TVF&R Rebanding & Radio Replacement

[PMJ2kx]

I'm currently listening to Training 1 & Training 2 on WCCCA, and they are replacing radios in all apparatus in the TVF&R district. Someone mentioned that they "needed to meet up at Station 34 to reprogram C6's radios for rebanding."

I thought no rebanding was necessary for Washington County...did I miss something? And do I need to update/patch my BC246T?

 

[Baker845]

A lot of radios Washington and Multonmah counties are useing are older motorolas that were put in service when 800 mhz systems came on line in earlyer 90s. Your 246t can be reprogramed for new rebanded freqs and then you be fine. Enless county goes p25 .

 

[PMJ2kx]

Also, while we're on the subject of changes, all TAC channels for Firecom are now OPS channels, and are designated by a 3*; Tac 2 is Ops 32, Tac 3 is Ops 33, Tac 4 - Ops 34, etc.

 

[Baker845]

The Tg are same but just name changed? There any new tgs found for fire??

 

[PMJ2kx]

The Tg are same but just name changed? There any new tgs found for fire??

Correct. The talk groups are the same, but the names have changed, and as far as I know, there are no new TGIDs for fire.

 

[Baker845]

Thank you for update, sounds like washington county is almost done updating radios. Havnt heard any thing about Clackamas Co. Or Multomah Co.

 

[poolsidemike]

Clackamas CC is due to complete their rebanding late Fall/early Winter.

As mentioned, at this point, main thing is new radios in all apparatus and new names for TG's. You shouldn't have to reprogram your radio other than change "Tac 4" to "Ops 34", etc. There are some other name changes that will get posted soon enough I'm sure.

A big part of this project was interoperability between all area agencies. All FD's in Portland metro area, including Clark County, have gone or will go to "ops" channels vs. tac channels. PD's will be on eventually change to "tac" channels.

 

[DickH]

... You shouldn't have to reprogram your radio other than change "Tac 4" to "Ops 34", etc.

Really? I wonder what this is all about?
http://www.800ta.org/content/faqs/relocation.asp

 

[PMJ2kx]

Really? I wonder what this is all about?
http://www.800ta.org/content/faqs/relocation.asp

So according to that FAQ...

Licensees in the 809-815/854-860 MHz Band are not required to relocate.

...Site 1 (Washington County) of the Wash. Co. / Clack. Co system won't change.

Then am I understanding correctly that, based on the following...

* NPSPAC licensees currently in the 821-824 MHz/866-869 MHz band will be relocated.

...Site 2 (Clackamas County) of the Wash. Co. / Clack. Co system WILL change?

Also, I'm not sure I'm understanding what the dates for Wave 1 represent. Are those just the business-and-paper end of things? If somebody has more info, or can post a link that breaks this down better, that would be greatly appreciated. I've tried figuring it out on my own, but I still end up confused.

 

[DickH]

...
Also, I'm not sure I'm understanding what the dates for Wave 1 represent. Are those just the business-and-paper end of things? If somebody has more info, ...

As with many (most?) government programs, there have been many delays, so the dates on that site are out of date. While Portland has changed all their 851-854MHz freqs. to the 854-860 band, other licensees in the 851-854 band have not finished relocating, thus the 866-868MHz freqs. have not been changed yet. Here's how the whole thing is supposed to work.
After the 851-854MHz band has been cleared, the 866-868MHz freqs. will all be changed by subtracting 15MHz. Thus, 866.0250 will become 851.0250.
That's where the real problem lies for older scanner users.
Most scanners do not use the exact freqs. to follow trunked conversations. They use the FCC Channel numbers that are sent over the control channel. They are 1-120 in the 851-854MHz band. 1=851.0125, 2=851.0375, 3=851.0625, etc. 120=853.9875. The spacing is .0250.
In the example above, 866.0250 became 851.0250. There is no channel number for that freq., so we expect the 0-120 channel numbers will be expanded to 240 channel numbers.
If the control channel tells your scanner to tune to channel 3 (now 851.0625), the freq. on channel 3 has been changed to 851.0375 and you won't hear anything. Older scanners will no longer be able to track Motorola trunked systems.
Some newer scanners can be re-flashed or the band plan can be changed. Most people don't know when this will all be completed.

 

[PMJ2kx]

Thanks for the explanation! I understand now.

 

[ChrisP]

Also, while we're on the subject of changes, all TAC channels for Firecom are now OPS channels, and are designated by a 3*; Tac 2 is Ops 32, Tac 3 is Ops 33, Tac 4 - Ops 34, etc.

What about the Clackamas County CCOM Fire TG's?

- Chris

 

[PMJ2kx]

What about the Clackamas County CCOM Fire TG's?

- Chris

CCOM is still using CTAC channels. I don't know of any new TGID's here, either. According to poolsidemike (earlier in this thread), they'll change over this fall or winter.

 

[PMJ2kx]

Also, one more note regarding TVF&R: their web site is updated! However, it sucks because they don't have their apparatus posted for each station. Perhaps we need to give it time...or maybe they won't post them at all. In any case, if you were looking for an updated apparatus roster, this is current as of last Sunday, via both financial records and radio confirmations (they had to replace the radios in all their units).

These go in numerical order (save Sta. 358, Sta. 359, and Sta. 368):

BR - Light Brush Rig
E - Engine
HM - Hazmat
MED - (ALS?) BLS Rescue
R - Peak Activity Unit (except R51)
SQT - Engine Squirt
T - Ladder Truck
V - Van 
WT - Water Tender

Units with a 3** number are volunteer)

Station 33: Sherwood 
AIR333 - Trailer for charging SCBA packs; not sure if this is actually stored at Station 33 or not
BR33
E33
E333
V333
WT33

Station 34: Tualatin
C6
E34
E50 (PAU until the opening of Station 50 in the fall or winter)
HM34 (Region 9 Hazmat is currently at the Training Center South)
MED50 (Alt. PAU until the opening of Station 50 in the fall or winter)

Station 35: King City
E35
R35
WT35 - Staffed by R35's crew on fires, which puts R35 out of service; used to be WT51

Station 50: Walnut (Tigard) - Due to open this fall or winter
E50
MED50

Station 51: Tigard Main
E51
R51 - Heavy Rescue Squad
T51
USAR51 - Urban Search & Rescue (Truck & Trailer)
RHB351 - Volunteer Rehab Unit
V351

Station 52: Willsonville
BR52
E352
E52
V352
WT52

Station 53: Progress (Beaverton)
E53
HM53
R53

Station 56: Elligsen Rd. (Willsonville)
SQT56
WT56
R56 - Supposedly in the shops for unknown reason; my guess is the crew of E50 were at one point running R56

Station 57: Mountain Road (Unincorporated Clackamas County) 
E57
BR57

Station 58: Bolton (West Linn)
E58
BR58 - Used to be BR358, but moved to Bolton for quicker access

Station 358: Rosemont (West Linn / Rosemont )
WT358
V358

Station 59: Willamette (West Linn)
E59
WR59 (AKA Dive Rescue 59) - Dive Rescue unit; tows Boat 59

Station 359: Sunset (West Linn / Sunset)
E359
RHB359

Station 60: Cornell Road (Unincorporated Wash Co.)
BR60
E60
E60R - Stationed here, but used rarely (Responded on a call a few weeks back with E60)

Station 61: Cedar Hills (Beaverton)
R61
SQT61

Station 62: Aloha
E362
E62
R62
RHB362
SQT62
VAN362
*TVF&R's Mobile Command Center also responds from here on large incidents; unknown responding ID / WCCCA ID

Station 64: Rock Creek (Unincorporated Wash. Co.)
BR64
E64
WT64

Station 65: West Slope (Unincorporated Wash Co.)
E65
MED65 - Alt. response vehicle 

Station 66: Brockman Road (Beaverton)
E66
*TVF&R's CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear, & Explosive) Unit responds from Station 66; unknown response ID / WCCCA ID; possibly known as Heavy Squad 66, as noted in TVF&R's financial records

Station 67: Beaverton Main
C5
E67
T67

Station 68: Oak Hills (Unincorporated Wash Co.)
E68

Station 368: Skyline Rd (Unincorporated Wash Co.)
BR368
E368
V368
WT368

Station 69: Cooper Mountain (Unincorporated Wash Co.)
BR69
E69

 

[Fix_It]

Washington County will now have OPS38-C4F and OPS39-C4D.
Clackamas County will also rename their fire tacs by placing a 2 in front. Tac 4 will become OPS24.
They will also add OPS29-C6B.
OPS38 will be used primarily as a patch to NORCOM. TVFR-Aurora mutual aid for one example. OPS39 is anyone's guess. Clackamas County radios will begin to be programmed in 1-2 weeks. A good guess on when CCOM will start using the new names would be December or January after the entire county is reprogrammed. Subscriber units, anyway. Let's not get into infrastructure at this point.

 

[Baker845]

what does C4F,C4D and C6B mean? That HEX format? Any one find what TGs are ops-38,39? sent you PM Fix it.

 

[Fix_It]

Actually those aren't names but Hex TG IDs.
HEX=C4F C4D C6B
Scanner=50416 50384 50864
Motorola=803151 803149 803179
Windows built-in calculator is my friend!
The names are the text that start with "ops"

 

[PMJ2kx]

So....why are they adding an Ops 38 & 39 when they NEVER use Ops 37? I have never heard any traffic on that TG.

 

[Baker845]

I see, great info Fix it thank you. 50416 50384 50864 are these the three new Tgs? There going to be any changes to PD/SO TGs, in each County?

 

[PMJ2kx]

Heard some traffic on Ops38 today. I recognized the Woodburn Ambulance #(and the fact that they were returning from Silverton Hospital). Didn't hear any dispatch confirmation, though, so I'm guessing they were on the wrong channel.

I can't remember if NORCOM dispatches on 154.16 or 154.385...