HSEM

[cboykonh]

I was listening to what sounded like state eoc calling doing radio tests to different counties here in nh. This was about 10:06 this morning. I’m not sure if this is one time thing or they will continue this every Thursday at around 10 in the morning. I heard this on 46.58 pl 156.7 south.

 

[jmarcel66]

I'm going to assume you mean towns, not counties, except Rockingham.

This is the HSEM ESF2 monthly test with Seabrook Station communities. 46.58 is the old statewide Emergency Management frequency, still being used for Seabrook operations.

John M
Penacook, NH

 

[cboykonh]

Idk. State eoc was calling counties emergency operations centers for a test of the low band. Are they still using this frequency for statewide emergency operations? I live in Weare and heard it from there.

 

[jmarcel66]

Having done the script and knowing the sites and systems, they're calling the communities around the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, plus Rockingham County, Rochester, and Manchester.

The state's Emergency Management radio system was a multi-site Low-band system, with repeaters on Mount Washington, Mount Kearsarge, Hyland Hill, Oak Hill in Loudon, and Saddleback in Deerfield. There may have been more. They also had a few simplex frequencies and interoperability with the EMA's in MA, ME, VT, the City of Manchester (going way back), and the Red Cross. As NH State Police went to VHF High-Band, Emergency Management took on some of the old SP Low-Band frequencies.

As of today, only one repeater remains on Saddleback, and it exclusively serves the Seabrook Station emergency system. HSEM does not utilize any other system and has few radios in its fleet. If they need to be outfitted with radios, they are assigned by the Division of Emergency Services and Communications, which also staffs the State EOC ESF2 function and was who you heard today.

 

[cboykonh]

I also see hyland hill as another licensed for 46.58. That is closer to southern nh. I wonder if that’s what I heard them using too. That is still another site still with an active license.

I was just curious if this is monthly, what time and day is this done?

 

[jmarcel66]

Maybe I wrote too much. The only repeater remaining is Saddleback in Deerfield. Nothing else is left.

First Thursday of the month, about 10AM.

 

[cboykonh]

Good to know. I wonder if this should be added not only to radio reference, but scannewengland page as well

 

[jmfirefighter]

And it's a system on life support since low band hardware is hard to come by.....they don't make Midland Base-Tech II's anymore.

As John said, the only low band repeater active for the state is on Saddleback in Deerfield, and it's only for the EPZ/Seabrook station. And even then it's the "backup to the backup to the backup".

No John, you can't do 31.90 AM.......

 

[cboykonh]

Can Hsem units use the 46.58 frequency through the microwave antenna system, or would they be more likely to go through NHSP headquarters like the NHSP headquarters says it handles dispatch for f&g, Hsem, forestry etc.

 

[cboykonh]

I forgot to include tge website for NHSP hq that is now covering dispatch fir more agencies. https://www.nhsp.dos.nh.gov/our-services/justice-information-bureau/headquarters-communications