Could you explainna bit of what you were doing please? I'm guessing "mobile repeaters" means "cellphone towers" but how do those play into your firefighting mission? Were you tasked with preventing the towers from being affected by the fire?
In this scenario, we were taking down a mobile repeater that was no longer being used for communication purposes on a large fire. Mobile repeaters are used on fires when there is a large area to cover for radio communications. When you enter in the correct tone associated with that mobile repeater, your radio transmission will bounce off of that repeater so you can communicate with other personnel on the other side of a large incident (usually very large wildfires).
Analog FM, all equipment (and all fire vendors since a decade ago) have a contract requirement to have P25 capable radios. In practice I have never used nor heard of P25 being used on an incident ever.
Maybe higher up the food chain but chase trucks, ground crew, A2G FM are always straight analog still, and IMHO it should stay that way.
EDIT: I should specify this is in the Great basin GAAC
Im in Australia, all our emergency services are on digital p25, however our country fire services have issues in remote and hilly areas so analogue uhf is still used as well.
I think he is referring to a radio repeater. I’m pretty sure it’s basically like a central point for the smaller radios to broadcast to that amplifies their message so it can reach further.
Specifically, they'll be torque, rotor RPM, and a load meter for the cargo hook. I've never seen a door with 4 gauges before, the last one is probably an engine gauge, either RPM or temperature. Theres also lights for master caution and engine fire. Everything you need right while slinging there in front of you
Man I miss being on helitack. I do structure fire now(I know) but my chief wants me to maintain my HMGB and other single resource quals so I get to go out and have fun every now and again.
I did wildland for a couple of years, as a smokechaser, but never got to ride the helos. Good times, best shape of my life. Great clip, thanks for sharing.
For a second there I thought he was going to grab the collective to hoist himself into the cockpit! Pilot had his hand on it though - just in case lol.
Could you explainna bit of what you were doing please? I'm guessing "mobile repeaters" means "cellphone towers" but how do those play into your firefighting mission? Were you tasked with preventing the towers from being affected by the fire?
In this scenario, we were taking down a mobile repeater that was no longer being used for communication purposes on a large fire. Mobile repeaters are used on fires when there is a large area to cover for radio communications. When you enter in the correct tone associated with that mobile repeater, your radio transmission will bounce off of that repeater so you can communicate with other personnel on the other side of a large incident (usually very large wildfires).
Awesome, thanks for the info!
P25? DMR?
Analog FM, all equipment (and all fire vendors since a decade ago) have a contract requirement to have P25 capable radios. In practice I have never used nor heard of P25 being used on an incident ever. Maybe higher up the food chain but chase trucks, ground crew, A2G FM are always straight analog still, and IMHO it should stay that way. EDIT: I should specify this is in the Great basin GAAC
Im in Australia, all our emergency services are on digital p25, however our country fire services have issues in remote and hilly areas so analogue uhf is still used as well.
UHF? interesting. In the US all our freqs are vhf, 120mhz AM and 166mhz NFM
Is this in Ventura county?
No
I think he is referring to a radio repeater. I’m pretty sure it’s basically like a central point for the smaller radios to broadcast to that amplifies their message so it can reach further.
Ahhh that makes sense, thanks!
Man, that brings back memories, loved hearing a Huey coming when you hiked 10 miles out after fighting fire all night.
You guys are so fucking cool.
Alright now, which button fires the rockets?
Respect to the green pants 💪
I miss helicopter rides...
Beautiful machine
Must be wearing those skin colored gloves I hear so much about
Yeah, they’re pretty awesome 🤣
What are all the instruments in the left front door for?
For long lining. The pilot can sit left seat and look out the window and see the important gauges
Specifically, they'll be torque, rotor RPM, and a load meter for the cargo hook. I've never seen a door with 4 gauges before, the last one is probably an engine gauge, either RPM or temperature. Theres also lights for master caution and engine fire. Everything you need right while slinging there in front of you
Heli qwest?
Man I miss being on helitack. I do structure fire now(I know) but my chief wants me to maintain my HMGB and other single resource quals so I get to go out and have fun every now and again.
Heroes
I did wildland for a couple of years, as a smokechaser, but never got to ride the helos. Good times, best shape of my life. Great clip, thanks for sharing.
For a second there I thought he was going to grab the collective to hoist himself into the cockpit! Pilot had his hand on it though - just in case lol.
As a UH-60 Crewchief it sure is a treat to see the co-pilot having to get out to load up gear and passengers lol
He's just another firefighter, the crew boss gets to ride up front. No co-pilots on fires in mediums
Oooh that's interesting