National Interop Frequencies

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ScanFanEd

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Just curios how often others hear activity on the VHF National Interop frequencies? Are they ever used during fire season for large wildland incidents?



VHF National Interoperability
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136.5 PL is used on the transmit frequencies for mobile repeaters
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
155.75250 BM156.7 PLVCALL10VCALL10 - Calling FMN Interop
151.13750 RM156.7 PLVTAC11/36VTAC11/36 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
154.45250 RM156.7 PLVTAC12/37VTAC12/37 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
158.73750 RM156.7 PLVTAC13/38VTAC13/38 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
159.47250 RM156.7 PLVTAC14/33VTAC14/33 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
161.85000 RM156.7 PLVTAC17/17DVTAC17 - Tactical FMN Interop
158.73750 RM156.7 PLVTAC34/34DVTAC34 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
159.47250 RM156.7 PLVTAC35/35DVTAC35 - Tactical/Repeater FMN Interop
VHF Federal Incident Response Interoperability
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IR 6 to IR 9 are the direct channels for 1-5

Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
169.53750 RM167.9 PLNC 1/IR 5NC 1/IR 5 Incident Calling FMN Interop
170.01250 RM167.9 PLIR 1/IR 6IR 1/IR 6 Incident Command FMN Interop
170.41250 RM167.9 PLIR 2/IR 7IR 2/IR 7 Medical Evacuation Control FMN Interop
170.68750 RM167.9 PLIR 3/IR 8IR 3/IR 8 Logistics Control FMN Interop
173.03750 RM167.9 PLIR 4/IR 9IR 4/IR 9 Interagency Convoy FMN Interop
 

mmckenna

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The VFire channels are often used.

I've never monitored the IR channels, so I don't know. The rest of the VTAC's seem to be hit or miss. Usually fire agencies stick to VFIRE. VTAC's are more for interop between disciplines/agencies. CalFire is better organized (in my experience) and usually has better ways of doing that.
 

scoutcamper

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Up in Northern California(Sutter/Butte) VTAC/UTAC/8TAC are regularly used for LE mutual aid response to major disasters(Floods, Fires, etc.) but not used much day to day.
 

ke6gcv

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VFire channels are used a lot in my area. I want to say 22, 23, and 26 are our primaries. With the exception of 2019 (seems so long ago now) when CHP took over, my area would also use CALAW 1 for the County Fair.

Don't ever recall any of our fire districts or law enforcement asking for a VTAC.
 

gmclam

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I do scan all of these frequencies. Sometimes one will go active as a backup channel when someone's system is down. You might here some "chatter", but it doesn't usually last. Vfire21 is used all the time when multiple agencies are involved as there's assurance every agency has the channel. I think they're all simplex so you have to be near and/or have great reception.
 

ladn

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Down here in SoCal (Los Angeles area), VFire channels get a lot of use as interop between ANF, LA City, LA County, and a variety of small city FD's. I rarely monitor the VTac/IR channels.
 

W7FDX

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I have all the V-Call/V-TAC channels in my radios because on being an EMA coordinator in my state and my need to travel to other areas to assist in major incidents I also have the IR channels in just in case. My NX5700/5200 hold like 1000 channels and I've barely used half having every possible channel I might use.
 

avdrummerboy

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Mohave County, AZ
I occasionally hear activity on them but don't forget that they are, with exception of a few dedicated portable repeater pairs, simplex channels and you'll need to be fairly close to whatever action is going on.
 
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