The Siren Board

Alright guys, the Dane County Siren season is upon me once again, and it will only be a precious few months before replacements start again. So, it's time to decide which sirens I'm going to capture.

So far I've decided that my first capture for the month of March (tomorrow), is going to be the FS Equinox in Brooklyn. This is for several reasons. First, I don't even actually know if the Dane County EMA will test tomorrow, with the low temperatures still here in Wisconsin, they may elect to forgo the test. Second, is seems every video on Youtube that I've seen of an Equinox is one that is failing, so I'm looking to capture one A) that does work and B)before it inevitably breaks.

Finally, I won't just be taking video with my cellphone this year. I acquired a GoPro over the winter and will be using it to capture the siren video in full 1080p at 60fps. Additionally, I will be attempt to take the audio using a professional microphone. If everything goes right, I will be recording both audio and video in the best quality I have accessible.

I have also decided that April's Siren will be the FS 500AT on the southwest side of Madison. So what I am looking for now is May's Siren. I will attach a poll, plus take suggestions via comments below:

Siren Schedule:

• March 3rd: FS Equinox, Brooklyn. 6pm Blast Video here
• March 4th: FS Equinox, Brooklyn. Full Test Video here
• April 1st: FS 500AT, West Madison. Full Test (with rotator failure) Video here
• April 16th: TBD. Annual Tornado Drill - Full Test
• May 6th: FS 508, Oregon (Netherwood St Location). Full Test Video here
• June 3rd: FS SD-10, Madison (Park Street & Beld Street Location) Failed Capture Video here
• July 1st: FS SD-10, Madison (Park Street & Beld Street Location) Full Test Video here
• August 5th: TBD. Full Test
• September 2nd: TBD. Full Test
• October 7th: TBD. Full Test
• November 4th: TBD. Full Test
• December 2nd: TBD. Full Test
• Unknown Date: ACA SuperBanshee, Johnson Creek, WI. Full Test
• Unknown Date: Darley, Marshall, WI. Fire Call

turtlbrdr wrote: Second, is seems every video on Youtube that I've seen of an Equinox is one that is failing, so I'm looking to capture one A) that does work and B)before it inevitably breaks.

What in the world are you talking about failing Equinoxes on YouTube? They all work fine. Equinoxes sound at a 500 Hz pitch and suffer from the same pitch fluctuation issue as the 2001-130 on which it is based. That said--out of curiosity--when did Dane County put in Equinoxes? I thought their most recent installs had been Tempests.

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What in the world are you talking about failing Equinoxes on YouTube? They all work fine. Equinoxes sound at a 500 Hz pitch and suffer from the same pitch fluctuation issue as the 2001-130 on which it is based. That said--out of curiosity--when did Dane County put in Equinoxes? I thought their most recent installs had been Tempests.

Maybe it's that then, the fluctuation in pitch, but the videos I remember have them with non-working rotators and such. Maybe then, they've fixed the issues with them. We'll find out. The ones in Dane county couldn't be much newer. Purchased within a year of now and installed last year. Brooklyn's was installed in October. There is only two others in Dane county, installed around the same time, I think.

First video is up, these are clips taken of a 6pm blast from the FS Equinox in Brooklyn. Tomorrow will be one of the full test hopefully.

As a warning: Turn down your speakers, the audio is extreme in the first clip.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuYaEE4ncm0

What kind of issues are you talking about? The Equinox is an 8 port 2001 with an Eclipse rotor. The rotators are the same as the 508 and 2001-130. If they had an issue it would have shown on the 508s, the still ongoing 2001-130 installations, and, come to think of it, any siren made after the SRNB unless the unit you seen had a defect. That aside I like your videos of it. It sounds super loud.

What about the H.O.R SuperSirex on top of the Dane County EMA building in Downtown Madison?

DJ2226 wrote:What kind of issues are you talking about? The Equinox is an 8 port 2001 with an Eclipse rotor. The rotators are the same as the 508 and 2001-130. If they had an issue it would have shown on the 508s, the still ongoing 2001-130 installations, and, come to think of it, any siren made after the SRNB unless the unit you seen had a defect. That aside I like your videos of it. It sounds super loud.

I think I've seen one with a very bad wavering pitch and one with a broken rotator, maybe I just got a bad luck of draw on Youtube and only got videos of ones that have gone a bit off?

I will admit, the Equinox definitely had more punch than the 3T22 had. Or maybe it seemed that way since it's been so long since I've heard them go off in person? Today's test will be amazing. I will be recording using the same microphone, and I have to debate which camera I use. I want to get video using the GoPro since that can do 60fps recording, and that has a dash mounnt, but no zoom, so have to get close, or my smartphone which has no mount and tons of zoom.

TNT1001 wrote:What about the H.O.R SuperSirex on top of the Dane County EMA building in Downtown Madison?

I'm trying to find a way to get video of that, unfortunately the Sirex sits on top of the Dane County Jail so access is by invite only. I'm probably going to have to see if I can access a shot of it from buildings around it. Possibly the capitol building.

Your video was awesome. I was very impressed that that Equinox packed such a wallop. Excellent recording and I thank you for sharing and updating on Danes new installations!

How was it compared to the Perf + Penetrate?