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So, I'm sure of two things...Pierce County Emergency Management (pic 1)is on VHF high (156.240), and the siren base has a VHF-high antenna (pic 2). Any thoughts?

I'm sure it's a data burst, or something un-listenable...But I'm still curious.

Jay, I think living where you do, you might know something...? I'm new to the Valley area.

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President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
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Nope, not a clue. I have seen the sirens though.
When I was down in Umatilla, the warning for a chemical accident was tied into NOAA radio. Every residence had a NOAA radio that would trigger every Wed for testing.

Yeah, we have one as well, but the wife keeps turning it off during/after the alert tests, so it's effectively useless.

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

I am curious too....since moving to Orting. The antennas on the sirens out here are much larger....almost HF style

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I was depressed last night so I called Lifeline. I was transferred to a call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal, They got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck...

I smell a road trip in my future....I really need to re-explore eastern Pierce County. Where are the Orting sirens located?

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

Could be NOAA -- 162 Mhz, or it could be 156.24 or 151.355 ?? Or maybe even the State Low Band channels: 45.20, 45.36 or 45.48. It could even be one of the two County UHF channels: 453.875 or 453.625.

Thanks Mike, I didn't think about the NOAA channels.

-156.240 I'd say most likely, as it's the EM freq for the county, and I occasionally hear data stuff on it.

-151.355 has never had any traffic other than a cw id in the last 2-4 years

-The antenna is too short for low band

-453.875 is the roads channel, but they seem to have almost abandoned it for Next-hell.

-453.625 is parks and rec at the Sprinker rec center in Parkland.

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

While the antenna on the box may be short --- it would still pick up (receive) a signal on Low Band -- or any other band. It does not have to be a "Tuned" antenna -- just to receive a signal. Pierce County has been very active on the State low band channels. They have their own FCC license. It may not be low band -- but they use low band more than any other OES/DEM. UHF is still logical. It appears that the 156.24 MAY be put into use by the PCSO. The County added the frequency to the County SO license and has added repeaters to this channel. However 151.355 is the most likely ( along with the NOAA channels ). It is only used in that area of the County. Never used by any other service. And unless you are in the local area -- you may not ever hear any alert tone -- siren test. The sirens may be controlled by Phone line - Primay and Radio -- secondary. HMMM

The large "HF-like" antenna might be a low-band folded dipole. I've seen many of these mounted on various boxes out in the boonies.

I believe these are being tested TODAY at 10AM.

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/inter ... 3&media=PC

Maybe you can figure out the signal if you hurry!

Well, today's test came and went, and the only traffic I got was on LERN (155.370) and the NLEC (155.475). Both freqs yielded data bursts and then alert tones, followed by a voice announcement, similar to a NOAA broadcast.

NOAA itself didn't seem to carry anything, neither did (from my semi-basement listening post here in Puyallup) the EOC freqs.

The county UHF freqs DID have public works traffic, one call regarding a dead animal that needed 'scraping off the road'.

Puyallup and Fife used alert tones to close their respective primary channels during the test, but did not otherwise carry any related stuff.

OSCER (156.135) had some WSP car-to-car traffic regarding a fire in the Buckley Police station (I think).

I heard nothing at all on 156.240.

156.075 (WSP channel, also used in Thurston County and as VHF marine channel 61-A) had a few seconds of nearby traffic, sadly, it was in Arabic (!)

The only other halfway interesting thing around was Canadian truckers (Triton Transport of BC) on 162.240 with a pl of 192.8.

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives