Fern 1 and Airlife Dispatch

[NorthCOVideo]

AirLife dispatch frequently uses Fern 1 for agency to agency chopper requests, I can hear airlife clear as day, but all other agencies are really scrambled and broke up. I'm even having this problem hearing Weld on this CH, does anyone else have this problem or know what is happening.

 

[resq197]

Since this is a simplex channel, you reception is going to depend largely on where the base or mobile that's using the frequency is located with respect to your location.

I don't know where the transmitters are for Weld or AiLife Dispatch, but 99% of the time in Boulder County, the choppers are talking to someone with a 5W portable on scene. The choppers are generally transmitting at 10W and their altitude is a major factor in how far the signal carries. For example, if they're at 1,000 feet AGL, they're equivalent to a 10W transmitter on a 1,000 foot tower...

-Brian

 

[NorthCOVideo]

I understand that part, its not the ground unit or chopper problems I'm having, I usually hear Weld or Adams county transmit agency to agency when requesting a chopper, I'm wondering if I'm too close to the transmit locations so in essence its over modulated for me, don't if thats possible but thats what it sounds like. I,m within 5 miles of one of Welds transmit towers.

 

[scanlist]

The only Weld transmitter left on the original broadcast tower in Dacono is FIRE-A 153.785 since they retired the UHF law system so that rules out signal overload.

Now when Weld Dispatch transmits on FERN it's not full strength up here either. It's signal is on par with FIRE-B when they page Windsor so I'm thinking they are using a site intended for the Northern part of the county. The same is true for CLEER.

Air life dispatch signal on FERN is practically full strength here so they are transmitting from a Mountain site somewhere. Maybe Thorodin? Squaw?

 

[dirtfinder]

I understand that part, its not the ground unit or chopper problems I'm having, I usually hear Weld or Adams county transmit agency to agency when requesting a chopper, I'm wondering if I'm too close to the transmit locations so in essence its over modulated for me, don't if thats possible but thats what it sounds like. I,m within 5 miles of one of Welds transmit towers.

Weld and Adams are on DTRS, so you will probably hear them request a chopper. The LZ for the chopper will use one of the simplex freq. to land the bird. When they use the simplex freq. you will hear the bird land but probably not the ground contact unless you are in the range of the ground unit using the simplex freq.

 

[NorthCOVideo]

Now when Weld Dispatch transmits on FERN it's not full strength up here either. It's signal is on par with FIRE-B when they page Windsor so I'm thinking they are using a site intended for the Northern part of the county. The same is true for CLEER.

This does help, I haven't yet had a chance to put my GRE Amp on my scanner to see if this helps out any at all.

 

[comm_manager]

Air life dispatch signal on FERN is practically full strength here so they are transmitting from a Mountain site somewhere. Maybe Thorodin? Squaw?

Hit the nail right on the head. AirLife's FERN radio is on Squaw. Cheers...Mike