Rockland County NY "Quick-Call" tones

[T_Daniels56]

Hello.

Quite a few years ago, before Rockland County's "44-Control" switched to a DTMF paging system, I was able to record the nightly quick-call test conducted for all 26 local departments. However I've since lost that recording. I'd appreciate if anyone who happens to have a similar copy could let me know. Thank you.

 

[nozzlenut83]

Did you check the Rockland County FTO Wiki? IDK how accurate it is but it's someplace to start..

Rockland County (NY) Fire Tone Outs - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[GTR8000]

He's looking for audio recordings of the old QCI tones, not the current tones.

 

[T_Daniels56]

He's looking for audio recordings of the old QCI tones, not the current tones.

Exactly. I had a recording of one of the Monday night 7pm tests that got lost with an old hard drive.
Even if I had the audio software to "re-create" these tones, they're harmonics so I'd need the frequencies for each one (a total of four frequencies for each pair). I don't believe the wiki page lists that. So it would be easier if someone out there had a clean recording of these tones they'd be willing to share.

 

[GTR8000]

It's possible that I have some old archived audio from 46.18 on a disc in storage somewhere. If I get a chance and remember to, I'll look at some point.

 

[KC2GSP]

It's interesting to see this topic posted. I occasionally monitor Rockland County fire dispatch and always find myself missing the way it used to sound. A few years ago I came across a couple YouTube clips of Rockland depts getting toned out for heavy jobs (fatal boat crash under the Tappan Zee bridge was one of them) and it was when they had the old tone format.

 

[GTR8000]

Nanuet FD was the last holdout, and when their Plectron finally died, that was the end of QCI in the county. I don't recall exactly what year the Veetronix DTMF decoders started replacing the QCI decoders, but it wouldn't been before 2014 as that was the year the UHF paging simulcast went live. If I'm recalling correctly, Nanuet and Stony Point were the only two with QCI on UHF, both departments using refurbished Plectrons that were converted to 470.800.

 

[KC2GSP]

Video of the 7pm test

 

[GTR8000]

Here you go, a weekly test from Jan 8, 2007. Audio was recorded directly out of 44-Control's consoles, with the received audio from the firehouse QCII "Home Alert" tones coming in from the 46.18 base station on Cheesecote Mtn in Pomona.

Weekly Quick Call Test - Jan 8 2007

If you listen carefully, you can hear Nanuet's whistle spin up in the background as their base station had a "hot mic" while transmitting the QCII "Home Alerts". Same with Nyack, you can hear their horns blowing and the Gamewell box ticking in the background from the Central Station on Park St (Jackson Engine and Fire Patrol). Sparkill was the first to ditch the QCI tones for DTMF, which can be heard in this clip, as well as South Spring Valley (their QCII didn't transmit from the firehouse that particular night).

 

[ff026]

I’d love to hear a quick call test from the 80’s when all those base stations were answering back with whacky plectrum warble tones.

 

[KC2GSP]

 

[Ishmole]

I found a recording in my archives from December 8, 1972 of the 7PM Quick Call test, if anyone interested. Almost 50 years ago!

 

[GTR8000]

Absolutely, please share it, thanks!

 

[ff026]

Yes please.

 

[Ishmole]

How can I post it? It is an audio file.

 

[Ishmole]

I figured it out. Enjoy!

 

[Ishmole]

That JMD Receiver was my first crystal controlled receiver. I bought it at Arrow Electronics in Nanuet NY in 1971, along with a low band mast mounted ground plane antenna. Still have it and still works. It replaced my Lafayette Guardian 300 tunable receiver that was very wide. Would hear Rockland County Police (37.18) at the same time along with White Plains, Ossining, Mt Pleasant (37.06), Mahwah (37.08), and Nassau County base station (37.14)!
Low band had A LOT less interference in the days before computers, wall warts and switchable power supplies.

 

[GTR8000]

Mike, where were you living at the time of that recording?

 

[Ishmole]

I lived in Suffern (now Airmont), about 1/2 mile from Ramapo PD. My tape recorder was on it's last lap then! I retired from Ramapo PD in 2012. Was in charge of Communications many years as a Sgt.

 

[GTR8000]

If you happen to have any other old audio of 46.18 (or any other Rockland stuff), please upload it to your YouTube channel if you have the time! It's always nice to take a trip down memory lane!