MercyONE Unit/Radio IDs

radioboy75

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257
Location
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Does anybody have a list of MercyONE unit or radio IDS (RID/UID)? I don't mean talkgroups, but that would be an interesting discussion too. I found somewhere that the Sioux City helicopter is supposedly called "AirMed 2" but I can't find a RID for it. All the RIDs that have shown up in the last year or so on my local tower (Rock Rapids, so as far northwest as you can go), from the audio, have all been either dispatch, or some form of AirMed 4 (the Des Moines bird). Either in-flight, the pilot, or crew. No one ever says "AirMed 2," which I would expect them to, since Sioux City is the closest MercyOne air base to me.

I have heard:
10779541 Called self "AirMed 4" but haven't heard this ID since October
10779550 Believe to be Airmed 4 pilot from traffic
10779552 Believe to be Airmed 4 crew from traffic
10779553 unknown. Only ever heard very short calls.
10779572 Dispatch (obvious by traffic)
10779576 Called self "AirMed 4"

I also have these in my notes, but I don't know where I came across this information:
10779536 is supposedly AirMed3
10779575 is supposedly AirMed4 ???
10779528 is supposedly base (dsm?)
10779577 is supposedly a heli.

Very interesting that I only ever hear AirMed4, especially considering the significant distance from here to Des Moines.

Can anyone tell me what RIDs they hear from Mercy?
 

timsheff

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Dec 14, 2023
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SW Cedar Rapids
Does anybody have a list of MercyONE unit or radio IDS (RID/UID)? I don't mean talkgroups, but that would be an interesting discussion too. I found somewhere that the Sioux City helicopter is supposedly called "AirMed 2" but I can't find a RID for it. All the RIDs that have shown up in the last year or so on my local tower (Rock Rapids, so as far northwest as you can go), from the audio, have all been either dispatch, or some form of AirMed 4 (the Des Moines bird). Either in-flight, the pilot, or crew. No one ever says "AirMed 2," which I would expect them to, since Sioux City is the closest MercyOne air base to me.

I have heard:
10779541 Called self "AirMed 4" but haven't heard this ID since October
10779550 Believe to be Airmed 4 pilot from traffic
10779552 Believe to be Airmed 4 crew from traffic
10779553 unknown. Only ever heard very short calls.
10779572 Dispatch (obvious by traffic)
10779576 Called self "AirMed 4"

I also have these in my notes, but I don't know where I came across this information:
10779536 is supposedly AirMed3
10779575 is supposedly AirMed4 ???
10779528 is supposedly base (dsm?)
10779577 is supposedly a heli.

Very interesting that I only ever hear AirMed4, especially considering the significant distance from here to Des Moines.

Can anyone tell me what RIDs they hear from Mercy?
I've updated the following pages with the UIDs I've picked up on ISICS in the East part of the state. This should help some...

 

kayn1n32008

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Does anybody have a list of MercyONE unit or radio IDS (RID/UID)? I don't mean talkgroups, but that would be an interesting discussion too. I found somewhere that the Sioux City helicopter is supposedly called "AirMed 2" but I can't find a RID for it. All the RIDs that have shown up in the last year or so on my local tower (Rock Rapids, so as far northwest as you can go), from the audio, have all been either dispatch, or some form of AirMed 4 (the Des Moines bird). Either in-flight, the pilot, or crew. No one ever says "AirMed 2," which I would expect them to, since Sioux City is the closest MercyOne air base to me.

I have heard:
10779541 Called self "AirMed 4" but haven't heard this ID since October
10779550 Believe to be Airmed 4 pilot from traffic
10779552 Believe to be Airmed 4 crew from traffic
10779553 unknown. Only ever heard very short calls.
10779572 Dispatch (obvious by traffic)
10779576 Called self "AirMed 4"

I also have these in my notes, but I don't know where I came across this information:
10779536 is supposedly AirMed3
10779575 is supposedly AirMed4 ???
10779528 is supposedly base (dsm?)
10779577 is supposedly a heli.

Very interesting that I only ever hear AirMed4, especially considering the significant distance from here to Des Moines.

Can anyone tell me what RIDs they hear from Mercy?
Keep in mind, the call sign 'AirMed4' is likely used by multiple helicopters, based on airframe availability. The specific RID in use can potentially vary as well with in a specific airframe if they are using a Technisonic air certified LMR that has multiple RF units in it.

Technisonic has one aircertified LMR radio that can have up to 6 APX8000 portable radio chassis with in it. In theory, tye medical crew and pilot could use 2, or more different RID, even when talking on the same talk group, with in the same airframe.

Just a couple varibles to keep in mind when trying to tie RID to callsign.

Your best bet is to ALSO track by tail number on Flight Radar 24 or ADS-B while collecting RID, then you can connect RID with a specific airframe.
 

kayn1n32008

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Also, they may also be using portable radios by the crew members when not in flight. I believe my local HEMS crews also carry portable radios to be able to communicate amongst themselves when not in the air.
 

radioboy75

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Messages
257
Location
Rock Rapids, Iowa
I have a new theory. Callsigns cannot be connected to RIDS. I found another RID, 10779576, and listened to the archived audio coming from that RID. The people transmitting have identified as "AirMed 3," "AirMed 4," and "AirMed 2." So yeah. Not very useful for me. I just wanted to know when the Sioux City bird was in the air without actually having to hear the traffic. Seems like the only way of doing that is with FlightAware or something like it.
 

n0esc

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Dec 19, 2002
Messages
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Location
SE MN EN33
I have a new theory. Callsigns cannot be connected to RIDS. I found another RID, 10779576, and listened to the archived audio coming from that RID. The people transmitting have identified as "AirMed 3," "AirMed 4," and "AirMed 2." So yeah. Not very useful for me. I just wanted to know when the Sioux City bird was in the air without actually having to hear the traffic. Seems like the only way of doing that is with FlightAware or something like it.
This is accurate. The reason is that the RID probably belongs to a portable radio that is "assigned" to a crew member. The crew has a "home" base but will work and fly from all locations and rotate across the state as needed, sometimes quite often if they are willing to pick up or cover staffing needs. Since the pilots and helis are contract from Air Methods, you'll probably see overlapping RIDS between UnityPoint Life Flight and MercyOne frequently as far a pilots/airframes. The medical patient care crew would stick to individual hospital networks.
 
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