Southwest Ambulance questions

[KB7MIB]

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I have a question about 2 channels.
Ch 15, 460.625, is listed as "Tac", but sounds like a Dispatch.
Ch 18, 460.050, is listed as "Alternate", but also sounds like a Dispatch.
Can anyone clarify the actual useage of those 2 channels? Thanks.

[tomfassett]

I haven't quite figured out Southwest's system yet. I have heard general dispatch on those channels as well.

While I was typing, a number of calls came in on 460.625. The are two different dispatchers tonight (one male and one female).

AP25 was logging on in shop (?) and told to post to Gateway.
AP151 was told to post to 152.
AP229 asking for posting.
AP27 asking for posting--told to post to Good Sam.

Unit: "CC6 Clear"
Disp: "CC6 additional traffic on 12"
(CC6 then showed up on 460.550--Ch 12 and given a call downtown).

Sounds like general dispatch channel to me unless it is specific to logging in and posting and not for dispatching of calls. I haven't heard any call assignments yet--I'll keep listenning.

Tom F

[cellphone]

Channel numbers for SW Ambulance are mostly accurate, but the descriptions for some channels do not seem to be accurate. If you can determine the proper description for each channel, we will update the DB.

[tomfassett]

The problem I have run into while monitoring SWA is that sometimes the descriptions in the database seem correct and sometimes not. I think they are like many operations where there is no hard and fast rule for channel usage--things seem to change on the fly.
I have talked to a couple SWA crews and they have no clue what the "official" use of the different channels is. They just know what channel to switch to when the dispatcher tells them.
I have started a log and add to it when I can listen without too many distractions. Maybe then I can make more sense of it.

Tom F

[WIS262]

SW Ambulance utilizes several "assignment" or "dispatch" channels as well as "tracking" channels separated by areas to run their operations. They begin their channel numbers at 11 since channels 1 - 10 are the UHF state med channels.

Assingment Channels dispatch the calls & assign move ups as needed.
Tracking Channels act as a TRO and run the incident from responding to arriving at the hospital.

11 - East Valley EMS tracking (General transport tracking as well after 2200hrs)
12 - West Valley EMS tracking (General transport tracking as well after 2200hrs)
13 - Operations / TAC Channel (East Valley)
14 - Pinal County Operations (Assingment & Tracking)
15 - East Valley EMS Assingment (GT after 2200)
16 - West Valley EMS Assingment (GT after 2200)
17 - East Valley Inter-Facility Dispatch
18 - West Valley Inter-Facilty Dispatch
19 - TAC Channel
20 - Central (downtown) Inter-Facility Dispatch

They also have a series for special event channels for standbys and other events on 21-25.

[tomfassett]

The "after 2200hrs" tags in your list answers a number of questions. Thanks.

Tom F

[cellphone]

Excellent info. This is much more accurate than descriptions in the DB. I have updated the descriptions.

My next question is about Channels 21-25. Can anyone identify the frequencies? We have found a few freqs used at ASU events but no one has identified channel numbers.

[WIS262]

Originally Posted by cellphone

Excellent info. This is much more accurate than descriptions in the DB. I have updated the descriptions.

My next question is about Channels 21-25. Can anyone identify the frequencies? We have found a few freqs used at ASU events but no one has identified channel numbers.

I miss-spoke with the event channels.
Ch21 - Channel 11 simplex
Ch22 - Channel 12 simplex
Ch23 - Channel 13 simplex
Ch24 - Channel 14 simplex
Ch25 - Channel 15 simplex
Ch26 - Channel 16 simplex
Ch27 - Channel 17 simplex
Ch28 - Channel 18 simplex
Ch29 - Channel 19 simplex
Ch30 - Channel 20 simplex

Ch31 - S/E 31 462.2500 67.0
Ch32 - S/E 32 462.3000 74.4
Ch33 - S/E 33 462.4500 85.4
Ch34 - S/E 34 462.5250 85.4

Ch41 - Pinal County TAC (I'm not sure what the freq is as its new. Repeater is on Casa Grande Mountain. Dispatch doesn't have it yet, however ambulance mobiles do)

Note - I don't know if any of the S/E channels are dedicated to ASU or University of Phoenix Stadium as they are all simplex frequencies.

[tomfassett]

So far WIS262's information seems pretty accurate to my as it reflects what I have in my log (and makes sense of some of the differences heard late at night). I did hear one broadcast during an ASU game where a unit was assigned to Sun Devil Stadium to replace one that had taken someone to the hospital. The dispatcher told them to "switch to ASU" and I assume they meant the ASU channel. They never mentioned a channel number.
I'll have to go searching for the other channels. First off, how do you know that there are channels 21-25 and do we have any idea what the frequency range is? I may have to buy an ambulance crew's breakfast next time I see them in Dennys so I can pump them for info. Amazing how well that works... ;- )

Tom F

[FLANO]

The following are already in the DB. Perhaps, someone can listen to confirm channel numbers for "ASU" ....

462.25000 WPUS590 RM 67.0 PL SWA Events Events & ASU Stadium

462.30000 467.30000 WPUS590 RM 74.4 PL SWA ASU ASU Stadium

[WIS262]

I've replied with updated special event channels & simplex car to car channels... i guess still waiting on a moderator?

[KB7MIB]

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I always understood the "Move Up/Post" description of the now "Tracking" channels, but thanks for the info on some of the other channels.

[KB7MIB]

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I want to clear up some confusion on my part. When an ambulance is dispatched on a call, they're assigned to a "Response" channel that they communicate with Southwest Alarm on while on that call. Are you now calling that a "Tracking" channel...

[KB7MIB]

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...or is that now the "Assignment" channel? (BTW, "Assignment" is spelled wrong in the DB.)Channel 11 was the Mesa/Gilbert/Apache Junction "Response" channel. 12 was the West Valley "Response" and 19 was the Tempe/Chandler "Response".

[KB7MIB]

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I just want to be clear on the change in terminology, so we're all on the same page. "Response" to me is more clearly descriptive of a channel's useage, than either "Assignment" or "Tracking".

[KB7MIB]

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"AP172 show you responding..." just now on channel 12, West Valley Response. The key word being "responding" here, which is why I label it as "Response". Channel 16, the West Valley Move Up/Post channel, is used to move ambulances around to provide the...

[KB7MIB]

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...best coverage of their areas in order to shorten response times when dispatched. So can we clear this up? Thanks.

[KB7MIB]

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And I apologize for the multiple posts. Posting via my cell phone, I have a limited character capacity per comment, hence the need to break it up so much :/

[WIS262]

Let my try to answer some questions here. I do apologize for the difference in terminology.

Channels 15 & 16 are the main dispatch channels for ems calls in the east and west valley. The dispatcher working these channels are ensuring that move-ups are in place to provide proper coverage. Dispatching the closest ambulance to the calls as they come across either the Phoenix or Mesa CAD systems. They are, the Phoenix Ch1 of SW, essentially.

Now due to the radio system that SW uses, you don't hear the dispatches on either freq. The ambulances are toned via SW VHF 9 and told to either move-up or respond on ch 11 or ch12, respectfully.

The remainder of the call from getting the dispatch info, on scene, transporting, and arriving at hospital are all done on the tracking channels. (i.e. tracking their progress throughout the call).

Some ambulances due to their primary station location, are toned on different freqs. Some Glendale units have their tones come across channel 18. Some mesa units have their tones come across channel 15. They try to keep the tones on the VHF to keep the main UHF channels clear, however this isn't always the case.

Channel 14, however, is different the the metro valley channels. The dispatcher working channel 14 is a secondary PSAP, answering 9-1-1 for Pinal County, while also dispatching, providing EMD, and tracking on the single freq.

I hope this helps.

[cellphone]

Originally Posted by WIS262

Ch41 - Pinal County TAC (I'm not sure what the freq is as its new. Repeater is on Casa Grande Mountain. Dispatch doesn't have it yet, however ambulance mobiles do)

Ch 41 might be 461.4125 based on this license (http://www.radioreference.com/apps/d...llsign=WQPC518).