Westfield FD incident crosstalk on 33.62 MHz District 7 Fire

[cuworc]

Last night just before midnight, traffic on the Westfield FD 154.43 Rpt. was mysteriously being rebroadcast via the 33.62 District 7 Charlton Fire Tower transmitter. They were operating at a motor vehicle accident on the Mass Pike in the Berkshire hills of Russell or Blandford, and must have had a UHF mobile crossband repeater on the same frequency and PL as the Charlton uplink. The signal into Charlton was very weak but steady, and disappeared just as suddenly as it had appeared once "Mass Pike Command" was terminated. I imagine southern Worcester County dispatchers were scratching their heads over that one.

[Lynskey 85]

The Fire District 7 radio committee is aware of the issue and with communication with Westfield, the cause is known/confirmed. Both entities use a common (duly licensed) low power link frequency with the same PL. A solution to avoid the unintended entry into the D7 system is in the works.

[cuworc]

Thanks for the info Greg. That's good to know. I'd never heard it before but don't listen 24/7.