ridgescan
Member
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.
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.
Thanks you're right about the air drops-likely those were for the fires near Vallejo.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.
Hope I didn't violate some protocol with my terminology. Thanks for adding in.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.
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 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?
No-no, I'm glad you put that knowledge in here...impressive. Few know this stuff, I sure appreciate it.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.
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.