eQ2b has "brake".... What a laugh.

[Robert Gift]

How ridiculous.
Why not just SWITCH IT OFF and immediately halt the annoyance?

Several years ago, in the distance we heard an Aurora FD engine responding.
Suddenly, their Q siren went silent.
Had they run into something, instantly stopping their bumper-mounted Q siren?

Later I learned it was an electronic Q siren.
I didn't know such a siren existed.

Now I'm angry my taxes went to pay for such an expensive extravagance.
My 200 watt Unitrol into two TS100 speakers or (better) two CP100 speakers is louder and far less expensive.

[SirenMadness]

They just want "the best."

[Robert Gift]

How is it best?
Or do you mean "Best"?

My Unitrol 480K with two TS100s is louder.
(Because one 100 watt driver into an efficient exponential speaker on each side is better than two 100 watt drivers into a "box" covered with an obstructive grill.)
(But eQ has better full 200 watt P.A.! Other sirens clip (limit) P.A. output.)

[SirenMadness]

I'm just saying that they are more fond of it than of other sirens. I don't think that PA announcements are necessary in all cases, though it is a feature that any good station would opt for.

[q2bman]

I agree. I hate the Eq2b. Waist of money. The thing is not as loud as a mechanical siren. I understand the growing want to reduce current draw. I don't understand the need though. Firetrucks have been operateing for years with high current warning devices like halogen lightbars and Q sirens. Why now, with the introduction to LED, is everyone freaking out about low current draw. Big deal. I have a Model 78, same motor and current draw as a Q, on my Jeep Wrangler! Surely a firengine can handle an electromechanical siren. And, if the current draw has been reduced so much by the LED warning equipment, there is no need to worry about the draw of a Q siren. If they used twinsonic sealed beam rotators in the 80's teamed up with a Q siren there should be no worry today. It's not like they are saveing money by using less electricity. I don't see the need.

I do see the use of LED technology. I like the idea of running them for hours without worrying about battery draw.

JUST GET A DARN Q2B!!!

[Robert Gift]

Yah, Q. I love LEDs.
Such rich colors. Blue is outstanding.

You would laugh that I placed a 4 inch round Stop/Turn/Tail LED
in each front wheel well.
They are only a half inch deep and have remained surprisingly clean.
They face out 90 degrees, do not deface our Expedition and work very well as intersection warnings especially in the dark wheel well.

I want FDs to go to electronic sirens so I have a better chance of getting a used Q2.
Then I'd remove the brake to make it a Q2.

Hopefully Aurora FD did not replace existing Qs with eQs.
Probably new apparatii came with eQs.
I would have ordered Unitrol somethings.

[Whelen Rules]

I went to our Christmas parade and all our fire trucks have 2 sirens one electronic and a Q2B or some of them has 2 electronic sirens in the instance of the EQ2B being the 2nd But I was standing there listening and I heard a EQ2B and it sounded pretty nice. I was excited becuase I had no idea any of our apparatous had an EQ2B I like untill they hit the brake on it, it sounds like a Dying cat!!!! I really wish I had video recorded it becuase there were so many sirens. First the police cars come through then the people with the colors and then the fire department and ambulance service come through and thats the exciting part but o well I was dissapointed with the brake on the EQ2B.

[q2bman]

I liked that the Q siren overpowered the electronic sirens. Now all you get is another electronic siren. What's the point? It just sounds different

[Robert Gift]

Thats another waste - two electronic sirens.
No louder than one.
It angers me that they waste the money I pay them in taxes.

Now our RTD bus company is getting LED amber light bars.
Simple cheap yellow flashing lights are far more noticeable and effective.

[Shinkansen]

You know, I have got no clue why you all have all this stuff against the EQ2B. I rather like it. Sure it's no match for it's mechanical counterpart, but the EQ is a lower cost, SIMILAR sounding alternative for the Q2B. And besides I don't think you could get a Q2B to do Yelp without tearing it up now could ya?