[ScanIndiana] ISP-51 two-tone?

[Edward Ashcraft]

David and the list,
    From the replies I've already seen you guys have hit it on the head.
The two-tone "page" you hear is called a weather encoder.  Each ISP district
has one in dispatch.  When a weather alert is received either via IDACS
(NCIC), NAWAS (National Warning and Alert System) phone, or both; the
operator keys up on Lo-band dispatch (42.42) and point to point (155.370)
and keys in a 3-digit sequence activating the weather alert tones.  Once the
"Ready" light comes on we transmit the information.  A typical dispatch
(after the last three days I've gotten this down) goes something like this:
"District 24 units, stations, and home weather monitors, the National
Weather Service of Northern Indiana has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for St. Joseph County effective until 3:15pm Eastern Standard Time.  At
2:57pm EST National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated a line of severe
storms from a line 10 miles North of New Carlisle to 3 miles south of
Walkerton.  Some cities in the path of this severe storm include Walkerton,
South Bend, Lakeville, Mishawaka, Osceola, and North Liberty.  Again, the
National Weather Service Northern Indiana." (and the dispatch is read
again).  From my understanding the weather alert monitors only activate for
30 seconds so we try not to be too wordy yet still get the pertinent info
out.  We can also report severe weather via the NAWAS phone to the closest
NWS office.  Often we receive reports from troopers in the district as well
as citizens and Amateur Radio operators as to the extent of the severe
weather.  "We are receiving pea to dime size hail in North Liberty." "I have
a funnel cloud over SR-23 and Ironwood moving NE."  Any eyewitness reports
to severe weather only enhance what the NWS can predict or spot on Doppler
radar.  I believe someone on the list mentioned the Weather Encoder tests
performed every Monday morning at 10:00am EST.  We also do a monthly Extend
test at an unannounced time and day.  Hope this adds to the info already
given; and to the person on the list that even had the correct tones given..
hell, we don't even have those at the post.  I often lurk and rarely post
but this list is a great source of info!  Take care all.

Ed Ashcraft
Telecommunications Operator II
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
Communications Training Officer
ISP District 24, Bremen