SIRN

[lebrunmn]

According to the minutes, the Lost City site should be online

I took a trip to the Lost City site, today... Was actually able to see the tower (coordinates helped--many thanks, Mike). Our veterinarian is located in this area, and it's always seemed to be a radio dead zone for SIRN. Here's what I found:

1. The site is strong on the west side of the ridge, but almost non-existent to the north and east--probably by design, since the Wardensville site handles that area.

2. In spite of the site's strong signal, the new Lost City site doesn't appear to be passing any traffic. Several scanners in my vehicle were able to copy sporadic / weak signals from both the Moorefield and the Wardensville sites, but nothing came across the Lost City site. Also, my G3--which is always rock solid--locked onto a new RFSS/Site 1/56, which is the site info for the new Lost City site, but never passed any traffic. I realize this could be an affiliation thing... I'd have to spend more time in the area to be certain.

3. Site freqs


4. Site info


5. Affiliation Log

 

[mtindor]

I took a trip to the Lost City site, today... Was actually able to see the tower (coordinates helped--many thanks, Mike). Our veterinarian is located in this area, and it's always seemed to be a radio dead zone for SIRN. Here's what I found:

1. The site is strong on the west side of the ridge, but almost non-existent to the north and east--probably by design, since the Wardensville site handles that area.

2. In spite of the site's strong signal, the new Lost City site doesn't appear to be passing any traffic. Several scanners in my vehicle were able to copy sporadic / weak signals from both the Moorefield and the Wardensville sites, but nothing came across the Lost City site. Also, my G3--which is always rock solid--locked onto a new RFSS/Site 1/56, which is the site info for the new Lost City site, but never passed any traffic. I realize this could be an affiliation thing... I'd have to spend more time in the area to be certain.

3. Site freqs
View attachment 189477

4. Site info
View attachment 189478

5. Affiliation Log
View attachment 189479

Excellent Mark! Thank you so much for doing that. You've got all I need to add that site to the DB.

even though most sites have at least six freqs, as you said there was no activity -- and it's possible you could wait there for days to see any voice traffic to determine any additional frequencies. And heck, it may only be a four-freq site anyway. It's probably never going to be a high volume site and likely to only be used as fill-in.

I'll get this one added to the DB.

Again, I appreciate your efforts!

Mike

 

[mtindor]

@lebrunmn Mark, Just curious -- were you able to see the actual tower up on the hill anywhere? I think it was "only" supposed to be a 180 ft tower.

Mike

 

[lebrunmn]

@lebrunmn Mark, Just curious -- were you able to see the actual tower up on the hill anywhere? I think it was "only" supposed to be a 180 ft tower.

Yes... was actually able to see it quite well from the road in the area around the Teets Cattle Company on WV Rt. 259. It's on the ridge almost directly across from this farm's driveway. That ridge is probably 1500 to 1800 feet up from the road.

I'll make certain to provide an update when we take our precious pup to the vet later this fall.

 

[mtindor]

Yes... was actually able to see it quite well from the road in the area around the Teets Cattle Company on WV Rt. 259. It's on the ridge almost directly across from this farm's driveway. That ridge is probably 1500 to 1800 feet up from the road.

I'll make certain to provide an update when we take our precious pup to the vet later this fall.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. As I'm sure you could guess, I have zero familiarity with that area. DIdn't know if the tower would be visible from your vantage point or not.

Mike

 

[lebrunmn]

Thanks, I appreciate the info. As I'm sure you could guess, I have zero familiarity with that area. DIdn't know if the tower would be visible from your vantage point or not.

Happy to help.

Just to clarify, I was looking at the topo map, and realized that I didn't take into account the elevation of the main road, which is close to 1400', so the tower is only 400 or 500 feet above the road.

 

[mtindor]

Happy to help.

Just to clarify, I was looking at the topo map, and realized that I didn't take into account the elevation of the main road, which is close to 1400', so the tower is only 400 or 500 feet above the road.

Got it. I love looking at the roads leading up to some of these SIRN sites. Some of them clearly would require 4wd vehicles and likely be a nightmare to get to in the winter!

 

[BM82557]

Just a quick question, I am curious as to why TG 8853 is in the DB as WVU Air Following when I hear the med helos call it Air Track?

 

[mtindor]

Just a quick question, I am curious as to why TG 8853 is in the DB as WVU Air Following when I hear the med helos call it Air Track?

I personally don't have any idea. What do you consider "Air Track" to be? Sounds like "Air following" I guess. But I have no idea who submitted that so I'm not sure.

 

[Radar412]

I personally don't have any idea. What do you consider "Air Track" to be? Sounds like "Air following" I guess. But I have no idea who submitted that so I'm not sure.

This excerpt from WV SIRN protocols should explain some of the is terminology. I'll try to post a link to the document so you can read it. It's only 4 pages and has a map also.

" Medical Air Ship Flight Tracking and Communications a. The West Virginia Office of EMS has established three of the medical command dispatch centers as medical air ship flight tracking centers. These locations are Huntington MedComm, Charleston MedBase, and WVU MedComm. i. Each of these three dispatch centers are responsible for aircraft communications from any medial provider while over West Virginia air space. ii. Three primary flight tracking trunked talkgroups have been established along with one over-flow alternate. These talkgroups are only to be programmed into airborne subscriber units, consoles, and control radios at dispatch centers for flight tracking. No other use is permitted or appropriate. iii. Each of the three flight track centers will have one primary trunked talkgroup and all three command centers will have access to the over-flow alternate. iv. The established trunked talkgroups for this purpose are: 1. 8851 – MED CHAS AIRTRAK 2. 8853 – MED WVU AIRTRAK 3. 8855 – MED HNT AIRTRAK 4. 8857 -- MED ALT AIRTRAK "

 

[Radar412]

This excerpt from WV SIRN protocols should explain some of the is terminology. I'll try to post a link to the document so you can read it. It's only 4 pages and has a map also.

" Medical Air Ship Flight Tracking and Communications a. The West Virginia Office of EMS has established three of the medical command dispatch centers as medical air ship flight tracking centers. These locations are Huntington MedComm, Charleston MedBase, and WVU MedComm. i. Each of these three dispatch centers are responsible for aircraft communications from any medial provider while over West Virginia air space. ii. Three primary flight tracking trunked talkgroups have been established along with one over-flow alternate. These talkgroups are only to be programmed into airborne subscriber units, consoles, and control radios at dispatch centers for flight tracking. No other use is permitted or appropriate. iii. Each of the three flight track centers will have one primary trunked talkgroup and all three command centers will have access to the over-flow alternate. iv. The established trunked talkgroups for this purpose are: 1. 8851 – MED CHAS AIRTRAK 2. 8853 – MED WVU AIRTRAK 3. 8855 – MED HNT AIRTRAK 4. 8857 -- MED ALT AIRTRAK "

https://sirn.wv.gov/governance/Documents/medicalcommandcomms.pdf

 

[redbeard]

Sounds like it was named by someone with aviation experience but not the document that gave its official names. Flight following generically means the same thing except it's done via ATC and not by a state tracking center. If these are the proper names though I'm for making the change.