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

Wed Oct 14 09:35:21 EDT 2009

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Thanks=2C Joe!=A0 Info is much appreciated!

Regards=2C

Doug

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> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Montgomery Fire Communications - What's Going On?
> To: oldsdoug at hotmail.com=3B scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net=3B scan-dc at ma=
ilman.qth.net
> From: ltbrown122 at aol.com
> Date: Wed=2C 14 Oct 2009 04:34:55 +0000
>
>  To: All Fire Rescue PersonnelFrom: Assistant Chief Michael McAdamsDuty O=
perations ChiefSubject: Radio coverage issuesThe MCFRS 800 MHz radio system=
 has been compromised as a result of a flooding condition at one of our equ=
ipment sites in Silver Spring. The local area net work impact is the first =
and fourth Battalions. MCFRS personnel are engaged with all partner agencie=
s in developing a solution set.In the interim all personnel must take the f=
ollowing actions:* Maintain a station watch monitoring radio and phone line=
s at stations in the first and fourth battalion.* Maintain situational awar=
eness of all radio communication at all times.* Additional resources will b=
e dispatched at the discretion of the ECC Supervisor to assure that no sing=
le resource is dispatched to an incident involving a high rise or building =
where radio penetration may be compromised.* Vehicle drivers (engine=2C lad=
der=2C rescue squad) are to remain with the vehicles and monitor radio chan=
nels.This problem currently is projected to last more than 24 hours. A situ=
ational update and additional information will be provided via the chain of=
 command as details become available.Coordinate any communication with the =
on duty Battalion Chief.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug Kitchener=20
> Date: Tue=2C 13 Oct 2009 23:45:57
> To:=20
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Montgomery Fire Communications - What's Going On?
>
>
> All=2C
>
> Does anyone know what might be going on with Montgomery County's fire com=
munications 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 not=
ice it this morning when driving to work=2C so it started sometime during t=
he day.  I've been picking up this open carrier all over the county - Rockv=
ille=2C Silver Spring (Calverton area)=2C and Gaithersburg=2C on different =
radios - a friend in Wheaton is also getting it.  They are still transmitti=
ng (simulcasting) on that frequency=2C however=2C and the repeater system a=
ppears to be working properly.
>
> In addition=2C beginning around 8 this evening I have heard references to=
 units with the call sign "VRS-7##" (specifically VRS-718 and VRS-712) - VR=
S-712 was just dispatched on a run with one of the EMS units from Station 1=
2 (Hillandale).  (No idea when this began=2C either=2C but I didn't hear it=
 between 4:30 and 5:30=2C and wasn't listening from 5:30 to 7:30).  To me=
=2C "VRS" means "Vehicle Repeater System"=2C and I do know that there is a =
VRS system available in Montgomery County.  It appears as if they may be ha=
ving 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=2C it seems normal -=
 no indication of any problems - am not hearing the periodic "boops" that i=
ndicate that the 800-system is in fail-soft mode=2C and they are (apparentl=
y) not under "Condition Red" or any of the other usual hysteria that occurs=
 when they have radio trouble.
>
> As far as I know=2C the VHF simulcast transmissions are mainly for volunt=
eers who may not have migrated to the 800-MHz system - in other words=2C th=
e apparatus no longer uses the VHF system... I usually scan the VHF side be=
cause it sounds better (and works better!) and only listen to the 800-syste=
m if they're operating on the fireground talkgroups.
>
> As I write this=2C 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=2C and they haven'=
t been on VHF for many years...
>
> So - any ideas or info?
>
> 2345=2C KGC-334 (!)
>
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