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kswx29
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Whelen Vortex (W/ Fin) in Wail, also with Rotation probs.

Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:33 am

Appears to be having rotation problems. Around 2:20 it stops rotating for a few seconds, then finally gets to rotating again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi5HckXWJM
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Whelen Rules
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Re: Whelen Vortex (W/ Fin) in Wail, also with Rotation probs

Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:48 pm

2t22boy wrote:Appears to be having rotation problems. Around 2:20 it stops rotating for a few seconds, then finally gets to rotating again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi5HckXWJM
I have been watching this video too. Early VortexR sirens used a belt drive for the rotation and the fins helped prevent damage to the belt drive system. The VortexR now uses a direct gear drive mechanism that is stronger and the fins are no longer needed. The belt drive system stalled more frequently. We have the same era Vortexes here in town sometimes they stall briefly. We now sound this wail tone for tornado warnings and the recently implemented plan to activate them ONE round during a Severe Thunderstorm warning while a Tornado watch is in effect for our area. Very effective attention getting tone.
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Re: Whelen Vortex (W/ Fin) in Wail, also with Rotation probs

Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:25 pm

Whelen Rules wrote:
2t22boy wrote:Appears to be having rotation problems. Around 2:20 it stops rotating for a few seconds, then finally gets to rotating again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi5HckXWJM
I have been watching this video too. Early VortexR sirens used a belt drive for the rotation and the fins helped prevent damage to the belt drive system. The VortexR now uses a direct gear drive mechanism that is stronger and the fins are no longer needed. The belt drive system stalled more frequently. We have the same era Vortexes here in town sometimes they stall briefly. We now sound this wail tone for tornado warnings and the recently implemented plan to activate them ONE round during a Severe Thunderstorm warning while a Tornado watch is in effect for our area. Very effective attention getting tone.
They should just use a different tone for Severe Storm Warnings W/ Tornado Watch.
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Re: Whelen Vortex (W/ Fin) in Wail, also with Rotation probs

Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:36 am

2t22boy wrote:
Whelen Rules wrote:
2t22boy wrote:Appears to be having rotation problems. Around 2:20 it stops rotating for a few seconds, then finally gets to rotating again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi5HckXWJM
I have been watching this video too. Early VortexR sirens used a belt drive for the rotation and the fins helped prevent damage to the belt drive system. The VortexR now uses a direct gear drive mechanism that is stronger and the fins are no longer needed. The belt drive system stalled more frequently. We have the same era Vortexes here in town sometimes they stall briefly. We now sound this wail tone for tornado warnings and the recently implemented plan to activate them ONE round during a Severe Thunderstorm warning while a Tornado watch is in effect for our area. Very effective attention getting tone.
They should just use a different tone for Severe Storm Warnings W/ Tornado Watch.
Yeah but alot of times more tones equals more confusion, and we just want to get people inside out of harms way, wether it be a severe thunderstorm warning with high winds or a tornado warning. The meaning of the warning sirens will mean get in life is at risk. It is being run through the paper about the change of tone to better warn the growing city as well as what to do when they are activated. They are also trying to stress not to count on being able to hear the sirens inside even though the new wail tone will better penetrate because it does not stay at one pitch.

I was kind of skeptical because the steady tone is the national tone for severe weather, but many Tennessee communities and communities across the nation use the wail tone/attack tone as a signal for tornado warnings, and after hearing how effective this tone was in downtown coming from just one siren unit I changed my mind. It really grabs your attention more than the steady tone which could be mistaken for something else in the pitch range.

I was also skeptical that people might mistake this for a fire truck but once again I was proven wrong.

The sirens are meant to save lives. I think it could cause much confusion having many different tones for different things. If a city is going to use sirens for more than one purpose they should activate them in one tone proven to be the most reliable and say it is all purpose tone; get inside and listen to t.v. or radio broadcast for additional information. Have many different tones could cause panic because people won't know what to do for a particular tone.
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Re: Whelen Vortex (W/ Fin) in Wail, also with Rotation probs

Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:47 am

Whelen Rules wrote:
2t22boy wrote: Yeah but alot of times more tones equals more confusion, and we just want to get people inside out of harms way, wether it be a severe thunderstorm warning with high winds or a tornado warning. The meaning of the warning sirens will mean get in life is at risk. It is being run through the paper about the change of tone to better warn the growing city as well as what to do when they are activated. They are also trying to stress not to count on being able to hear the sirens inside even though the new wail tone will better penetrate because it does not stay at one pitch.

I was kind of skeptical because the steady tone is the national tone for severe weather, but many Tennessee communities and communities across the nation use the wail tone/attack tone as a signal for tornado warnings, and after hearing how effective this tone was in downtown coming from just one siren unit I changed my mind. It really grabs your attention more than the steady tone which could be mistaken for something else in the pitch range.

I was also skeptical that people might mistake this for a fire truck but once again I was proven wrong.

The sirens are meant to save lives. I think it could cause much confusion having many different tones for different things. If a city is going to use sirens for more than one purpose they should activate them in one tone proven to be the most reliable and say it is all purpose tone; get inside and listen to t.v. or radio broadcast for additional information. Have many different tones could cause panic because people won't know what to do for a particular tone.
Well, different tones wouldn't be too much of a problem if fliers are placed conveniently. When I stopped through Henryetta in Oklahoma, their McDonalds had "Storm Ready" and "What to do in a tornado warning" pamphlets near the beverage counter. If more businesses did that, I think most people, even those just traveling through could learn what tones mean what to which community.

Though for most communities, there'd only be the need for one tone. Two at most if there's a volunteer fire department.

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Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:07 am

coyoteunknown: Have you been to Okmulgee? They have some wierd sirens there...do you have any pictures?
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Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:48 am

2t22boy wrote:coyoteunknown: Have you been to Okmulgee? They have some wierd sirens there...do you have any pictures?
Checked Google Earth to make sure, and yes I've riden through Okmulgee numerous times on my way through Henryetta to Sapulpa. I've never strayed away from Interstate 75, which appears to go through the heart of Okmulgee. I've been through there last year, but I can't remember seeing any sirens from that street. Do you know of any and their locations? Next time my family takes a trip through Henryetta, I'll try to get some pictures of some of them.

Can you compare what they have to the sirens I've posted on my dA account?

http://coyoteunknown.deviantart.com

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Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:39 pm

Those sirens could be easily retrofitted with a gear-driven rotator.
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