Middlesex Fire Band- Old Timers

[tech2461]

Unless you are as old as I am, you probably can't answer this question so I hope there's some old timers that can recall... Back in the 80s most of Middlesex County used the old 33.82 fire band. As far as I can recall none of the Monroe, Jamesburg, Helmetta or Spotswood FC's used a CTCSS. We were all CSQ. Does anyone know or have some old data material on what FC's in Middlesex County back then used a CTCSS on their 33.82 radios?

 

[kd2pm]

Interesting you bring up 33.82. That was the freq to listen to for sure!. I lived in Middlesex Co and pretty much had my crystal scanner on all day and night. Perth Amboy, Fords, Edison, always something to hear. Best one was when I lived in Germany while stationed there in the AF. I had my Bearcat 300 going and I actually heard Fords put their tones out. Nice skip that day!

I dont recall anyone using CTCSS but maybe someone else the info you are looking for.

BTW I also loved listening to the old low band state police out of Edison...I think that was 46.42

 

[mdsxfire]

My first dept pager in county was a 33.820 for about 2 years till we switched to VHF, but if you left that old one open u heard the whole county

 

[Tech792]

From what I can recall, most towns on 33.82 were in CSQ. But I do remember a few using PL. One that comes to mind was North Brunswick. I think they used a higher PL like 186.2 or 192.8
Here is a YouTube video/recording of a large brush fire in Monroe Twp in 1985. You can hear everyone stepping on each other and trying to put pages out on 33.82

 

[nosoup4u]

I have a scanner master pocket book from around 1990 somewhere. I will look through it if I can find it.

 

[ansky]

I was a volunteer in the Highland Park FD back in the early 2000's. At that time 33.82 was our primary dispatch and operations frequency. I don't believe the radios had CTCSS because we would constantly hear other departments and sometimes have to wait to transmit. There were also dead spots in town, particularly down around River Rd. There was a secondary fireground frequency (33.70) that was sometimes used if traffic was too busy on 33.82. I think it was sometime around 2012 that the FD finally moved over to UHF 453.85 which was already being used by the first aid squad.

 

[tech2461]

From what I can recall, most towns on 33.82 were in CSQ. But I do remember a few using PL. One that comes to mind was North Brunswick. I think they used a higher PL like 186.2 or 192.8
Here is a YouTube video/recording of a large brush fire in Monroe Twp in 1985. You can hear everyone stepping on each other and trying to put pages out on 33.82

Funny you put up a video of Monroe. That's where I was.

 

[tech2461]

Interesting you bring up 33.82. That was the freq to listen to for sure!. I lived in Middlesex Co and pretty much had my crystal scanner on all day and night. Perth Amboy, Fords, Edison, always something to hear. Best one was when I lived in Germany while stationed there in the AF. I had my Bearcat 300 going and I actually heard Fords put their tones out. Nice skip that day!

I dont recall anyone using CTCSS but maybe someone else the info you are looking for.

BTW I also loved listening to the old low band state police out of Edison...I think that was 46.42

I'm surprised you didn't hear good old KEG514 Perth Amboy. They were running a 350 watt base and their audio was over deviated. They walked all over everyone.

 

[KC2zZe]

Carteret 179.9
East Brunswick 156.7
North Brunswick 192.8
Pert Amboy and Woodbridge 103.5
Sayreville 151.4

I have all the rest of the agencies as CSQ.

 

[tech2461]

I have a scanner master pocket book from around 1990 somewhere. I will look through it if I can find it.

I was hoping someone had an old Police Call book or similar. Thanks.

 

[tech2461]

Carteret 179.9
East Brunswick 156.7
North Brunswick 192.8
Pert Amboy and Woodbridge 103.5
Sayreville 151.4

I have all the rest of the agencies as CSQ.

Outstanding. Thank you@

 

[Tech792]

I have a 1974-75 Police Call book.....I'll dig it up

 

[Tech792]

33.82 listing from the '74-'75 Police Call NJ edition.

 

[nosoup4u]

Carteret 179.9
East Brunswick 156.7
North Brunswick 192.8
Pert Amboy and Woodbridge 103.5
Sayreville 151.4

I have all the rest of the agencies as CSQ.

Mine has Woodbridge as 114.8, otherwise my book (1991) as the same PL's.

 

[wa8pyr]

Here is a YouTube video/recording of a large brush fire in Monroe Twp in 1985. You can hear everyone stepping on each other and trying to put pages out on 33.82

Pretty common for low band back in the day. The county I dispatched in was metro and agencies were migrating to separate VHF and UHF systems, but several townships were still sharing 33.86 CSQ along with all of the surrounding counties but one (which was on VHF). Everybody had a separate Channel 2 for operations but nobody ever used them. Talk about a Charlie Foxtrot.

 

[kd2pm]

Kinda makes me wish I still had those old Radio Shack books! The white pages for scanner buffs...

 

[kd2pm]

I'm surprised you didn't hear good old KEG514 Perth Amboy. They were running a 350 watt base and their audio was over deviated. They walked all over everyone.

Oh I heard them. I lived in Perth Amboy before I was stationed in Germany so the hospital TX site had a great view and coverage area. I had KEG514 on vhf-lo band and KQP526 on UHF. And KZM703 on vhf-hi. In Germany all I really got was lo band..

 

[tech2461]

Pretty common for low band back in the day. The county I dispatched in was metro and agencies were migrating to separate VHF and UHF systems, but several townships were still sharing 33.86 CSQ along with all of the surrounding counties but one (which was on VHF). Everybody had a separate Channel 2 for operations but nobody ever used them. Talk about a Charlie Foxtrot.

I don't know how familiar you are with the local fire companies there...But do you notice that the chief of MFC1 never calls Central Monroe to be dispatched? He calls East Brunswick, Sayreville and even Monmouth County units but hasn't called Central Monroe from his own town? I remember that fire. We eventually ended up doing a stand by at Jamesburg. They left our almost brand new 2000 gallon attack tanker sitting in the station.

 

[PriorMike]

Would low band be used on the fire ground?

 

[leonzo]

Just a little correction 46.42 was a fire frequency, NJSP always had the first number as 44. something.