4004 or Vortex?

[4J25]

With the part about not having the "x" on the screen, only earlier 4004's had the "x."

[lkreykes]

With the part about not having the "x" on the screen, only earlier 4004's had the "x."

Yeah I remembered that after I posted the initial thread but I was too lazy to go edit it. So in this instance there really is no way it could be a Vortex; all signs point to 4004?

[AST128_RyanK]

Living in Midland County, I have always thought they were Vortex's although, voice messaging could determine the model. But considering MP may have the sirens due to Central Michigan University and the Indian Reservation, I think voice capability does exist although I have never head of it being used.

[lkreykes]

Living in Midland County, I have always thought they were Vortex's although, voice messaging could determine the model. But considering MP may have the sirens due to Central Michigan University and the Indian Reservation, I think voice capability does exist although I have never head of it being used.

Kind of weird but CMU doesn't actually have it's own sirens; we just rely on hearing them from off campus and/or them texting us in case of an emergency. On Isabella County's website they have them listed for making only 2 sounds- alert and airhorn for severe weather and chemical spills. You'd think if they were voice capable they'd make use of that feature, especially since like you said for CMU and the reservation!

[cl94]

Living in Midland County, I have always thought they were Vortex's although, voice messaging could determine the model. But considering MP may have the sirens due to Central Michigan University and the Indian Reservation, I think voice capability does exist although I have never head of it being used.

Kind of weird but CMU doesn't actually have it's own sirens; we just rely on hearing them from off campus and/or them texting us in case of an emergency. On Isabella County's website they have them listed for making only 2 sounds- alert and airhorn for severe weather and chemical spills. You'd think if they were voice capable they'd make use of that feature, especially since like you said for CMU and the reservation!

A lot of colleges don't have their own siren system unless the immediate area doesn't have a siren system. I know Ohio State and University of Illinois use the systems of their respective counties. That seems to be what I've noticed in the Midwest.

In places without siren systems, such as New York, several colleges have their own system. Many private colleges near Albany and in Central New York have a siren system, typically made up of voice-capable Whelen 2900s, as the vast majority of towns don't have a siren system.

Looking at the spec sheets, the 4004 units are 3.5 inches taller. That appears to be the only real difference between the most recent versions of each.

[lkreykes]

I thought I read somewhere the 4004 rotator box (now square, like the Vortex), is a bit thicker/more defined compared to the Vortex's shorter and smoother but still rectangular rotator, which is another thing to look for. I'm not sure how true that is though.

Anyways, these are still a mystery to me then.

[Ziginox]

Alright, enough. The siren head does not determine if it's a Vortex or a 4004. The head is the same. The controls are the difference, same with the smaller 2900 series heads and the OmniAlert series.

Older 4000 series rotators are different, I'm a little rusty but I believe it's the same design as the 3016 and is belt driven. Newer 4000 series rotators are chain driven. It's possible that the Vortex series was released after the change, but like I said I'm a bit rusty.

[holler]

I always thought the 4004 was direct drive like the Vortex. Only difference was a stepper motor that enabled it to be clocked in any direction.

[lkreykes]

According to Whelen's website, the 4004 head is in fact about 3-4" taller or so. Other than that, they are identical now. Also on their website it still shows the 4004 having a circular rotator protrusion, although who knows when the last time was they updated that. I don't know. I just wanted to figure out which ones they were lol. Having a Type II control cabinet kind of gives it away I suppose. Thanks for the help.

[Ziginox]

Like I said, I might be a bit rusty on it but I distinctly remember older 4003/4004 models having a different rotator. Looking through the 3000 series manual it mentions the rotator must be pointed north and can sense which direction the head is pointed. I'm not sure why Whelen lists the 4004 head as 3-4" taller unless the older rotator was taller and they haven't updated the measurements.