Identifying siren sounds

[danesgs]

Was not sure this belonged anywhere else. I guess I am familiar with stand ambulance and FD sirens when I hear them and the quick "warbler" at intersections they use. I might be off base here but it seems maybe the police use a different siren pattern than FD/EMS units? I know the TV shows have the long moaning siren sound that start out low and goes high and repeats but that I am guessing most modern sirens in vehicles have various sounds they can make like automatically when coming to a traffic light? Also am guessing again that the PD in the UK and Europe have that Hee-Haw, Hee Haw sound due to a different way of getting attention than we do? Or maybe a different set of standards? Am sure someone here has brought this topic up before. Just asking.

KJ4DGE

 

[n3obl]

different siren sounds. in usa most use wail a long sweeping tone. when close to intersection switch to yelp.

uk sirens are called two tone.

 

[danesgs]

Is there a way to tell any difference between a police siren and a Fire siren?

 

[fredva]

A lot of fire departments like having old-fashioned mechanical sirens on their trucks. Those sirens are somewhat unique to the fire service these days. Go to youtube and search on "Federal Q2B" to hear an example. However, lots of fire trucks have electronic sirens - same as modern police cars.

 

[danesgs]

When I worked at Heathkit as a bench tech in the 80's a VFD dude brought me a Heathkit siren to repair. When I fixed and tested it in the back of the store it scared the you know what out of the sales folks

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Here are some of the most commonly heard in the USA (and my description of them, haha)
Wail....WEEEEEE.....OOOOOHHHHH (long, moaning siren as you described)
Yelp: WEE-OOH, WEE-OOH, WEE-OOH..
Hi-Lo: Exactly as it sounds
Phaser: 11 seconds into this video
Powercall: 20 seconds into this video

Is there a way to tell any difference between a police siren and a Fire siren?

For one thing, the police never use the Federal Q siren like fire do

 

[danesgs]

When I hear the 3 calls (videos) I KNOW its fire or EMS, When I hear the short BE-DEEP-DEEP! followed by a short warble I know its PD trying to pull over someone. They, the police, also use the power call I think as well depending on traffic conditions but I could be wrong.

 

[SurgePGH]

Was not sure this belonged anywhere else. I guess I am familiar with stand ambulance and FD sirens when I hear them and the quick "warbler" at intersections they use. I might be off base here but it seems maybe the police use a different siren pattern than FD/EMS units? I know the TV shows have the long moaning siren sound that start out low and goes high and repeats but that I am guessing most modern sirens in vehicles have various sounds they can make like automatically when coming to a traffic light? Also am guessing again that the PD in the UK and Europe have that Hee-Haw, Hee Haw sound due to a different way of getting attention than we do? Or maybe a different set of standards? Am sure someone here has brought this topic up before. Just asking.

KJ4DGE

As an up fitter of over 25 years I can tell you that there is no siren specific to any service. Sometimes a siren buying decision is based on cost. Sometimes it’s just a brand name that they recognize. Some states have sound pressure requirements and only allow certain tones to be used. It’s all personal preference by the purchaser. Some upfitters are only authorized to sell certain brands and that’s what they quote for the customer. Most sirens do have a distinct sound (Sound Off Signal vs. Federal vs. Power Call) but the basics are usually pretty close to each other (Wail. Yelp).

 

[danesgs]

Thanks, everyone answered my questions to what I thought was a correct answer. Too bad they don't have sirens with Terminator voice option saying "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

 

[radio3353]

Thanks, everyone answered my questions to what I thought was a correct answer. Too bad they don't have sirens with Terminator voice option saying "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Actually, in a way, they do. It is called a public address system which is a part of many electronic sirens. If you watch any FDNY videos you will sometimes hear the driver or officer telling a motorist to move.

 

[ofd8001]

Some of the sounds, such as frequency, may be established via the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Generally speaking police, fire and EMS buy the same siren, as in there is no "police siren" or "fire siren".

The Federal Q2 siren is a mechanical siren powered by a motor similar to a car's starter. It takes a lot of power to operate, so you are not likely to see them on anything other than a fire truck. These days there is an electronic version of that style siren, but the discerning ear can pick it out.

 

[WB9YBM]

different siren sounds. in usa most use wail a long sweeping tone. when close to intersection switch to yelp.

uk sirens are called two tone.

as are t he German ones.

 

[WB9YBM]

Was not sure this belonged anywhere else. I guess I am familiar with stand ambulance and FD sirens when I hear them and the quick "warbler" at intersections they use. I might be off base here but it seems maybe the police use a different siren pattern than FD/EMS units? I know the TV shows have the long moaning siren sound that start out low and goes high and repeats but that I am guessing most modern sirens in vehicles have various sounds they can make like automatically when coming to a traffic light? Also am guessing again that the PD in the UK and Europe have that Hee-Haw, Hee Haw sound due to a different way of getting attention than we do? Or maybe a different set of standards? Am sure someone here has brought this topic up before. Just asking.

KJ4DGE

Also comparing the "Old Standard" (like they use on the now-antique equipment in TV series like "Emergency!") to what I hear in actual use of the streets it might just be updates/upgrades done over time--for standardization purposes (to avoid confusion) I doubt too much (if any) variation is allowed between municipalities...

 

[GlobalNorth]

different siren sounds. in usa most use wail a long sweeping tone. when close to intersection switch to yelp.

uk sirens are called two tone.

On many siren panels in the US, that mode is called "Hi-Lo".

 

[GlobalNorth]

There are two primary models of sirens.

One is electronic and consists of self contained unit that may or may not have a remote head that drives a separate speaker. They are rated at 100W output for a single speaker or 200W for a two speaker set up. The old 25/35/58/75 watt output sirens aren't made any more. Police vehicles, ambulances, and most fire apparatus have these in single or dual speaker set ups.

The other model is mechanical and is best typified by the Federal Signal Corp. "Q" siren. It is usually found as a large chrome cylinder covering the impeller and the chrome "bullet" behind it that contains the full sized automotive starter motor [yes! a starter motor] that drives the sound impeller. The whole siren draws over 100 amps when running and it is very heavy. That's why you only see them on the large apparatus and on the largest ambulances rated as commercial vehicles. It has only one sound and it is unmistakable.

Due to the amp draw, electronic sirens are on throughout the response and the Federal "Q" only gets turned on when approaching an intersection, merging onto a freeway, or behind a stubborn driver who won't get off their cell phone. The "Q" is rated at ~130 dB and is LOUD.

NOTE: New technology involving low frequency sound waves designed to penetrate auto bodies and be 'heard and felt' by drivers is coming on line. They make a weird rumbling sound, but can be dangerous to the hearing health of the emergency vehicle driver and crew.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Here is a commercial website that has siren tone demonstrations from Code-3, Federal, Whelen, and others. Some have the low frequency intersection clearing mode played with the sirens and some do not.

Turn your volume down prior to play and then elevate to a comfortable level.

Siren sounds.

 

[SurgePGH]

On many siren panels in the US, that mode is called "Hi-Lo".

Hi Low is different than Yelp. Hi-Lo is a combination of a High Pitched tone ON then Off followed by a Lower Pitched tone ON then OFF. Bee-Doo- Bee-Doo is the only way to type it. LOL I also believe that "Hi-Lo" is a proprietary sound. It appears on some manufacturers sirens but no others. Yelp has more of a dog yelping sound where the tome is on low then increases volume sharply.
In some states Wail and Yelp are the only tones allowed.

 

[SurgePGH]

Scroll to the middle (In the Red banner) of this page and there is a selection of siren tones as presented by this manufacturer.

nERGY® 400 Series Remote Siren – SoundOff Signal

 

[Steve162]

There is an electronic version of the Q2, cleverly called "EQ2b" that replicates the mechanical Q sound but uses a speaker as do all electronic sirens.

It's a decent attempt but the speaker does not pack the punch of the mechanical Q since it move little air. As has been pointed out the mechanical Q is heavy and expensive (I believe over $2k these days) and draws 100 amps which often does not play well with onboard computers and other electronic gizmos. It must be mounted on something substantial or the torque from the motor will deform any thin sheet metal or flimsy brackets.

I do believe that in the FDNY many companies chipped in to purchase mechanical Qs and installed them surreptitiously but when the rig would go to the shops for the inevitable maintenance or repair the mechanics would remove them.

Sometimes it seemed to me that no matter how much noise we made or how lit up your vehicle was there would always be some jackwagon that will not yield. Some EMS folks I'd worked with thought installing true compressed-air horns on their vehicles would part traffic magically. Of course when you're on a gridlocked, narrow draw bridge you can make all the noise you want but traffic has no place to go. Lots of noise, lots of frayed nerves, no benefits.

Emergency services in Europe have changed to our familiar siren sounds as it was pointed out that the hi/lo horns only hit two frequencies and hence might not be as effective. I heard that the nitwit mayor of New York City decided that the hi/lo horns were "less aggravating" and some of them have been installed on FDNY apparatus.

Go figure.

 

[GregOH]

A lot of fire departments like having old-fashioned mechanical sirens on their trucks.

And they seem to be the loudest ones in use.