Franklin County, Ohio Siren Discussion

[JonTishBass]

Soooo, a little glitch just happened. The Slate Ridge Drive Whelen WPS-3000 (Ex Perry Nuclear) did a full 3 minutes after the cancellation tones were sent. This happened in Fairfield County at 12:00 - 12:03. Also someone was speaking over the Fairfield county siren frequency during the polling tones. Not too sure what is going on.

[WPS4004Man]

I've heard many ESC-2030s fail to pick up cancellation tones before, so I wouldn't be too surprised. Franklin County skipped their test again today, due to an "ongoing investigation". Not sure if this means FC will switch their frequency or activation method or what, but hopefully they will test again soon.

[JonTishBass]

I've heard many ESC-2030s fail to pick up cancellation tones before, so I wouldn't be too surprised. Franklin County skipped their test again today, due to an "ongoing investigation". Not sure if this means FC will switch their frequency or activation method or what, but hopefully they will test again soon.

That seems pretty weird, but also makes sense. Also just to let ya know all of Fairfield County's WPS-3000's have an ESC-2020 retrofit into an Analog ESC-864 cab. There are rumors that the WPS-3000 being put up in Lithopolis might have an analog ESC-864, but I somehow doubt it

[WPS4004Man]

So what hz are they on? I have little to no knowledge about ESC-2020s, especially the later ones, and how most of them are supposed to run 450 hz and glitched to run 435.

[JonTishBass]

The main ESC-2020's you'll see in Franklin county are on WPS-4004's at 435 hz. Fairfield County's are on (possibly) all of their WPS-3000's at 560 hz, but at that setting they lag twice on the windown

[nvanw27]

If it's 560Hz, Chances are it's an ESC-2030.
465Hz - ESC-864 (Digital)
435/430 Hz - ESC-2020
560/530 Hz - ESC-2030.

[JonTishBass]

Nope. It is definitely an ESC-2020, the reason why they play at 560 hz is because of a glitch. ESC-2030's do also play at 560 hz, but have a shorter wind down duration, and they do not lag on the wind down. Also, the 530 hz pitch was part of the ESC-2020, as it also glitched on the wind down, and the tone itself clips a bit. The ESC-2020 is the only Whelen controller to have so many glitches, and the tones on the ESC-2020 range from 435 hz - 450 hz - 530 hz - 560 hz. I hope this helped clear that up.

[uncommonsense]

If it's 560Hz, Chances are it's an ESC-2030.
465Hz - ESC-864 (Digital)
435/430 Hz - ESC-2020
560/530 Hz - ESC-2030.

Indeed this is not correct. The 2020 was switched to 560 hz in 2007 (intentionally...it's not a glitch). At the time it was said this was a more efficient frequency for the drivers to operate at. It should also be noted that the 2020, upon it's debut, was supposed to operate at 465 hz, does so properly on some units, and was marketed (at least for a time) as such.

The 2030 was introduced in 2011. While the tones are largely the same, it was a refresh of the microarchitecture.

The post above this one correctly tells you how to identify the difference by listening.

[WPS4004Man]

Indeed this is not correct. The 2020 was switched to 560 hz in 2007 (intentionally...it's not a glitch). At the time it was said this was a more efficient frequency for the drivers to operate at. It should also be noted that the 2020, upon it's debut, was supposed to operate at 465 hz, does so properly on some units, and was marketed (at least for a time) as such.

The 2030 was introduced in 2011. While the tones are largely the same, it was a refresh of the microarchitecture.

The post above this one correctly tells you how to identify the difference by listening.

That really clears things up, thank you.

Sorry for derailing further, but from what I've heard, the classic ESC-2020 435hz tone was supposed to be 450hz, but had a glitch when it was silent tested, making it rare since most agencies silent test their sirens. So what's the deal with the 530hz ESC-2020s? I always thought that the 530hz was a 560hz ESC-2020 which dropped in pitch from the silent test glitch, but now I'm unsure since there's so many 560hz ESC-2030s around.

[nvanw27]

I seem to recall some 560Hz ESC-2020s that had the same issue as 435Hz 2020s. I recall they fixed that glitch on the ESC-2030.