DCNR activity

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druhe

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I looked back through the forum and it's been a little over a year since this has been asked, I figured it best to start a new thread instead of bumping the old one.

With forest fire season in full swing, are the VHF frequencies active anywhere ? Here in the western portion of the Commonwealth District 4 & 6 are dead. No activity noted at all.
 
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HM1529

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About all I have been hearing is the fire weather reports from FD 17. I have heard the reports come over both the Port Clinton and Hopewell repeaters one after the other. This was only a couple of times. I have not been able to monitor much so far, though. I will be on the road a lot more this week, so I will be monitoring more of the DCNR VHF.
 

W3DMV

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The VHF repeaters in my area (South Central) are active but usually limited to close in
activity in and around parks where they are located.

For many years this area had a high performance repeater on a good
mountain top location which provided good 3-4 county coverage and was
heavily used by both park personnel and enforcement rangers. Since it was
removed and replaced by localized repeaters at each park, the coverage
area has been greatly reduced.

I have had conversations with several rangers who tell me that the new
repeaters in this area not providing the required coverage, and their 800Mhz radios
are basically useless.. Now relying on cell phones in most areas when on patrol....
 

captclint

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Most NE repeaters are active. On a scale of 1-10

151.4825 Scrub Oak/Weiser Tanker base - 8
151.4600 Mt Yeager - 4
159.1125 Rickets Glen Park Traffic only - 10
155.4525 Broad Mtn -3
151.3325 Boyers - 5
151.2275 Catawissa -5
151.0475 PHOPCO - 2
154.6875 Shaffers - 2
151.3400 Shade Mountain - 4
156.1725 Liberty -2
151.3850 Air East - 4
159.2850 Air-Ground - 3
151.4525 ARARAT/FD11 Air -3
151.4450 Pyramid Air Grd -3

A lot of the activity, or lack of, is likely a function of fire locations so far this season. Quite a few that I did not list were active last year.
 
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captclint

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After some thought, I believe
151.4450 Pyramid Air Grd -3
was really
151.4525 ARARAT/FD11 Air -3
They are too close together.
 

HM1529

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I also heard a little FD 18 traffic today on Broad Mountain regarding a fire somewhere. I was too far south at that point to pick up the repeater well, though.

I heard some very broken comms on the input frequency for the central air repeater and I thought I heard mention of an air drop, but again, too far south and east to really make out what I was hearing.

I was in western Montgomery Co when I heard both of these comments.

I will be working in Berks and Schuylkill Counties tomorrow. I'll try again to pick up some traffic.
 

Steveradio

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Not hearing a peep out of any of them on pro164 than again have some problems here in Pocono summit picking regional police in Monroe. What specific they using for Monroe/carbon county's so can keep a listen?
 

HM1529

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While on the road to State College today, I was hearing activity on Tuscarora, Sandy Ridge, Welsh, and Waterville. Some fire weather reports and some brief forestry conversations along with state park activity.
 

Steveradio

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Got Comm today tanker and air 159.285 talking about airport dropping and can't hear ground units but also picking up high knob finally 151.3625 PL179.9 to whiskey 44 also heard 151.385 PL241.8 deff link from 800 system.. took ride near pimple hill 151.4825 PL162.2 Susquehanna county just caught
 

jluisi86

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Large brush fire at the Monroe/Pike line off Rt. 390, they are using a few planes there.
 

Dei2Racing

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I am 9 miles from the fire ATM it seams ground is on pike county fire 2 but I did here they are using 5 channels because of terrain. The state park runs the 800 system.

I think they have 3 air attack on the fire. Recon Air on high knob now.

Sent from my ME173X using Tapatalk
 

mark40

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Got Comm today tanker and air 159.285 talking about airport dropping and can't hear ground units
Have also heard this traffic throughout the afternoon here in eastern Pike

Lots of comms on Hi Knob 151.3625 179.9- multiple Whiskey units/Recon, etc....
Receiving Hi Knob 3 out of 5 bars on my BC125AT w/ Diamond RH77CA at the dining room table.
 

captclint

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First use of TAC 1 151.4000 CSQ today at scene of multiple fires in Mountain Top.. The FD11 Direct or Rptr were not used much, so not sure why they went to TAC. This shows these TAC freq's need to be monitored
 

Steveradio

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If your close enough carbon f2 was being used by units on scene sounded like most carbon units couldnt chat with luzurne. Also picked uo 151.4825 pl71.9 recon weak signals they even had repeat each conversation. At least we have much needed rain help alittle
 

ekim223

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Here in NW PA, DCNR activity recently picked up on the 151.0925 Townville freq. I am hearing Poppa units on a regular basis the past few weeks. Also on the Irish Ridge repeater (151.1600) hearing both ranger units (assuming Maurice K. Goddard State Park) and some foresty units. On the 151.445, I am hearing Pyt.Park rangers and once in awhile the Presque Isle rangers. Due to my location, the poor reception of PI is understandable.
 
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