Large Event Field Dispatching

[bnt133]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, please let me know if it is not and where to post.

Now to the point, I am the a supervisor for an EMS organization in a small city and in the summer months we have multiple events that require more than 1 ambulance, bike teams, ATV teams, walking field units etc... Up until last year we had access to a mobile communications vehicle which we would use for communications at these events but it is no longer in the area, Last summer we were using multiple portable radios for communications with the units and it was inconvenient to say the least. I have looked high and low for a solution to our problem, from Mobile radios to Motorola Desksets, ComTekk software etc...the list goes on and on. I was wondering if anyone knew of any sort of console or software that is relatively cheap. We are looking for something that is capable of Alert tones, MDC paging and QCII Paging. It needs to be on the smaller size so that it can be stored and set up quick and easy. If anyone know of anything console of software please let me know as we are quickly approaching some of our events and would like to have this system in place as soon as possible.

-Brendan

 

[yaknamedjak]

What do a couple cdm1250s lack?


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[bnt133]

We looked in to going that route either mounting them in to a pelican style case or in to one of the power setups but decided against that, if we were to take that route we would probably go with XTL rather than the CDM's so that we could slave a RAB tone to the emergency button to use as an alert tone. But this is a last resort.

 

[yaknamedjak]

Yeah a few xtl5000s seem great. I guess I'm just not seeing why they'd be last resort. Have seen lots of fire/ems command vehicles with remote head setups mounted to a panel in the trunk area and all paging needs can be met AFAIK. What's the downside to them for your use?


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[bnt133]

We already have a command vehicle with radios in the trunk, what we are looking for will be stationary either in a large pop up tent or in a trailer. We feel that if we went with the mobiles things may get a little cluttered with multiple hand mics and do not want to spend extra money on a radio switcher.

 

[KB1UAM]

You can always request mutual aid to the next city/town who has one or the next closest county who has a mobile command center. If you have the radio program with you you can easily add your frequencies into the radios they use.

 

[jsikora]

Or check with other agencies. We routinely utilize our Search and Rescue command post/comms vehicle for events not SAR related because we have multiple radio systems and operators. I know some FD/EMS providers have these also.

 

[MTS2000des]

Mutual aid is the best choice, if one of the participating agencies doesn't have an MCV or trailer they can bring, someone nearby probably does.

In 15 years of coordinating one of the largest road races in my county, we initially did all our dispatching for all services from the county seat's van which they doubled as a command vehicle. More like a few Spectras (back then all analog) and a small desk was installed in the rear. It was a tight fit for all of us, but being at the finish line gave us a great view of the end of the course and crowd.

Later years we moved into their EOC which was miles away. While having more resources (including nice bathrooms!) was nice, being that far removed made us feel disconnected.

 

[krokus]

How large of a geographic area do you need to cover? Would renting a repeater, and using a handheld for dispatch work?

If the events are in the same place, permanently installing a repeater could be useful.

Which sort radio system are you using for your comms?

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[yaknamedjak]

..how many channels would you need to communicate on? My thought will still be to mount as many xtl5000's in a cabinet/rack as necessary with desk mics (rmn50**) and use a labelmaker to stick the channel that that radio is for on the mic...would probably want to investigate an audio out option to speakers though.


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