johnmoe1
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Am I likely to ever hear anything on the 800 MHz SOA channels (middle of Dakota County)?
How about the analog 800 MHz channels?
How about the analog 800 MHz channels?
800 MHz SOA
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In all reality, they are a great idea, but rarely used. Not enough radio users know their radios well enough to even know their purpose.
The instances that I have used them are for training in remote areas that didn't have coverage or our radios didn't have permission to use the local sites.
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The instances that I have used them are for training in remote areas that didn't have coverage or our radios didn't have permission to use the local sites.
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FWIW, I'm an "outsider" on the Minnesota system. With that said, our local system is a P25 simulcast system and has a simplex channel for use in "out of range" areas. Our radios are programmed with an audible alert when we get out of range. That is a very rare occurence.
Our use of the SOA/Simplex channel is most often for short distance communications and we didn't want to use system resources for what was mostly "chit chat".
The analog channels are part of a National Interoperability plan. In concept every responder's radio has these channels. If a real big incident occurs and "outside resources" deploy to an area, those 5 channels would be for communications purposes. By "outside resources" I mean those who come from great distances. Responding to Hurrican Katrina is an example.
Our use of the SOA/Simplex channel is most often for short distance communications and we didn't want to use system resources for what was mostly "chit chat".
The analog channels are part of a National Interoperability plan. In concept every responder's radio has these channels. If a real big incident occurs and "outside resources" deploy to an area, those 5 channels would be for communications purposes. By "outside resources" I mean those who come from great distances. Responding to Hurrican Katrina is an example.
I doubt it. I know of two times I've ever heard them. 1) Rochester uses them in some schools that armer doesn't work in. 2) one Waseca Co fire dept uses them as their fire grounds because they don't believe in trunking.
N0FPY
Member
Minneapolis PD & FD have used SOA channels in cases where they are in a sub basement downtown and can't communicate on the regular talk groups. I know underground parking ramps where communication is lost on the ARMER system (even on a mobile radio).
The City of Winona F.D. uses them every-day for Ops, while on-scene, for Fires, Alarms, etc.
While there are those who favor SOA/Simplex channels for routine fireground use, I disfavor this practice.
One scenario is there are two on-going incidents in close proximity to each other. A mobile at one scene may key-up without realizing a portable at the other scene is also transmitting, thus creating interference.
Another issue is that if its a big enough incident where mutual aid or additional companies are called, additional responders can't hear what is going on. Thus when they arrive, they may not know as much as they could with respect to on-going progress or what would be expected of them.
The biggest issue is that all of the potentials of the system aren't available on SOA channels. For example, the distress/emergency button may not be active. Depending on how the system is programmed, a radio in distress can have a high system access priority.
Then there is a lack of recording of radio traffic for critique or documentation purposes.
One scenario is there are two on-going incidents in close proximity to each other. A mobile at one scene may key-up without realizing a portable at the other scene is also transmitting, thus creating interference.
Another issue is that if its a big enough incident where mutual aid or additional companies are called, additional responders can't hear what is going on. Thus when they arrive, they may not know as much as they could with respect to on-going progress or what would be expected of them.
The biggest issue is that all of the potentials of the system aren't available on SOA channels. For example, the distress/emergency button may not be active. Depending on how the system is programmed, a radio in distress can have a high system access priority.
Then there is a lack of recording of radio traffic for critique or documentation purposes.
sfd119
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I disagree. Most every agency in my area uses statewide Fireground Blue for "ops". We haven't encountered a situation yet where we've had issues with other agencies using it.
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