Federal Signal 500AT

[murrfarms]

Even though it is a damn shame that they're replacing this beautiful sounding beast, it probably is a good thing because from the looks of it, the rotator's right-angle reduction gearbox is about to give out, as it keeps getting hung up in spots, especially when it's winding down. Definitely my favorite siren out of all the rotating dual tone sirens!

[jayhawk29]

One of our old 500ATs rotation stoped, and would hang up all the time too. That's probably what happened to it. Although it is sad to see the sirens go, each year I'd say about 10 of the older sirens would fail at one point or another. Not a real reliable system. But there were the older sirens that were probably more reliable then the newer ones. Either way the pros outway the cons.

[TankCrusher210]

Sounds like a cross between a 2/3t22, and a thunderbolt 1000t/3.

[troshs]

hah was just thinking the same thing!!

[IMAC2200]

as the 500AT points in the direction of the camera, it kinda raises the hair on the back of my neck, it is a very frightening sound

[FireAlarmMan458]

Wow. That is the strangest sounding siren I think i've ever heard.

[Semitruckman101]

Thats sounds very simular to Thunderbolt

[ysflightman]

We have 1 of these in town, Delavan WI, this is the closest to me so I hear it Whenever we have a Severe storm or a tornado, just scrares me.

[MidnightDorifuta]

Topeka, KS has one of the nicest varieties of sirens that I can think of ^-^

[firealarmtech7]

the STL-10 and 500AT sounds scary as hell.

[youngestpilotinGa]

what a classic sound

[superjoe87]

Not every day when you hear emergency vehicles with the air horn, then the sirens going to announce The End Of The World.

[bigdaddyinaustin]

Awesome!!

[johnnykcks]

These look similar to 2001 but sound way better. Is this an older siren...was the 2001 modeled after this or what?  Where is a good place to find a model history of federal sirens by model and year?

[HystoricalMicrobe]

yeah, this does look like an older siren

[biggulp2000]

it is

[budw84]

I'm not certain if that is true but I know that the 2001 series has the same rotator motor as the Thunderbolt

[jayhawk29]

The first and second generation Federal Signal 2001 both use the same rotator as the Thunderbolt.

[soccerdude7330]

Gosh the STL-10 and 500AT sounds scary as hell.

[murrfarms]

GOD I love the sound of those 10/12 port 500s! They sound so menacing from a distance.

[dillonrockband]

besides the damn ambulance nice vid!

[dillonrockband]

the ambience from other sirens with this one sound creepy but AWESOME!!!

[zozey1231]

Sounds like it would eat you alive

[JerryMopar]

500ATs are such an underated siren

[cauberallies]

I swear I can hear a dual tone Tbolt at about 0:50. I don't think the 500 was playing tricks on my ears, since it was definitely at a lower pitch than the 500.

[jayhawk29]

The closest Thunderbolt from that location is 1.5 miles away. I think the sound you heard was an ambulance sounding an air horn tone as it approached a major intersection.

[cauberallies]

You are probably right, as the siren is pointed directly at you at that time, and a siren 1.5 miles away has very little chance of being heard over the 500, considering the circumstances.

[hospitalrulez]

why do they rotate? is it so people in other places can hear it?

[nasanasa3]

Duh! wow... the sirens rotate to get as much coverage in a concentrated blast unlike an omni directional siren... an omni is weaker but gets constant coverage... and man these things can take forever to wind down... the wierd thing is THEY DON'T STOP TURNING UNTIL THE CHOPPER DOES! ITS WIRED TOGETHER!!!

[Antipwnsurmum]

it's not wired together, the rotator is driven by the chopper motor. There's a belt that runs from the back of the motor (there's a pulley there) and that turns the rotator mechanism.

[Antipwnsurmum]

Actually the rotator is driven by the chopper.

[juterman]

500ATs are freaken sweet! Such a shame that they do not make these anymore. :(

[cheetawolf]

neat siren. :D

[lt1caprice57l]

Another 10/12 500AT. Nice!

[WAYNE1980AA]

i would like to see it in attack mode.

[jayhawk29]

As would I. I doubt Shawnee County will ever test in Attack, or sound sirens in attack. Altho, I have been told by EM that the sirens would sound Attack if there were to be a National Emergency.

[DeJiKo06]

sounds like 2t22 or a t-bolt.

[snootzie78]

Yeah, it kind of does. I wonder if they still make those types of sirens.

[cheetawolf]

probly not, considering all the good sirens are replaced with crappy 2001s

[hen7713]

The 500 series was discontinued awhile ago.

[jayhawk29]

It was an ambulance, and with Federal Signal ruling the land around here to so speak, I would imagine it is FS.

[bl959]

Actually, most of the AMR units around Topeka use Whelen sirens, if not all of them....and that is definately a Whelen siren.

[hen7713]

That is not a Whelen siren, That is a Federal Signal 500AT and Whelen sirens are electronic and This is mechanical.

[juterman]

that siren sounds kind of scarey.

[blackmaxima]

Man, that looks so much like an ACA P-10

[videogamer24385]

no it doesent. a P-10 is a T-128. they look nothing alike!

[sirenguy41]

Sounds like a combination of the 2t22 and the 2001.

[Flamingopink86]

Great video! This has a unique tone!

[toletman456]

the rotashonal 2t22 also knowne as a federal 500at --- what other sirens heard in the video besides the cop car

[jayhawk29]

Read.

[martyaaa]

theres the little bastard i was looking for about 2 years. THANKS SO MUCH

[CHERMOTLEYCRUEFAN87]

SOUNDS ALOT LIKE A 2T22.

[FGLK1702]

I wish Federal had been able to sell more of these than they did.

[CricketboyStudios]

WOW! The most musical thing I've ever heard! My mom heard this and thought there was a tornado, It was storming here.

[cheetawolf]

I THINK the 2T22 is more musical but i like this too!

[BackupNTAuth]

ahh the sweet sound of harmonics! nice 10/12 rare 500AT, yea i think ur right archon its running at 480V 3 phase. that ambulance made a nice mix in for those sirens

[volodia07]

Thats the best song I've ever heard!

[jayhawk29]

It has 800x Digital zoom, and 32x Optical zoom. It is a JVC camcorder i got for about $300 at Walmart a few years back. I just figured out how to upload good quality videos onto the computer, although it takes up some space.

[Imputa]

Now see Dylan, those are the ones right there that scared the shit out of me when I was a little kid. xD

[CoolBalla15]

Awesome video! Excellent quality!

[CaptainElevator42189]

That mixture of sirens produced the most eerie sound I've ever heard from a siren system.

[TJE4210]

I agree

[BellyJae]

WOW,never heard the 10.12 port 500AT's before.... I've only heard the 8/12 port's. Sounds like a tbolt, loves it!

[Archon2561]

Sounds like this one is running on 480V

[iMovieFreak3891]

As a storm chaser, that is one of the best sounds I can hear..... unfortunately, we haven't heard many of those this year. =(

[DigitalEagleInc]

Could the design be the precursor to the 2001 series siren class of FSC? & quit zooming in & out LOL your making me sea sick LOL

[jayhawk29]

Sorry, I was wanting viewers to get an idea oh how far away from the siren i was, and i was wanting close-ups of the siren.

[tsm88]

Love those 12/10 500AT's!

[Siren1000T]

Awesome video! I love 500ATs.

[USRoute66]

Awesome! I love the Federal 500AT! :-)

[matrim5473]

Nice! Is that supposed to sound like a T-Bolt?