Capital Area Fire UHF

[GraniteScanner]

I'm sure many of you already know this but for those who don't this might be a great resource.
Capital Area Fire has a UHF Cross Band Repeater System. The cool thing about this is that because they are doing Simplex on VHF the UHF cross band repeater has access to the awesome antenna they transmit and receive from. Meaning that if you don't have a VHF specific antenna or similar situation preventing you from hearing the other side of the radio conversation you can listen in on the UHF feed. This is great if you have a fixed base or desktop scanner.

The frequency is 453.1125 with a tone of 179.9.

Have a great weekend.

 

[ecps92]

It is actually a downlink from the remote RX Site (not a Repeater) for Ch.1
Many agencies have used this type of link for years, to remote sites that Microwave and Landlines were hard to get to.

Problem with relying on it, is when Dispatch keys up you miss it, as it mutes so no feed back.
So to hear Dispatch you still would be best to have 154.3550 on, with Priority
Concord also uses 453.0375 for Ch.2 thru Ch.6

Concord Fire Alarm - Scan New England Wiki

www.snewiki.com

NHSP used for years 462/467.4500 in the northern areas (Plymouth/Rumney - up into Franconia)

I'm sure many of you already know this but for those who don't this might be a great resource.
Capital Area Fire has a UHF Cross Band Repeater System. The cool thing about this is that because they are doing Simplex on VHF the UHF cross band repeater has access to the awesome antenna they transmit and receive from. Meaning that if you don't have a VHF specific antenna or similar situation preventing you from hearing the other side of the radio conversation you can listen in on the UHF feed. This is great if you have a fixed base or desktop scanner.

The frequency is 453.1125 with a tone of 179.9.

Have a great weekend.

 

[GraniteScanner]

Ahh I see, thanks for the info 👍🏻

 

[jmarcel66]

Actually, it's neither of those. However, both descriptions are close.

The whole system is designed for the Concord Fire Alarm Scanner Feed. There is a UHF radio set up off-site that receives the traffic and that is what you hear on the feed.

453.1125 / 179.9 - This transmitter is located at Concord Fire Headquarters on Horseshoe Pond Lane and can be received in and around Greater Concord. The radio is physically connected to Capital Area Channel-1 only. Essentially, how you hear mobile units on the frequency/feed is exactly how the dispatchers hear them. And of course, you can hear Fire Alarm as well on the frequency/feed. The Battalion Chiefs car(s), Capital Area Chief's car, and several CFD portables are programmed to be able to receive it.

453.0375 / 179.9 - This transmitter more closely resembles the "Downlink" concept mentioned. It is located on Mountain Road (Route 132) near Fairview Drive. There is a VHF High-Band Radio that monitors Capital Area fireground channels 2-6, possibly 7 & 8 as well. That radio is in scan at all times and set to receive only. That is tied to a UHF transmitter that repeats that traffic in a downlink style setup. Because of the location, this site is exceptionally strong to the west but weaker to the east. It has not been reprogrammed to receive Channel-4 as VFIRE21.

While these are on UHF, the channel called "UHF" is a separate repeater that is used by select administrative members of CFD and Capital Area. That is on 453.4750 / DPL226.

The Offsite radio is a UHF mobile radio programmed to scan these two frequencies with Channel-1 in Priority. The radio is tied to a PC that sends the audio to the Broadcastify system. I've included a picture of the receiving radio. It needs a better antenna, but it gets the job done. It does not scan CFD's "UHF" channel.

What sets this "Scanner Feed" Apart from others directly tied to a dispatch console is that local scanner folks and officials, as stated by this thread can benefit from over the air real time monitoring in addition to the on line scanner feed, which has a delay.

Enjoy,
John Marcel,
Penacook, NH

 

[GraniteScanner]

Actually, it's neither of those. However, both descriptions are close.

The whole system is designed for the Concord Fire Alarm Scanner Feed. There is a UHF radio set up off-site that receives the traffic and that is what you hear on the feed.

453.1125 / 179.9 - This transmitter is located at Concord Fire Headquarters on Horseshoe Pond Lane and can be received in and around Greater Concord. The radio is physically connected to Capital Area Channel-1 only. Essentially, how you hear mobile units on the frequency/feed is exactly how the dispatchers hear them. And of course, you can hear Fire Alarm as well on the frequency/feed. The Battalion Chiefs car(s), Capital Area Chief's car, and several CFD portables are programmed to be able to receive it.

453.0375 / 179.9 - This transmitter more closely resembles the "Downlink" concept mentioned. It is located on Mountain Road (Route 132) near Fairview Drive. There is a VHF High-Band Radio that monitors Capital Area fireground channels 2-6, possibly 7 & 8 as well. That radio is in scan at all times and set to receive only. That is tied to a UHF transmitter that repeats that traffic in a downlink style setup. Because of the location, this site is exceptionally strong to the west but weaker to the east. It has not been reprogrammed to receive Channel-4 as VFIRE21.

While these are on UHF, the channel called "UHF" is a separate repeater that is used by select administrative members of CFD and Capital Area. That is on 453.4750 / DPL226.

The Offsite radio is a UHF mobile radio programmed to scan these two frequencies with Channel-1 in Priority. The radio is tied to a PC that sends the audio to the Broadcastify system. I've included a picture of the receiving radio. It needs a better antenna, but it gets the job done. It does not scan CFD's "UHF" channel.

What sets this "Scanner Feed" Apart from others directly tied to a dispatch console is that local scanner folks and officials, as stated by this thread can benefit from over the air real time monitoring in addition to the on line scanner feed, which has a delay.

Enjoy,
John Marcel,
Penacook, NH
View attachment 122109

Very cool, will have to check those other frequencies out.

 

[GraniteScanner]

Moments ago (3:28PM) the Admin Repeater (Alpha Tag FAO Ops UHF, 453.4750) just came to life. From the sound of it the repeater even IDs using morse code.

 

[cboykonh]

Are there any plans of adding another location like kearsarge or plasuaw hill in pembroke so that the uhf feed could be heard by others outside of concord?

 

[jmarcel66]

The short answer is no, not that know of.

What exists now is an evolution of its original design, which didn't include wide area monitoring. The intent is to get the signal to the scanner feed receiver. The ability to hear it around the area is a fortunate byproduct.

 

[cboykonh]

I just remember that there used to be a feed from kearsarge that could be heard outside of concord which was nice to be able to hear. I think epsom was another location too.

 

[a417]

From the sound of it the repeater even IDs using morse code.

Most repeaters do that.

 

[jmarcel66]

I just remember that there used to be a feed from kearsarge that could be heard outside of concord which was nice to be able to hear. I think epsom was another location too.

The UHF links were also not intended for the public, but as a necessary link between dispatch and the sites. When Capital Area converted to microwave, the links were removed as they were no longer necessary.

 

[GraniteScanner]

Most repeaters do that.

Yes

 

[a417]

Yes

Sorry, you appeared suprised that it was IDing in morse.

 

[GraniteScanner]

No worries, just a report of what I heard. I have not heard it since actually.

Sorry, you appeared suprised that it was IDing in morse.

 

[a417]

No worries, just a report of what I heard. I have not heard it since actually.

That's because most people who monitor, will monitor with a PL/DPL in place. The repeater (unless specifically set up) will usually ID in CSQ, so listeners of the frequency won't hear it.