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Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:10 am
by Wile E. Coyote
Our local rep just stopped by and gave us a demo of Federal Signals new Rumbler siren addition. I was impressed, but I am curious if anyone else has an opinopn or story about them. It seems like a good idea, but is it worth the extra cash?

For those who have no idea what I am talking about:
http://www.fedsig.com/products/index.php?id=253

~WEC 8)

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:47 am
by jedi_saber
First time I heard about this. Concept sounds cool - will need to see if I can get someone locally to demo this.

Any idea how much this would cost, and does this just get hooked up parallel to the siren speaker or will you have to give up 100/200watts output?

Thanks for sharing this info.

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:51 am
by 60A
Wow, that's pretty neat!

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:25 pm
by abbylind
How about a boom box with a million watt amp and huge speakers playing some rap music? Same effect!

Fowler

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:34 pm
by RFguy

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:11 pm
by spectragod
Now that................... is ghettotastic!

SG

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:31 pm
by tensi0n
What will they think of next?

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:20 pm
by kg4ere
,,,

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:36 am
by Wile E. Coyote
My first impression was mixed. Yeah, standing next to the thing it sounded like a tornado siren. But from an installers point of view, that is just one more $%@ thing to install. I would really need to justify why I should invest in something that nobody else has tried and would recommend.

~WEC 8)

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:41 am
by jedi_saber
can anyone advise how much one would have to shell out for one of these units?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:32 am
by Wile E. Coyote
I was told somewhere in the realm of $600 - $800 for one kit. (Depending on how well your rep likes you)

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:49 am
by mr.syntrx
kg4ere wrote:Our rep came by and gave us a demo as well. I am wondering what the long term effects of a rumbler are going to be on the avereage vehicle? It certainly has potential to vibrate some things apart.
Do what the public safety agencies here do, and sell of the vehicle when the clock hits 40,000km. Let the next owner worry about it :D

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:49 pm
by x1sspic
I'm intrigued. Would love to experience one firsthand to assess it's usefullness vs. ghettofantasticness 8)

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:52 am
by kg4ere
\//

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:59 am
by Adam
100,000 is still young if you actually maintain it.

Mine has 165,000 and is still as good as it was 4 years ago when I got it. (not new)

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:39 am
by jedi_saber
Has anybody had the chance to give these a shot yet?

I am curious as to how they performed, if folks think they actually work or, if any cruisers have fallen apart as a result of using the rumbler.

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:52 am
by firemanfox
I have had the experiance of hearing one in action. A second long thump is like a kick in the chest by a horse. They will make anything not bolted down dance across the floor. Seems like they move cars pretty well too, it will at least get the attention of some drivers who don't pay attention to regular sirens to look up and see the flashing lights.

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:07 pm
by Pimpala03

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:47 am
by MK4412
Just ordered one on the new ambulance at work, cost = around 6-700. Should be interesting. The chief had a big woody when he came back from our dealer, so who knows. Can't wait to try it in city traffic.

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:47 am
by com501
Federal Police are getting them. Annoying, when you are in a building, sounds like a high speed steam roller going by. And yes, EVERYTHING vibrates around.

I am assuming that if my local department gets these, if they use them at night in the residential districts like they do now with the regular sirens, many people will be upset and complain. It is worse than the train going by, if your house is close to the highway.

For how it affects traffic, meh. Not sure yet. Most people are so immune to external noise in their cars and have their own systems cranked so high I think they won't hear it.

My Sireeno siren on my old Cadillac ambulance was the best. 250 amps of raw motor power could blow the ceiling tiles off the inside of the barn roof.

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:58 pm
by MK4412
Now that we have the Rumbler on the new truck, I like it. It definately makes people pay attention to you. Inside the ambulance (a Chevy 4500 LifeLine) is remarkably quiet, even with both sirens and the rumbler in operation.

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:21 pm
by alex
I know that NYPD and DC Metro have test cars, if not fully starting to outfit their new cars coming in to service with the Rumblers.

I think the attention getting part of it is that people just are not used to the sound. It will make people turn and look at it. The problem with this in metro cities is that like sirens, the people who hear them all the time will become conditioned to the nose to the point they will probably end up ignoring it.

I've heard one once in DC - but short of that, haven't really had any exposure to it. The only reason why it caught my attention was because I heard something rumbling - but knew what it was since an officer friend informed me of them being installed.

Just my $0.01.

-Alex

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:33 pm
by kg4ere
///

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:45 pm
by spectragod
My cost is $420, I am not sold on it though.

SG

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:37 am
by RFguy
Our department did extensive testing. They tested it in urban areas using officers in private vehicles with the stereos turned up and with headphones on. They tested with both a regular siren (200 watt with a 200-watt speaker) and with the Rumbler.
In every case the Rumbler gave several seconds more advanced warning and cleared cars faster.

They found the results very conclusive and are outfitting all vehicles with the Rumbler.

Re: Federal Signal RUMBLER

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:06 pm
by tiawah466
Here is a story one of the local news stations did.
http://cfc.ktul.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=7228&ref=home