CLEMARS in Bay Area

[Raider510]

Does anyone know if any agencies in the Bay Area still use/monitor the old CLEMARS frequencies? From what I understand the NLEMARS frequency is monitored by agencies using BayMACS for interoperability.

Thanks for any replies!

 

[whisper16]

CLEMARS

I monitor VHF CLEMARS 154.92. I don't know if any agencies monitor it on a regular basis, but I do hear traffic from time to time. Stanford DPS seems to use it for large events, and I heard a training exercise not to long ago that I believe was Santa Clara County SO.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm over in Santa Cruz county, we use it for BOL announcements.

Back many years ago when the fiber was cut in several places, CLEMARS was used heavily for communications between dispatch centers. Over here in Santa Cruz, we could easily hear Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Jose all talking on it. All the law enforcement agencies over here have it in their radios.

 

[Raider510]

I'm over in Santa Cruz county, we use it for BOL announcements.

Back many years ago when the fiber was cut in several places, CLEMARS was used heavily for communications between dispatch centers. Over here in Santa Cruz, we could easily hear Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Jose all talking on it. All the law enforcement agencies over here have it in their radios.

Thanks, good to know it's still in use and (hopefully) still monitored by local dispatch centers. I work by myself and backup is hard to come by, can't talk to local agencies cause everyone is digital now. At least if I need help and scream into CLEMARS someone might hear me and respond lol!

 

[mmckenna]

Finally recalled what was rattling around in the back of my mind...

Cal-EMA has a document that shows what county dispatch centers monitor which mutual aid frequencies. In the bay area, the following counties monitor CLEMARS 1 (154.920) as of June 2010 -most recent version I have:
Marin County
Napa County
Solano County
Yolo County

I do know that Santa Cruz County uses it between dispatch centers. California State Parks law enforcement has VHF radios in their trucks specifically for CLEMARS.

 

[kma371]

My June 2011 info adds San Mateo Co and Santa Clara Co to the list of those who monitor 154.920.

 

[kmh603]

All agencies have 700 MHz. radios, so the go to channel is South Bay Law which is found under the SVRS system. The other channel used is BAYMACS.
-KMH603

 

[mmckenna]

My June 2011 info adds San Mateo Co and Santa Clara Co to the list of those who monitor 154.920.

Thanks.

I work for a state agency and I can't get CalEMA to send me the latest version. Finally was able to get a spare copy from someone who works at DHS. Go figure.
I think they are supposed to be printing up some new versions soon, maybe that's the hold up.

Several years back when the fiber cuts happened Santa Clara County was using CLEMARS heavily. Figured they still had access to it.

 

[kma371]

Thanks.

I work for a state agency and I can't get CalEMA to send me the latest version. Finally was able to get a spare copy from someone who works at DHS. Go figure.
I think they are supposed to be printing up some new versions soon, maybe that's the hold up.

Several years back when the fiber cuts happened Santa Clara County was using CLEMARS heavily. Figured they still had access to it.

the 2011 CALIFOG is available online if you Google. I can send it to you if you need it. I'm sure not much changed between 2010 and 2011 though.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks, I've got the online version downloaded. Was looking for the printed versions.

I know I can print it out myself, but I don't have the time to mess with that. I had no issue getting several copies of the DHS IFOG book for work. Was hoping the state would print them up again. I've had a request in to them for about 6 months. Maybe I just need to give them a call.

 

[kg6nlw]

Now here is an interesting question...I notice in Cal-IFOG 2011, CLEMARS 1 shows as 154.920 TX/RX. They don't operate repeaters on any CLEMARS/WHITE frequencies anymore at the local levels?

For example, I'm in Cloverdale and want to listen to Sonoma County's CLEMARS/WHITE, this happens to be WHITE 1, 154.280 TX/RX. If I were to listen to that, I really doubt I would hear anyone on the WHITE 1 in Petaluma, unless there was a repeater on Sonoma Mountain.

Am I correct in this assessment? So anyone who keys up on WHITE 1 in Sonoma County would have to be close to a station(s), monitoring this frequency to get a response since it is SIMPLEX in the most absolute terms.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[mmckenna]

CLEMARS is 154.920 simplex. It's not a repeated channel. This is specifically done because they want it to work everywhere and not rely on repeaters. There are several statewide (almost) repeated channels available.

White 1 is simplex also. It's now called VFire 21.

These were always meant to be interoperability channels to be used between agencies/departments.

 

[kma371]

Thanks, I've got the online version downloaded. Was looking for the printed versions.

I know I can print it out myself, but I don't have the time to mess with that. I had no issue getting several copies of the DHS IFOG book for work. Was hoping the state would print them up again. I've had a request in to them for about 6 months. Maybe I just need to give them a call.

Oh ok, yeah I had a hard copy mailed to me at work but that was a few years ago.

 

[inigo88]

For what it's worth, on January 1, 2013 when VHF narrowbanding took effect all the California state frequency names changed.

CLEMARS 1 became CALAW 1
CLEMARS 2 became CALAW 2
NALEMARS became VLAW 31
A narrowband VLAW 32 was added

White Fire 1 through 3 became VFIRE 21 through 26.

The national VCALL and VTACS changed from 1 through 4 to 10 through 14, plus 36-38 created with VTAC frequency pairs for portable repeater usage.

The 800 MHz FIREMARS, I-CALL and I-TAC frequencies all went through similar renaming with 800 MHz rebanding. The I-CALL and I-TACs became 8CALL90 through 8TAC94, and FIREMARS became CAFIRE1 and CAFIRE2.

The California state page is up to date: https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?aid=1009

 

[Stealthguy05]

Baymacs in the Santa Clara County uses VLAW 31 as a VHF repeater. I don't recall there being an input for VLAW 31, however. Is anyone familiar with the channel?

 

[scottyhetzel]

For what it's worth, on January 1, 2013 when VHF narrowbanding took effect all the California state frequency names changed.

CLEMARS 1 became CALAW 1
CLEMARS 2 became CALAW 2
NALEMARS became VLAW 31
A narrowband VLAW 32 was added

White Fire 1 through 3 became VFIRE 21 through 26.

The national VCALL and VTACS changed from 1 through 4 to 10 through 14, plus 36-38 created with VTAC frequency pairs for portable repeater usage.

The 800 MHz FIREMARS, I-CALL and I-TAC frequencies all went through similar renaming with 800 MHz rebanding. The I-CALL and I-TACs became 8CALL90 through 8TAC94, and FIREMARS became CAFIRE1 and CAFIRE2.

The California state page is up to date: https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?aid=1009

I would love to see a quick info sheet on this or better yet added to the wiki...I wish I had time to do it.... White Fire 1 = VFire 21 ....