EMS call at Central Square MBTA subway station was assigned to Channel 14 - not Ch 5 as most EMS calls are.
472.5375 (Ch 5) has digital traffic. Not analog traffic. Will turn on the digital scanner at some point and grab the NAC.
Incidents are dispatched initially via the Dispatch Talkgroup (TG). This TG is apparently only broadcast via the TRS. Fire incidents are rebroadcast via Ch 1 within 1 minute. At least 1 responding fire unit signs on on Ch 1 to acknowledge the call. Unit will call off at the scene on Ch 1, and then switch to the assigned channel. Typical EMS calls are assigned to Ch 5. Fire calls are assigned to Ch 14 or Ch 16. Finishing the call, units will call the dispatcher on Ch 1 with a "code" number.
The feed at Wicked Local broadcasts both Fire Ch 1 and Fire Dispatch via the Cambridge Fire button. This is not obvious without a little digging.
Calls for "fire alarm sounding" receive 1 Engine and 1 Ladder. Sometimes also 1 chief. These incident are assigned to either Ch 14 or Ch 16 typically.
471.3125 R (analog) rebroadcasts the Ch 1 TG from the TRS. At my location 471.3125R is heard much better than 472.5375.
All of this info is based on recent monitoring. Either via the Internet or over the air.
It is possible that the Cambridge TRS does not work in the 4 subway stations in Cambridge. That might explain why the EMS calls are assigned to Ch 14. It might also explain why the in the past Cambridge PD has been heard telling PD units to switch to Police Ch 16 in the Harvard Square subway station.
472.5375 (Ch 5) has digital traffic. Not analog traffic. Will turn on the digital scanner at some point and grab the NAC.
Incidents are dispatched initially via the Dispatch Talkgroup (TG). This TG is apparently only broadcast via the TRS. Fire incidents are rebroadcast via Ch 1 within 1 minute. At least 1 responding fire unit signs on on Ch 1 to acknowledge the call. Unit will call off at the scene on Ch 1, and then switch to the assigned channel. Typical EMS calls are assigned to Ch 5. Fire calls are assigned to Ch 14 or Ch 16. Finishing the call, units will call the dispatcher on Ch 1 with a "code" number.
The feed at Wicked Local broadcasts both Fire Ch 1 and Fire Dispatch via the Cambridge Fire button. This is not obvious without a little digging.
Calls for "fire alarm sounding" receive 1 Engine and 1 Ladder. Sometimes also 1 chief. These incident are assigned to either Ch 14 or Ch 16 typically.
471.3125 R (analog) rebroadcasts the Ch 1 TG from the TRS. At my location 471.3125R is heard much better than 472.5375.
All of this info is based on recent monitoring. Either via the Internet or over the air.
It is possible that the Cambridge TRS does not work in the 4 subway stations in Cambridge. That might explain why the EMS calls are assigned to Ch 14. It might also explain why the in the past Cambridge PD has been heard telling PD units to switch to Police Ch 16 in the Harvard Square subway station.
