@mohkfry If bought new, probably around $1,250-1,500, depending on who sold it to them. A new Vortex R4 on the other hand, with programming and installation, is roughly $19,990.
@mohkfry It's something to do with the new activating radio they installed on it when they added all those new Whelen Vortexes to the system. They also reprogrammed the Federal Controllers on the two 2001s in Fort Valley to be compatible with the new encoder, but they had to replace the old Federal SiraTrol on the 500 with a Whelen MSC to become compatible too. That radio has been nothing but trouble since the day it was installed, and for a while only worked sporadically until it just died.
@murrfarms Are they planning to replace the siren or are they going to replace the controller/radio again? sorry if i am being a pest with all of these questions.
@mohkfry I really don't know what any immediate plans are for it, but I know they're wanting to get something working again before next storm season rolls around. I'm hoping that they're able to work it out with whoever originally installed that radio and get a new unit for it, so that this old beast can live again. I'd hate to see it come down for something as simple as that, when the siren itself functions perfectly (to my knowledge).
@mohkfry Yep, as of last week it's still perched there on the water tower, still pointing in the same direction. I half-expect to ride by someday soon and see a brand new Vortex standing on a pole nearby; we've all pretty much given up on this thing.
@murrfarms If it is to be replaced will are you going to try and get it? I would rather it be in someones collection than being scrapped. Gotta save the sirens while we can before the CD sirens are gone forever.
@mohkfry Oh yeah, I'll definitely be getting this one if it comes down. Good news is that the fire department (who actually owns it, county just controls it) knows I'm wanting it when it's decommissioned, and I've been in pretty regular contact with them. I'd rather not see it come down, but if it does I'm glad that it (hopefully) won't be scrapped and will be saved.
Wow...is this the only siren in Byron? They'd need to get that thing working again in time for the next storm season, at least...but, the sooner, the better.
@dillonrockband Yeah, sadly it is and even as big of a siren as this is, they need at least one more in city limits. We're hoping to further troubleshoot the radio issue and get it repaired soon, since we usually get severe weather in the late summer and fall even more-so than in the spring. I really hope we can fix this before the county decides to install a new one next to it, as I REALLY do not want to see this thing go, even if I do get it lol.
@FBHSswimmer2006 There's been some talk about replacing it sometime, but they know it's not an actual SIREN failure and is actually just a controller failure. This is why I do not like Whelen's version of an "FC" controller, they really suck!
any idea what the radio would cost? I know it would be cheaper to replace the radio rather than the siren.
mohkfry 1 year ago
@mohkfry If bought new, probably around $1,250-1,500, depending on who sold it to them. A new Vortex R4 on the other hand, with programming and installation, is roughly $19,990.
murrfarms 1 year ago
Any idea why the siren wasn't activating?
mohkfry 1 year ago
@mohkfry It's something to do with the new activating radio they installed on it when they added all those new Whelen Vortexes to the system. They also reprogrammed the Federal Controllers on the two 2001s in Fort Valley to be compatible with the new encoder, but they had to replace the old Federal SiraTrol on the 500 with a Whelen MSC to become compatible too. That radio has been nothing but trouble since the day it was installed, and for a while only worked sporadically until it just died.
murrfarms 1 year ago
@murrfarms Are they planning to replace the siren or are they going to replace the controller/radio again? sorry if i am being a pest with all of these questions.
mohkfry 1 year ago
@mohkfry I really don't know what any immediate plans are for it, but I know they're wanting to get something working again before next storm season rolls around. I'm hoping that they're able to work it out with whoever originally installed that radio and get a new unit for it, so that this old beast can live again. I'd hate to see it come down for something as simple as that, when the siren itself functions perfectly (to my knowledge).
murrfarms 1 year ago
Is this siren still there? You should re-record it sometime.
mohkfry 1 year ago
@mohkfry Yep, as of last week it's still perched there on the water tower, still pointing in the same direction. I half-expect to ride by someday soon and see a brand new Vortex standing on a pole nearby; we've all pretty much given up on this thing.
murrfarms 1 year ago
@murrfarms If it is to be replaced will are you going to try and get it? I would rather it be in someones collection than being scrapped. Gotta save the sirens while we can before the CD sirens are gone forever.
mohkfry 1 year ago
@mohkfry Oh yeah, I'll definitely be getting this one if it comes down. Good news is that the fire department (who actually owns it, county just controls it) knows I'm wanting it when it's decommissioned, and I've been in pretty regular contact with them. I'd rather not see it come down, but if it does I'm glad that it (hopefully) won't be scrapped and will be saved.
murrfarms 1 year ago
Wow...is this the only siren in Byron? They'd need to get that thing working again in time for the next storm season, at least...but, the sooner, the better.
dillonrockband 1 year ago
@dillonrockband Yeah, sadly it is and even as big of a siren as this is, they need at least one more in city limits. We're hoping to further troubleshoot the radio issue and get it repaired soon, since we usually get severe weather in the late summer and fall even more-so than in the spring. I really hope we can fix this before the county decides to install a new one next to it, as I REALLY do not want to see this thing go, even if I do get it lol.
murrfarms 1 year ago
is it possible that the town is in the process of replacing it?
FBHSswimmer2006 1 year ago
@FBHSswimmer2006 There's been some talk about replacing it sometime, but they know it's not an actual SIREN failure and is actually just a controller failure. This is why I do not like Whelen's version of an "FC" controller, they really suck!
murrfarms 1 year ago
Maybe ill travel to Georgia and get that thing restored or get a vid of it
bulldozer950 1 year ago