Effingham County TRS Questions

[KD4YGG]

Anyone in Effingham County?

Can anyone confirm that TG 816 is indeed Effingham County Fire Dispatch?

Also, do each of the fire protection districts have their own talkgroup(s) on this system for fireground, tactical, or administrative purposes?

Besides TG 368 (Countywide Mutual Aid), are there any shared fire talkgroups for mutual aid purposes?

The FPD's in question would be:
- Altamont Fire Protection District
- Dieterich Fire Protection District
- Edgewood Bi County Fire Protection District
- Shumway Fire Protection District
- Teutopolis Fire Protection District
- Tri County Fire Protection District
- Watson Fire Protection District

Does Effingham County ESDA have a talkgroup on this system? The EOC plan available on their website indicates they do have 800Mhz radios.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bob_leach_3]

Re: Effingham County TRS Question

I don't live in Effingham or within normal listening range (I live in Charleston) of their trunked system. I do know most all volunteer fire departments everywhere in the US use pagers on non-trunked frequencies, because trunked systems don't support pagers. I believe all volunteers in Effingham County would be paged out on 154.430, which would probably be simulcast on the TRS. However, now I recently read that all agencies in Effingham County were abandoning the trunked system in favor of a VHF simulcast system becasue they didnt create enough tower sites as originally planned, therefore units often can't transmit. Sorry, I do not know about any Effingham talkgroups because I hardly ever heard the old trunked system except for passing through the area. I'd jsut monitor the VHF channels now and that should provide everything to hear.

 

[barny750]

Im new here, just joined tonight.

Effingham county fire dispatch is using national fire, 154.430 for all departments with the exception of Effingham city 155.100.

Effingham city quit using the 800 trunked and I have heard the the Sheriffs dept. is going to quit using it in the near future.

Effingham City dispatch is the main dispatch center for MABAS Div 54. For the fireground frequencies they will either use national fire or one of the MABAS Fireground channels.

 

[bob_leach_3]

I know of one fire agency in Central IL that has portables that list channels on the back of them, and 2 of them are "NIFERN" and "MABAS". I know IFERN is 154.265, so which of those Fireground channels would be the one they call MABAS? I always thought IFERN is the MABAS channel...

 

[cubn]

I know of one fire agency in Central IL that has portables that list channels on the back of them, and 2 of them are "NIFERN" and "MABAS". I know IFERN is 154.265, so which of those Fireground channels would be the one they call MABAS? I always thought IFERN is the MABAS channel...

I suppose it could be any of the frequencies listed under MABAS on this page:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=1861

My guess would be that one is 154.265 and the other is 153.830. Seems like those two are the most common for mutual aid/fireground if other local frequencies aren't used.

 

[bob_leach_3]

Yep, I'll bet it's 153.83 (Red Fireground) because I also noticed that's a very common frequency. Thanks.

 

[ab9ws83]

ok.......

all the mentioned fire depts do not have 800 they still use 154.430 and can
be patched thru to 800. esda is supposed to get there own repeater up and running soon.
effingham esda does have a 800 mhz radio to contact all users on 800 and local fire and iema on there respective channels.

i answer all questions i have knowledge


73 AB9WS. JD

 

[cifn2]

I know of one fire agency in Central IL that has portables that list channels on the back of them, and 2 of them are "NIFERN" and "MABAS". I know IFERN is 154.265, so which of those Fireground channels would be the one they call MABAS? I always thought IFERN is the MABAS channel...

NIFERN is IFERN same channel just called different things around the areas. NIFERN is Northern Illinois Fire Emergency Network its 154.265 either way. Some called it Mutual Aid, but IFERN has a PL tone transmitted where mutual aid was open without any pl's. IFERN/NIFERN is a mabas channel as are the fireground channels. MABAS has a color coded system for Fireground power limited channels. There is also a guide on when to use which channels, staging, vs incident, etc.

Effingham County, is still using the TRS for communications. The fire departments use for paging and communications 154.430, but that is changing as they are licensed for a change as nearly all the surrounding counties are on the same channel. Marion County also has a license change to move their fire dispatch in the future also.

Effingham City, PD has migrated to Starcom. There was a discussion at one of the board meetings where as officers from the county were upset about the lack of ability to communicate with each other since they are using 3 different systems.