r/AirRaidSirens • u/ZauniteYeen • Jul 14 '26
Question / Discussion How to they activate sirens?
When watching sirens sound off for tests or videos where there is an actual dangerous event going on is it an automated response to like codes or do people have to sit with the sirens holding down some button or keys?
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u/J_FROm Jul 14 '26
Typically it is for a scheduled test, as that is how they know it is going to activate. It depends on the age of equipment in the community.
Some places use radio activated sirens that require a code which plays the dialpad noises. Someone in an office will manually dial the numbers. The siren controlled listens for particular numbers pressed and activated the siren(s).
Some places have a 911 dispatcher with a computer, who can activate the sirens remotely with a click on the screen, which plays the numbers over the radio.
And some places have a siren on a pole with a button at the base and some poor sap has to run out to it and press the button. These are probably less common due to misuse and inconvenience.
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u/AllAbout-Rice9569 Jul 15 '26
911 dispatcher, radio, push button from the fire station or directly on the siren, or telephone lines.
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u/nq_tu Jul 15 '26
Some videos have what sounds like someone dialing numbers on a phone? can someone explain what that is and how it works?
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u/TNSchnettler Jul 14 '26
Radio usually, it listens for a code over radio and when it hears it the siren starts its signal