Hamilton CACC

[jellotor]

Looks like (from the scattered conversation on scanont) that the Hamilton CACC has switched to Fleetnet. This is just a heads-up to those who are not scanont members.

As an aside, is there anyone down Brantford/Simcoe way who can confirm that the EMS down there (dispatched by Hamilton CACC) have switched too?

 

[EJB]

Graeme: Can you confirm that Hamilton EMS is working off the Hamilton tower? Can you also confirm which t/g's are used for what out there.
All I heard was a unit (not sure Niagara or Hamilton) calling in and switching over to Hamilton city after passing 50 road this morning. I heard the same unit on Hamilton city off Grimsby tower.
I wonder if Hamilton EMS units will use other towers esp on the outskirts like Flamboro and Glanbrook.

Eric, ex neighbour of yours Hunter and Bay.

 

[jellotor]

Eric,

Yeah, I'll get MTrunker32 going and log a bunch of TGs. I've got to go to Toronto today and up north tomorrow so I may not have anything of substance until Monday...

 

[EJB]

Thanks Graeme.
Enjoy your time up north.

 

[EJB]

Lol, its too bad Graeme, we could have gone out for a coffee and showed off our radios when I lived pretty much right next door to you.
C'est la vie.
E

 

[jellotor]

True enough...lately my 'standard compliment' has been less scanner related and more video related...I bought some used gear last week and I'm still trying to get used to it.

Anyway, MTrunker32 has been running since yesterday at 10am and I'll leave her cooking away on the control channel for the whole weekend and we'll see where we're at by Monday. With all those wacky patches yesterday I've never seen the Hamilton site so busy.

 

[Medic]

Niagara and Hamilton have apparently done some sort of change mid April. Any Idea what that was and what is comming?

Gary

 

[EJB]

Yes there were changes.
Hamilton CACC (Niagara, Hamilton city, Haldimand Norfolk and Brant) switched from their conventional repeater system to the Ontario Government Fleetnet system. Instead of a repeater system you now need a scanner that can trunk this system. You also need to be close enough to a tower in your area.

 

[IdleMonitor]

No matter where you live or go. You should always pretty well have atleast one control channel to listen to.

Don't they need this to have the coverage that's expected out of the system?

Regardless if your in a mobile/base or carrying a portable around.

You also need to be close enough to a tower in your area.

 

[mikewazowski]

Regardless if your in a mobile/base or carrying a portable around.

No.

The system was designed for mobile coverage. This assumes a vehicle using a proper mobile radio with a proper mobile antenna.

Portable coverage was not included in the specification of the system. In some areas, portable coverage will be compromised.

This is why the MOH and OPP have mobile repeaters installed in their vehicles.

 

[IdleMonitor]

I meant for scanner use. Not actual use by the agencies themselves.

If you're out in an area where there is no chance of listening to a mobile repeater. Shouldn't you be able to hear atleast one control channel?

No.

The system was designed for mobile coverage. This assumes a vehicle using a proper mobile radio with a proper mobile antenna.

Portable coverage was not included in the specification of the system. In some areas, portable coverage will be compromised.

This is why the MOH and OPP have mobile repeaters installed in their vehicles.

 

[mikewazowski]

If you're out in an area where there is no chance of listening to a mobile repeater. Shouldn't you be able to hear atleast one control channel?

No.

If Bell Mobility doesn't guarantee that a Motorola portable will be able to hear the system, then why should a portable scanner be able to pick it up?

 

[motomeso]

A portable scanner with a decent external antenna tuned to the 142mhz range should have no problems receiving the Fleetnet system though. Portable coverage is not possible considering the rubber resistors for antennas that most scanners come with these days, if Fleetnet is your main concern and you must have portable coverage then I recommend dumping the stock antenna for a 2M ham antenna with some gain from Diamond or MFJ. Still no guarantees though. :roll:

 

[mikewazowski]

I can think of a lot of coverage compromised areas around here where even mobiles have a hard time getting into the system.

The best example is what happened with Niagara PS. BMR could not give them the portable coverage they wanted so they dumped the system. A scanner won't do any better.

 

[jellotor]

Even a cheap magmount scanner antenna from Durham Radio improves reception immensely. I can generally still count on a reasonable signal north of Freelton or almost into Oakville.

 

[EJB]

A good case in point. If you live in Oakville take a drive on the QEW. The closest towers to this area are in Hamilton and Mississauga. Unless you really have a good antenna you will have problems getting a signal from Mississauga. You will also have probs getting Hamilton until you go to around BurlOak.
The key then is location and height.

 

[motomeso]

I use a 5/8 wave mag mount when scanning fleetnet while mobile and it works awesome, and use a dual-band Comet 8ft base antenna on the roof at home and it works really good.

 

[duffer]

I had wondered where the Hamilton EMS had gone! Logged in last night, already have my scanner set up for Fleetnet, unfortunately no digital card as of yet. Started searching, and came across 2 ID's that may be of assistance to anyone looking for Hamilton Ambulance, they are 35600 and 35616. Cheers, Craig

 

[duffer]

I had wondered where the Hamilton EMS had gone! Logged in last night, already have my scanner set up for Fleetnet, unfortunately no digital card as of yet. Started searching, and came across 2 ID's that may be of assistance to anyone looking for Hamilton Ambulance, they are 35600 and 35616. Cheers, Craig

 

[mikewazowski]

If you had checked the database you could have saved some time.

Both those talkgroups are listed in the database for Hamilton.

You might want to check the database and enter Hamilton groups in.