Want to Scan Fire Department in Ottawa HELP!

[BigDinOttawa]

First I will appologize for my lack of knowledge so far on scanners and frequencies. I own a Icom IC-R2 portable scanner and I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and I want to be able to listen to my local fire department as I have always wanted to be a fireman and my son loves to hear them as well now too. I wouldn't mind listening to the police channel as well as I am sure there is always excitement there, however from my readings I might be out of luck cause everyone is apparently gone to trunk systems (whatever that means).

So I guess what I am trying to say is, is there a way I can monitor them with the radio I have now or do I need to buy another radio to listen to them or should I just sell my radio and park my car out side the fire hall and just follow them to action? hahaha

Thank you in advance for your comments, I do really appreciate your time!

BigDinOttawa

 

[derevs]

Icom IC-R2

First, this radio does not do trunk scanning which is what you need to receive Ottawa public service. If my memory serves me, no Icom receivers do trunking.

There are a few frequencies you can program into the IC-R2, those are listed as fireground but you can only receive those if you are close to the fire area.

A proper trunk receiver will cost about $400 to $500. Not familiar with Ottawa but I believe there are places there to purchase scanners.

For more info don't forget to check the Wiki pages.

Good luck.

 

[ocscan]

Ottawa Fire is using the Cities EDACS trunked system in Analog mode. The fireground frequencies are VERY rarely used. No good place in Ottawa to pickup a Trunked scanner *New* here, Durham Radio in Oshawa is closest Canadian spot to pick one up @ a resonable price.

 

[BigDinOttawa]

Thank you!

So to be clear it is obviously best to get a trunk type scanner and this will allow me to easily listen to my local fire department and police services if we wish? and if so where would I find these trunk frequencies? again sorry for my lack of knowledge and your time and response is greatly appreciated.

 

[VE3RADIO]

Try ebay and look for a Radio Shack PRO 96 (300 ish) or a Uniden BC246T (200-250) .. if you want a small scanner that runs off three AA batteries than the 246 is your scanner. It will pickup Ottawa Fire, but no PD .. or OPP. If you were to get a PRO 96 then you could get Ottawa Fire and OPP/Ambulances. You should be able to get a PRO 96 for a really good price right now as they are liquidating them... if you are up for a short drive to Ogdensburgh NY.. go to Radio Shack there (yes they still have radio shack) and pickup a PRO 96 or 2096 for $299 brand new!

 

[VE3RADIO]

This is a decent scanner: PRO-163 1000 CH Triple Trunking Mobile/Base Scanner - RadioShack.com

 

[BigDinOttawa]

I am looking for something that is portable for sure. I am a Videographer and I like to go and shoot action shots as well, so portability is very important however reception is important as well. from the sounds of it the pro 96 will let me hear Ottawa Fire/PD/Ambulance even though they are all trunked so I think that is what I will purchase and sell off my ICOM R2.

I just want to make sure I can easily listen to the Ottawa Fire/PD/Ambulance with the pro 96 before I buy it and that depends on what kind of trunking system they use and if the pro 96 will hear that.

Thank you again all, this is a great group.

 

[DaveH]

First I will appologize for my lack of knowledge so far on scanners and frequencies. I own a Icom IC-R2 portable scanner and I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and I want to be able to listen to my local fire department as I have always wanted to be a fireman and my son loves to hear them as well now too. I wouldn't mind listening to the police channel as well as I am sure there is always excitement there, however from my readings I might be out of luck cause everyone is apparently gone to trunk systems (whatever that means).

BigDinOttawa

As you now know, the IC-R2 cannot follow an EDACS trunked system. The 14 talk
channels are shared with all City services, OPS (which you can't monitor, sorry)
and other users, and are allocated more or less randomly on an as-needed/as-available
basis. Trying to scan a system of this type with a non-trunking scanner is a losing
proposition. You need a trunk-tracking scanner, and program it correctly according to this:

Scanner Frequencies: Ottawa Public Safety Trunking System, Ottawa, Ontario

Ask us further details after you get a suitable scanner; programming details vary
with the specific type. You don't need a >$300 scanner unless you want to listen to
OPP (digital) etc. Even a used Uniden BC245XLT or BC246XLT will do for OFS;
there are other used/new options including FleaBay.

The OFS vehicle repeater channels (six 859MHz frequencies linked below) are
as stated not used very much, only on-scene in highrise and other situations
where the portables can't get into the system directly. They are low-power
(limited range, only a few km) from the scene, and only repeat the talk-group
(a virtual channel) being used by the trucks; other system activity won't be
heard.

Ottawa County, Ontario (ON) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
A benefit of having a TT scanner is you can scan MOH (ambulance) which has
moved to this (different) Motorola trunked system:

Scanner Frequencies: Bell Fleetnet - Ontario Provincial Government Zone 2 Trunking System, Southeast Zone, Ontario

Listening to OFS is great. You get coverage from nearly Arnprior to Cumberland
and to the south, all on one system. You can listen any of the zones independently.
Forget about hanging outside firehalls.

Dave

 

[Jammin_Jay]

When you do get a trunking scanner. Remember that Ottawa FD, operates on the EDACS system. You will need to program the scanner with database on RR here. But EDACS operates with sequential ordered frequencies. They have to be programmed in a specific order. And if you have never operated a trunk scanner before, read some of the RR info first. There will be info on the different types of operating systems , how it works, ID's, bit status, control channels, etc. IF u have any trouble just contact one of us on here, will be glad to help you. You will also hear, parking control, city works, besides FD on the EDAC system.

There are also 2 sites. The north gower tower , you will hear less radio traffic on that, compared to the main site in ottawa. So depending where u live, u can determine what u can receive.

 

[davidmc36]

Some other handy info on The EDACS system. There are only two sets of frequencies that you need to put in though depending on your location. The "West" site is for outlying areas and is simulcast off several "towers". As somebody already stated the "West" site does not carry all traffic.

--- In EasternOntarioScanning@yahoogroups.com, "Brad [VE3BSM]"
<lists.nospam@...> wrote:
>
> The "locations" in my 996 file aren't the actual locations, but
rather
> pseudo-locations to make a "buffer" around the outer perimeter of
the city.
> The towers are all "shaped", so for example the North Gower tower
is heavily
> shaped to the south & west, with very little coverage north and
east. So
> because the 996 GPS range is a circle, I "moved" the tower south
and made
> the range smaller.
>
>
>
> I know there's a tower near the Rideau Carleton raceway. I know the
system
> has something like 17 towers total, but only 8 or 9 of them actually
> transmit (the rest receive only). There's also a new micro-site
inside the
> Ottawa airport for local in-building coverage (that'll be on the
Main site
> of course). Ottawa Fire dispatches for Morewood and surrounding
areas as
> well, so it's possible *those* sites have EDACS sites as well.

 

[slicerwizard]

if you want a small scanner that runs off three AA batteries than the 246 is your scanner.

Three?

I am looking for something that is portable for sure. I am a Videographer and I like to go and shoot action shots as well, so portability is very important however reception is important as well.

Then I would not recommend the 246. When monitoring 800 MHz frequencies (like that Ottawa EDACS system), it overloads badly whenever you get near a cell site. If this is for your employment, get something more robust. User yorkphotog learned this the hard way with his 246.