Albany County Fire/EMS

[mikec10]

On scene fireground communications should be taking place on a non-repeated conventional frequency.

It makes perfect sense to not use the p25 system for on scene fireground communications, and here are a few reasons why..

Most systems are optimized for 95-98% portable coverage from the street (not inbuilding), and that is with holding the radio in your hand. Most firemen wear their radio in a radio strap on the side of their body or in the radio pocket of their coat, this will affect how the radio will work on the system. I'm not sure where you are from but in my area we actually go inside to put the fire out, not just throw some water through the window.

Last thing you want to hear when your inside calling for help is getting the FU tone because you're not making it into the trunked system.

I was not saying anything about how you put a fire out. I was asking for information regarding the programing of a SDS200 scanner and a Unication G4. Each local has their way of implementing their radio operations and I was just looking for some information. I have in the past held on to a hose nozzle and felt the heat of a fire.

 

[Com-Tech51H8]

Excellent! They are amazing receivers in the 700/800 range. Especially for simulcast.

While I’m still not 100% sure, I did a little test of sorts on that Albany County Fire “thing.” I locked it on the Alb Co Fire Dispatch and heard a call for Cohoes. Brought up their analog frequencies which were shared (last I knew) with Watervliet and Green Island. While it did hear the call and responding units over both the 800 TG and 460.100, the responding units were told to switch to “”Ops 2.” So, I put that TG on and didn’t hear a thing! Is that only over the Cohoes Cell? If so, that is a lower power and covers a smaller specific area. Sometimes I get it here sometimes not! Or, was it my other guess which was low power analog fireground frequencies. They could be low band (unlikely), VHF or UHF…or…

So still searching on that! Enjoy the radio!

So the Metro Cell and The County Cell and the Cohoes Cell Carry Diffrent Traffic so its important if you want to hear something specific then you wil have to setup your g5 to steer its attention to the specific cell. Albany Watervliet GI and Cohoes T/Colonie is all carried on the Metro Cell. and basically everything else is defered to the County Cell County Fire / EMS T/Bethlehem T/Guilderland. thats the short answer....

 

[owenbricker]

If the fireground traffic is not heard on the trunk system, most likely simplex. Why not call the departments in question and ask? saves time fumbling with your radio.

 

[mikec10]

So the Metro Cell and The County Cell and the Cohoes Cell Carry Diffrent Traffic so its important if you want to hear something specific then you wil have to setup your g5 to steer its attention to the specific cell. Albany Watervliet GI and Cohoes T/Colonie is all carried on the Metro Cell. and basically everything else is defered to the County Cell County Fire / EMS T/Bethlehem T/Guilderland. thats the short answer....

That is pretty much what I did. I have this setup to cover the local counties and I am very impressed with it. I am also happy that I can program this myself. Had it setup in less than a week but will be doing some fine tuning going forward. I am in the process of selling my SDS200. Hate to get rid of it but by selling it will help pay for the G4. Thanks for your response......

 

[DaveNF2G]

Metro Cell (the associated simulcast sites thaţcarry particular talkgroups are referred to as Cells) carries Albany, Colonie, Guilderland.
County Cell carries Bethlehem, Coeymans, Selkirk and the Hill Towns.
Cohoes Cell carries Cohoes, Green Island, Watervliet.
Schenectady Cell is Phase II and carries Schenectady County.

 

[vikingegfd]

albany county ops 4 active for the major car accident yesterday.

 

[bob550]

Metro Cell (the associated simulcast sites thaţcarry particular talkgroups are referred to as Cells) carries Albany, Colonie, Guilderland.

Guilderland is on the County Cell. Metro Cell carries Cohoes Law (County Law 2) and Fire (County Fire 2).

 

[DaveNF2G]

Oops, yes, my mistake on Guilderland. Also, I left Menands out. They are on Metro also.

 

[murse_joe]

Last thing you want to hear when your inside calling for help is getting the FU tone because you're not making it into the trunked system.

But with an analog radio you won't even get that. You'll just be talking and you have no clue if it's being sent much less received. I'd rather get a busy signal than not know if my cries for help were being heard.

 

[Dexter2]

Understood. I have a G5 and it is a far superior receiver to the SDS 100 which I also have! Great choice.

Perhaps Separating things within the favorites lists and using filters you’d be able to pull in more stuff. But as I said in my first post, I have not heard much foreground traffic on Albany County fire TG’s if any at all!

Rensselaer County booms in here but they are much closer to me. I’m going to guess that the G4 pulls them all in loud and clear!

If I may, where did you purchase your G5?

Is it possible to have each county (Albany/Schenectady/Rennselaer) on one Favorite list, similar to SDS100?

 

[jgorman21]

If I may, where did you purchase your G5?

Is it possible to have each county (Albany/Schenectady/Rennselaer) on one Favorite list, similar to SDS100?

Northway Communications. Mike Kanofsky. Outstanding service.

No the separate systems are on separate knob positions. But remember. In some cases, the more you scan, the less you hear!

 

[Dexter2]

Northway Communications. Mike Kanofsky. Outstanding service.

No the separate systems are on separate knob positions. But remember. In some cases, the more you scan, the less you hear!

Thanks for the information.

So if you have one system, a knob would be for each talk group? Or, I wouldn’t be able to have say Albany City and only have talk groups 1, 3 and 5 on one knob?

 

[bob550]

One knob position can hold up to 64 talkgroups on one site. You cannot place more than one site per knob position. Also keep in mind that you have up to 64 zones available with up to 8 knob positions each. In my case, I have a knob position for the County Cell and another programmed with the Metro Cell among others. Below, is my zone map currently in use. Be aware that I own a G5 with VHF.

 

[jgorman21]

One knob position can hold up to 64 talkgroups on one site. You cannot place more than one site per knob position. Also keep in mind that you have up to 64 zones available with up to 8 knob positions each. In my case, I have a knob position for the County Cell and another programmed with the Metro Cell among others. Below, is my zone map currently in use. Be aware that I own a G5 with VHF.

View attachment 147818

I have a G5 with VHF as well. I have the cells split apart similarly. Then. Have other knob positions for say, Albany City. Bethlehem. Guilderland. Also scan lists for different analog things. Ham. Feds. Trains. Local analog LE and FD.

Always happy to share codeplugs. But right now I need to update mine.

 

[bob550]

I've arranged my code plug in consideration of the fact that it's easier to change knob positions than zones. It's more useful for me to be able to easily move from the County Cell to the Metro Cell which better suits my listening preferences. Knob position 8 is not programmed to allow for uninterrupted zone changes and menu access if needed.

 

[mikec10]

One knob position can hold up to 64 talkgroups on one site. You cannot place more than one site per knob position. Also keep in mind that you have up to 64 zones available with up to 8 knob positions each. In my case, I have a knob position for the County Cell and another programmed with the Metro Cell among others. Below, is my zone map currently in use. Be aware that I own a G5 with VHF.

View attachment 147818

I was looking over your site map and was wondering if the CDTA has much to listen to. Typically I stay with PD/Fire/EMS. Is CDTA interesting at all. I have had my G4 for approximately 3 months now and love it. Thank you

 

[DaveNF2G]

I was looking over your site map and was wondering if the CDTA has much to listen to. Typically I stay with PD/Fire/EMS. Is CDTA interesting at all. I have had my G4 for approximately 3 months now and love it. Thank you

CDTA is interesting for having been the first P25 Phase II system in the capital area, but it is no longer the only one.

If there is any pattern to CDTA's talkgroup utilization, I have yet to detect it.

 

[bob550]

I was looking over your site map and was wondering if the CDTA has much to listen to. Typically I stay with PD/Fire/EMS. Is CDTA interesting at all. I have had my G4 for approximately 3 months now and love it. Thank you

I programmed it in my G5 because I could. I suspect that should I be monitoring a local PD when they respond to a problem regarding a CDTA bus, I have the ability to then switch to the CDTA frequencies. But I certainly don't do any routine monitoring.

 

[mikec10]

I programmed it in my G5 because I could. I suspect that should I be monitoring a local PD when they respond to a problem regarding a CDTA bus, I have the ability to then switch to the CDTA frequencies. But I certainly don't do any routine monitoring.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will stay with PD/Fire/EMS

 

[Dexter2]

If you have a system programmed then, it would be constantly scanning? If you have Albany PD that has 10 different talk groups (as example), you wouldn’t only be able activate one TG on that knob, as you would with Hold on the SDS100? Or, are you able to program certain talkgroups?