) serves the same function. Fire Associates works pretty closely with the local FD's. Occasionally, Fire Associates even talks directly with the dispatchers on department frequencies. I've heard them on Palo Alto's Command 1 during last May's three alarm fire on University Avenue.

That said, I'm not sure what the deal is with the entry for Spring Valley on the Santa Clara County page. Spring Valley's listed frequency 1 as 151.625, a "red dot" frequency pre-programmed into many business radios and listed as "unlicensed". The second frequency, 151.925, is a "business itinerant" and "unlicensed". The third frequency 173.000 is an old interop channel, again "unlicensed". The fourth frequency 158.07 is part of common pager pair (yes, also "unlicensed"). 148.475, 147.405 and 147.405 are MARS/ham frequencies. 451.575 and 451.175 are not licensed to Spring Valley VFD. I guess this entry is a joke, right?

 

[trooperdude]

I will address this since I'm the one who added the frequencies in question.

Looks like they're a rehab group.

Yes it's a rehab group for East Bay Regional Parks Fire. Volunteers. 501c3
non-profit corporation. (Just like Fire Associates).

They use both VHF and UHF itinerant channels.

I added it after I ran across them at a fire.

That said, I'm not sure what the deal is with the entry for Spring Valley on the Santa Clara County page

I also added these into the database.

Their primary licensed frequency for logistics and support (and active fires) is channel 4.
They run a licensed multi repeater system with transmitters above their fire station in
the East Bay Hills, off Sierra Rd in San Jose, and off Montebello Rd. in Cupertino.

Channel 1 and 2 are itinerant channels used for support and bs when traveling.

Channel 3 is an old Federal Fire frequency used for car-car, and I'll remove it since the feds have redistributed those frequencies and I doubt it's still in use. Since it's federal
there is no FCC "license".

The old IMTS frequency was used as a "chief" channel and was unlicensed. Haven't heard them on that in a while.

The ham channels are used by the hang glider club at Ed Levin Park and are used when there is a hang glider emergency for ham-ham talk. (Spring Valley has lots of Hams, Hang Glider club has lots of hams, and the Sr. Park Ranger is also a ham).

The UHF logistics channels are licensed as IG to a retired SAR member, and are available for logistics use. Xmitters located also off Montebello Rd. in Cupertino. They were used on the Stevens Fire.

Since Spring Valley is a 501c3 non-profit "business", they they are eligible to use the channels under the license holder under the FB6 designation, although it's infrequent.
They are also a CalEMA qualified fire department with an OES neumonic and mutual aid agreements, so they fit under BOTH categories.

Hope this clears up the mystery.

 

[trooperdude]

So my question:
1. Does someone have (or can easily get) a tone so that the frquency could be more closely aligned with the service?

I am encouraging them to tone protect their radios. When that happens then I'll update the listing.

And I also fully agree with the earlier post that fire-related stuff (especially support) should stay with fire, and not be stuck in the business listings with tow trucks and McDonalds.

As budgets get cut, you'll be seeing a LOT more of private entities supporting Fire operations.

YMMV

 

[trooperdude]

Also, as a business / industrial radio service license issued to an unincorporated association of volunteers, the listing should be in the business section of the page, and not listed as a component of a governmental entity (East Bay Regional Parks District).

I disagree since they have a written Memorandum of Understanding with the Fire Agency, (in this case a Special TAX District) and are thus incorporated in that agencies Fire and Emergency response planning.