Name: Siren Simulation | 10/16 Port Decot | Attack (Synth Battle) @Thunderbolt1000Tfan
Uploaded: 2026-09-20T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Siren Simulation | 10/16 Port Decot | Attack (Synth Battle)

Siren Simulation | 10/16 Port Decot | Attack (Synth Battle)

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2026-09-20 | Siren Simulation | 10/16 Port Decot | Attack (Synth Battle)

ACA P-10 Siren Test | Full Alert | Deerfield Township, MI | 5/4/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-23 | Location: By intersection of Johnson & Fish Lake Roads
System: Lapeer County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at 1 PM (April-October)
Enthusiasts present: Dylan S. (@xXSo1arGamingXx), Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Alex S. (@SteelCitySirensandTrains), Dominic (@SuperSirex127), Michael (@mysst1c_), Aiden (@golfking99), Dan (@Siren1000T1), Dylan E. (@sirensofsoutheastmichigan), Rylan (@WolverineStateSirens), Joseph (@VintageCollections), Seth (@elevatorsandsirensofmi), Connor W. (@Blixt1000), Caden (@cadenwilliamwilliams8827), Shea (@sheagoff6009), Tyler (@WindowJugFilms), James (@Jamestube8439), Conner (@6skiddd), Alex (@raizrindustries), Anthony (@MacombSignals27), James S. (@EastDetroitMusic-Sirens3000A), Danielle (@purpleviolet207), Will (@WillLoosveltBoltT), Sam (@EOWS812), anyone else I may have missed

After Perrysburg, we went up to Michigan and met with a bunch of other enthusiasts for the inaugural test of this refurbished P-10 in Deerfield Township. For some brief history, this is an ex-Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant unit, originally manufactured in 1981, which makes it a very early production model. So early, in fact, that it is labelled as an Allertor, which probably means that this one was manufactured before the Penetrator series was officially named. Back in 2018, Connor Bader (jcb19) obtained it and refurbished it to its former glory, and in October of last year, he sold it to Tim Reinhardt, who had it installed here in Deerfield Township in April of this year. Connor did an excellent job with the refurb, because this looks like it just came out of the factory.
Since this siren is surrounded mostly by fields and it runs a bit slower, I wasn't expecting it to be quite as loud as the other dual-tone Penetrators I've been to. However, it definitely surpassed my expectations, because this is one of the louder dual-tone Penetrators I've heard, ranking just barely below, if not on par with the P-15 off Locust Corner Road in Clermont County. My meter topped at 118.9 dBC from this, which is only 1.3 dB lower than what I got from Locust Corner. Also, as per usual for dual-tone P-10/15s, this was quite shrill, but it didn't shake the ground a whole lot, although I did feel this one slightly more than Locust Corner, interestingly enough. Anyway, this was probably the biggest siren test meetup I've ever attended, with only Big Island in 2019 and some of the 2021 KS/MO meetups coming close. It was a lot of fun, and certainly one for the books. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal 3T22 Siren Test | 1 Minute Alert | Perrysburg, OH | 5/4/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-22 | Location: On leg of Perrysburg Water Tower
System: Perrysburg
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at 10 AM
Enthusiasts present: Dylan (@xXSo1arGamingXx), Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

Since our good friend Dylan was visiting my place for the first weekend of May, that of course meant that we had to catch some siren tests with him while he was here. We kicked things off by carpooling Alex with us up to Perrysburg for this 3T22, which sounds like it has a stuck damper. In addition to that, it sounds like the rotors might be swapped, which would explain why this particular one sounds so weird compared to other ones with blocked or stuck dampers. It was pretty overcast during this test, and there was even a slight bit of rain, but that thankfully stopped a few minutes before the test. After a couple months of failures in Wood County, we finally got a success with this siren, thus putting an end to our Wood County bad luck streak (technically, Perrysburg is separate from the rest of the county's system, but I'm still counting it). It definitely seems like the stuck damper and swapped rotors on this thing have a pretty drastic effect on the sound output, because this was not that loud at all compared to the other XT22s we've heard, even from underneath. Despite it not being super loud, it still sounded pretty cool in person, and this was definitely a fun test. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(4/5 Port) Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Test | Full Alert | Union Township, OH | 5/1/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-20 | Location: Powderhorn Drive north of Summerside Road
System: Clermont County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the first Wednesday of May, we decided to go back to the C-Series 4/5 in Clermont because it hadn't been filmed since we were last here in January 2022. Another reason for our return here is because Tommy recently got a couple ambiance recordings in Clermont where this siren was audible, and it sounded lower-pitched than before, so we wanted to hear it up close again at this lower pitch. Up close, we noticed that it still has slight pitch fluctuations, much like it did last time we were here. If my memory serves me right, there is apparently some sort of problem with the chopper motor on this unit which has caused it to lose pitch over the last few years. If that is the case, then this 'bolt's days as a 4/5 may be numbered, because they'll likely have to swap the chopper motor at some point.
I'm not sure if it's just because of the lower pitch or if it's the lack of wind, but it seemed a bit louder than I had remembered from last time we were here. I would put this roughly on par with Wapak's 1003 to my ears. It also looks like the trees behind it have grown out a considerable bit over the past couple years. You can even see the horn pushing through the branches as it rotates away. Anyway, it was nice to get an updated recording of this, even though it seems to be slightly sick now. Before this siren starts, some of Hamilton County's T-128s can be heard winding up in the distance. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Sentry 10V2T Siren Test | 1 Minute Alert | Crestline, OH | 4/26/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-20 | Location: Crestline Police and Fire Department
System: Crawford County
Test time: Every Friday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the last Friday of April, we went to this 10V2T in Crestline since it had been a while since its last recording. We filmed this a few years back, but between the wind, our shots being backlit, people walking in front of our cameras, and pretty much every other flaw you can think of, we ended up not uploading those videos. This time around, I set up in a much better spot, and it was a lot less windy, so this video came out miles better than my last attempt of this siren.
So far, this is the only 10V2T I've heard in person, and it's decently punchy. As far as Sentry sirens go, I'd put this right in the middle volume-wise; it's not the loudest, but also not the quietest Sentry we've heard. This doesn't test for as long as some of the other sirens in the county, but I don't mind that terribly. There's not much else I have to say about this test, but I'm definitely glad I finally got a good video of this siren. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Deathbolt Returns From The Dead (Audio) (Not Clickbait) | Full Alert | Charloe, OH | 4/24/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-08 | So, after dodging Paulding County for a few months due to their whole system failing in December, we decided to give them another shot since we heard that they were doing maintenance work on a few of their sirens in early April. We decided to leave our audio recorders at a few sirens throughout the county, including Charloe and Auglaize Township, to see if they had by chance been fixed. We ended up trying the bus depot 'bolt again, because we saw that it had rotated a little bit since the last time we drove by it, but that ended up being the wrong move, because it failed yet again.
After the failure, we drove to retrieve our recorders and see if anything had worked. We saw that Auglaize had not rotated, and a quick listen to the recording confirmed that it didn't do anything, so they must have shut it off for the time being. Once we got to Charloe, we saw that it had rotated, but that didn't mean much since it continued rotating after its "death" in November. As we listened to the recording, I was fully expecting to hear the buzz of the contactor again and nothing else, but then I heard the blower kick on, and unlike in November, it sounded fine now, which surprised me a bit. As we continued listening, Tommy and I were both absolutely dumbfounded once we realized that the chopper was somehow going too. However, this siren doesn't seem to have been fixed; in fact, the chopper now sounds worse than ever before. And the ultimate cherry on top; it skipped cancel tones and went for full alert. At this point, Deathbolt has defied all logic and reasoning, because we were fully convinced it was dead after November 8, but apparently not.
This audio is technically from one of Tommy's recorders, but he let me edit and upload it, so shoutout to him. I ended up putting a compressor effect on it to make the volume more consistent throughout the recording. Anyway, despite the odds, it looks like Deathbolt lives on, at least for a little while longer. Enjoy!

Audio: Sony ICD-PX370
Photos: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80

(Very High-Pitched) Federal Signal 2001-SRNB Siren Test | Full Attack | Batesville, IN | 4/13/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-08 | Location: Batesville High School
System: Batesville
Test time: Every Saturday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Dominic & Jeremy (@SuperSirex127), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Michael (@mysst1c_)

For the second Saturday of April, we decided to carpool Michael with us to meet with Benicio, Dominic, and Jeremy at the last 2001 in Batesville that needed recordings. We had our suspicions that this one was very high-pitched when we noticed it in some ambiance recordings, and we knew we had to check it out soon. I believe this is now the 2nd highest-pitched 2001 on record, just barely behind the one in Canton. It was definitely ear-piercing with the higher pitch, although it honestly wasn't quite as loud as I was expecting. I'd say it's no louder than the 2001-130 in Ada that we recorded in February, and definitely not as loud as the SRNB in Canton. It definitely threw out some sweet echoes though, and I'd say that this was overall a pretty fun test. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Whelen WS-3000 Siren Partial Failure | Boop + Ambiance | Pickerington, OH | 4/10/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-06-08 | Location: Simsbury Park Disc Golf Course
System: Fairfield County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

So, on this rainy and gloomy Wednesday in April, we decided to record this Fairfield County 3000 since it was at a park with a shelter nearby and we hadn't heard a 3000 in a while. The rain ended up stopping a few minutes before noon, but I decided to set up under the shelter anyway just in case it started again. Unfortunately, it sounds like the batteries on this unit are just about done, because it only makes a split second "boop" before immediately cutting off. After that happens, some other Fairfield County Whelens can be heard, as well as a few faint Franklin County units. I was honestly debating on whether this was worth uploading or not, but I decided to upload it mainly for the comedic side of it. I honestly wasn't too upset about this, because I got to eat at my all-time favorite restaurant (Max & Erma's) after the test since we were near Lancaster.

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 Siren Test | Full Alert | Auburn, IN | 4/6/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-05-19 | Location: Hafner Street
System: DeKalb County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

For the first Saturday of April, we decided to carpool Alex and Benicio with us to do another Wood County/Auburn duo. We originally had plans to go elsewhere with our good friend Dylan, but unfortunately, those plans fell through and Dylan wasn't able to make it, so we did this instead. I'll start this off by talking about how the Wood County test went. We tried the 3T22 in Grand Rapids, but a local told us she hadn't heard it for the past few tests, so after debating for a few minutes on what to do, we decided to split up. Tommy and Alex went to the 7V8 just south of town, while Benicio and I decided to stay and risk the 3T22. Clearly, our streak of bad luck with Wood County wasn't quite over yet, because _both_ sirens failed to activate, which means no April Wood County videos from us.
Thankfully, Auburn didn't disappoint. This time, we decided to go to their other properly-wired Thunderbolt. This one rotates at 2 RPM and hits a perfect chopper level 5 pitch. It also throws out some pretty nice reverb due to the buildings around it. This time around, DeKalb County tested within a minute of noon, which was an improvement from the last time we were here. This Thunderbolt is even louder than the north one that we did the month prior, which probably makes sense because this one rotates much slower and it has more buildings in close proximity to it. From my memory, I would say this is about on par with the former Krout Elementary 'bolt in Tiffin, if not a tad bit louder. Throughout the video, the STL-10 and the 8 port Fedelcode from downtown can be heard. The 8 RPM 'bolt on the north side of town can also be heard winding down after this one shuts off. Despite the Wood County bust, I'd say this test definitely made this trip worth it. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Test | Full Alert | Hamilton, OH | 4/3/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-05-16 | Location: St. Ann Catholic Church
System: Butler County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Dominic (@SuperSirex127), Aiden (@golfking99)

For the first Wednesday of April, we carpooled Benicio with us to the southernmost Thunderbolt in the city of Hamilton. This 'bolt is located right by a church, and is ironically just across the street from the address of 666 Hooven Avenue, hence why it has been given the nickname "Satanbolt". Tommy and I have had this one on our record list for a while, especially after getting word that it was apparently louder than properly-wired Tunnelbolt. Initially, I was somewhat skeptical of these claims, but any doubts I had immediately vanished once we finally got to experience this in person. This thing was genuinely loud as absolute hell, and I'm not just saying that as a pun. This is one of the loudest Thunderbolts I have ever heard, probably ranking at 2nd place behind the 6M 1000 in Marshall, MO. It peaked my meter at 124.1 dBC from in front of the church, and it rattled every bone in my body when it faced me. This was definitely a fun test, and I'm glad to have finally crossed Satanbolt off my record list. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

ACA Screamer S-7.5 Siren | Noon Blast | Graettinger, IA | 3/27/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-05-13 | Location: By intersection of Robins Street & Walnut Avenue
System: N/A
Test time: Every day at noon
Enthusiasts present: Dylan (@xXSo1arGamingXx), Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Dan's camera

After the Iowa drill, we decided to head over to Graettinger to catch this unrecorded Screamer for a noon blast. We originally discovered this siren's existence when Dylan left an audio recorder in the middle of town to get an ambiance recording of their 10/12 Banshee last June. As we were listening back to the recording, we immediately noticed an unknown 9 port siren in the ambiance, blasting in perfect sync with the Banshee. Upon hearing this, we were quite confused, as we had no idea Graettinger had another siren that did noon blasts. Our curiosity ended up getting the best of us, so we had to go back into town and see if we could find the mystery 9 port siren we heard. Sure enough, Tommy somehow managed to spot this sucker, completely buried in the trees (it's a lot harder to see in the summer, trust me). It's hidden well enough that if Dylan hadn't gotten that ambiance recording, this thing would likely still be undiscovered.
Now that the leaves were off the trees, it was the perfect time to record this, so we seized the opportunity. Unfortunately, we could only get a backlit shot of this, because getting a front lit shot is not possible due to the trees in the way, but I think the video turned out decent despite that. Dan also put one of his cameras here while he went to the Banshee, which we actually discovered was visible from where we were set up here. I decided to go for a dual shot setup, with one camera facing the Screamer and the other one facing the Banshee way down the road. I also set up my Sony so I would have the Screamer and Banshee in the frame. Unfortunately, the Banshee's rotor must've been frozen from the cold, because the motor only hummed, so I didn't use my distant shot footage of that. Hopefully it works again when it's warm out, because it would really suck if the only known 10/12 port Banshee in existence died. Anyway, this wasn't too loud from where I was set up, although I never got underneath it while it was sounding, so it may have been a lot louder from there.
Interestingly, the controls on this unit are labelled "Banshee 110". In addition to that, the mount for this looks identical to the mount for the 10/12 Banshee just down the road, which leads me to believe there may have been another early Banshee that used to be here, that later on got taken down and replaced with this Screamer. If that is the case, we may never know what happened to the Banshee that was originally here, but it is definitely interesting. Anyway, it was good to finally get video of this, and it was awesome getting to hang out with Dylan again. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(10/12 Port) ACA Allertor 125 Siren SWA Activation | 1 Min. & Full Alert | Emmetsburg, IA | 3/27/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-05-13 | Location: 1st & N Superior Streets
System: Palo Alto County
Test time: Iowa Statewide Tornado Drill
Enthusiasts present: Dylan (@xXSo1arGamingXx), Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Dan (@Siren1000T1), Connor F. (@MidwestSirenProductions), Sam (@Snowcube), Mikey (@mnsirens), Dalton (@NoisySirens)

After making the trip to Iowa the day prior, we decided to carpool Dylan with us to record the 10/12 Allertor in Emmetsburg for the statewide tornado drill. It was very cold, with wind chills around 8°F at the time of the drill, but Tommy and I had been wanting to hear this siren for a long time prior to this, so we weren't gonna let the cold stop us. We ended up meeting with a lot more enthusiasts than we were originally anticipating, including Dan from Michigan, which was awesome! With so many people here, setup spots were becoming limited, and this unfortunately led to Sam's camera inadvertently being subjected to execution via truck just a mere 3 minutes before the test. If there is a lesson to be learned from this, it is: be mindful of where you set up your equipment at sirens.
Anyway, once 10 AM rolled around, tones started coming through, and this beast roared to life. However, it quickly got caught on some tree branches and had a very hard time rotating past them. On top of that, it wound down after only a minute of alert, which left us quite disappointed. Right after the drill, a police officer happened to be driving by, and Dylan decided he'd try asking if they could sound them again for 3 minutes. The officer told him that they'd see what they can do, so we decided to keep recording just in case. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, the sirens started up again and went for a proper 3 minutes! It also finally managed to get past the tree branches, although it only managed to make 2 full rotations.
Many people have previously said that this siren was extremely loud, much like the one in Cedar Falls. However, if I'm being completely honest, I didn't think this was any louder than New Hampton's 10/12 was. In fact, I actually thought New Hampton was slightly louder than this, if my memory serves me right. Not only that, but Dylan and Mikey, who previously heard this one back in 2021, both said it was significantly louder the first time they heard it. I believe this is due to debris getting into the compression chamber and restricting the air flow on this unit, and there is evidence to support this. For starters, the intake screen is missing, and with it being right next to a tree, branches can easily go into the intake and interfere with the chopper. On top of that, it is higher pitched than it used to be, and the wind-down is slower (compare to this video: youtube.com/watch?v=pZwrw5FQYjI). This would also explain why it makes a slight ratcheting sound on the first wind-up. In any case, it would be awesome if they trimmed the tree next to this siren back a good bit and cleared any debris out of the horn so this thing could run at its full potential again. Overall, this was quite the eventful meetup, and despite the cold and some things not going as anticipated, it was still awesome to experience this siren in person. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(8 Port) Federal Electric Model 5 Siren | Noon Blast | Walkerton, IN | 3/26/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-05-13 | Location: 408 Michigan Street
System: N/A
Test time: Every day at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

On our way to Iowa for their statewide tornado drill, we decided to stop by this 8 port Model 5 in Walkerton, Indiana for a noon blast. The weather here was pretty gloomy and windy, but thankfully, it wasn't raining like the forecast was originally predicting. The wind also held off for most of the test, so our footage wasn't too shaky. Based on the wind-up and wind-down of this unit, I'm guessing this one has a steel rotor, but I could be wrong. It definitely wasn't the loudest Model 5/7 I've heard, although the 8 port tone rumbled the ground a decent bit. Overall, this wasn't a super eventful test, but it was cool to hear an 8 port variant of one of these in person. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren SWA Activation | Full Alert | Orrville, OH | 3/20/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-04-02 | Location: Secret Park
System: Orrville
Test time: 1st Monday of the month at noon (SWA-October)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Eric (@theericfreeze4498)

Since we had discovered that the Thunderbolt at Secret Park in Orrville was online again, we decided to try it for the statewide tornado drill since it would be sounding for full alert, as opposed to their usual 10 second blasts for tests. We were joined by a local enthusiast, who lives practically right next to this siren. It was pretty windy on this day, but thankfully, the trees shielded a good chunk of the wind, and it didn't seem to really pick up until after the drill was over. If my memory serves me right, this one is probably about on par with the 1003 at the Paulding County Fairgrounds. I really wish this unit had a decent agastat delay, but aside from that, this year's drill was a good one in my book. After the 'bolt shuts off, you can hear numerous sirens from Wayne County's system continuing for a couple minutes after. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Sentry 7V8 Siren Test | 1.5 Minute Attack | Gilboa, OH | 3/16/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-31 | Location: Behind Gilboa Municipal Building
System: Putnam County
Test time: Every Saturday at noon (fire sirens), 2nd Monday of the month at 10 AM (tornado sirens)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Dominic & Jeremy (@SuperSirex127), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Michael (@mysst1c_), Eli (@MonkeyFilmProductions)

A couple weeks ago, we met up with several other enthusiasts at this brand-new 7V8 in Gilboa, which was recently installed by C&K Early Warning Systems to replace their Model 7. It was very windy on this Saturday, which made my shots rather shaky, even with image stabilization turned on, but I was able to apply some extra stabilization in editing, which worked out decently. Aside from the wind, it was actually pretty nice out, and the blue sky contrasts with the siren quite nicely. Much like the other 7V8s I've heard, it had a decent punch, although nowhere near the loudest I've heard. The timing for the capacitor on the wind-down should probably be adjusted so it drops off a little later, because it currently drops right between cycles of attack. After the test, Dominic claimed he couldn't hear the Champion on the north side of town, so I'm not sure if it failed or if this siren was just drowning it out. Anyway, this was a pretty fun test, despite the wind. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

ACA P-15 Siren Test | Full Alert | Pierce Township, OH | 3/13/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-24 | Location: 1096 Locust Corner Road
System: Clermont County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon (under normal circumstances)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Dominic & Jeremy (@SuperSirex127)

After the system-wide FSK failure in Clermont on the first Wednesday, we saw on their Facebook EMA page that they'd be retesting the following week, so of course, we had to seize the opportunity. We decided to meet with Dominic and Jeremy at the Locust Corner P-15 since Tommy still hadn't heard it in person and I wanted a more clear shot of it. When I was last here about 2 years ago, it wound up a bit slower than usual and peaked at a slightly lower pitch. This time around, however, it wound up lightning fast just as it should and peaked at its proper pitch again. It seems to wind up slower when it's running on the generator next to it, which leads me to believe it's getting 480 volts from the main power, while the generator isn't supplying quite as much power as it usually gets.
I'm not sure if I had just forgotten how loud this was, or if it was because of the slight increase in speed, but I swear this thing seemed a tad bit louder than it did last time I was here. I'd say it's probably about on par with Batavia's Allertor, but it's a bit more shrill. Much like last time, however, I barely felt the vibrations from this thing, even when standing on a bit on an incline. In fact, this one probably shook me the least out of all the 9/12 ACA sirens I've been to. Despite that, it did manage to hit 120.2 dBC on my meter. Anyway, I'd say this video turned out pretty good, and I'm glad we were able to still catch a Clermont test this month despite their issues the week prior to this. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Model 7 Siren | Noon Blast | Ossian, IN | 3/12/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-23 | Location: Ossian Fire Department
System: Ossian
Test time: Every day at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

After the Indiana drill, we decided to catch this very healthy Model 7 in Ossian for a noon blast. Ossian has this siren, a Model 2 (which also does noon blasts), and a T-128. The wind had definitely picked up between Fort Wayne and here. I was honestly debating on whether to upload this or not, as my shot kept drifting to where the siren got really close to the top of the frame, and the wind didn't help with that. In the end though, I decided to upload it anyway and just use the wide-shot during the more shaky parts of the video, which is why it's on the wide-shot for a good chunk of the wind-down. The blast was very short for us, with it only reaching peak-pitch for about a second. We did run up to it as it was sounding, but it wound down a few seconds before we could get right under it. It definitely seemed loud from under though, with my meter topping at 124.6 dBC if I recall correctly. We might have to come back here at some point on a less windy day and stand under it the whole time to know for sure how loud it is from under. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Whelen WS-2000-16 Siren SWA Activation | 1 Minute Fast Wail | Fort Wayne, IN | 3/12/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-19 | Location: Georgetown Entertainment
System: Allen County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

Last week, we decided to head over to Indiana for their statewide tornado drill. We were originally planning on doing Muncie since we had gotten word that they would be sounding their sirens for the drill, but after hearing that it was just going to be their typical 20 second test, we diverted to this 2000 in Fort Wayne. This one has a pre-864 cabinet, and it is the only siren in the system that does fast wail. I must say, this was a little louder than I was anticipating, but it still wasn't too loud. It was somewhat windy at this time, so the main shot does shake a bit at a few points in the video, but it's definitely not the worst wind I've dealt with at a siren.
After this siren winds down, a few 2001s can be heard winding down, and if you listen closely, you might be able to make out a mystery Model 2 that continues for about 5 minutes after the other sirens shut off. I've looked at several different siren maps for both Allen County and Indiana as a whole, and I have not seen a Model 2 near this area marked on any of them. In person, it sounded like it was coming from the southwest. I have a suspicion that the Model 2 is owned by a factory or something like that, and runs separately from Allen County's system. I'll have to do some searching around to see what I can find, but if anyone knows anything about the Model 2 we heard, please let me know in the comments. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren SWA Activation | 1 Minute Alert | Frankfort, KY | 3/6/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-16 | Location: Thorn Hill Education Center
System: Franklin County
Test time: 1st Monday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

So, we decided to head down to Kentucky for their statewide tornado drill again this year. We settled on one of Frankfort's 'bolts this time, and we carpooled Alex and Benicio with us. Unfortunately, the weather was nothing like we were hoping for, but at least there was no severe weather threat, so they still went through with the drill, thankfully. In all honesty, I was pretty disappointed by the 1 minute alert cycle, as we were hoping they'd do 3 minutes of attack like they do for tornado warnings. On the bright side, I do think my videos came out pretty decent, all things considered. After this, we went to the Banshee in Clermont County, but unfortunately, their FSK tone-out wasn't working, which caused a good chunk of their system (including the Banshee) to not sound. Needless to say, this day definitely did not go like we were hoping, but at least we got something out of it.

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

American Signal T-121 Siren Test | Full Alert | Wilberforce, OH | 3/4/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-14 | Location: 3rd Avenue at Central State University
System: Greene County
Test time: 1st Monday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the first Monday this month, we decided to check out this T-121 on Central State University campus. This was technically our second time hearing a T-121 in person, however, the first one we heard took a crap on us, so this was our first healthy one. It vibrated the ground a decent bit, even from where I was set up, and it definitely felt louder to my ears than the T-112 in Pleasant Hill did. I don't really have much else to say about this test, other than we heard the campus emergency system testing as we were packing up. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 Siren Test | Full Alert | Auburn, IN | 3/2/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-10 | Location: 2202 Main Street
System: DeKalb County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

For the first Saturday this month, we decided to carpool Alex and Benicio with us to a couple siren tests. The first one was an Eclipse 8 in Wood County, which ended up failing on us, but afterwards, we went over to Indiana for this awesome 1003 in Auburn. This one is on chopper level 5, and it spins at 8 RPM. They were a few minutes late with testing, which did have me somewhat concerned, but thankfully, they started toning out about 4 minutes after noon. This one was honestly louder than I was expecting. I'd say it was at least on par with, if not slightly louder than Wapak's 1003, and it rattled the ground pretty good. It hit 125.4 dBC on my meter, which I do think is higher than it should be, but it was damn loud nonetheless. It also threw out some epic echoes off the buildings across the street from it. Overall, I'd say this definitely made up for the failure we had earlier in the day, and I'd love to hear some of Auburn's other 'bolts at some point. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Fedelcode Model 5 Siren Test | 1 Minute Alert | Belle Center, OH | 2/23/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-09 | Location: Richland Township Fire Department
System: Logan County
Test time: Every Friday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the last Friday of the month, we decided to re-record Belle Center's Fedelcode since it was a nice sunny day and we both wanted better videos of it. A few minutes before the test, one of the guys from the fire department told us the siren would be going off for 3 minutes, but it seemed as though he was mistaken, because it only went for the usual 1 minute. Thankfully though, that was still enough time for us to get a refresher on how loud it is, and I can confirm that this is definitely still the loudest Model 5/7 I've heard from under. My meter topped at 130.6 dBC this time around, and it rumbled the hell out of the ground and our bodies just as we had remembered. Anyway, I believe this is the first sunny video of this siren, and I'm pretty happy with how it came out. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal 2001-130 Siren Test | Full Alert | Ada, OH | 2/21/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-08 | Location: 115 Simon Court
System: Ada
Test time: 3rd Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the third Wednesday of February, we decided to record this 2001 in Ada. Ada has 3 2001s, 2 of which are on the Ohio Northern University system, which tests on first Wednesdays at noon. This one, on the other hand, is owned and operated by the city of Ada. It seems as though it was manually activated on this day, because a police officer went over to where the siren was just before it activated, and then he got back in his car and drove off just after it wound up. Anyway, this was definitely one of the louder 2001s I've heard, and it punched pretty good when it faced us.
It was rather windy during this test, and I forgot to turn on image stabilization in camera, so I had to apply some stabilization in post. The shake is still pretty noticeable at times, but there's not much else I can do about that. After this, we went to a Paulding County T-128, which ended up failing, but at least their tone-out worked this time around, so that's an improvement.

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(Analog) Whelen WPS-4004 Siren Test | 20 Second Alert x2 | Westerville, OH | 2/14/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-05 | Location: Westerville Fire Department
System: Franklin County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the second Wednesday of February, we went to this analog 4004 in Westerville. We had originally planned on doing a Miami/Paulding County duo, but we found out the hard way that Piqua doesn't test in the winter, and since we were still unsure about Paulding after their system-wide failures in December, we decided not to risk another failure with them, so we came here instead. Tommy and I both filmed this back in 2015, but we decided we wanted to get better videos of it, and since it was nice and sunny, we decided today was the perfect day to do just that. Anyway, I forgot how loud this one was. It's definitely on the louder side of Whelens I've heard (117.3 dBC), and it vibrated the ground and our chests pretty good when it faced us on the wind-down. This was the Whelen that started the big hunt for the dual-tone 4004 (which can be heard in this video at times) back in 2015-16, and it's nice to see it still going strong after all these years. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(4/5 Port) Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Test | Full Alert | Pierce Township, OH | 2/7/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-03 | Location: Pond Run Road & Crooked Creek Lane
System: Clermont County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens)

For the first Wednesday of last month, we carpooled Benicio with us to the Thunderbolt at Pond Run since he's been really wanting to hear it in person. The original plan was to let him record this while we record the Banshee nearby, but we ended up sticking around here since I still wasn't satisfied with my previous video of it, and we wanted to make up for the Thunderbolt that failed on us the Monday prior to this. In my opinion, it was well worth it, because this Thunderbolt is always a treat to experience, and I honestly forgot just how loud it was. This time, we walked up the incline on Crooked Creek Lane while it was sounding, and it managed to spike up to 122.3 dBC on my meter from the top of the hill, which is higher than the other 2 times I've been here. This has definitely reinforced its spot in the top 10 loudest 'bolts I've heard, and Benicio said it's one of the loudest he's heard as well! I also think this video came out much better than my last video of it, especially the wide shot. I might eventually try getting a more front lit shot of this during a summer month, but this video satisfies me for the time being, so that probably won't be for a few more years. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal STH-10 Siren Test | 30 Second Alert | Lansing, MI | 2/3/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-03-01 | Location: Michigan State Capitol
System: Ingham County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at 1 PM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

For the third and final test from the first Saturday, we decided to record this absurdly low-mounted STH-10 in Lansing. This thing is less than 10 feet off the ground; in fact, it is so low that you can literally jump up and touch it if you're tall enough. Of course, with it being as low as it is, this was definitely the loudest test of the day. My meter topped at 129.8 dBC as I stood right next to it, and I could feel my whole entire body rumbling, including my head! I would say that this is by far the loudest STH-10 I've ever heard, but it has such an unfair advantage that I probably won't even count it. It is also surrounded by buildings, so the reverb in the area is insane! Despite this test being so short, it was absolutely epic, and it was definitely worth the trip to experience it in person. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbeam RSH-10 (Fast Reflector) | Full Alert | Pleasant Lake, MI | 2/3/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-02-26 | Location: Henrietta Township Fire Department
System: Jackson County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains), Rylan (@WolverineStateSirens), Joseph (@VintageCollections), Connor W. (@Blixt1000), Nolan (@southeastmichiganeas5820), Caden (@cadenwilliamwilliams8827)

After Haskins, we went up to Michigan to check out this meme of a Thunderbeam in Pleasant Lake, and ended up meeting with several other enthusiasts there. This one has had a messed up reflector disc since at least 2020, but in March of 2022, it decided to pull a Spartanburg and it started spinning much faster than normal. This is most likely due to the gearbox running low on oil and starting to seize, which causes the disc to spin with the chopper. It took a moment to get going this time around, but it did eventually manage to get up to about 30 RPM. This is also a single phase unit, and it doesn't sound the healthiest, as it's a bit lower pitched than normal and it has some minor pitch fluctuations. Despite that, it was damn loud (128.9 dBC from underneath), and there actually was a noticeable difference in volume between when the reflector was facing away versus facing towards us. Of course, it isn't as drastic as on something like a Thunderbolt or 2001, but I'd say it's at least a solid 6 dB of difference, if not more. Anyway, this was an awesome test, and it was pretty fun to see a Thunderbeam spin this fast in person, even though it's not as fast as the one in Spartanburg. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Sterling Model M Siren Test | 45 Second Alert | Haskins, OH | 2/3/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-02-17 | Location: Middleton Township Fire Department Station 1
System: Wood County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at 10 AM, every day at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Alex (@SteelCitySirensandTrains)

For the first Saturday this month, we decided to carpool Alex with us to this healthy Sterling in Haskins. Tommy and I recorded this one back in June of 2021, but we never got really close to it then. This time, however, we went right under it while it was sounding, and it was definitely ear-splitting. This is definitely one of the loudest Sterlings I have heard. Alex and I decided to take a gamble and set up at the park just across the railroad, which thankfully paid off, since no trains came through during the test. I used my FZ80 for this one since it appears a bit brighter than the SX60. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Whelen WPS-2910 Siren Test | 20 Second Alert x2 | New Albany, OH | 1/31/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-02-02 | Location: 14461 Worthington Road
System: Franklin County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

On Wednesday this week, we decided to go to this fairly new 2910 that was installed in Franklin County in April of last year. This was installed on the outskirts of the system to fill a coverage gap. We've had this on our radar for a bit, but we never really got around to recording it until now. If I'm being honest, this wasn't quite as loud as I was anticipating. From underneath, it was maybe about as loud as an average Vortex or 4004 at best, but from a distance, it didn't seem as loud. Nonetheless, this is probably still the loudest omnidirectional Whelen I've heard. Overall, this was pretty much just like any other Franklin County siren test, aside from this being an omni, of course. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Whelen Vortex R4 Siren Test | 30 Second Alert | Pleasantville, OH | 1/24/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-30 | Location: Pleasantville Park
System: Fairfield County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

This past Wednesday, we decided to record one of Fairfield County's sirens. We settled on this Vortex in Pleasantville since there was a shelter at the park where we could shield our cameras from the rain. Because the playground was right between the shelter and the siren, we were very limited in the spots we could set up, and I had to thread the needle pretty tight to pull off this shot. Thankfully, it worked out well, and our equipment didn't get too wet.
This Whelen has an older ESC-2020 controller with the 435 Hz glitch. It wasn't too loud from where we were standing, but I still felt it vibrate the ground a bit. It topped at 110.9 dBC on my meter from about 250-300 feet away. Overall, there wasn't anything really special about this test, but it was nice to record a siren again after it being ungodly cold the past couple weeks before this. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Equinox Siren Test | Full Alert | Ottawa, OH | 1/8/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-22 | Location: Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery
System: Putnam County
Test time: Every Saturday at noon (fire sirens), 2nd Monday of the month at 10 AM (tornado sirens)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the second Wednesday this month, we decided to go to this Equinox in Ottawa for the Putnam County tornado siren test. This Equinox was installed to replace the Model 2 next to it about 10 years ago. They were about 10 minutes late with testing on this day, but they thankfully started up shortly after we called the county. This one packed a pretty good punch, topping at 117.3 dBC on my meter. It was about on par with the one in New Carlisle to my ears. The STH about a mile away from this siren can be heard at some points throughout the test, and if you listen real closely, you might even be able to make out the Sterling in Pandora way in the distance after this winds down. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Test | Full Alert | Union Township, OH | 1/3/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-11 | Location: Union Township Fire Department Station 50
System: Clermont County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the first Wednesday of 2024, we decided to return to Station 50 since Tommy had yet to hear it from in front of the lean and I wanted to get a refresher on it. We were waiting for a sunny day to come back here, and despite the forecast formerly calling for overcast weather, it cleared up and ended up being the perfect sunny day I was hoping for. Anyway, they tested right on the dot this month, and this thing was insanely loud just as I had remembered (124.5 dBC on my meter). I set up in the grass right in front of the lean, and it overloaded almost all my mics, with the exception of the H1n, and it even managed to visibly rattle my Lumix and PowerShot on the wind-down! After refreshing my memory on this one, I'd say it ranks at 2nd place on my loudest 'bolts list, with the 6M 1000 in Marshall, MO still holding the top spot. I'm convinced this is the loudest 'bolt in the state, and I think it is definitely worth checking out for any enthusiasts near the area on a first Wednesday. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Fedelcode Model 5 Siren | Noon Blast | Sheldon, IL | 1/2/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-10 | Location: Sheldon Village Fire Department
System: N/A
Test time: Every day at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

On our way back home from Bismarck, we decided to catch this Fedelcode in Sheldon for a noon blast. This one goes off for nearly 30 second, which is pretty long for a noon blast. We were expecting this to be pretty loud from underneath, but it actually wasn't quite as loud as I was anticipating. My meter hit around 117-118 dBC from underneath as it was sounding, but it jumped up to 125.3 as it started to wind down. It was still pretty punchy from under, but nowhere near the loudest 5/7 we've heard. In any case, we haven't heard a whole lot of Fedelcodes, so it was cool to hear this one, even though it only went for 30 seconds. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 Siren Test | Full Alert | Bismarck, IL | 1/2/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-09 | Location: Village of Bismarck Maintenance Garage
System: Vermilion County
Test time: 1st Tuesday of the month at 10 AM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

Since we had nothing better to do and we wanted to start the new year strong, we decided to drive 4.5 hours over to Bismarck, Illinois for this epic 1003. This particular 'bolt is nicknamed "The Screaming Eagle" by the city workers. It has some very slight pitch fluctuations, but they're minor enough that I wouldn't consider it sick. This one has some pretty crazy acoustics with all the buildings surrounding it, making this one extremely loud. This is easily the loudest 1003 I've heard to date, and it is definitely in the top 10 loudest 'bolts I've heard in general. The way it echoes off the brick building next to it reminds me a lot of the way the 1000T at Noble Elementary in Tiffin echoed off of the houses next to it. That echo alone managed to hit around 118 dBC on my meter, and it topped at about 124.4 when I stood in front of that brick building. It also wound down and stopped facing directly at me, which rattled the ground, as well as every bone in my body like crazy! The vibrations were comparable to the low-pitched 1003 in Mitchell, Iowa. After this siren shuts off, you can faintly hear Rossville's 4004 and T-128 doing fast wail, and possibly even Potomac's 10V in alert *way* in the distance if you listen real close.
I was originally going to use my SX60 footage for the tight shot because my FZ80 wasn't framed very well, but I really liked the colors on the FZ80 footage, so I decided to see if I could rotate and crop it without the horn cutting out of frame, and to my surprise, it worked out, so I went with the FZ80. I'm pretty happy with how the video looks now, and in my opinion, this was worth the drive. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

American Signal RM-127 Siren Test | Full Alert & Weird Attack | Kettering, OH | 1/1/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-07 | Location: Montessori School of Dayton
System: Kettering
Test time: 1st Monday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For our first siren test of 2024, we recorded this awesome RM in Kettering. We originally had a different target in mind, but we couldn't find any convenient set up spots, so we diverted to here. Since it was New Year's Day, school wasn't in session, which meant it was a great time to do this one, especially since it was a month where they do a full 3 minutes of each signal. They tested pretty much right on time this month, with this siren starting up within 30 seconds of noon. After the alert signal, there was a long pause. I was starting to worry that they weren't going to do attack, but after about 90 seconds of waiting, they finally started up in attack. After about a minute of attack, it seemed like the siren was shutting off, but then it wound back up and continued for a few more cycles. This erratic attack signal continued for the remainder of the test until the sirens finally shut off for real. Kettering's tests have been rather strange lately, and this might be the weirdest test I've seen from them so far. Anyway, weirdness aside, this thing was definitely punchy (topped at 120.9 dBC on my meter), and it threw out some insane echoes, which was awesome to experience in person! A few other RMs can also be heard throughout the video, including the 3-phase one at Polen Farm that we recorded back in October of 2022. Also, SOMEBODY *coughTommycough* left their scanner on right next to the cameras, so I apologize if you hear that in the background throughout the test. There was also an event going on at the church behind us, so some music from there can be heard occasionally.
On another note, this was the first year since 2021 where we started the year off with a success, so hopefully that's a sign that this will be a good year. Overall, this was an epic test, and I'm glad we came here this month. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Sign & Signal Model J and Vibratone 350 A1 | New Year Soundoffs (+ Model 7 Spin-Up) | 1/1/24

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-06 | So, Tommy (@buckeyenotifications) and I decided to ring in the new year the only way we know how: sirens and alarms! Of course, I had my Model J, and I also used my series A1 Vibratone 350 horn with a projector attachment from Tommy's Autocall rebrand of the same horn. I had the Vibratone hooked up to an Arduino relay module that I programmed to do code 4-4-4-4. As that was going, I blasted the Model J in a short alert followed by attack. Tommy had also brought his Edwards Adaptabel, but he forgot the plug plate for it on his Adaptahorn, so we couldn't sound that unfortunately. After we were done with the Vibratone and the Model J, we decided to end it by giving the Model 7 a brief hand spin-up.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the video, and we have some exciting stuff planned this year, so stay tuned for that! I hope you all have an amazing 2024 ahead!

Federal Signal Equinox Siren Partial Failure | Rotation & Ambiance | Lancaster, OH | 12/27/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-06 | Location: Quarry Road SE by E Main Street
System: Fairfield County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the final Wednesday of 2023, we decided to record a siren in Fairfield County. We were originally planning on filming a Whelen, but we decided to stop by some of the new Equinoxes to see if any were hooked up yet, and we honestly weren't expecting that to be the case, but as we drove by this one, we saw that the horn was facing a different way and the disconnect switch was in the "on" position, so we decided to give it a shot. Of course, that turned out to be the wrong choice, as the chopper never activated, but at least we got an ambiance. I'm not sure if the chopper just isn't hooked up yet, or if it somehow already blew a fuse. We stopped by the other 2 unrecorded Equinoxes in Lancaster after this, and of course, none of those seemed to be active yet. I'm a little annoyed that they haven't gotten these hooked up yet, because they've been here for at least 2 1/2 years now. Also, I got a new camera (Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80) for Christmas, and this was the first test I've used it at, but between tripod troubles and getting used to the camera, that footage didn't turn out too great, so I stuck with the SX60 for this one.

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal 2T22 Siren | Noon Blast | New Bavaria, OH | 12/20/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-06 | Location: New Bavaria Fire Department
System: Possibly Henry County pager
Test time: Week days at noon, possibly 1st Thursday of the month at 6 PM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Benicio (@CentralOHSirens)

So, we decided to go back to New Bavaria with Benicio since he had yet to hear it and this was one of the closest nooners to our main target. The video came out pretty dark due to clouds coming through and blocking the sun for part of the video, but I turned up the exposure in post to make it look a little better. I set up on the opposite side of the fire department from where I was last time, and I honestly thought it seemed a bit quieter from here. My meter only got up to 102 dBC, and it seemed pretty tolerable even without hearing protection. From this side, you can also see that one of the projectors is damaged, which most likely happened during a storm. After this, we went to the 'bolt in Briceton, but the county ended up not testing due to ongoing radio issues, so we're going to steer clear of Paulding County for a little while. At least we got something on this day, so it wasn't a total wasted trip.

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Sentry 3V8 Siren Test | Full Alert | Tiro, OH | 12/15/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2024-01-06 | Location: Tiro-Auburn Volunteer Fire Department
System: Crawford County
Test time: Every Friday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the third Friday of December, we decided to try this 3V8 in Tiro since it was a nice sunny day out and it hadn't been recorded in about 4 years. This one has the numbers "1898" painted on the side, which I assume is when the town was founded. We originally attempted this back in July of 2021, but the county cancelled the test that day due to an emergency call right at noon (although Crestline still tested that day, strangely enough). This video turned out much better than my 2021 video of this would have, though, so I'm actually glad it worked out the way it did. Anyway, this one winds up a lot quicker than the other 3V8s we've been to, probably in part because it's newer. It is also the loudest 3V8 I've heard so far. My meter hit 126.2 dBC from underneath, and it actually had a decent bite to it. To my ears, it felt pretty similar to the Screamer S-2 in Meeker from underneath. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how this video turned out, and I'm glad we finally got a successful recording of this siren. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

New Acquisition (2,000 Subscriber Special)

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-31 | So, this is a video I've been meaning to make for quite some time, but hadn't gotten around to until now. I am treating this as my 2,000 subscriber special since I'm not sure what else to do for it. Anyway, Tommy and I acquired this from the Middle Point Fire Department back on May 26 about 2 weeks after we originally discovered it on the ground behind the station. We technically co-own this siren, but we agreed to store it in the barn at my house for the time being. The guys at the fire station gave us a hand with loading this thing onto the trailer, so huge thanks to them. Based on the tag, this particular unit was made sometime between 1955 and 1958. I do have plans to refurbish this thing at some point, although I have no idea when that'll be. We will need 3 phase power to run it, so it's going to be a while before we're able to sound it off at my house, but I'm hoping we can get that worked out eventually. Also, sorry for all the cuts in the middle, I'm not entirely used to talking in my videos and I had a lot of moments where my brain wasn't working, so bear with me. Aside from that, I hope you all enjoy the video, and once again, thank you all for 2,000 subscribers!

ACA P-15 Siren Test | Full Alert | Summerside, OH | 12/6/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-30 | Location: Union Township Fire Station #49
System: Clermont County
Test time: 1st Wednesday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the first Wednesday this month, we went to this P-15 near the Eastgate Mall in Clermont County. We've had this unit on our radar for a while now, but we hadn't gotten around to recording it until now. It had been nearly a year since I last heard a 9/12 port Penetrator, and this certainly gave me a nice reminder as to how shrill these things are. They definitely don't shake the ground as much as some other sirens, but they sure do have a hell of a bite. This particular one hit 119.1 dBC on my meter, and it felt about on par with the one off of Locust Corner Road to my ears if my memory serves me right. It was probably slightly louder than the one off of Concord Road, but not quite as loud as the one in Montello, WI. Anyway, this one had a collapsed intake back in 2018, but it was fixed not too long ago. It is also a single-phase unit, as indicated by the wind-up. Overall, this was an awesome test, and it was nice to hear another one of these after not hearing any for the majority of 2023. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

American Signal RM-127 Siren Test | 1.5 Minute Attack (+ Ambiance) | Kettering, OH | 12/4/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-29 | Location: 387 W David Road
System: Kettering
Test time: 1st Monday of the month at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the first Monday this month, we decided to try this slightly slower-running RM in Kettering. This particular one only has one other recording, probably because it is in a rather weird spot which isn't the most convenient to record, but we managed to pull it off thankfully. The only other video of this unit was from when they accidentally did 2 alerts instead of alert and attack like usual, which meant that until now, there were no videos of this one doing attack. Unfortunately, it seems like they only did attack this month for some reason, but at least it was the signal that wasn't recorded yet. It does seem like this one is just a tad bit sick, as it runs a bit slower than the other RMs and it seemed to drop in pitch a bit as it was running in alert in the first recording, although it's definitely not as bad as the one at the church on the northwest side of the system. Despite running slightly slower, it is still just as punchy as most other RMs I've heard, and my meter topped at 116.8 dBC.
It was pretty overcast on this day, but that actually worked in my favor because my shot would've been completely backlit if the sun was out. Before and after this siren is sounding, various sirens can be heard in the distance, which include some 2001s, T-128s, and even the 2T22 from Miamisburg if you listen closely. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Enterprises Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Activation | 1 Minute Alert | Wampum, PA | 12/2/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-20 | Location: By corner of Appleway and Orchard Street
System: N/A
Test time: Not regularly tested, but sounded for the local Christmas parade and fire calls
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), @therailcat9790

For the first Saturday this month, we decided to make the trip over to Pennsylvania to hear this absurdly high-pitched 6M 1000 in Wampum sound off for their local Christmas parade. Upon setting up, we noticed there was a younger enthusiast here also filming the siren. At first, you might be tempted to assume that the blower on this one is reverse-wired due to the high pitch, but that is actually not the case, which means this is quite possibly the highest pitched properly wired Thunderbolt still in service. This one is also a very early production model, and it probably has a bar grille behind the custom-made grille at the front of the horn. If that is the case, that would make this the first jailbar Thunderbolt we've heard in person.
Of course, with it being as high pitched as it is, it doesn't really rattle the ground like most other Thunderbolts do. However, every ounce of intensity lost in vibrations goes straight to the ears instead. This is easily the most shrill-sounding Thunderbolt I've ever been to, and it definitely makes my top 10 loudest 'bolts in general. It was honestly rather painful when it faced my direction, and my meter topped at 120.7 dBC. Also, about 10 minutes or so after the test, as we were packing up and getting ready to leave, this thing went off again for what I can only assume was a fire call, as there were some fire engines rushing down the highway right after. Before this, we tried recording the SD-10 in Washingtonville, Ohio for a noon blast, but it never went off unfortunately, although I think this experience made up for that. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal 2001-SRNB Siren Test | 30 Second Alert | Franklin Township, OH | 11/29/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-19 | Location: Clay Memorial Lutheran Church
System: Richland County
Test time: Last Wednesday of the month at 4 PM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

After Marne, we decided to head up to Richland County to try one of their 2001s. There is a ton of conflicting information on whether Richland tests 4th Wednesdays or last Wednesdays, which definitely causes confusion during months with 5 Wednesdays. We actually tried Richland the week prior to this, as we got word they would be testing that day, but they never went off, and a call to sheriff confirmed they'd be testing the next week instead. If you want to try a siren in Richland County, I would advise you do it during a month with only 4 Wednesdays to avoid confusion.
Anyway, this is a good time of the year to do a Richland County test since the sun is lower in the sky and it gives that nice golden lighting. This one is a bit lower pitched, but other than that, the experience was pretty much just like any other 2001. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Whelen Vortex R4 Siren Test (ft. Tommy Shooting Hoops) | 1 Minute Alert | Marne, OH | 11/29/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-17 | Location: Madison Township Fire Department - Station 100
System: Licking County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the last Wednesday of November, we decided to record this rather interesting Vortex in Licking County. For starters, this one appears to be mounted about 50 feet off the ground on a skinny tower-like structure, but perhaps the most interesting thing about this siren is the fact that there's a basketball hoop attached to the same tower that the siren is mounted on, and for that reason, we've nicknamed this siren the "Basketball Vortex". With that being said, Tommy had the idea to try scoring a basket while the siren was sounding, which I have shown in the video. Surprisingly, it only took him 2 shots to make a basket, despite the fact he never plays basketball lol.
For some reason, they only tested for a minute on this day rather than the full 3 that they usually do, so I'm not too sure what that was all about. Anyway, this wasn't too loud to the ears, as you can probably tell from how much background sound could be heard over it (albeit there was a busy highway less than 100 feet behind where we were set up). I could, however, feel the vibrations from this one a pretty good bit, which I know is typical of Whelens, but that was especially the case with this one. After this shuts off, you might be able to make out a few other Vortexes, the Thunderbolt 1000 from downtown Newark, and a Thunderbeam or two. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(Analog) Whelen WPS-4004 Siren Test | 20 Second Alert x2 | Harrisburg, OH | 11/22/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-14 | Location: 1062 School Street
System: Franklin County
Test time: Every Wednesday at noon
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Michael (@mysst1c_), Eli (@MonkeyFilmProductions), Urijah (@fortecstar3)

So, we first discovered that this Whelen was an analog back in January of this year when Tommy placed an audio recorder not too far from it, and we've had it on our radar ever since, but hadn't gotten around to filming it until this point. We got word that a few other enthusiasts would be here for the test on the fourth Wednesday, so we figured we might as well join them and get this out of the way. As you can probably tell, this one does lean a pretty noticeable amount, although it's definitely not the worst I've seen. Anyway, much like most other analog Whelens I've heard, this thing was quite punchy. My meter topped at 119.2 dBC, and I'd say it's probably about on par with the one at McCoy Park if my memory serves me right. It vibrated the ground pretty good when it faced me during the wind-down. After this shuts off, you can faintly hear one of Pickaway County's Vortexes doing full alert. All in all, aside from the cold, this was a fun test. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Failure with Ambiance | Paulding, OH | 11/15/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-13 | Location: By Circle K off of W Gasser Road
System: Paulding County
Test time: Every Wednesday at 1 PM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

So, we decided to try this 1000T at the bus garage by the gas station on the north side of Paulding for the third Wednesday of November since it was the last Thunderbolt in the county we had yet to hear, but as you can probably tell, that didn't go as planned. It ended up failing the test entirely, making this the third siren in the county that doesn't work properly. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pretty disappointed by this, especially since this was more or less our second failure in a row, but at least the ambiance is pretty good, which is why I'm still uploading it. The 3T22 (which sounds like the top damper has been fixed), the 1003 at the fairgrounds, and both 1000s can be heard throughout the video. Interestingly enough, the low-pitched 1000 sounded just fine here, even though it sounded like it was starting to get a bit sick when we recorded the 1003 at the fairgrounds, so I'm not sure what's going on there. Anyway, I did message the EMA about this siren, as well as the 'bolts in Charloe and Auglaize Township, but they haven't seen the message yet, so I have no idea when (or even if) they'll get around to fixing any of them, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. We will probably drive by this thing periodically to see if it rotates, but we're not gonna risk it for a test again until it does.

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Federal Signal Model 2 Siren Failure with Ambiance | Cloverdale, OH | 11/13/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-13 | Location: Cloverdale Village Office
System: Putnam County
Test time: Every Saturday at noon (fire sirens), 2nd Monday of the month at 10 AM (tornado sirens)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

For the second Monday of November, we decided to check out this unrecorded Model 2 since Tommy had placed an audio recorder near it the month prior and gotten confirmation it tested with the county tornado sirens. The county was rather late with testing, but after about 10 minutes of waiting, the 2001 at the park just under 1/4 mile north of this fired up...but this one failed, despite the fact that it literally went off for the previous test. As soon as we realized that this was a no-go, we sprinted north to the 2001 and managed to get to it just in time before it wound down. Tommy actually placed one of his cameras at the 2001 as we were on our way here, so he got an up close video of it sounding. I'm only uploading this video for the ambiance, as the 2001 can clearly be heard, and you might be able to make out the dual-rotor Fedelcode in Dupont if you listen closely. I have no idea as to why the 2 didn't sound, but knowing our luck, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it was decommissioned immediately after we got the audio recording of it. Hopefully that's not the case though, and it's something as simple as a spotty radio.

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

Deathbolt Meets Its Death (w/ Undershot) | Charloe, OH | 11/8/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-05 | 0:00 - Main shot
0:45 - Ambiance
4:09 - Undershot

The inevitable has finally happened. Charloe's 1003, which has been quite sick for at least 10 years, has finally met its demise. To say this was an interesting day would be an understatement. It seems as though the chopper motor was already dead at this point, to the surprise of absolutely nobody. However, I definitely wasn't expecting to catch the blower dying, and I'm honestly pretty confused as to why it did, because the blower sounded perfectly fine prior to this from what I could tell. So while we may have missed the chopper motor death, we caught another major component on it dying, so the title still fits.
Anyway, I decided to do this video a bit differently, both in terms of setup and editing. For starters, I went with an undershot instead of a wide shot like I usually do, and I'm definitely glad I did, because my Sony picked up on the sound of the blower, as well as the hum of the contactor for the chopper motor very clearly. For that reason, I decided to include the full undershot at the end of the video instead of transitioning to it mid-test so you can hear the full audio from each vantage point.
I'd love to see this thing get repaired and run at its full potential now, but I honestly doubt that's ever going to happen at this point. I did message the EMA about the issues with this siren and a couple others in the county, but they have yet to even read my message, let alone reply to it. Hopefully I'm wrong and they do fix this thing someday, but I guess only time will tell.

Main shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Undershot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n (PJ710 during undershot)

W.S. Darley Champion Siren Test | 1.5 Minute Attack | Gilboa, OH | 11/4/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-03 | Location: Franklin Street just south of US-224
System: Putnam County
Test time: Every Saturday at noon (fire sirens), 2nd Monday of the month at 10 AM (tornado sirens)
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications)

After Fostoria, we went to this 2 HP Darley Champion in Gilboa for the Putnam County fire siren test. This one is a bit tricky to set up at due to all the houses around it, but the guy living next to it gave me permission to set up in his yard, which I'm very thankful for. This was honestly a bit louder than I was anticipating, but it's still not too loud. My meter topped at 113.9 dBC from mostly underneath the pole, and I think it read somewhere around 102-103 from across the street from it if I recall correctly. This one also doesn't go off for as long as some of the other sirens in the county, but it was a cool experience nonetheless. That's pretty much all I have to say for this one. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n

(B-Series) Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000T Siren Test | Full Alert | Fostoria, OH | 11/4/23

Thunderbolt1000Tfan 2023-12-01 | Location: Near W 6th and S Wood Streets
System: Seneca County
Test time: 1st Saturday of the month at 11 AM
Enthusiasts present: Tommy (@buckeyenotifications), Eli (@MonkeyFilmProductions), Urijah (@fortecstar3)

For the first Saturday of November, we decided to go back to the B-Series 'bolt in Fostoria since it wasn't nearly as cold and windy as it was last time we were here and we wanted to try getting better videos of it. I'd say our shots came out a lot less shaky than last time, although it was pretty cloudy this time. I also can't help but be annoyed that my shot was slightly out of focus. The blur wasn't too bad though, so I was able to sharpen it and come out with a passable result.
This did seem slightly louder than I had remembered, but that may be because of how windy and cold it was last time. I still don't think it's quite as loud as Jackson Park, although it isn't too far off. It's probably about on par with Napoleon's healthy 'bolt if I recall correctly. Anyway, this was a pretty fun test, and it was cool to hear this thing again. Enjoy!

Tight shot: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Wide shot: Sony HDR-PJ710
Audio: Zoom H1n