New Dispatcher Needs Input

ECHO3 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 09:01 AM

I have been on our console now for about a month. I work for a county unit using VHF analog. At times, ops. are coordinated with fed entities. Some use our equipment, others field program their radios to our frequencies and PLs. When these entities use their own radios should I be seeing an ID of on my screen when they ptt?

Grog · #2 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 09:47 AM

If they didn't program their radios to send the info, you won't see it.

kingpin · #3 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 09:53 AM

I agree. If it's not programmed for the radio to send it's ID, you won't see it. This is a good and a bad thing. Helps identify what radios do not belong on the system. None of the agencies in my area use the PTT ID feature. I don't bother programing the ID's into their radios anymore. We're just not that sophisticated I guess! LOL There are times when I was a dispatcher that I wish we had it.

ECHO3 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 02:33 PM

Thanks, Guys. Suppose they do have an ID programmed into their units that doesn't correspond to any of our units? Do the feds use some standard ID format that any dispatcher can use for validation?

studgeman · #5 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 04:18 PM

Yes, no, maybe, that information is classified. Expect any or all of those answers to that praticular question.

What you might wish to suggest is your county assign your federal partners an ID set and have them program that into their radios for your frequency. IDs can be set on a per channel basis. There is precendent for this in many areas of the country.

ECHO3 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 06:47 PM

You would think that if such IDs existed and classified that someone in our com center would tell me and the other new dispatcher. I did ask a senior dispatcher/supervisor and drawing from his "well " of knowledge, he more or less indicated that he didn't know, but as long as he recognized the "call sign", e.g. Roamer 1, that was OK with him. The irony is that one of the experienced officers working for one of the 8 departments we served was hammered for purchasing his own portable and not registering it before he used it. So, I conclude that anyone can access our system if we receive a recognized fed call sign, but if a known officer doesn't have a programmed ID, God help him.

SLWilson · #7 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 07:52 PM

When they field program that stuff, they're probably leaving out that step. Think of it as your grandmother trying to set the timer on a VCR to record a movie. You're lucky they even get your PL put in so you can hear them at all !!!! Steve/Gallia

ECHO3 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 08:33 PM

I'll go you one better. My wife can't program our VCR. Go figure. If there is a dispatcher colleague on this site, please let me know if the answer is yes, no or maybe. Send a PM if you consider your response to contain sensitive information. Thanks.

BigDog-911 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 09:54 PM

Most of the federal users of our channels do not have encoders on their radios. The only exception is if they are issued the radios through our radio shop. There are several local, state and federal agencies that utilize our frequencies without the encoders as well as our mobile radios within the department no longer use the encoders.

D
MetroSafe Communications
Serving the 16th largest city in America.

studgeman · #10 (**permalink**) 01-18-2006, 09:56 AM

Alot of this discussion has taken place without identifying the praticular agencies in question. In my experience agenices which have regular patrols, such as Border/Customs, use MDC IDs, this is assuming they havent been converted over to P25 (FYI the new P25 radios are MDC capable as well, programmable per channel but mutually exclusive with P25 channels) Other agencies such as DEA, which has much more iterant (sp?) communications gerenally will not use them. You will almost never see them on Simplex communications. Half the point with IDs is to have a control or command center be able to identify the person. Joint operations with the Feds seem to be a common occurance in you area. I would be suprised if there wasn't a working group of some sort between the agencies involved, probably made up of all enforment officers and no communications people. There has to be some mechanism to make your issues known and to figure out a resolution. The easiest solution to this is just assigning a block of IDs to your federal partners for when they operate on the county channels.

KS4VT · #11 (**permalink**) 01-18-2006, 08:31 PM

You may want to check if an Inter-Agency radio access agreement exists and see if there are any requirements for being assigned an ID. For officer safety they shouldn't have a problem with it and being they are a guest on the system they should adhere to your operational protocols.