Hydro One - Low Band

[mrweather]

Does Hydro One even use Low Band anymore?

 

[ve3ext]

Used recently for a project involving the new bridge to USA. Monitor them a lot. I would say not well used.
This in Windsor/Essex County area.
Jerry

 

[gary123]

Yes, they do use it occasionally. Not as often as I would like.

 

[mikewazowski]

They typically can be heard coordinating between trucks during storm responses or while constructing new lines.

 

[VA3DBJ]

They are still active in the Durham North/Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough area. Often hear them chit-chatting most weekend mornings during the summer months.

 

[IdleMonitor]

Active around Eastern Ontario as well.

 

[EJB]

Does Hydro One even use low band anymore?

In April 2018 we had a long miserable spring ice, snow and rain storm that lasted for 3 days. The heavy snow and ice paired with wind caused a lot of power outages, especially away from the lake and I heard a grand total of a few voice comms on Hydro One Dundas, i.e. Flamborough.

We've had a few weather events in the last two years and again the Flamborough frequency was heard a few times.

Earlier this fall we had a strong line of storms come through with winds up to 140 km, tons of outages but no voice calls.

I'm not sure what range or what power the radios have, I'm downtown lower Hamilton but I've never heard anything other than I listed here.

 

[gary123]

Hydro One uses cell phones. A lot of their equipment have the Low Band radios in them, but for the most part the radios are either turned off or they use the phones for comms.