Old School Nationwide Frequencies

[nokones]

VLAW, UFIRE, VTAC, ITAC, etc. naming conventions that are listed in the IFOG are not old school nationwide names. The term radio interoperability was a very seldom used term prior to the turn of the century. Prior, to the turn of the century and the development of the IFOG, nationwide names were not regularly used.

Old school radio channel names were mostly used locally and statewide.

 

[mikegilbert]

Here in SoCal, the VFIRE channels are in heavy rotation.

In California 39.46 MHz, 154.920 MHz, and 460.025 MHz was known as CLEMARS "California Law Enforcement Mutual Aid System"; and 156.075 MHz CalCord "California Coordination" Channel.

I picked up a case of NIB Kenwood TK230s a few years back. They were all preprogrammed for CalCord, and came with disposable battery packs. Must've been some unused cache radios in a former life.

Was also gifted a vintage CLEMARS plate frame from a friend. He said he's only found it on a select few OES vehicles over the years.

This is from Gov. Schwarzenegger's CAL OES security detail from back in the day.

 

[nokones]

Here in SoCal, the VFIRE channels are in heavy rotation.

Was also gifted a vintage CLEMARS plate frame from a friend. He said he's only found it on a select few OES vehicles over the years.

This is from Gov. Schwarzenegger's CAL OES security detail from back in the day.

Back in the day, the old school name for VFire was "Fire Mars", "White Fire" or "Fire White". There were three statewide "Fire Mars/Fire White" channels, 154.265 MHz, 154.280 MHz, and 154.295 MHz. Base stations were allowed on 154.280 MHz (Fire White 1/White Fie 1) only. If I recall, LA County Fire had an OES waiver for 154.295 MHz to have base stations.

I remember seeing the CLEMARS license plate frame on one of the OES Regional Manager's State Vehicle.

Back in the day, OES was not involved with the Governor's Security Detail. The CHP took over the Command of the Protection Detail from the State Police when the State Police was a Division in the Department of General Services and then they were absorbed into the CHP in 1995. Before 1995, the CHP only involvement in that Detail they were the Governor's Drivers. After 1995, the CHP was very resistant in who was involved in that detail. If OES was involved, when did that occur and most likely to the reluctance of the CHP.

 

[d119]

Since 800 MHz rebanding 853.4875/808.4875 is a public safety allocation. Before that (2007?) it was industrial/business itinerant.

I'm curious about this one. I'd really like to see supporting documentation that it really was a B/ILT itinerant. I say that not to challenge you, but I did some research at some point and as I recall, what I came up with was that basically Motorola had a nationwide license on that frequency, and anyone subscribed to their SMR services received that as a backup/talkaround in their radio.

Sure would like to put that one to bed once and for all - one of those unsolved mysteries I guess.

You aren't the first to mention it being itinerant, but I never did find FCC documentation supporting that. Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

Back to lowband.

 

[nd5y]

I'm curious about this one.

You would have to find old copies of the CFR from around the early or mid 1990s. Maybe earlier than that. I don't remember. I don't know if the current online version has changes from that far back.

 

[nd5y]

but I did some research at some point and as I recall, what I came up with was that basically Motorola had a nationwide license on that frequency, and anyone subscribed to their SMR services received that as a backup/talkaround in their radio.

That was the case for the long defunct Motorola type I SMR here. Back in the 1980s a friend had a work hand held and we found it's talkaround channel 853.4875 with my frequency counter.

 

[ecps92]

That was the case for the long defunct Motorola type I SMR here. Back in the 1980s a friend had a work hand held and we found it's talkaround channel 853.4875 with my frequency counter.

my ole regional scanner guides show many of those licenses as "GB" and even the Author and I (editor) had remarks/notes/comments as "Itinerant Operation"

and Police Call never broke down the 800 channel assignments like they did for everything below 512

 

[n3obl]

That was the case for the long defunct Motorola type I SMR here. Back in the 1980s a friend had a work hand held and we found it's talkaround channel 853.4875 with my frequency counter.

It was so nationwide it even got used at Dayton!

 

[ecps92]

It was so nationwide it even got used at Dayton!

and has almost it's own entire thread

Are all of the itinerant frequencies on the 2m and 70cm bands?

In other words, if someone has a VHF/UHF radio, can they access all of the itinerant frequencies, or are there some on other bands?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[AM909]

You would have to find old copies of the CFR from around the early or mid 1990s. Maybe earlier than that. I don't remember. I don't know if the current online version has changes from that far back.

https://www.loc.gov/item/cfr1991181-T47CIP90/ etc. from https://www.loc.gov/collections/cod...regulations:+title+47:+telecommunication&sp=1

 

[RadioJonD]

Different states and areas had different channel names.

Thus, defeating the interop plan intention

 

[ecps92]

Thus, defeating the interop plan intention

Yup, which is why I rely on FREQ/Tone/NAC vs odd alpha numeric naming conventions via an ICS 21? Matrix
which is what CASM helps with, if everyone actually added their channel plans


looking at one right now where we have
VTA11 vs VTAC 11
or
VFIR 21 vs VFIRE 21
or worse
DLE 2 vs LE 2 - they decided since it's being used Digitally to prepend the D
in my state DLE is the Div of Law Enforcement, most other states call it Fish & Game

So for those who want to learn more
What is CASM

CASM Tool | CISA

www.cisa.gov

 

[nd5y]

Thus, defeating the interop plan intention

The national interoperability channels and names were standardized years ago. Maybe some state or local area wasn't smart enough to program their radios according to the standard or train their users.

 

[nokones]

The national interoperability channels and names were standardized years ago. Maybe some state or local area wasn't smart enough to program their radios according to the standard or train their users.

I believe the IFOG lays everything out, at least it did at one time if it still exists.

 

[AM909]

So for those who want to learn more
What is CASM

CASM Tool | CISA

www.cisa.gov

What do they actually do? Is it just a repository for counties to upload their comm plans and do they actually stay up to date? Or just another time-sink?

Standards

xkcd.com

 

[nd5y]

I believe the IFOG lays everything out, at least it did at one time if it still exists.

You mean NIFOG?

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/NIFOG%202.02_508%20FINAL%20VERSION%2012%2003%202024.pdf

Field Operations Guides | CISA

www.cisa.gov

 

[ecps92]

What do they actually do? Is it just a repository for counties to upload their comm plans and do they actually stay up to date? Or just another time-sink?

Standards

xkcd.com

Yes, if they keep it updated. Which varies.
City/Towns, counties, State etc

I think you mean Sync vs the Kitchen item

 

[DaveNF2G]

Yes, if they keep it updated. Which varies.
City/Towns, counties, State etc

I think you mean Sync vs the Kitchen item

No, he meant sink. As in source/sink.

 

[ecps92]

No, he meant sink. As in source/sink.

???

 

[DeoVindice]

???

You sink your time into it.