[Scan-DC] Montgomery Fire Communications - What's Going On?

[Doug Kitchener]

All,

Does anyone know what might be going on with Montgomery County's fire communications this evening?  Since 4:30 this afternoon (it's now 11:30 p.m.) I have noticed an open carrier on their 154.16 VHF frequency - I didn't notice it this morning when driving to work, so it started sometime during the day.  I've been picking up this open carrier all over the county - Rockville, Silver Spring (Calverton area), and Gaithersburg, on different radios - a friend in Wheaton is also getting it.  They are still transmitting (simulcasting) on that frequency, however, and the repeater system appears to be working properly.

In addition, beginning around 8 this evening I have heard references to units with the call sign "VRS-7##" (specifically VRS-718 and VRS-712) - VRS-712 was just dispatched on a run with one of the EMS units from Station 12 (Hillandale).  (No idea when this began, either, but I didn't hear it between 4:30 and 5:30, and wasn't listening from 5:30 to 7:30).  To me, "VRS" means "Vehicle Repeater System", and I do know that there is a VRS system available in Montgomery County.  It appears as if they may be having communication problems and are handling them by dispatching additional units (but as far as I know they don't have any "dedicated" VRS units... I had the impression that the command vehicles [and possibly others] were so equipped.)  But while listening to the 800-MHz system, it seems normal - no indication of any problems - am not hearing the periodic "boops" that indicate that the 800-system is in fail-soft mode, and they are (apparently) not under "Condition Red" or any of the other usual hysteria that occurs when they have radio trouble.

As far as I know, the VHF simulcast transmissions are mainly for volunteers who may not have migrated to the 800-MHz system - in other words, the apparatus no longer uses the VHF system... I usually scan the VHF side because it sounds better (and works better!) and only listen to the 800-system if they're operating on the fireground talkgroups.

As I write this, it dawns on me that I hadn't thought to take a listen to the police comms and see if anything weird is going on there... but they abandoned their UHF frequencies and simulcasts long ago, and they haven't been on VHF for many years...

So - any ideas or info?

2345, KGC-334 (!)
 		 	   		  
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