Inland Empire Streamline Scanning Set Up?

[Code20Photog]

I'm programming the scanners for our Inland Empire Bureau and wanted to keep it streamlined as much as possible so they don't have to wade through too much. They're not all that scanner savy, so building it as user friendly as possible.

I'm rarely out there, so I don't have a sense of how they use the tac and command channels in San Bernardino and Riverside County. Basically I want them to be able to hear the dispatch and then the pertinent information as an incident is working, without overwhelming them with actual operational stuff.

For Riverside County, I'm assuming the "response" channels are just that, the basic response channels, while the tactical are where on scene operations will be. But what are the RVC Command Channels used for?

In SBCo, it seems pretty straightforward, Command is where the scene to dispatch stuff will be and Tac is fireground, correct?

Also, with a lot of USFS and CalFire out there, besides the dispatch channels, what else would be pertinent to listen to? Where would an incident within one of the National Forests be at, and with Cal Fire, do they ever use anything other than the taticals assigned to the RRU and BDU?

And any other suggestions of what they should listen to besides the obvious?

 

[Kingscup]

For Riverside County, I'm assuming the "response" channels are just that, the basic response channels, while the tactical are where on scene operations will be. But what are the RVC Command Channels used for?

The Command channels (non-response) are mostly used for potentially larger incidents like vegetation fires. Other complex incidents may also use them. A structure fire within a city limit will likely use one of the response channels while a structure fire in a rural area where there is potential for spreading into the vegetation will likely be on one of the command channels. CDF Command 1/2/3 and RRU 2 can also be used for vegetation fires. I have only heard RVC Command 2 used on occasion. I don't think I have heard any radio traffic on RVC Command 3 but I don't listen like I used to.

Also, with a lot of USFS and CalFire out there, besides the dispatch channels, what else would be pertinent to listen to? Where would an incident within one of the National Forests be at, and with Cal Fire, do they ever use anything other than the taticals assigned to the RRU and BDU?

Here are the freqs for the USFS within Riverside county.

United States Forest Service (California) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for United States Forest Service (California)

www.radioreference.com

VFIRE and VTAC channels are also used for incidents.

 

[avdrummerboy]

You're talking about two very different areas with many different agencies/ departments who respond. For both counties you've mentioned, you won't be able to hear any law traffic aside from CHP, where you will hear any major freeway events.

As to San Bernardino County, the 2-DISP-1 and 3-DISP-2 channels are the dispatch only channels, where you will hear the initial call go out. The CMD channels are the command/ response channels where all responding units operate. The TAC channels are used on "working" incidents where the main CMD channels will need to be clear of too much radio traffic. If you have people going out to remote areas, the BDC V-1 through V-7 channels are used in some spotty areas. The only ambulance company that isn't encrypted is Desert Ambulance in Barstow.

Riverside is a bit different in that CalFire is the main Fire Dept of the county. Therefore, the RRU 1 through RRU 3 channels are for the main dispatch channels for county areas. The CMD channels are for command/ response and the tac channels are for on scene use for bigger incidents. If you have a NXDN scanner, you can also listen to AMR in the county and in the city of Riverside they have a UHF channel that's still active. For the individual cities, the main dispatch channel is where the dispatch happens and the other channels are used for responses.

As to other agencies, there are many in those two counties, so not sure what all you'd want to listen to. There are NPS areas like Joshua tree NP as well and the USFS for San Bernardino and Angeles National forests. There is also BLM area you can listen to. Also as mentioned above CHP is analog unencrypted.

Hope this helps, if there is any clarification you'd like I will try and help with what I can.

 

[kearthfan101]

The only ambulance company that isn't encrypted is Desert Ambulance in Barstow.

I thought they're also encrypted. TG 3737 DE in database and I've never heard them unless they've changed something or still VHF..

 

[avdrummerboy]

The county gave all ambulance companies encrypted talk groups on the system, but Desert and Baker ambulances don’t use them. Desert still primarily uses the VHF channel and Baker EMS uses COMMCENTER as their dispatch center so they are on 3-CMD-9 primarily.

 

[tkenny53]

RRU is very sketchy on reception, you will hear the calls, one better than the other, it depends on where you are at, and what tower is doing the output.

 

[kearthfan101]

The county gave all ambulance companies encrypted talk groups on the system, but Desert and Baker ambulances don’t use them. Desert still primarily uses the VHF channel and Baker EMS uses COMMCENTER as their dispatch center so they are on 3-CMD-9 primarily.

Thanks! I'll add it back in then.

 

[avdrummerboy]

Just to add in, Desert Ambulance uses a simplex only channel, so you have to be pretty close to Barstow to hear them. Occasionally, they pop up on the COMMCENTER channel and may use their own ENC channel in the more remote areas of their EOA. But when I've travelled through and hung out in the city of Barstow, I hear them well on their main VHF channel.