WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

According to

http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/uplo ... ersion.pdf

There are two inter-agency UHF frequencies for use for liason in emergency situations. They are:

Frequency A: 458.025Mhz
Frequency B: 458.075Mhz

Interesting. I note a couple of things: these frequencies fall in the 'simplex' UHF band allocation. If you look at the licencees of these frequencies in other states (I couldn't see any in WA listed on ACMA) they're mostly 5-watt simplex (in other words, most likely handhelds).

Also the document points out these frequencies are for use at 'local' incidents, so maybe the intention is to use them for short-range communications.

Interesting that they're prepared to allocate a UHF CB channel as well.

Steve wrote:Interesting. I note a couple of things: these frequencies fall in the 'simplex' UHF band allocation. If you look at the licencees of these frequencies in other states (I couldn't see any in WA listed on ACMA) they're mostly 5-watt simplex (in other words, most likely handhelds).

That's my guess too. Definately simplex, probably low powered handhelds, like the firies 519Mhz channels.

Interesting that they're prepared to allocate a UHF CB channel as well.

The document says channel 5 UHF CB which is actually designated an emergency channel and can't be used for anything else... I suppose if there were a major, major disaster they'd need comms with civillian relief organisations like the Red Cross.

I know many country emergency vehicles do but I'm not too sure that suburban police vehicles can do UHF CB... the Tait 2020s they carry now are certainly capable of it.

What are "lifeline" agencies?

dazla wrote:What are "lifeline" agencies?

I found this on the FESA website. Particularly page 16, 17, 18:

http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/uplo ... 4-2005.pdf


Dept of Consumer and Employment Protection
Alinta
Epic Energy
FESA
Main Roads WA
Dept of Planning and Infrastructure
Telstra
Water Corp
Western Power

Should there ever be a major catastrophe all emergency services do have a radio which everyone has access too...

How effective said radio would be well , i would think the intercommunication between agencies would be a greater asset. The ICV's of the agencies would look after all communications respectively.

does this mean it will be encrypted loike wapol?? or just higher band??

Our Brigade has given an FRS Tait Orca portable radio to our local ambos. We also have a policy re: FRS & BFS brigades working together and radio use. UHF CB channel 40 is also extensively used.

chrissss wrote:does this mean it will be encrypted loike wapol?? or just higher band??

Nah. Straight UHF FM. You don't want the hassle of encryption when dealing with a large-scale emergency.

Just look at the hassles New Orleans had with their radio system... funky Motorola trunking system fell over when the head computer lost power. All the repeaters were there but were useless without instructions from that computer.

hang on are we talkin the fture or in curent emergency situations??

I hope they dont go encrypted otherwise there is not much point having a scanner with the cops going encrypted and the ambos hardly given out job details. Unless if they make a scanner for the encryptions but i think they would be expensive and would take out one of the main points for the cops going encrypted, so we cant listen... JG103

JG-103 wrote:I hope they dont go encrypted

Hope unfortunately doesn't have anything to do with it... come 2007-8 VKI will be encrypted.

So if this does go through - What can we listen to?

gkoutlis wrote:So if this does go through - What can we listen to?

Everything you can now, except the police.