Fireground Freq. 154.2950

[Paul-W]

I have been meaning to ask this question for a while, but I am now getting around to it. I have noticed that there are no more radio test and checks from all the local Milwaukee area Fire Depts on 154.2950. They use to be conducted at 9:00 AM every morning and I was wondering if anyone here knows why they are no longer done? I think it's a little over a year since they stopped. Does anyone here have any info or insights on this that they could possibly share? Thanks.

 

[CrabbyMilton]

Good Morning. An outstanding question on your part. That was known around here as the now defunct FIRECOM frequency. It went away about when you stated and has been replaced by MABAS which can be heard on IFERN 154.265 and 32944 on the Milwaukee County system. While FIRECOM was nice, this new system is better I think with an expanded area into northern IL. You can hear suburban Chicago mutual aid via a patch on 32944. I used to look forward to the 9 am tests too. I found a list as to when they test this system and it varys greatly as there are several MABAS divisions.

 

[mkescan]

The old Firecom freq is now MABAS Blue 154.295 (85.4) Simplex
The IFERN test around here is only once a month,I think it's the first or last wednesday of the month.

Don't forget the IFERN patch will be coming down
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117738

 

[CrabbyMilton]

That's right, MABAS Blue. I'm going to miss the patch. Hopefully they'll turn it on once in awhile if there is something really big around the state line. Oh well.

 

[mkescan]

I think all the Suburban departments Command vehicles can set up a patch pretty quick now.

The good thing for us scanner folks who mainly only care about Milwaukee County is,once the patch is down we will only hear Milwaukee County.

 

[Paul-W]

Thanks for the information. I have the MABAS talkgroup on the Milwaukee County TRS programmed in and I noticed that most of the radio traffic is from the suburbs of Chicago. I will miss this once they take the patch down on the system.