[quote name='MFD 61 KS' post='216075' date='May 23 2008, 16:28 ']No fight intended, Here goes the new Q2b's have a low amp drawing motor more than the older models. Direct from our Federal Signal Dealer. Electronic Sirens are not the same as any mechnical. Electronic siren use many componets that wear out and are more unrelaiable that the simple mechnical siren no matter who built it. Starting the siren speaker uses a rubber diaphram that viabrates and is then amplified through the speaker driver. The diaphram can rot over time. the speaiker horn directs the sound. The control box has many cheep electronic componets that wear out. We have replaced a number of PA200 or 300's over the years but never a Real Q2b. The EQ2b is a glorified electronic siren and expensive, yes more than the real thing. It's sound is comming out of a 200watt speaker just like the PA300 so the sound out put is the same. That is why Whelen had to make the real Exicutor Speaker so large to achive the same db level as a real Q2B. Electronic sirens are not a directional siren, meaning the sound freq can jump over objects. That is why at a long distance the electronic sounds jumpy. The mechinal is a true directional siren that has incrediable penetrating power and can be heard a great distance 128db at 10ft. LA city has now started puting real Q2b's on becuase they figured out the MDT computer problem. You and also speck a seperate battery bank for you computer.
Now I work in a money stricken urban suburb next to Kansas City that buys plain jane rigs. We fight fire aggressively. We make 2000 runs a year with a pump and tower ladder. We have MDT's and Real Q sirens never had an issue. I refuse to run the ambulance siren (eletronic) only real Q2b off the foot pedal, after all we are the FIRE DEPARTMENT not Rescue Rangers. We also would not be caught dead without our Cairns N5A Leather New Yorkers or 880 Tradtion helmets with borke's. Our city is so low budget they buy Cheep-One's or E\-One's the biggiest junk I have ever officered, driven, or fought fire on. Their not a Seagrave or Pierce or Smeal. Oh yea we are Union IAFF and proud. Now don't get angy this is my opnion and I do respect others views and opnions after all we are all brothers in the fire service. I do hold Seattle in high reguard as a tradtional aggressive fire department with good union brothers.[/quote]
Well said. Seattle has had real Qs on some recent rigs, including the ALF pumpers purchased in 2003 and the recent batch of 2007/08 E-Ones. They also have the EQ2Bs on most of the Medic units. It is very apparent which is which, and also apparent which is better when you hear them coming. The real Qs make a very distinct, traceable sound. It sounds like a real firetruck and is easy to determine where it is coming from, even in downtown when the rig is coming through a cross street and there are buildings all around. The EQ2Bs sound warbly and bounce sound all over the place.
If the choice to not mount a real Q is truly about dollars and cents then they are being penny wise and pound foolish, a real Q will do a better job warning drivers, and if it can prevent totaling a $500,000 pumper and injuring or killing firefighters then the cost of a bigger engine/alternator is worth it.
John
Now I work in a money stricken urban suburb next to Kansas City that buys plain jane rigs. We fight fire aggressively. We make 2000 runs a year with a pump and tower ladder. We have MDT's and Real Q sirens never had an issue. I refuse to run the ambulance siren (eletronic) only real Q2b off the foot pedal, after all we are the FIRE DEPARTMENT not Rescue Rangers. We also would not be caught dead without our Cairns N5A Leather New Yorkers or 880 Tradtion helmets with borke's. Our city is so low budget they buy Cheep-One's or E\-One's the biggiest junk I have ever officered, driven, or fought fire on. Their not a Seagrave or Pierce or Smeal. Oh yea we are Union IAFF and proud. Now don't get angy this is my opnion and I do respect others views and opnions after all we are all brothers in the fire service. I do hold Seattle in high reguard as a tradtional aggressive fire department with good union brothers.[/quote]
Well said. Seattle has had real Qs on some recent rigs, including the ALF pumpers purchased in 2003 and the recent batch of 2007/08 E-Ones. They also have the EQ2Bs on most of the Medic units. It is very apparent which is which, and also apparent which is better when you hear them coming. The real Qs make a very distinct, traceable sound. It sounds like a real firetruck and is easy to determine where it is coming from, even in downtown when the rig is coming through a cross street and there are buildings all around. The EQ2Bs sound warbly and bounce sound all over the place.
If the choice to not mount a real Q is truly about dollars and cents then they are being penny wise and pound foolish, a real Q will do a better job warning drivers, and if it can prevent totaling a $500,000 pumper and injuring or killing firefighters then the cost of a bigger engine/alternator is worth it.
John
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