Transcript Dispatch Center Evactuation

Communications Training
Introduction to:
800 MHz Radio
1
Radio Communications 101
ObJectives:
A general introduction to 2-way radio
communications systems
2. Specifics of the MetroSafe 800 MHz,
Regional Communications Systems (RCS)
1.
3
Our Current System
Very High Frequency (VHF)
One frequency per channel.
Manual control of towers from the
Dispatch Center.
May go through Repeater or Direct Radio
to Radio
May be “voted” - Many sites receive but
only one transmits.
You need to select the proper “Tone”
to talk to the dispatcher!
Very High Frequency (VHF)
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
May go through Repeater or Direct Radio to
Radio
Pros & Cons of Simplex
 “Simplex” refers to conventional ‘radio-to-radio’ function
where two radios are tuned to the same frequency. As
long as the radios are within range of each other and
tuned to the same frequency the user will be able to
push to talk and release to listen at all times.
 Pro – The use of simplex ensures that radio users within
range (generally two miles or less) and tuned to the
same channel will hear each other.
 Con– Simplex dedicates the full-time use of a frequency;
in other words, the resource is committed, even when no
one is talking.
The New System
800 Megahertz
Digital
Trunked
Simulcast
Digital vs Analog
Digital
Not as susceptible to
obstacles in path of radio
wave travel
Receiving radio has
circuits that try to correct
items blocked during
radio wave travel
All or nothing when
receiving communications
Analog
Radio wave can be
degraded by obstacles
and distance
Analog cannot correct
and you only receive
“some” of the
transmission when radio
wave is obstructed
Trunked
Multiple Voice Channels and One Control
Channel
Control Channel prohibits “walk over”
Control Channel allows emergency
messages to become priority – Emergency
button gives user highest priority
MetroSafe will have 23 Voice Channels
and 1 Control Channel
Trunked
The control channel is used by the system
to automatically switch each radio on a
given talkgroup to the same voice channel.
A voice channel is where the actual
conversations take place.
Trunking is a method to make the most
efficient use of voice channels.
Trunked
Trunked Radio Systems share a small
pool of frequencies among a large number
of users. They can do this because
communications are generally short
(typically less than 5 seconds long,) and a
particular channel might be busy less than
5% of the time. System users are
assigned to "talkgroups" which function as
virtual channels.
Trunked
When a user makes a call, the radio
transmits its current group ID and a
request for a radio channel (frequency
pair) to the computer which controls the
trunking system. The computer then sends
out a “channel grant” specifying which
radio channel to use, and telling every
other radio in that user’s group to also go
to that radio channel and monitor for
traffic.
Trunked
When the user stops transmitting, the
frequency is released so that it is available
for the next group to use, which can be
any other users of the system. On a
trunking radio, a “channel” is not the
frequency in use, but is rather the code
(Talk Group ID) assigned to a particular
group of users on the system to identify
them to that computer.
Trunked
The benefit of this technology to the
agencies is that many more virtual
channels are available for specialized
traffic than there are frequencies. For
example, the Fort Worth trunked system
has only 20 frequencies, but services over
400 talkgroups. All radio channels in a
trunking system are repeaters, so system
traffic can be widely heard.
Trunked
Priorities: In rare situations there may be
more requests to use the radio system - in
our case 24 desires to converse cannot be
accommodated by 23 voice channels.
Should this happen, a priority system is in
place. This gives people with a more
critical function, such as emergency
responders, faster access to the system
than the garbage truck driver.
Encryption
The MetroSafe radio systems uses two
levels of encryption so that sensitive
communications remain confidential.
Low level encryption is used on Medical
Channels so that private medical
information relating to a patient cannot be
heard by the public having scanners.
However these conversations can be
heard by MetroSafe radios.
Encryption
High Level Encryption is a more complex system. It is
used for conversations requiring a greater amount of
privacy, such as during police SWATT operations, or for
arson while conducting a surveillance operation.
Only those MetroSafe radios specifically configured can
receive high level encryption (the top 3 command
officers for each department).
It could be used by fire command to discuss an injured
firefighter’s condition without it being heard by undesired
listeners, such as the firefighter’s family monitoring the
incident on a scanner.
Pros and Cons of Trunking
 Pro – Trunked radios allow a large number
of radio users to have individual talkgroups
(channels) while sharing a pool of
frequencies over a large geographical
area.
 Pro – Talkgroups(channels) can be joined
together for interoperability.
 Con – The ability to communicate is
dependent on the radio user’s connectivity
with a repeater. If the radio cannot reach
a repeater, the user will not be able to
communicate
Simulcast
Allows a user to be broadcast from all
transmitters simultaneously
Greatly reduces, does not eliminate, dead
spots within the service area
Topology of 2-way Communications
 Simplex- AKA direct or talk-around. – Your transmit
and receive frequencies are the same. You do not “go
through” a repeater.
 Repeater- Your transmit and receive frequencies are
different and are routed through a remote radio site.
 Simulcast- Broadcasting a message over multiple
transmitters throughout a geographical region at
precisely the same time
22
MetroSafe Repeater Sites
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Delta Dental
Fern Creek Fire
Waverly Hills
Meidinger Tower
Watterson Lake Park
Hubbards Lane
Petersburg
Utica
I-71 at County Line
Hopewell
Mitchell Hill
Transmitter
9901 Linn Station Road.
9409 Bardstown Road.
4800 Waverly Park Dr.
462 South 4th Street
Old Manslick Road and I-264
4400 Hubbards Ln.
4601 Old Shepherdsville Road.
Charlestown Road. Utica Indiana
Hitt Lane and Ballardsville Rd.
New Hopewell Road and I-265
Mitchell Hill Road (top of hill)
1306 Bardstown Road.
23
MetroSafe Repeater Sites
Why are we changing?
 There are a limited number of radio
frequencies available with our current
VHF/UHF radio systems.
 One radio can't communicate with all
public safety communities - you would
have to carry 10 separate radios to
communicate with all of them.
 The new system provides the ability of two
different agencies to communicate with
each other, on demand, and in real time.
 The 800 MHz band has the capability of
providing nearly 150 frequencies for the
metro area to operate on a single radio
system.
800 MHz – The FDNY Questions
In the aftermath of September 11th, many questions have arisen about communications
difficulties that were encountered. Reading many of the articles the term
communications was not limited to radio technology. Many communications were
procedural and operational. Since we are in the midst of a large-scale radio system
change, the communications problems encountered in NYC were looked at from a radio
technology standpoint.
In March 2001, the Fire Department of New York made an attempt to switch to newer
digital technology. While these radios were digital, they were not trunked. The
department remained on their old frequencies but switched to digital radios. This can be
likened to switching from analog cell phone service to digital. The department did
minimal training, and the radios acted differently than the old analog radios. Since the
users had minimal training, they were not aware of some of the operating characteristics
of the new radios. Users soon complained of poor communications. After one week in
the field, the digital radios were pulled from service. The New York Fire Department
conceded that they had moved too fast in an effort to get the radios into the hands of the
firefighters. The commissioner stated that the core problem was the failure of the fire
department to properly train the firefighters about the characteristics of the new digital
technology. These radios were reprogrammed back to the analog mode. The digital
mode has not been utilized since March 2001.
800 MHz – The FDNY Questions
It was also reported that communications were so poor that when a
city engineer said the buildings were at risk of imminent collapse, a
runner had to be sent to notify the ranking fire chief. What was not
mentioned is that the chief who received the report was Chief
Peruggia of the EMS Bureau. The EMS Bureau does not have the
same radios as the fire department. The only options the chief had
were to send a runner or obtain a fire department radio so that he
could notify them of the buildings’ conditions. This was an interoperability problem between city departments.
When the aircraft hit the Trade Center, a radio repeater was
destroyed. This repeater had been installed on the tower to improve
radio coverage in the area. This resulted in diminished radio
coverage. To what extent this contributed to loss of life can only be
guessed. It was reported that many did not hear the order to
evacuate. The loss of a repeater could be a contributing factor.
Key points as they relate to a trunked
radio system

Digital technology was not a factor. The digital radios
were removed from service. The problems
encountered in NYC are not comparable to the system
we will have in Louisville. A computer will act as a
traffic cop – allowing only one user to talk at a time.

The fire department is planning a detailed training
program so that our users will be proficient and
comfortable in the operation of the new radio system.

Radio communications inter-operability caused difficult
communications between departments. The new
system is designed with a focus on inter-operability
Voice Channel Assignment
 When your radio is
keyed up the Central
Controller, through
the Control Channel,
assigns you a voice
channel.
 All other radios using
the same Talkgroup,
in the area of the
same tower, will then
use the same voice
channel.
29
Basic 800 System
 This slide
represents
four
Agencies
using a four
channel 800
Site.
30
 Positive – Trunked radios allow a large number of radio users to
have individual talkgroups(channels) while sharing a pool of
frequencies over a large geographical area.
 Positive – Talkgroups(channels) can be joined together for
interoperability.
 Negative – The ability to communicate is dependant on the radio
user’s connectivity with a repeater. If the radio cannot reach a
repeater, the user will not be able to communicate
800 Talk Group Types
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 Dispatch - Talkgroup designated for the dispatch
center (MetroSafe) to alert firefighters of an incident
to which they should respond. This is a “one way”
path. Field units should not transmit on this
channel.
 For suburban fire, the JCF PAGE talkgroup is patched to
the VHF fire paging frequency so that both fire pagers and
new radios hear the dispatch information at the same time.
 For urban fire, the LFD ALERT talkgroup is patched to the
Fire Station Alerting System so the both new radios and
the FSAS hear the dispatch information at the same time.
 Operations - Talkgroup designated for
communications at incidents between responders at
the scene and also with the dispatch center
(MetroSafe). MetroSafe monitors Operations
Channels. They are designated FIRE 1 through
FIRE 8. Fire 1, 2, 5, and 6 monitored.
32
800 Talk Group Types
Urban
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 FIRE 1 is in the channel 1 and channel 16 position
on all fire radios for all zones.
 That was done so that a responder in trouble can
rotate the channel selector knob as far as it will go
in either direction and will have a fire dispatcher on
the receiving end.
 Good time to note that Urban fire radios will have
their channels programmed identically.
33
800 Talk Group Types
Suburban
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 FIRE 5 is in the channel 1 and channel 16 position
on all fire radios for all zones.
 That was done so that a responder in trouble can
rotate the channel selector knob as far as it will go
in either direction and will have a fire dispatcher on
the receiving end.
 Good time to note that Suburban fire radios will
have their channels programmed identically. That
means a firefighter from department A can pick up a
department Z radio and will know which channels
are which without having to do much thinking.
 Exception – Channel position 11 in Zone A which is a
department specific tactical channel
34
800 Talk Group Types
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 Tactical - Talkgroup designated for
communications between field units only.
MetroSafe does NOT monitor Tactical channels.
 Tactical channels may be used at incident scenes
when the IC chooses to do so.
 FD TAC 1 and FD TAC 2 are general Tactical
Channels available to all fire departments. Can be
used during Haz Mat or special rescue incidents.
 F TAC xx are department specific tactical channels
where xx corresponds to the department number,
such as 11 for Highview. (Every radio will have
access to all department specific tactical channels
should the need arise.)
35
800 Talk Group Types
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 Mutual Aid - Talkgroup designated for
communications between different agencies or for
administrative contact with MetroSafe (such as for
complex status changes).
 All MetroSafe radios (police, fire, EMS and local
government users) have Mutual Aid talkgroups.
 They are MUTAID 1, MUTAID 2, MUTAID 3.
 Simplex – is a channel that by-passes the radio
system and is intended for use in areas with poor or
ineffective system coverage. Radios will be
programmed with a “No Service” alert, which
informs users they are in a dead zone. If this alert
activates at an incident, responders should back out
to where there was coverage and inform command
that simplex use is necessary. MetroSafe cannot
monitor the Simplex channel.
36
800 Talk Group Types
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 Department specific tactical channels can be
equated to “Command”, “Training” or “Channel 8”
with the current radios.
 Command talkgroups are used for command and
control communications while conducting
operations. Command talkgroups are found in
command radios only.
 These are encrypted talkgroups and cannot be
monitored by other radios or scanners.
 There is a Fire Command talkgroup (FD CMD), and
an All Command talkgroup (ALL CMD). The All
Command talkgroup would be used for appropriate
communications between other agencies such as
Police/Fire, EMS/Police, Fire/EMS.
37
800 Interoperable Channels
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 These channels have been established by the
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.
 They are common to all public safety radios nationwide.
 This means if we get called to another Hurricane Katrina,
we can take our radios down to New Orleans and
communicate with responders there.
 Calling - Channel designated for a person from one
agency to contact any person from the same or
another agency or Dispatch Center. Once contact
is made, the conversation should be switched to an
available tactical talkgroup. It is named 8CALL90 in
our radios
38
800 Interoperable Channels
 Note: See the MetroSafe 800 Fleet Map, for a complete list of
Zones installed in the departments 800’s.
 Tactical - Channel designed to hold conversations,
or conduct tactical operations between responders
and between responders and their IC. They are
named 8TAC91-8TAC94 our radios.

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

8TAC92 is the recommended fire tactical channel.
8TAC91 is the recommended police channel.
8TAC93 is the recommended medical channel.
8TAC94 is the recommended command and control
channel.
 If the channel has a “D” beside the name, it is a
direct/simplex channel which bypasses a repeater.
 First attempt to use a Repeater channel. If
communications cannot be established, assume there is no
repeater coverage in the area.
39
 Site Trunking is a back up mode that maintains site communications
without disrupting the rest of the zone. So, Transmissions at the site are
only re-broadcast at that site, and transmissions at other sites are not rebroadcast at the site in Site Trunking.
 If this occurs, you may not be able to contact your dispatcher . To
reestablish a connection with the central computer, you may need to do
one or both of the following:

(1) change locations until your radio affiliates with another repeater,
 IMPORTANT – If a 800 site goes completely off the air you will only be able to
communicate locally on one of the “conventional” channels (8TAC91-8TAC94
or SIMPLEX channels).
40
Dispatch Center Evacuation
Handout “E”
 All Firefighter tone group activated
 Announcement made that center will be
temporarily out of service
 Metrosafe re-located to 768 Barrett
 During the time center is out of service Severe
Weather Procedure shall be implemented.
 Metro safe shall relay any calls for service to
appropriate fire district’s via FIRE 8
Dispatch Center Evacuation
 If back up dispatch center is activated a
test of radio equipment will be conducted.
 A test of all Fire Operations Channels and
activation of fire pagers will be conducted
 Metrosafe shall confirm with fire
department units that Operations channels
and fire pager activation was successful
 Upon completion of successful testing the
Severe Weather Procedure shall be
terminated
Radio Trunking System Controller
Failure
 If the trunking central controller or all voice
channels fail, the radio system has a “Fail-Soft”
feature.
 All MetroSafe radios are programmed to
automatically react to a “failsoft” condition. This
is displayed on the radio when this happens.
 Several talkgroups are automatically combined
during a Failsoft condition, thus reducing the
number available for use.
 Radio traffic must be kept to a minimum during
this time due to the reduced number of
talkgroups
Radio Trunking System Controller
Failure
 MetroSafe will activate the All Firefighter
tone group and make an announcement
that the system is in failsoft condition.
 The Severe Weather Procedure shall be in
effect during the failsoft condition
 FIRE 8 will be used to relay all calls for
service from MetroSafe to the Fire
Departments
 MUTAID 1 shall be used for fire
departments to contact MetroSafe
Radio Trunking System Controller
Failure
 All Fire Department Tactical Channels will
be combined into one.
 (A department could use its old VHF radio
equipment for conversations that would
have been on the Tactical Channels).
 The Simplex Channel will still work.
 The 8TAC channels will still work.
Radio Trunking System Controller
Failure
 When the failsoft is corrected MetroSafe
shall test the Fire Operations Channels
and Fire Pager activation
 After successful testing Severe Weather
Procedure shall be terminated
Event Channels
Handout “F”
 The Metrosafe radio system has ten talk
groups for large scale events such as
derby and Thunder over Louisville
 The talk groups are located in Zone C
 MetroSafe will coordinate use of event
channels
 Fire Departments should request use of
these channels in advance thru MetroSafe
 If justified MetroSafe may assign a
dispatcher to monitor the channels
MotoBridge
Handout “O”
 The MotoBridge is a radio resource that can
connect different radio systems together for use
major incidents such as outside county
departments (Bullitt, Oldham, etc.)
 The MetroSafe system can only be used to link
to a different system if the responders are going
to be in range of the Metrosafe system
 The incident commander must request the use
of the Motobridge
 Examples of uses would be Multi Alarm Fires
and Large Hazardous Materials
Agencies Accessed by the MotoBridge
 Anchorage Police
 Oldham County Sheriff
 Jefferson County Sheriffs Office
 Shelby County Sheriff
 Spencer County Sheriff
 Trimble County Sheriff
 Clark County Sheriff
 Floyd County Sheriff
 Harrison County Sheriff
 Indiana State Police
 Washington County (IN)
Sheriff
 Jeffersontown Police
 Louisville Metro Animal Control
 Louisville Metro Corrections
 Shively Police
 Bullitt County Sheriff
 Henry County Sheriff
 Kentucky State Police
 Meade County Sheriff
 Nelson County Sheriff
FleetMap
General:
A Fleetmap is the layout of talkgroups or channels for a given radio. The
following tables illustrate the Fleetmap for both Urban and Suburban fire
radios.
Please note the following:
1.
Zone “G” is enabled only in command radios (chief officers).
2.
Channel positions 1 and 16 are the same regardless of which zone
the radio is using. This is for emergencies (Mayday) and other methods of
calling for help are unsuccessful (such as PASS devices, calling for help on
the assigned talkgroup).
3.
Channel positions 1-4 are the fire department’s primary operating
talkgroups.
4.
Channel position 5 is the “knock-out” talkgroup for a given department.
5.
Channel position 11 in Zone A is the given fire department’s tactical
(TAC) talkgroup.
6.
PS 1 is Public Service (public works, etc).
Fleet Mapping
Suburban Command
Channel
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Zone E
Zone F
Zone G
1
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
2
FIRE 6
FD TAC 1
EVENT 1
8CALL90
LFD TAC
FD TAC 37
FD CMD
3
FIRE 7
FD TAC 2
EVENT 2
8CALL90D
FD TAC 11
FD TAC 40
ALL CMD
4
FIRE 8
MED 1
EVENT 3
8TAC91
FD TAC 12
FD TAC 50
ARSON 1
5
JCF PAGE
MED 2
EVENT 4
8TAC91D
FD TAC 16
FD TAC 55
POLICE 1
6
FIRE 1
MED 3
EVENT 5
8TAC92
FD TAC 18
FD TAC 71
POLICE 2
7
FIRE 2
MED 4
EVENT 6
8TAC92D
FD TAC 20
FD TAC 77
POLICE 3
8
FIRE 3
MED 5
EVENT 7
8TAC93
FD TAC 22
FD TAC 80
POLICE 4
9
FIRE 4
MED 6
EVENT 8
8TAC93D
FD TAC 26
FD TAC 90
HOSP CP
10
LFD ALERT
HOSP 1
EVENT 9
8TAC94
FD TAC 30
FD TAC 99
PS 1
11
FD TAC ##
HOSP 2
EVENT 10
8TAC94D
FD TAC 33
FD TAC 99
PS 1
12
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
13
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
14
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
15
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
16
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
Fleet Mapping
Urban Command
Channel
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Zone E
Zone F
Zone G
1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
2
FIRE 2
FD TAC 1
EVENT 1
8CALL90
LFD TAC
FD TAC 37
FD CMD
3
FIRE 3
FD TAC 2
EVENT 2
8CALL90D
FD TAC 11
FD TAC 40
ALL CMD
4
FIRE 4
MED 1
EVENT 3
8TAC91
FD TAC 12
FD TAC 50
ARSON 1
5
LFD ALERT
MED 2
EVENT 4
8TAC91D
FD TAC 16
FD TAC 55
POLICE 1
6
FIRE 5
MED 3
EVENT 5
8TAC92
FD TAC 18
FD TAC 71
POLICE 2
7
FIRE 6
MED 4
EVENT 6
8TAC92D
FD TAC 20
FD TAC 77
POLICE 3
8
FIRE 7
MED 5
EVENT 7
8TAC93
FD TAC 22
FD TAC 80
POLICE 4
9
FIRE 8
MED 6
EVENT 8
8TAC93D
FD TAC 26
FD TAC 90
HOSP CP
10
JCF PAGE
HOSP 1
EVENT 9
8TAC94
FD TAC 30
FD TAC 99
PS 1
11
LFD TAC
HOSP 2
EVENT 10
8TAC94D
FD TAC 33
FD TAC 99
PS 1
12
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
13
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
14
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
15
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
16
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
Fleet Mapping
Suburban Firefighter
Channel
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Zone E
Zone F
1
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
2
FIRE 6
FD TAC 1
EVENT 1
8CALL90
LFD TAC
FD TAC 37
3
FIRE 7
FD TAC 2
EVENT 2
8CALL90D
FD TAC 11
FD TAC 40
4
FIRE 8
MED 1
EVENT 3
8TAC91
FD TAC 12
FD TAC 50
5
JCF PAGE
MED 2
EVENT 4
8TAC91D
FD TAC 16
FD TAC 55
6
FIRE 1
MED 3
EVENT 5
8TAC92
FD TAC 18
FD TAC 71
7
FIRE 2
MED 4
EVENT 6
8TAC92D
FD TAC 20
FD TAC 77
8
FIRE 3
MED 5
EVENT 7
8TAC93
FD TAC 22
FD TAC 80
9
FIRE 4
MED 6
EVENT 8
8TAC93D
FD TAC 26
FD TAC 90
10
LFD ALERT
HOSP 1
EVENT 9
8TAC94
FD TAC 30
FD TAC 99
11
FD TAC ##
HOSP 2
EVENT 10
8TAC94D
FD TAC 33
FD TAC 99
12
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
13
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
14
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
15
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
16
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE 5
FIRE
Fleet Mapping
Urban Firefighter
Channel
Zone A
Zone B
Zone C
Zone D
Zone E
Zone F
1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
2
FIRE 2
FD TAC 1
EVENT 1
8CALL90
LFD TAC
FD TAC 37
3
FIRE 3
FD TAC 2
EVENT 2
8CALL90D
FD TAC 11
FD TAC 40
4
FIRE 4
MED 1
EVENT 3
8TAC91
FD TAC 12
FD TAC 50
5
LFD ALERT
MED 2
EVENT 4
8TAC91D
FD TAC 16
FD TAC 55
6
FIRE 5
MED 3
EVENT 5
8TAC92
FD TAC 18
FD TAC 71
7
FIRE 6
MED 4
EVENT 6
8TAC92D
FD TAC 20
FD TAC 77
8
FIRE A
MED 5
EVENT 7
8TAC93
FD TAC 22
FD TAC 80
9
FIRE 8
MED 6
EVENT 8
8TAC93D
FD TAC 26
FD TAC 90
10
JCF PAGE
HOSP 1
EVENT 9
8TAC94
FD TAC 30
FD TAC 99
11
LFD TAC
HOSP 2
EVENT 10
8TAC94D
FD TAC 33
FD TAC 99
12
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
MUTAID 1
13
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
MUTAID 2
14
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
MUTAID 3
15
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
Simplex
16
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
FIRE 1
Description of Talkgroups (Channels):
FIRE 1:
Talk group assigned for Urban Fire primary operations.
FIRE 2:
Talk group assigned for Urban Fire secondary operations.
FIRE 3:
Back-up talk group for overflow of calls for service, primarily used for Urban
Fire. Available if needed for Suburban Fire.
FIRE 4:
Back-up talk group for overflow of calls for service, primarily used for Urban
Fire. Available if needed for Suburban Fire.
FIRE 5:
Talk group assigned for Suburban Fire low priority incidents and administrative
communications.
FIRE 6:
Talk group assigned for Suburban Fire medium and high priority incidents
communications.
FIRE 7:
Back-up talk group for overflow of calls for service, primarily used for Suburban
Fire. Available if needed for Urban Fire.
FIRE 8:
Back-up talk group for overflow of calls for service, primarily used for Suburban
Fire. Available if needed for Urban Fire.
LFD ALERT:
Will be used for monitoring fire dispatch audio from the Fire Station Alerting
system. This talk group is receive only.
JCF PAGE:
Will be used for monitoring page tones from the JCFD paging system. This talk
group is receive only.
MUTAID 1:
Talk group designated for use between different public safety disciplines.
MUTAID 2:
Talk group designated for use between different public safety disciplines.
MUTAID 3:
Talk group designated for use between public service command and public
safety command.
SIMPLEX:
Direct unit to unit radio communications, not utilizing a repeater. This channel
is NOT monitored by MetroSafe.
MED 1:
The primary talk group for LMEMS for units operating in Division 1.
MED 2:
The primary talk group for LMEMS for units operating in Division 2.
MED 3:
The primary talk group for LMEMS for units operating in Division 3.
MED 4:
Back-up talk group for LMEMS units and will be staffed based on call volume
predicted in the event such as a storm etc.
MED 5:
Back-up talk group for LMEMS units and will be staffed based on call volume
predicted in the event such as a storm etc.
MED 6:
Back-up talk group for LMEMS units and will be staffed based on call volume
predicted in the event such as a storm etc.
HOSP 1:
Talk group for LMEMS units to have direct contact with hospital personnel at
the following facilities; Audubon, Clark Memorial, Floyd County Memorial, Jewish, Jewish South,
Norton Downtown, Southwest, St Mary’s and University.
HOSP 2:
Talk group for LMEMS units to have direct contact with hospital personnel at
the following facilities; Baptist East, Baptist Northeast, Jewish East, Jewish Northeast, Jewish
Shelbyville, Kosair, Norton Brownsboro, Suburban and Veterans.
HOSP CP:
Talk group for hospitals to establish a command post at hospital and for
operations of a large scale incident.
EVENT 1-10:
These talk groups are available for managing large scale events such as Derby
and Thunder over Louisville. Use of the event talk groups shall be planned in advance and
assigned by MetroSafe. MetroSafe will determine if the event will require a dispatcher to monitor
and/or track the activities of the event.
FD TAC 1:
Talk group not assigned to any particular department. Talk group shall be
used for incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest an operations talk group. This talk
group will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 2:
Talk group not assigned to any particular department. Talk group shall be
used for incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest an operations talk group. This talk
group will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
LFD TAC:
Talk group assigned to Louisville, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be monitored by a
dispatcher.
FD TAC 11:
Talk group assigned to Highview, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be monitored by a
dispatcher.
FD TAC 12:
Talk group assigned to Harrods Creek, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be monitored by a
dispatcher.
FD TAC 16:
Talk group assigned to Lyndon, is used for short term incidents with excessive
radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 18:
Talk group assigned to Worthington, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 20:
Talk group assign to Anchorage, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 22:
Talk group assigned to Pleasure Ridge Park, is used for short term
incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and
will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 26:
Talk group assigned to St. Matthews, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 30:
Talk group assigned to Dixie Suburban, is used for short term
incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and
will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 33:
Talk group assigned to Jeffersontown, is used for short term
incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and
will not be monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 37:
Talk group assigned to Buechel, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 40:
Talk group assigned to Lake Dreamland, is used for short term
incidents with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and
will not be monitored by a dispatcher
FD TAC 50:
Talk group assigned to Camp Taylor, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 55:
Talk group assigned to McMahan, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 71:
Talk group assigned to Fern Creek, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 77:
Talk group assigned to Eastwood, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 80:
Talk group assigned to Okolona, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FDTAC 90:
Talk group assigned to Fairdale, is used for short term incidents with
excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD TAC 99:
Talk group assigned to Middletown, is used for short term incidents
with excessive radio traffic that may congest the operations talk group and will not be
monitored by a dispatcher.
FD CMD:
Talk group for fire command units.
ALL CMD:
Talk group for interagency command units.
ARSON 1:
Primary operations talk group for arson investigators.
ARSPVT:
other.
Talk group assigned for arson units to communicate among each
POLICE 1:
Primary operations talk group for Division 6 and Division 7.
POLICE 2:
Primary operations talk group for Division 3 and Division 8.
POLICE 3:
Primary operations talk group for Division 1 and Division 2.
POLICE 4:
Primary operations talk group for Division 4 and Division 5.
PS 1: This is the primary talk group for public service and is shared between all
public service units. MetroSafe will utilize this talk group in the future to contact
public service units with calls for service.
Radio Daily Checks
 Ensure each position has a portable radio assigned to
them
 Check for physical damage to the radio
 Change battery on radio once a month
 Check all knobs to ensure proper operation
 On VHF - check battery charge by depressing the PTT, if
red
light on portable is solid the battery is fully charged
 On 800's - check battery gauge for level of charge on the
battery
 On 800's - check signal strength indicator for reception
 If radio is dirty, clean with a damp cloth
Radio Operations
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Face to face communication is always the preferred method
Know Emergency Traffic procedures
Know May Day procedures
Hold radio 1" to 2" from face
Speak clearly and slowly
On 800's - Speaking loudly can distort the digital audio
All radio traffic should be concise AND BRIEF!! (Time out timers
set for 30 seconds.)
Each member must carry a radio into the hazard zone
Know what you are going to say before you say it
Call signs for members that are away from their crew
On 800's - proper keying of PTT, 1-2 second delay until talk-permittone is heard
Radios should be protected from prolonged exposure to water
Protect portables from heat by using turnout coat pocket
Use speaker mics when possible to minimize damage to radios
Be professional
Maintenance
 Security of our radios is critical
 Report stolen radio immediately
 Missing radios should be reported if not
found quickly
 Broken radios should be reported
And, Before I Forget!
ALL our radios
employ close talk
microphones to
reduce unwanted
background noise.
This means, if you
don’t hold the radio
or microphone close
to your mouth no one
will hear you! ?????
64
Approved Radio Language
Handout “A”
Responding
On Scene
In Quarters
On Pager
Emergency/Non Emergency Response
On the Air
In Service/Out of Service
Arson Investigator Call-Out
Handout “B”
Metro Safe notified of Arson Unit Request
Investigator will advise Metro Safe of ETA
Chief Officer Radios programmed with
channels for direct communication if
necessary
Apparatus to remain on scene until Arson
arrival
Bomb Alarm Operations
Handout “C”
No Fire dispatch until Police request
Respond to Police designated staging
area
Fire units respond non emergency
Upon Arrival (Follow Procedure)
Do not use radios, cell phones or
Blackberries unless approved by IC (could
initiate an explosion).
Fire Service Support at Police
Activity Incidents
Handout “I”
Procedure when law enforcement
requests fire service support
Emergency vs Non – Emergency
Scene Communications
Action upon arrival
Interoperability
Handout “M”
All agencies in Metro Louisville will have
direct radio communications with each
other
Agencies from Metro Louisville will be able
to communicate with other specific State
agencies
Agencies from Metro Louisville will be able
to communicate with other specific Federal
Agencies
Inter-county Mutual Aid
Communications
Handout “M”
MotoBridge
Handout “O”
Conducted by MetroSafe from radio
console
Connects different radio systems together
Can provide interoperability with
surrounding agencies on different radio
systems
Communications to Potentially
Hostile Scenes
Handout “Q”
Description of a Potential Hostile Scene
Metro Safe actions for Potential Hostile
Scene
Fire Service action if fire units stage before
arrival
Action to be taken if scene becomes
Hostile
Requests for Public Information
Handout “T”
Requests for Information from Media
– General nature
– Terminated incident
– On – Going incident
Requests for Public Information
for Level 3 Hazmat
Handout “T”
Media Staging
Released Product Information
Evacuation Area
Use of Dialogic System
National Weather Service Radio
Information
Sheltering in Place
Severe Weather Procedure
Handout “U”
Severe Weather Watches
Severe Weather Warnings
Severe Weather Procedure for unusual
events
Tornado Warnings
Triaging of Calls for Service
Fire Incident Dispatch
Severe Weather Procedure
Continued
Individual Department Establishing base of
operations
Individual Department has not established
a base of operations
Fires reported directly to fire stations
Emergency Operations Center Activation
Resumption of Normal Dispatch
Procedures
L.G. & E Protocol
Priority 1
An energized wire, transformer, or other
electrical device connected to or in contact
with a structure, vehicle, or other situation
which poses an immediate threat to life or
property, and/or which may prohibit rescue
or suppression activities.
Example: Energized wire on an occupied
vehicle, energized wire on a structure that is
on fire, hot air balloon trapped in energized
wires.
L.G. & E Protocol
Priority 2
An energized wire, transformer, or other
electrical device connected to or in contact
with a structure, vehicle, or other situation
which poses no immediate threat to life or
property, and does not prohibit rescue or
suppression activities.
Example: Energized wire on the ground next
to a structure fire, energized wire laying
across the street, energized wire at the scene
of an accident but not directly involved in the
incident.
L.G. & E Protocol
Priority 3
An energized or non-energized wire,
transformer, or other electrical device that is
not in contact with any structure or occupied
vehicle, and is otherwise not an immediate
dangerous situation.
Example: Energized or unknown wire
hanging in a tree, energized or unknown wire
laying in a yard away from a structure.
**The Fire Incident Commander should advise Metro
Safe if the Fire Department is standing by on the
incident scene and waiting for a response by
Louisville Gas and Electric or not.
Suburban Fire
Special Operations Teams Dispatch
Procedures
Handout “V”
Special Operations can consist of
any Emergency Response Team
Procedure:
1.
Each Special Operations Team shall provide the MetroSafe with a dispatch matrix that shall be common
in design and layout across all teams. This matrix will provide the information to be utilized in CAD as well as a
backup manual system.
2.
A Special Teams Agency will be created in CAD; all unit numbers specific to the special teams will be
created in this agency for the purpose of deployment and tracking.
3.
Special Teams Command units will also ask for an Incident Number for their individual fire district if they
are not part of the initial call out. Units responding will need to use dual unit identifiers until arrival, after which
they should utilize only the Special Team unit identifier. This will allow CAD to track response times for their home
department.
4.
The addendums that follow are specific to each team and shall provide a dispatch flow chart, notification
log and personnel tracking log.
5.
All Special Operations Teams shall be dispatched utilizing the Fire Fighter All Call Tone. (see attached
procedures)
6.
An incident leading to a Special Response Team call-out shall be assigned a dedicated Operations
Channel. So as not to interfere with on-going activities, Special Response Team members shall use the Mutual
Aid Channel to call responding and on scene. Once the Special Team member has arrived on scene, he or she
shall switch his or her radio to the assigned Operations channel.
7.
When a Special Response Team incident occurs, the Mutual Aid Channel and F-TAC-1 shall be reserved
for use at the incident and can be used with the Incident Communications Plan (ICS Form 205).
8.
Any information to be relayed to the responding Special Team members who have not arrived will be
done on the Mutual Aid Channel.
9.
Any request for additional resources or contact with MetroSafe will be made on the Operations Channel
dedicated to the incident or as otherwise determined by the Incident Communications Plan.
Suburban Fire Four Digit Numbering
System
Handout “W”
THE FIRST TWO DIGITS REPRESENT THE NAME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT:
Anchorage
Buechel
Camp Taylor
Dixie Suburban
Eastwood
Fairdale
Fern Creek
Harrods Creek
Highview
Jeffersontown
Lake Dreamland
Lyndon
McMahan
Middletown
Okolona
Pleasure Ridge Park
St. Matthews
Worthington
Trench Rescue
Haz Mat Team
Water Rescue
20
37
55
30
77
90
71
12
11
33
40
16
55
99
80
22
26
18
64
66
68
Suburban Fire Four Digit
Numbering System
THIRD DIGIT – TYPE OF APPARATUS
FOURTH DIGIT – APPARATUS NUMBER
0 - Chief Officer
01 - Always Fire Chief
1 - Misc. Personnel/Officers
09 - On Duty I. C.
2 - Engine Company
3 - Engine Company
4 - Quad Combinations
5 - Truck Company: Aerial, Snorkel, Elevating Platform
Ladder Tower, Tele-Squrt, ETC.
6 - Water Tanker
7 - Brush Fire Unit
8 - Heavy or Light Squad, Ambulance
9 - Service, Utility or Special Purpose Vehicle
EXAMPLE: Unit 1632: 16 – Lyndon, 3 – Engine Company, 2 – Unit number two.
Unit 5047: 50 – Camp Taylor, 4 – Quad, 7 – Unit numbers seven.
Note: Telesqurts shall be classified as Truck Companies (Third Digit 5)
Articulating Squrts shall be classified as Engine Companies (Third Digit 3)
General Fire Radio
Operations Policy
Handout “X”
Fire Radio Operations
DEFINITIONS:
Refer to the Glossary section of this handbook. The following terms are used extensively in the General Radio Operations section:
Channel/Talkgroup
Dispatch Channel
Interoperability
Mutual Aid Channel
Operations Channel
SOA Channel
Tactical Channel
Zone
CHANNELS/TALKGROUPS:
The following Channels shall be available to all fire service radio users:
Description
Radio Display Name
Remarks:
Fire Operations One
FIRE 1
Primary User: LFR
Fire Operations Two
FIRE 2
Primary User: LFR
Fire Operations Three
FIRE 3
Primary User: LFR
Fire Operations Four
FIRE 4
Used for LFR & Suburban Fire joint responses
Fire Operations Five
FIRE 5
Primary User: Suburban Fire
Fire Operations Six
FIRE 6
Primary User: Suburban Fire
Fire Operations Seven
FIRE 7
Primary User: Suburban Fire
Fire Operations Eight
FIRE 8
Primary User: Suburban Fire
Suburban Dispatch
JCF PAGE
Suburban Dispatch Channel
LFD Dispatch
LFD ALERT
Louisville Fire Dispatch Channel
Fire Tactical One
F-TAC-1
Primary User: All Fire (common use)
Fire Tactical Two
F-TAC-2
Primary User: All Fire (common use)
Mutual Aid
MUTAID1
Primary User: All emergency responders
Suburban Command
FD CMD
Primary User: All Fire Command Officers
Department Tactical
FTAC-XX
Primary User: Individual department where XX corresponds to the two numbers
identifying the department. A department tactical channel is exclusive to one
department only.
Tips for Being a Better Radio
User
Handout “Y”
Changes to Emphasize in
Standard Operating Procedures
Handout “AA”