Chicago Fire Dept. 2012

[werinshades]

New Firehouse/District Changes

New firehouse opened up officially on Sept. 23rd at 53 E. Pershing Road (39th Wabash) and the following changes will be occuring:

Sept. 23rd: Engine 16 and Ambulance 35 are now quartered there.

Sept. 25th: Haz Mat Unit 5-1-1 relocating from Eng. 22's quarters. New "response districts" for HazMat units 5-1-1 and 5-1-2 (O'Hare Airport) also take effect at 0800 hrs. Madison Ave. will be the north and south borders and any responses on Madison will be the responsibility of 5-1-1.

Sept. 27: EMS Field Division South will be relocating from the old Engine 61's house (5349 S. Wabash) to their new location as of 0800 Hrs.

Oct. 1st: EMS Field Chiefs will be changing response areas/administrative assignments (Ambulances under their command).


***Digital Radio Training is still occuring and no "official" word on the changeover date. This is the reason for the delay I was told****

 

[werinshades]

Additional Changes

New firehouse opened up officially on Sept. 23rd at 53 E. Pershing Road (39th Wabash) and the following changes will be occuring:

Sept. 23rd: Engine 16 and Ambulance 35 are now quartered there.

Sept. 25th: Haz Mat Unit 5-1-1 relocating from Eng. 22's quarters. New "response districts" for HazMat units 5-1-1 and 5-1-2 (O'Hare Airport) also take effect at 0800 hrs. Madison Ave. will be the north and south borders and any responses on Madison will be the responsibility of 5-1-1.

Sept. 27: EMS Field Division South will be relocating from the old Engine 61's house (5349 S. Wabash) to their new location as of 0800 Hrs.

Oct. 1st: EMS Field Chiefs will be changing response areas/administrative assignments (Ambulances under their command).


***Digital Radio Training is still occuring and no "official" word on the changeover date. This is the reason for the delay I was told****

Sept. 26th: Battalion 4 and EMS Field Chief 4-5-7 will be doing a "Firehouse Swap" as of 0800 hrs. Battalion 4 will be relocating to Engine 23's house at 1915 S. Damen. 4-5-7 will be relocating to Engine 18's house at 1401 S. Blue Island.

Sept. 27th: 0800 Hrs. EMS Field Chief 4-5-6 will be relocating to Engine 121's house at 1740 W. 95th st.

 

[FFPM571]

This came across the CFD twitter feed...@CFDMedia: Chicago Fire plans to switch to Digital Radio operation by Jan 2013. Mode will be P25 UHF in "Clear". Analog will be discontinued.

Well It has to be by then ... the VHF is not narroband compliant

 

[werinshades]

This came across the CFD twitter feed...@CFDMedia: Chicago Fire plans to switch to Digital Radio operation by Jan 2013. Mode will be P25 UHF in "Clear". Analog will be discontinued.

Well It has to be by then ... the VHF is not narroband compliant

Yes...I reeived that tweet do and said the same thing. Their has been alot of testing for the last few days...CTA Fire, Metro 3, City-Wide Fire. Subway testing mainly on CTA Fire. If I get any further "official" updates, i'll post.

 

[multiplex]

what does this mean ?

What does chicago fd mean by clear analog discontinue mean, does that mean encryation for chicago fd dispatch ? thanks !

 

[ilgrant]

"Clear" means it will not be encrypted.

The current analog channel will no longer be in use by the end of the year.

 

[werinshades]

What does chicago fd mean by clear analog discontinue mean, does that mean encryation for chicago fd dispatch ? thanks !

Digital System will be used "in the clear for day-to-day Operations", but Encryption can be used by EMS Chiefs, FS&R Chiefs and Exempt Rank Personnel. VHF will be discontinued...soon.

 

[multiplex]

thanks !

THANKS ! to WERINSHADES and everyone who has kept us informed about CHICAGO f d new radio system and the delays in getting it online .

 

[Chicago2210]

5-11 late last night/early this morning this was the first I (and for other scanner listeners the first time in a long time) herd 2-1-3 act as the IC. I fell asleep listing to this and it was still going on when I go up.

 

[FFPM571]

Hoff used to IC a few fires too..

 

[werinshades]

Main/Englewood (Digital) Testing

Quite a bit of testing has been going on over the weekend and today on the digital fire channels. No memo's or orders out yet on the date of the switchover, but heard something of a "test run" prior to going live. I'd guess (my guess now, so don't hold me to it), that companies may use the digital system for a short time, then switch back to the analog until the "going live" date occurs. I'll update when I know for sure.

 

[werinshades]

Quite a bit of testing has been going on over the weekend and today on the digital fire channels. No memo's or orders out yet on the date of the switchover, but heard something of a "test run" prior to going live. I'd guess (my guess now, so don't hold me to it), that companies may use the digital system for a short time, then switch back to the analog until the "going live" date occurs. I'll update when I know for sure.

Air Sea Rescue doing"range" testing yesterday. Helicopter 6-8-2 and Fast Rescue Boat 6-8-8 were testing the Digital Repeater range/"New" UHF Fireground. All was working well from the testing I heard.

 

[FFPM571]

Were they using any of the UHF stuff at the 5-11 the other night? Im sure the EMS side was as normal.

 

[werinshades]

Were they using any of the UHF stuff at the 5-11 the other night? Im sure the EMS side was as normal.

No...they don't have the portable radios yet that are digital capable. Only the EMS radio is that each company carries.

 

[FFPM571]

Somewhat related... Chicago asks for a narrowband waiver...

Chicago Has Few Techs, Wants Narrowband Waiver | Dispatch Magazine On-Line         

 

[werinshades]

October 2, 2012
SUBJECT: RADIO TEST OF MAIN AND ENGLEWOOD DIGITAL UHF FIRE CHANNELS
From Saturday October 6 to Monday October 8, 2012, at 0900 hours each day, the Office of Emergency
Management and Communication (OEMC) will be conducting a radio test of the Chicago Fire
Department (CFD) Digital Radio System UHF Main and Englewood fire channels.
Prior to these tests, all Company Officers shall conduct a complete inspection of their company issued
digital portable radio ensuring to a have fully charged battery.
On these dates the daily OEMC 0900 hour radio test of the VHF radio channels with the Mobile
Communications Vehicles (Command Vans) will be conducted as scheduled. Immediately following
the VHF scheduled test, the OEMC will conduct a second test of the CFD Digital UHF system. The test
will begin with the digital UHF Main Fire channel, followed by the digital UHF Englewood Fire
channel in the FD Zone with each Mobile Communications Vehicle, as well as, the following fire
companies:
Engine 10
Engine 32
Engine 42
Engine 44
Engine 64
Engine 80
Engine 78
Engine 86
The Company Officer shall conduct the test from the apparatus floor using their digital UHF portable
radio. Each company will acknowledge the radio test as their signature is announced and state one of
the following:
 Loud and clear
 Scratchy but readable
 Unreadable
For example: “Engine 42 loud and clear”
Engine 92
Engine 96
Engine 97
Engine 99
Engine 102
Engine 116
Engine 119
Engine 126

The OEMC shall announce when the test is concluded. All Fire Suppression & Rescue companies not involved in the test will monitor their digital UHF portable radios during the test. In the event a company cannot hear the radio test, the Company Officer shall call the appropriate OEMC office on the Marshal Line and make the notification.
If a company is dispatched by the OEMC for an incident, the company will be omitted from the digital radio test.

 

[werinshades]

SUBJECT: TEST PERIOD OF THE UHF DIGITAL FIRE CHANNELS

Starting at 0800 on Sunday October 14, 2012, the Office of Emergency Management &
Communications (OEMC) shall be using the UHF Digital Main and Englewood Fire channels in the
FD zone for a several day period to test the system. During this test period, all communications
between Division of Fire Suppression & Rescue companies and the Main or Englewood offices
will be conducted on the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) Digital Radio System UHF Main and
Englewood fire channels in the FD zone. All Company Officers/Chief Officers must use their
company issued UHF Digital Portable Radio (“Yellow EMS Radio” or newly issued digital yellow
faced fire radio) to communicate to the OEMC through the appropriate CFD Digital UHF Main and
Englewood fire channels in the FD zone. The OEMC will determine when the test period is
concluded and will relay information via Simulcast to all firehouses. No communications will be
transmitted on the VHF Main and Englewood channels.
During this test period, all VHF mobile radios (apparatus radios) will be turned to the
Administrative channel (Channel 3) with the volume at an appropriate level. This channel will
be utilized for backup communications between OEMC and fire companies.
Communications on all other channels (Fireground, Admin, Command channel, etc.) will be
transmitted on the current portable VHF fire radios through normal procedures.
During this test period, both UHF and VHF portable radios must be carried on all runs to
ensure proper communication and safety of the members.
Battalion Chiefs will ensure that all companies under their command are equipped with digital UHF
portable radios and are utilizing the proper Zones and frequencies throughout this testing period.
If a replacement UHF Digital Portable Radio is needed, Company Officers will contact their
appropriate District.
This testing period only includes Fire Suppression & Rescue companies. During this time,
EMS Companies will continue to use their current communication procedures.

 

[Monaco]

10/14/12 Chicago's First Digital Fire Channel Traffic - Recording by Radioman911.com Justin.tv - Chicago Tower - 2012/10/14 Chicago's First Digital Fire Channel Traffic

 

[Tx4]

Hi Dave! Donnie

 

[werinshades]

SUBJECT: TEST PERIOD OF THE UHF DIGITAL FIRE CHANNELS

Starting at 0800 on Sunday October 14, 2012, the Office of Emergency Management &
Communications (OEMC) shall be using the UHF Digital Main and Englewood Fire channels in the
FD zone for a several day period to test the system. During this test period, all communications
between Division of Fire Suppression & Rescue companies and the Main or Englewood offices
will be conducted on the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) Digital Radio System UHF Main and
Englewood fire channels in the FD zone. All Company Officers/Chief Officers must use their
company issued UHF Digital Portable Radio (“Yellow EMS Radio” or newly issued digital yellow
faced fire radio) to communicate to the OEMC through the appropriate CFD Digital UHF Main and
Englewood fire channels in the FD zone. The OEMC will determine when the test period is
concluded and will relay information via Simulcast to all firehouses. No communications will be
transmitted on the VHF Main and Englewood channels.
During this test period, all VHF mobile radios (apparatus radios) will be turned to the
Administrative channel (Channel 3) with the volume at an appropriate level. This channel will
be utilized for backup communications between OEMC and fire companies.
Communications on all other channels (Fireground, Admin, Command channel, etc.) will be
transmitted on the current portable VHF fire radios through normal procedures.
During this test period, both UHF and VHF portable radios must be carried on all runs to
ensure proper communication and safety of the members.
Battalion Chiefs will ensure that all companies under their command are equipped with digital UHF
portable radios and are utilizing the proper Zones and frequencies throughout this testing period.
If a replacement UHF Digital Portable Radio is needed, Company Officers will contact their
appropriate District.
This testing period only includes Fire Suppression & Rescue companies. During this time,
EMS Companies will continue to use their current communication procedures.

Temporarily switching back to the VHF channels at 0800 hours tomorrow 10-21-12. I was told a new Main Fire Console is being installed. Digital was very well received by those i've spoken to, even though using portable radios. Curent ADMIN and EMS Command will be switched in the next reprogramming of the radios. EMS Command will go back using the 462.975 .