AMCH AirCom

[IC518]

Hey there, everyone! I hope that you are all staying cool with this wonderfully oppressive heat out here!
I live in close proximity to Albany Med (AMCH) and my good old BC895XLT with a magnetic antenna on the roof picks up LifeNet AirCom wonderfully on 155.235 as they come and go at all hours. However, it seems like I am sometimes only getting the AirCom side and not the helos themselves. Like, they will send 7-1 somewhere and give them all the info they need and then say "Readback correct, 7-1. Have a safe flight!" but I won't hear 7-1's side of things. Am I missing a channel on a duplex system? Also, one more for you: They will mention that scene communications or LZ coordination will happen on a given Tac frequency. Anyone know where I might find those?
As always, thank you!
73

 

[littona]

That channel is simplex, with the radio being at Albany Med. So in this case, you're just not hearing the other side of the conversation. Aircraft radios have a distinct disadvantage when they're on the ground. First they're low power. The Technisonic TDFM-9100 outputs 6 watts on VHF and 5 watts on UHF. Second, the antenna is on the underside of the helicopter. It's totally possible to not hear the aircraft when it's on the roof of the hospital, but the base station can, since it's in close proximity.

LZ comms are typically on whatever frequency the guys running the LZ specify. The helos have the majority of the neighboring agencies common frequencies in them.

For fun, check out the aircraft radio manuals: TDFM-9100 | Technisonic Industries Ltd.
The Technisonic radios use the boards from Motorola portable radios, jammed into an aircraft-rated enclosure, with their own control heads. They're are programmed with APX CPS and a special interface cable.

 

[DaveNF2G]

The actual aircraft is being launched from South Albany Airport, not from AMCH.

 

[b18c_ej8]

For fun, check out the aircraft radio manuals: TDFM-9100 | Technisonic Industries Ltd.
The Technisonic radios use the boards from Motorola portable radios, jammed into an aircraft-rated enclosure, with their own control heads. They're are programmed with APX CPS and a special interface cable.

For even more fun, check out the Canyon Aero RT-7000 radios that the NYSP uses. Same basic idea, with APX8000 boards crammed into a compact little bundle of aviation goodness, but with the added joy of a nice full color touchscreen, and a pricetag of only $140K.

 

[murse_joe]

check out the Canyon Aero.

Wow this *is* roomy

 

[IC518]

The actual aircraft is being launched from South Albany Airport, not from AMCH.

I got that, as they always announce the aircraft is RTB to South Albany. I was sort of referring to when they are actually on the roof of The Med or inbound making their arrival calls. But now knowing of the low power aspect of things, I get why I can't hear them.

 

[chrismol1]

When aircomm gives out the details after the flight is accepted they will give the LZ or ground contact frequency to the aircrew if there will be one utilized, interfacility at helipads may not, sometimes they will abbreviate. "Ground contact on statewide" or statewide 715 will be NY statewide EMS interagency 155.715. Sometimes counties/agencies will have their own frequency such as fulton county 155.325 or talkgroup on their trunked system as the Albany P25 system has - Air to Ground 10771, sometimes tac 8 on rensselaer P25 system, sometimes vtac14, usually vermont.
I'm sure if you have .235 you also have 155.265 as listed for aircomm johnstown - Lifenet 7-2 out of fulton county airport.
7-1 Albany
7-13 Ticonderoga

 

[DaveNF2G]

You should also try 123.025, which is a Multicom frequency for AMCH. Helicopters in the vicinity announce themselves to "Albany Med Traffic".