Is DFR or EMS still using the biotel channels on NTIRN ?
Biotel channels Dallas question
- Thread starter kmartin
- Start date
DFR rarely uses them. Only if they cannot contact Biotel 'normally'/ (They just about never used the old Biomed channels either. Those in the 463.000 to 463.175Mhz range.) I presume they may normally use cellular.
Other than the occasional (very occasional) DFR Rescue on the Biotel TGIDs, I sometimes hear units from somewhere else on there, giving patients status to be passed to their destination hospital. I've heard one of the inbound medevac copters pass details to be forwarded to their intended receiving facility, This might be PHI, or other airmed provider, coming from well outside of the immediate metro area, reporting what they have. I don't recall ever hearing CareFlite on there, but some of the other providers might be heard, though that's rare.
I'm wondering if they are on the DFR encrypted channels ?
I have heard CareFlite use the BIOTEL talkgroup, at least twice in the last month or so, bringing burn patients from Fort Worth. The injured FF was one of those.
I missed that one, I guess. So, apparently, they have the capability to access those talkgroups but do not regularly use it.The Biotel TGID's are programmed in both of my SDS scanners, but I get a lot of activity on other talkgroups. I'd have to concentrate on just the Biotel's in order to try & determine all of the users.
No way to know that. Other than the "Arson" & "Inspection" TGID's, which are tagged as encrypted in the database, I have all of the other DFR related channels programmed, and not set as avoid. However, since these scanners normally skip encrypted transmissions, I have nothing to work with. If the scanner stopped on one, & identified the UID, I might be able to cross match user with the UIDs that I collected & saved for DFR units. Those are programmed, and show up when reviewing audio files in the Universal Scanner Audio Player. I may try my TRX-1, which can be set to capture encrypted talkgroups, & see if it harvests any UIDs from encrypted transmissions. Obviously it will not capture clear audio, but finding one or more 'known' UIDs to cross-match might help. Of course, it's vulnerability to simulcast extortion may hamper any success using it.
Not that I'm aware of. The encrypted DFR channels are primarily for specialized units and investigators.
BrokenCircuit
Member
I don't remember the name of the technology but the Ambulances where I live are all using a new data technology transmitting patient reports via the laptops they use. The guys that transported me the last three times were telling me everyone is going to the protocol, its supposed to be more reliable and secure than voice. They used it to send to Medical City, BS&W and Hunt Regional. I scan Biotel and it's just been really dead for a while. Even the med report channels on Collin Co (PAWMCO) have become more silent. Then there's that almighty Cellphone ...
Pulsara. Patient record is generated in the field, all information and treatments are entered into a tablet device and transmitted to the hospital. It becomes part of the patients record from first "At Patient" contact though out their treatment. They can print out wrist bands, and bar codes to attach to the patients possessions and the like. No more OTA patient reports. Fort Worth EMS(formerly MedStar) has been using it for about a year now. I have heard CareFlite Air mention it, but I talked to a PHI paramedic who indicated its use was frowned on, in the same regard as using a cell phone in flight.
BrokenCircuit
Member
That's the one! An Allegiance medic was telling me this is being used all over the place, Even Hunt County AMR is using it, watched em do it last night transporting me lol.
Ultimately because of this and other data technologies the days of listening to Biotel may be numbered ..
Ultimately because of this and other data technologies the days of listening to Biotel may be numbered ..
Here in Galveston EMS still give patient reports to UTMB over the radio, it's quite busy.
