Baltimore City Fire

[TinEar]

The database has updated information for the Baltimore City Fire Department's Trunked Radio System. This information is very welcome to those of us trying to understand various functions of the department. This information did not originate from me but I'm grateful to have it. I, and everyone else that benefits from it, extend our thanks to the person responsible.

All the channel selections in their radios are explained. That same list has some explanations that go along with it concerning channel selection during fire incidents. Below are those explanations:

1 – C5 is used for a Second Box Alarm working when an ongoing incident is already on C1. Should this second incident become a major fire, individual Company Officers would remain on C5 and Pump Operators and Safety Officers would be moved to C6 and EMS Operations to C7 with the Incident Commander on C8 scanning and broadcasting on C5, C6 & C7.

2 – B1 would be used for a Third Box Alarm working with two ongoing incidents on C1 and C5. Should this third incident escalate, individual Company Officers would remain on B1 with the Pump Operators and Safety Officers being moved to B2 and EMS Operations placed on B3. The Incident Commander would be on B4, scanning and broadcasting on B1, B2 & B3.

3 – B5 would be used for a Fourth Box Alarm with three ongoing incidents operating on C1, C5 and B1. Should this incident escalate, individual Company Officers would remain on B5 with Pump Operators and Safety Officers being moved to B6 and EMS Operations placed on B7. The Incident Commander would be on B8, scanning and broadcasting on B5, B6 & B7.

 

[TinEar]

I should have added something to the above message. There is more info on the way for the Baltimore City Fire bandplan. It suddenly has lots of changes in addition to the expected A/B/C zone/channel layout. I'll get it either submitted to the database or post it here (whichever turns out to be more feasible) once it is in my hands. The gist of the new info is that the mobiles are being reprogrammed for additional zones.

 

[doctordave]

Do we have a known ID# for B9 - the dynamic re-assignment TG?

 

[TinEar]

Not on the info I was given Dave. I just assumed (and could be very wrong) that a dynamic regrouping could be done on the fly - on any talkgroup communications wished it to be. Perhaps I don't understand the concept correctly but it was definitely left blank on the document I got.

 

[ericcarlson]

As I understand it, there is no talkgroup ID for dynamic regroup. When a radio is on that channel the dispatcher can essentially create a custom talkgroup on the fly for whatever radios they want to include. Someone with more knowledge of this feature may be able to explain it better.

-Eric

 

[skipshark773]

if i remember correctly, dynamic regrouping refers to the ability of the dispatcher to temporarly reassign radios to a single, special, mode so that they can communicate with each other. In the MTS2000's used by Baltimore County this mode is shown on the display as A16 DYNMIC 100. I don't know if there is a specific talkgroup ID assigned to this mode but i dont believe there is. It was my understanding that the dispatcher has the ability to create one and apply it to that mode, kinda like an ID for a patch. I might be wrong though, ive never seen talkgroup 100 in use so i have no real idea.

 

[2gigch1]

Dynamic regrouping seems like one of those really neat ideas that will never be used in the real world... sadly.

 

[skipshark773]

Dynamic regrouping seems like one of those really neat ideas that will never be used in the real world... sadly.

well it was created with good intentions. if it ever were to be used though i cant imagine the logistical nightmare that would occur. having all the sytem's users share the same talkgroup for operations would probably cause all sorts of problems.

 

[Admin0140434]

Dynamic regrouping seems like one of those really neat ideas that will never be used in the real world... sadly.

used here in AACo

 

[troymail]

ADmin - if AACo used it, what would be an indicator?

 

[doctordave]

Interesting. Was wondering if there was a TG assignment, because the DE State system has some designated TGs for dynamic regrouping, broken down by county and by police vs FD. Cannot say I've ever heard a peep on them....I'd also been told that DE dispatch centers could select which units would be tossed onto the given TG(s).....a bit of an odd concept.

 

[Admin0140434]

ADmin - if AACo used it, what would be an indicator?

1P

for example, in the batt cheifs radios... 1P is the batt xray channel.
same goes for the vol cheifs, FM's, PIO's, etc... 1P is thier respective xray channel.

 

[TinEar]

The new Baltimore City Fire Department mobile radio channel plan has been submitted to the database and should be up shortly. It contains the band plan for Zones A through H. You will notice some duplicate channels, e.g., in Zone B and H but that's the way they're programmed - at least for now. Once all the mobile radios have been reprogrammed, I would guess some of these dups will be taken out of the plan - or not - depending on radio model assignments.

 

[TinEar]

The new band plan for Zones A through H of the Baltimore Fire Department are now in the database. It looks kind of weird right now but that's the way it is. My understanding is that the old XTS3000 radios will be replaced by something with a keypad so they'll be compatible across all eight zones. Money is coming from somewhere. Homeland Security? Nextel, as part of the rebanding plan? Dunno.

There is also something that should have gone in with the full Zone A-C layout and notes that got left off. That is on the A15 Lateral talkgroup 1872. A15 Lateral is also used by the Fire Apparatus Coordinator in the event of mechanical problems with apparatus (in addition to unit-to-unit comms).

Some of the questions I'm getting in personal emails should probably be asked in this thread for two reasons: 1. because I'm feeling lazy and 2. it will prevent answering the same things over and over again. (Is that all the same reason?) A lot of the questions came because I mentioned A-H zones and there was nothing in the database about that. It's all there now.

 

[mlevin]

Al, A16 is blank. Do you know if they are going to be taking out TG A16 Admin, or is that just a typo?

 

[TinEar]

I don't know but I'll ask. There are some other things labeled differently on the new scheme too. Note C4 becomes C1A - as do the other three supervisor or announcement talkgroups...C5A, B1A, B5A. (I guess I should call them "Incident command" talkgroups as the list does.)

 

[Dispatcher308]

Moe A16 is a conventional frequency that is in use as an admin frequency

 

[mlevin]

Nathan, I beg to differ. I have it as TGID 2064 in my radio and have heard it used on several occasions. Unless they're taking out that TG and replacing it with a conventional freq :?

 

[Dispatcher308]

Ok I am sorry I wasnt aware of that I am sorry. Oh Well I dont listen to the city much.

 

[mlevin]

No prob. 8)