Chicago Fire Department 460Mhz. P25

[Premises2972]

That's the new CFD Citywide. Getting a NAC of 069.

Interesting! Whats it being used for now?

 

[ILjim]

Interesting! Whats it being used for now?

Just some coverage testing at the moment.

 

[ILjim]

I wasn't able to get NAC codes for EMS and Fire Englewood, but I did get the following:

Citywide 462.975 - NAC 069
EMS Main 460.3375 - NAC 163
Fire Main 460.600 - NAC 1CA

 

[werinshades]

View attachment 150073

I wasn't able to get NAC codes for EMS and Fire Englewood, but I did get the following:

Citywide 462.975 - NAC 069
EMS Main 460.3375 - NAC 163
Fire Main 460.600 - NAC 1CA

P25 testing has been sporadic for quite some time now, however as noted the NAC RX/TX don't match per the list. I also noted encryption so wondering if this isn't for CFD but another agency testing? I also noted TGID 5905 encrypted with some of the three letter federal agencies RID's (seeing not hearing, so don't come knocking on my door...LOL!) on the 800 system, so could also be related? It's also been noted CTA is operating on an expired A-Beep licenses and the CTA is probably leasing them for the time being, so could also be related. I've been watching for any CFD or OEMC RID's for some time now and since the NAC's don't match, makes me wonder who this is really for since CFD is successfully using the 800 system for primary communications, simplex mixed-mode fireground channels, and a UHF-T back-up system.

 

[Premises2972]

I wasn't able to get NAC codes for EMS and Fire Englewood, but I did get the following:

Citywide 462.975 - NAC 069
EMS Main 460.3375 - NAC 163
Fire Main 460.600 - NAC 1CA

Also to add
460.600 Fire Main
460.625 Fire Englewood
These are actually listed as Cook County Interop UHF 3/4 in analog respectively, but today these were identified as Fire Main and Englewood in P25 mode several times while coverage testing.
Doing some searching, these 2 freqs were never licensed by County, and have always been Chicago frequencies, which makes me wonder, were these ever interop freqs? or have they always been OEMC frequencies? I haven't heard much interop on them. And the guys doing coverage testing on County interop for the DNC haven't seemingly touched this freq

 

[werinshades]

but today these were identified as Fire Main and Englewood in P25 mode several times while coverage testing.

They were? What RID was transmitting this? What talk group was used? Around what time did you hear this, so I can check my recordings? I must have missed it..

 

[Premises2972]

For Fire Englewood, check around 9AM 90x/91x series RIDs,
For Fire Main, check around 1PM same series of RIDs
Check this OpenMHZ stream OpenMHz

 

[Radio99]

P25 testing has been sporadic for quite some time now, however as noted the NAC RX/TX don't match per the list. I also noted encryption so wondering if this isn't for CFD but another agency testing? I also noted TGID 5905 encrypted with some of the three letter federal agencies RID's (seeing not hearing, so don't come knocking on my door...LOL!) on the 800 system, so could also be related? It's also been noted CTA is operating on an expired A-Beep licenses and the CTA is probably leasing them for the time being, so could also be related. I've been watching for any CFD or OEMC RID's for some time now and since the NAC's don't match, makes me wonder who this is really for since CFD is successfully using the 800 system for primary communications, simplex mixed-mode fireground channels, and a UHF-T back-up system.

Looking at "The List" it appears the NAC's are in DEC and not HEX, hence the discrepancy. DEC 519 is HEX 207

 

[werinshades]

I wasn't able to get NAC codes for EMS and Fire Englewood, but I did get the following:

Citywide 462.975 - NAC 069
EMS Main 460.3375 - NAC 163
Fire Main 460.600 - NAC 1CA

Caught them on my recordings:

Fire-Englewood: NAC 295
EMS-Englewood: NAC 0C9

 

[n9ihx]

I started listening to them around 6am definitely fire dept techs testing. They were going to various locations including fire houses and clearly saying fire this and that. They continued this all morning until the early afternoon. Don’t think they would be going to fire house locations if it wasn’t fire related. NAC’s really don’t mean much for testing as the radios can be set to receive all NAC codes.
Also they were all commenting at various times about each others transmissions which would indicate to me that they were all using an F7E NAC for receive.

 

[werinshades]

I started listening to them around 6am definitely fire dept techs testing. They were going to various locations including fire houses and clearly saying fire this and that. They continued this all morning until the early afternoon. Don’t think they would be going to fire house locations if it wasn’t fire related. NAC’s really don’t mean much for testing as the radios can be set to receive all NAC codes.

I was responding to the key-ups without the audio, and if a different NAC was being used, it could be a different user.

As it was suggested, I went back and reviewed my recordings (conventional only, but has now been modified so will catch talk groups used next time), and did see and hear as described. Yes, this is the testing I was waiting to hear and confirms the future usage.

 

[FFPM571]

After being out of the area for a while I will be in town for a few days and want to listen... What is the current channel line up? looking at the database it look that both Main and Englewood are both on 460.600 with two different NAC? is that correct?

 

[werinshades]

After being out of the area for a while I will be in town for a few days and want to listen... What is the current channel line up? looking at the database it look that both Main and Englewood are both on 460.600 with two different NAC? is that correct?

It's listed as "Future", everyone is still on 800 but yes, it's correct.

 

[kevino]

After being out of the area for a while I will be in town for a few days and want to listen... What is the current channel line up? looking at the database it look that both Main and Englewood are both on 460.600 with two different NAC? is that correct?

I fat-fingered that one.....the future Main Fire freq is 460.600, while the future Englewood Fire freq is 460.625. Thanks for the catch!

 

[werinshades]

I fat-fingered that one.....the future Main Fire freq is 460.600, while the future Englewood Fire freq is 460.625. Thanks for the catch!

Oops...we both missed that one, but still for future use. 800 is still in use.

 

[Premises2972]

Anyone have any ideas why they are switching from 477 to 460MHz? It seems like CFD enjoys moving their channels around

 

[ChicagoRadio736]

Anyone have any ideas why they are switching from 477 to 460MHz? It seems like CFD enjoys moving their channels around

The 477 freqs were having interference issues from what I understand

 

[ChicagoRadio736]

Lots of testing going on this morning on the CFD Lakefront TAC. 41 base calling 41 tower with other base units calling other tower units. (Life guards maybe?)

 

[n9ihx]

Quite a bit of testing going on again from the station houses this morning. Has been activity several mornings this week.
Looks like we may be getting closer to the switchback.

 

[n9ihx]

Quite a bit of testing going on again from the station houses this morning. Has been activity several mornings this week.
Looks like we may be getting closer to the switchback.

Also hearing you load and clear in Northbrook lol heard you saying the radio reference people are hearing us and commenting.