Austin/Trav. Co. Fire and EMS - 2 Towers

[mojicaman]

There are 2 simulcast towers for Austin. I live fairly close to tower 2 ( about 2 miles) Tower 1 is more than 15 miles away. I am using a Pro 96. My question is, is it necessary to program the control channels from tower 1 into my scanner? it seems that I would only need the control channels from tower 2. Keep in mind I am just staying in the area around tower 2. Hopefully I am posting this in the right spot. Please give me your thoughts as I am trying to understand how this works.

 

[Russell]

I would say yes. Austin/Travis is implemented in two "layers". There will be some traffic that only shows up on one tower but not the other, although, any talkgroup can show up on either simulcast tower. Most of the action is on Simulcast 1, but there's plenty on Simulcast 2. I actully use three banks for Austin in my Pro 96 - two on tower 1 and one on tower 2. Most PD, SO, and FD traffic come up on tower one in my area.

Also, you might get more responses in the Texas forum as there are plenty of Austin monitors there.

Russell

 

[ocguard]

off topic but...

...doesn't the term "simulcast" indicate that the same broadcasts are being transmitted on the same frequencies from two different locations? That being said, if two towers were "simulcasting" wouldn't that mean that the control channels would be the same frequencies, so it wouldn't matter which "tower" you track.

I'm just curious to make sure that I have my terminology correct!

 

[SCPD]

You're correct. What mojicaman meant is there are two sets of simulcast towers. A tower belonging to one set is close by, while a tower from the other set is further away.
[ Clear as mud, innit? ] It is easier for most people to think of sites as towers - even when the coverage area is effected by multiple physical towers operating in simulcast mode.

 

[mojicaman]

I still have not had time to program just the one simulcast tower to see how it works. However when I do I will post my results.

 

[josephdavis13]

Last night I conducted an experiment using the Control Channel and the Alternate Control Channels in my Austin and Travis County Systems. The scanner performed better than it did with all the frequencies installed from Simulcast one and two. The radio was more responsive and did not make funny noises before transmissions were received.

 

[truck]

I have a few questions,

Do I need to program the control channels from each Simulcast into 2 seperate banks or just 1 bank?

What is the difference between Fire Dispatch, Firecom North & South, & Metro North & South.

What are Firecom 3-14 used for if Blue 1-16 are Tac Channels

Sean

 

[rattlerbb01]

I have a few questions,
Do I need to program the control channels from each Simulcast into 2 seperate banks or just 1 bank?
What is the difference between Fire Dispatch, Firecom North & South, & Metro North & South.
What are Firecom 3-14 used for if Blue 1-16 are Tac Channels

Sean

It depends on what type of scanner you have. A Pro-96 or 2096 or a BCD996 will do fine with the control channels from both simulcasts in one bank. Other scanners will only recognize one control channel at a time, therefore only one simulcast will be heard if all control freqs are in one bank.
Somebody from Austin can enlighten you on the talkgroup usage. I do know that both the B (blue) and C (Firecom) channels can carry fireground or tactical ops traffic.

 

[truck]

Thank you,

I am using a PRO-96.

Sean

 

[mojicaman]

Sean
I have a Pro 96 and I have the control channels from both towers programmed into one bank and it seems to work fine.

Fire dispatch is the TG that AFD uses for dispatching the units. Its tones and then a computer animated voice.(No Live Person)

Firecom North and South are the communication TGs with live communication. Since the firefighters cant talk through the Fire Dispatch TG mentioned above, they communicate using the Firecom N & S TGs. Depending on what area they are in.

Metro N & S are used for some of the outer Travis County Fire Depts like Hudson Bend during miscellaneous calls that don't require the blue channels.

All the blue channels are used for box alarms, vehicle rescues, land rescues, etc. Anything that requires several personnel.

Firecom 3-14 are listed on RR but really aren't used. I have been scanning ATC Fire & EMS for about 8 months and I have never heard them use those TGs.

 

[truck]

Thanks mojicaman,

Do you have the alternate control channels programmed as well?

There is 1 talkgroup on Radio Reference 1131 listed as AFD. Do you know what that is for?

Also are TAC's 1 & 2 used just like the Blue Channels?

Sean

 

[truck]

Forget about the question concerning TAC's 1 & 2. It was ARFF TAC 1 & 2.

Sean

 

[mojicaman]

Sean
TG 1131 - I have no idea what they use this for. I don't remember ever hearing them use it.

Yes I have the Alt control channels programmed as well.

I use two banks for ATC Fire and EMS. In bank one I put the control channels, alt control channels from both towers, and the Fire TGs. In bank two I put the control channels, alt control channels from both towers, and the EMS TGs.

I do this because I like to monitor Fire and EMS separately. I can send you my Win 96 file if you would like it.

 

[truck]

Thanks,

I'll pm you my email address.

Also what is the difference between Austin PD Emergency & Austin PD APERN Emergency?

Sean