Kincade Fire

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ecps92

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Airops
Command 159.3600R 151.4
A/G Tac 151.3325S 192.8 (TAC 24)
123.1750 AM A/A Rotary
166.6125S Air Tactics
118.4250 AM Air Attack Briefing
119.1750 AM TOLC
163.1000S Deck
156.0750S 156.7 Medical
168.6250S 110.9 Air/Guard

Fire Channels
Command 151.2500R 103.5 - Geyser Peak
Tactical are all CDF channels, T26, T27, T29, T30, T31, T32, VFIRE 25 and VFIRE 24


Activity I hear so far: 151.250 on Calfire Command 6, and 151.310 for air drops. Please add here if you have anything more thanks.
 

mcjones2013

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Here is the frequency used for each division. Only the COMMAND channel is on a repeater.

COMMAND - CDF C6 - 151.250 (103.5)

DIV A - CDF T26 -159.2925 (192.8)
DIV B- CDF T27 - 159.3075 (192.8)
DIV D - CDF T29 - 151.3475 (192.8)
DIVS F / I / L - CDF T30 - 151.3925 (192.8)
DIV H - CDF T31 - 159.3825 (192.8)
DIV M - CDF T32 - 151.2425 (192.8)
DIV P - VFIRE25 - 154.2875 (156.7)
CONTINGENCY GROUP - VFIRE24 - 154.2725 (156.7)

AIR TO GROUND - CDF T24 - 151.3325 (192.8)
MEDICAL - CALCORD - 156.0750 (156.7)
EMERGENCY - GUARD26 - 168.6250 (CSQ)
 

ridgescan

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Thanks all for the additions. I notice that the 151.310 Air Drops frequency isn't in your lists yet I had them doing several rounds on there.
The Control 6 channel was heavy with activity as the main command.
 

norcalscan

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The 151.310 traffic was most likely initial attack traffic on a different fire. It most certainly is not air traffic over the Kincade.

Also, Monday morning Kincade command nets have shifted over, or plan to shift over, to NIFC Commands.
Cmd3 170.425 on Geyser Pk
Cmd8 169.5375 on Mt. Jackson
Cmd10 170.4125 on Mt. St. Helena

All linked together, choose the one that you hear best from your location. Not sure if CalFire Cmd6 is tied in during the transition, or if it's a clean cut over.
 

ridgescan

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The 151.310 traffic was most likely initial attack traffic on a different fire. It most certainly is not air traffic over the Kincade.

Also, Monday morning Kincade command nets have shifted over, or plan to shift over, to NIFC Commands.
Cmd3 170.425 on Geyser Pk
Cmd8 169.5375 on Mt. Jackson
Cmd10 170.4125 on Mt. St. Helena

All linked together, choose the one that you hear best from your location. Not sure if CalFire Cmd6 is tied in during the transition, or if it's a clean cut over.
Thanks you're right about the air drops-likely those were for the fires near Vallejo.
 

Paysonscanner

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The frequency being referred to as "Air Drops" is actually an initial attack air tactics (air to air FM) frequency for that area. Cal Fire designates it as Air Tactics 6. The air tactics frequencies are assigned based on the nearest airport used for air tanker operations.

I don't have the latest version (2019) so here is a copy of the 2017 map. Note that the AM frequencies are the interagency air to air frequencies for those tanker base areas as well. Use by both the state and federal governments will be heard on them.
 

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ridgescan

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The frequency being referred to as "Air Drops" is actually an initial attack air tactics (air to air FM) frequency for that area. Cal Fire designates it as Air Tactics 6. The air tactics frequencies are assigned based on the nearest airport used for air tanker operations.

I don't have the latest version (2019) so here is a copy of the 2017 map. Note that the AM frequencies are the interagency air to air frequencies for those tanker base areas as well. Use by both the state and federal governments will be heard on them.
Hope I didn't violate some protocol with my terminology. Thanks for adding in.
 

ridgescan

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The 151.310 traffic was most likely initial attack traffic on a different fire. It most certainly is not air traffic over the Kincade.

Also, Monday morning Kincade command nets have shifted over, or plan to shift over, to NIFC Commands.
Cmd3 170.425 on Geyser Pk
Cmd8 169.5375 on Mt. Jackson
Cmd10 170.4125 on Mt. St. Helena

All linked together, choose the one that you hear best from your location. Not sure if CalFire Cmd6 is tied in during the transition, or if it's a clean cut over.
Command6 is indeed out like you said. I now hear Cmd10 but not 3 or 8, and it's about a third copy of what Cmd6 was to me. You getting anything there?
 

norcalscan

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Command6 is indeed out like you said. I now hear Cmd10 but not 3 or 8, and it's about a third copy of what Cmd6 was to me. You getting anything there?

The Cmd6 repeater is a full-powered repeater in a state infrastructure with engineered RF paths into most likely a RFS BA1010 antenna. These NIFC cmd repeaters are Codan MT4E repeaters in portable hardened Pelican cases on the ground somewhere on the mountain top, with portable 1/4wave ground plane antennas on tripods held down with guy wires and sandbags. Bunch of batteries and usually a solar trickle charger. If it's heavy use or smoky skies the solar won't keep up and they'll need to replace the batteries every few days. The repeaters are usually just using the output from the exciter, 5-8watts. If they use the amp for 30watts, it'll require too much juice for typical portable setups. If the radio techs deploying the repeaters are local to the area, they might know the lay of the land or know local contacts, and have access to spare antennas on radio vaults. That helps put a little oompf on the signal.

But otherwise, because they are so low powered, NIFC cmd repeaters are a great way to find out the true line of sight or "unassisted by 100watt PA's" RF paths from radio sites to your location. I can sometimes hear Mt. St Helena from my location in upper Sac Valley with the right conditions, but it's tough over the terrain being us, and definitely not the low powered small RF footprints of the NIFC gear.

edit: sorry, all that to say, if you are hearing Cmd10, you have a clean shot to Mt. St. Helena from your location.
 
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ridgescan

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The Cmd6 repeater is a full-powered repeater in a state infrastructure with engineered RF paths into most likely a RFS BA1010 antenna. These NIFC cmd repeaters are Codan MT4E repeaters in portable hardened Pelican cases on the ground somewhere on the mountain top, with portable 1/4wave ground plane antennas on tripods held down with guy wires and sandbags. Bunch of batteries and usually a solar trickle charger. If it's heavy use or smoky skies the solar won't keep up and they'll need to replace the batteries every few days. The repeaters are usually just using the output from the exciter, 5-8watts. If they use the amp for 30watts, it'll require too much juice for typical portable setups. If the radio techs deploying the repeaters are local to the area, they might know the lay of the land or know local contacts, and have access to spare antennas on radio vaults. That helps put a little oompf on the signal.

But otherwise, because they are so low powered, NIFC cmd repeaters are a great way to find out the true line of sight or "unassisted by 100watt PA's" RF paths from radio sites to your location. I can sometimes hear Mt. St Helena from my location in upper Sac Valley with the right conditions, but it's tough over the terrain being us, and definitely not the low powered small RF footprints of the NIFC gear.

edit: sorry, all that to say, if you are hearing Cmd10, you have a clean shot to Mt. St. Helena from your location.
No-no, I'm glad you put that knowledge in here...impressive. Few know this stuff, I sure appreciate it.
So St. Helena's about a 63 mile run from here and given your info about low power, I now see why I can only get them on the R8600 with heavy filter and not at all on the BC785D off the same D130J. Thanks.
 

ecps92

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Looks like Cmd9 is now established on 170.0125 from Sonoma Mtn

The 151.310 traffic was most likely initial attack traffic on a different fire. It most certainly is not air traffic over the Kincade.

Also, Monday morning Kincade command nets have shifted over, or plan to shift over, to NIFC Commands.
Cmd3 170.425 on Geyser Pk
Cmd8 169.5375 on Mt. Jackson
Cmd10 170.4125 on Mt. St. Helena

All linked together, choose the one that you hear best from your location. Not sure if CalFire Cmd6 is tied in during the transition, or if it's a clean cut over.
 
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