Saratoga County 800 Radio Project EMS Version Steve Lohnes – CPHM stephen.lohnes@gmail

1. Saratoga County 800 Radio Project EMS Version Steve Lohnes – CPHM stephen.lohnes@gmail.com Version 9 – June 1, 2011

2. Saratoga County Radio Sites • BLUE = Original Towers • Spruce • Providence • Halfmoon • GREEN = New 800 Towers • Mt. McGregor • Sheriff’s Office (Milton) • Stillwater (Radar Base) • CPHM • RED = APA Towers • Hadley (Fraker Mtn) • Edinburg • YELLOW = addit 800 tower • Lakeview • (10 towers, 15 frequencies)

3. VHF Paging 155.9250 • Remains on 925 • Both EMSand Fire • Simulcast (already on): • Milton, Stillwater, McGregor, Spruce, Providence, Halfmoon • Narrowband (soon) • 155.9250

4. 800 Radio Talk Groups - EMS • What is a Bank? • Talk group vs. channel • EMS 1 = home talk group • All communications with EMS Dispatch will be on EMS 1 • What is a TAC? • “Talk Around Channel” • Fire use of TACs • TAC use must be assigned • What is a Ground talk group? (local only use)

5. Fire Template • Fire 1 = home • Fire Comm replaces Fire Control • TAC groups used more extensively • Fires involve multiple units and departments

6. * COLONIE is not currently programmed into radios

7. TAC Use In EMS • You may request a TAC assignment • Major incidents • Special events/operations • EMS Dispatch may assign you a TAC • If your call involves multiple units • If the EMS 1 talk group has heavy traffic • When on a TAC, you will normally need to switch back to EMS 1 to reach Dispatch

8. Interoperability EMS and Fire • Fire radio home is Fire 1 • Fire Comm replaces Fire Control for dispatch • On EMS calls with Fire, you will be advised of the TAC assigned to the Fire units • To speak directly with FD, switch to the assigned TAC • To reach EMS Dispatch, switch back to EMS 1

9. Helpful Hints • Always monitor EMS1 (use a portable on the TAC) • You can/will miss pages when scanning • Most everyday use will be on Bank A • For simplicity: • Bank A and C are same • EMS 1 is 1st and last on portable selector switch

10. The 800 Radio System Brains Brains

11. Push-to-Talk (PTT Button) Helpful Hints • A computer controls the radio system traffic • Push to talk and WAIT until the radio beeps • Two radios cannot talk at once • If the channel is busy or the radio is out of range, you will get a BUSYtone.

12. Talk Group Usage • EMS 1 – Primary dispatch communications • EMS 2 • Overflow (assigned by communications when necessary) • Carries EMS Emergency Button signals • TACs 3 thru 9 – interoperability (assigned) • Ground 1 thru 3 – radio-to-radio only (no permission needed to use)

13. Talk Group Usage • Paging – Cross band repeated paging from 155.9250. Not for two-way communication. • FIRE 1– Primary FD communications with Fire Comm for dispatch, call info. • TAC 24 – County-wide major incident talk group for all users (Police, Fire, EMS, DPW). • DREGRP – (Dynamic ReGrouping) used to create a new talk group “on the fly.” This would be a rarely used feature.

14. Talk Group Usage • I-Call and I-TACs – Nationwide radio to radio talk groups. For interoperability when outside Saratoga County. Similar to Ground TACs. • Colonie – potential future interface to Town of Colonie 800 system. • CAP800 – Potential future interface to other Capital District 911 Communications Center 800 radio systems.

15. Law Enforcement Talk Groups Law Enforcement has their own set of talk groups. Radios from other disciplines will not have access to these. Police can be assigned to TACs for communications with EMS and Fire when necessary.

16. Radio Identifiers • 800 system is computer controlled • Only radios registered and activated in the computer system will work • Communications can deactivate any radio • Radio identifiers are issued by OES • Users in the field can decipher radio identifiers to determine it’s identity • All transmissions display the radio ID in communications

17. Radio Identifying Number • FIRST digit “7” identifies Saratoga County (to other 800 systems) • SECOND digit distinguishes EMS Mobile from Portable. (Sheriff 1 or 2, Fire 5 or 6, DPW 7 only) • THIRD and FOURTH digits are the two digit EMS Agency Number. • FIFTH digit Identifies the what type of Unit it is. • SIXTH digit is used to identify additional units for that agency. • The display appearing in field units would be 731251 or 741251. • Alias Display in the County Communications Center for this Mobile will be 1251 and for this Portable will be P 1251

18. Radio ID Assignments • Each vehicle ID can be associated with one mobile and one portable • Additional portable radios are identified using sequential IDs, starting with XX11. For example, 7151 has four portables. They may be identified as P7151, P7111, P7112, P7113 • If 7152 also had four portables, they would be identified as P7152, P7114, P7115, P7116

19. Radio ID Assignments • Each vehicle ID can be associated with one mobile and one portable • Users should identify themselves by the vehicle they are using or their NIMS assigned task, regardless of portable ID • Example, “Portable 7151” or “EMS Command” • Agency leaders must know where portables are at all times (in case of emergency button activation)

20. Emergency Button

21. Emergency Button

22. THE EMERGENCY BUTTON • Push when you are in imminent danger and unable to transmit a voice message • Radio will switch to EMS 2 and open your mic for 10 seconds • This is your opportunity to indicate what problem you are having • Communications will then call you with a two word question:“Activation status?”

23. THE EMERGENCY BUTTON • The only way to stop a law enforcement response is with a one word reply: • “ACCIDENTAL” • Say anything else like, “Sorry, I hit the button accidentally,” and you will get a law enforcement response! • Emergency button activations for units not on an active call with no response when called by Communications will be referred to agency leadership to determine radio location.

24. Portable Radio XTS 1500 Light on/off Nuisance Delete Scan on/off (long = Scan Program)

25. Restore After Nuisance Delete • To restore the preprogrammed scan list after using nuisance delete to eliminate channels from the scan list, do one of the following: • Turn scan off then turn scan back on • Turn the radio off and then turn back on

26. IMPRES Charger • Smart charger • If < 50% battery capacity, will deep discharge and then recharge (8+ hours) • LED color indicates status (see bottom of charger for codes)

27. Typical Mobile Radio Channel Select Emergency On/Off, Volume Soft Menu Keys

28. Agency Purchased 800 Mobile (Model XTL 2500) Volume Knob Dimmer Button Channel Knob Emergency Button Power Button Home Button Soft Menu Keys 4-way Navigation Button If your agency purchased these (remote mount) 800 mobile radios, be familiar with the various function buttons

29. Dynamic Regrouping • Allows EMS Dispatch to temporarily combine talk groups or frequencies. • When your radio is regrouped, a special tone alerts you and the name of the regroup appears. • Talk as normal. When released, by dispatch, the radio will return to normal mode. Secret Talk

30. Pittsfield Communications is Saratoga County’s authorized radio vendor for all repairs to County owned equipment. • Agencies owned equipment can be serviced by any vendor BUT, Pittsfield is the only vendor with necessary computer keys to program 800 radios. • Pittsfield will only program radios in accordance with permissions issued by OES

31. Questions, More Info… • www.saratogaems.org – click on 800 Radio tab for resources • Email Steve: stephen.lohnes@gmail.com • Email Mike McEvoy (EMS-1):mcevoymike@aol.com