Montgomery County Fire COG Numbering System

[ScanManQSL]

This really turns everything upside down for us. I just found out that Montgomery County Fire is switching to the Council of Governments (COG) Unit Designation System. Starting on January 07, 2006 the new COG Policy 01-07 will be in place. All heavy apparatus the county owns will be MoCo Red with a gold stripe and COG numbers. EMS units will stay all white with red and gold stripes.

MontCo is going to be the 700 number series

Examples for Station 8
E81 = E708
E82 = E708A
B85 = B708
A86 = A708B
A87 = A708A
A88 = A708
M89 = M708
AT8 = ?
BC5= BC795
C8X1 = C708
C8X2 = C708A
C8X3 = C708B

Draft Policies & Procedure
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/firtmpl.asp?url=/content/firerescue/ofc/draftpolicy/index.asp




Apparatus Presentation

Apparatus Graphics - Appendice - A

COG 700 Unit Numbers - Station Units

COG 700 Unit Numbers -Staff & Command

COG 700 Unit Numbers - USAR

COG 700 Unit Numbers - HazMat

COG 700 Unit Numbers - Swift Water

 

[MCMD5]

I would not be sitting waiting for the first call of 2007 to hear the new number system. Montgomery County has set dates many of times for the COG number system to be placed in service. Like all of the other set dates, I'm sure this will not happen in 2007.

As far as the colors. The county has said if we buy the equipment they all will be the same color. If the volunteer corporations buy it paint it as you wish.

 

[Dank]

I hate to think of the confusion with unit numbers and letters once the COG system is place. The radio comms make sense now when 2 crew members from the same apparatus talk to each other on the radio. Such as engine 191-A to engine 191-B, but with the COG unit designations the letters will refer to a separate apparatus.

 

[MCMD5]

Now it will be something like Engine 719 driver to Engine 719 officer. Just makes more radio traffic.

 

[ocguard]

Just checked out the new talkgroup layout for Montgomery County in the database... Wow! I know the XTS5000 is capable of something like 512 modes, but that doesn't mean you have to use all of them! Some of the zones are identified by letters. That means that the second talkgroup in zone "CA" (Carroll County) would be talkgroup CA-B. Wow. More and more, I miss the old Baltimore County way of talkgroups being identified by numbers... like "1".

I mentioned once before of linking all of MD's Moto 800 systems together to create one massive SmartZone OmniLink system, allowing true wide area communications in additional to ultimate interoperability. Each county's system would essentially be a separate simulcast "zone".

I'll take that one step further now, and imagine that the talkgroups would all be shared as well. I mean, think about it. What is the likelyhood that EACH metro MD county would be using ALL of their incident talkgroups at once. Between Baltimore City, Baltimore County, AA County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Harford County, Calvert County, Charles County, and the Eastern Shore Consortium, thats probably close to 350 incdient talkgroups alltogether!

Why not have the talkgroups be region-wide, reducing the total number of talkgroups needed, and decreasing the confusion caused by SO MANY talkgroups among the many systems. For instance, Baltimore County could be using talkgroup C5 for a fire. Once the fire is over, C5 is returned to the available pool, then Howard County could use it for a fire, so on and so fourth. I'd guess that there would only be a need for 25 incident talkgroup "sets" (sets of four or five for IMS/ICS expansion). Twenty-five sets times 5 talkgroups per set, about 125 talkgroups for the region. And then you add on each county's "local respose" talkgroups that already handle the brunt of radio traffic. That's less that 200 talkgroups for the entire region. Talkgroup identifiers would be universal, regardless of which radio you were using, which county you were in, etc. Talk about simplicity and supreme interoperability!

And since the system would be "zoned" talkgroups would only occur on a system when it needs to be, redusing the overall volume on the systems, reducing instances of "system busy".

A pipe dream at best.

 

[RyanXTS]

Say you did have 350 talkgroups (I would suggest that it might be closer to 350 PER county as usually all county government departments operate on the TRS as well) I would go as far to say that none of the systems could handle that. Anne Arundel county has only 16 frequencies with one being used for the control channel. That means they have 16 repeaters at every tower... to do what you suggest they'd have to have 350 (probably alot more) repeaters at every tower... not going to happen. Nice thought though.

 

[ctrabs74]

I mentioned once before of linking all of MD's Moto 800 systems together to create one massive SmartZone OmniLink system, allowing true wide area communications in additional to ultimate interoperability. Each county's system would essentially be a separate simulcast "zone".

I'll take that one step further now, and imagine that the talkgroups would all be shared as well. I mean, think about it. What is the likelyhood that EACH metro MD county would be using ALL of their incident talkgroups at once. Between Baltimore City, Baltimore County, AA County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Harford County, Calvert County, Charles County, and the Eastern Shore Consortium, thats probably close to 350 incdient talkgroups alltogether!

Why not have the talkgroups be region-wide, reducing the total number of talkgroups needed, and decreasing the confusion caused by SO MANY talkgroups among the many systems. For instance, Baltimore County could be using talkgroup C5 for a fire. Once the fire is over, C5 is returned to the available pool, then Howard County could use it for a fire, so on and so fourth. I'd guess that there would only be a need for 25 incident talkgroup "sets" (sets of four or five for IMS/ICS expansion). Twenty-five sets times 5 talkgroups per set, about 125 talkgroups for the region. And then you add on each county's "local respose" talkgroups that already handle the brunt of radio traffic. That's less that 200 talkgroups for the entire region. Talkgroup identifiers would be universal, regardless of which radio you were using, which county you were in, etc. Talk about simplicity and supreme interoperability!

And since the system would be "zoned" talkgroups would only occur on a system when it needs to be, redusing the overall volume on the systems, reducing instances of "system busy".

A pipe dream at best.

Hate to say it, but it probably will be as long as Allegany County has it's LTR system and you also have the EDACS systems in Cecil, St Marys, Somerset, and Worcester/Ocean City. Not to mention the hodge-podge of conventional, EDACS, Moto, and LTR systems by the various state agencies.

Still, it'll be interesting to see if the new governor eventually shares the same vision...

 

[ocguard]

Say you did have 350 talkgroups (I would suggest that it might be closer to 350 PER county as usually all county government departments operate on the TRS as well) I would go as far to say that none of the systems could handle that. Anne Arundel county has only 16 frequencies with one being used for the control channel. That means they have 16 repeaters at every tower... to do what you suggest they'd have to have 350 (probably alot more) repeaters at every tower... not going to happen. Nice thought though.

Not true. When systems are covering a wide area, they usually utilize true "Smartzone" operation, meaning that not all talkgroups will be broadcast from all towers all of the time. If all of the Moto800 systems around the Central MD area were linked together, it would allow users to communicate from one end of the region to the other, BUT, if users were only operating in a specific area, their conversation would only occur on the tower/towers needed to complete their conversation. For example, if two Westminister police offers were conversing with one another, that conversation would not need to be broadcast on towers in AA, Howard, Frederick, Bel Air, etc. These SmartZone systems, when used correctly, truely maximize the system capacity with minimum available repeaters/channels.

Even without the "SmartZone" features in use, you'd be surprised at how many talkgroups can exist in a fairly modest-sixed system. In Baltimore County, there are nearly 100 fire/rescue talkgroups, not to mention 30 VERY active PD talkgroups, which are all existing with only 18 (accounting for the control and MOSCAD channels) trunk channels. Usually much less since usually one repeater is down, other are shut down due to interference, etc. Very rarely does this system experience "busy" problems.

My number of "350" was just for fire incident talkgroups. That's being very generous, I'd imaging that number could be as low as 100.

 

[ScanManQSL]

Double Post

 

[ScanManQSL]

BUMP.... Well It's official now the new pumper trucks will have the COG Numbering System.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/firerescue/press/PR_details.asp?PrID=3002

Release ID: 07-004
Contact: Pete Piringer 240.777.2474

For Immediate Release: Saturday, January 06, 2007

State-of-the-Art Equipment to Elevate Firefighter Safety

Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. Awarded Thirty-Seven Unit Contract

Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom Carr is pleased to announce that the Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) has selected and awarded Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. of Tilleda, Wisconsin a contract to provide several dozen new fire engines to the existing emergency apparatus fleet. “This is a tremendous step in assuring that our first responders are equipped to assure operational efficiency utilizing the latest in safety technology when called to handle a myriad of hazards,” says Chief Carr. “Under the direction of Assistant Chief Steve Lohr, the Apparatus Committee comprised of career and volunteer members, worked tirelessly focusing on the latest technology in order to support our life-safety mission.”

Thirty-seven (37) like-pumpers are being ordered to carry the all-hazard mission of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) into the future. The cost per unit will be about $435,000 each. These units are proposed with a Spartan Gladiator severe duty cab and chassis, aluminum body, HALE Q-Max pump with CAFSPRO, a 750 gallon booster tank, two-twenty-five gallon foam cells and a 5-KW diesel generator. In addition, these pieces of apparatus are to be manufactured using a low profile “L”-shaped water tank with a rear suction that maximizes hose capacity and accessibility for working around and on the rigs without unnecessary climbing.

Each unit will have six (6) pre-connects, dual large diameter hose (LDH) supply beds, a wagon pipe, and a pre-connected blitz-fire mechanism. Two (2) quick-throw ground ladders and two (2) hard sleeves will be accessible from the rear without climbing onto the unit. Further, it is being designed to maintain all of the features of the high volume Q-max pump while adding the compressed air foam system (CAFS) capability that local firefighters have helped to evaluate over the past several years.

These units will be equipped with the latest technologies available to assure the safety of the crew cab occupants while entering, exiting, and riding in the vehicles. Special emphasis is provided for securing all portable equipment including personal running gear, quick access EMS compartments, and crew cab storage (climate controlled) areas for drugs and narcotics. All compartments will be lockable for enhanced security. The latest generation L-E-D lighting packages will be resident along with the Federal Q2B and Power Call Sirens. To assure regional compatibility units will be lettered with the Metropolitan Washington Area Council of Government (COG) numbering system on five sides of the vehicle. The latest generation braking, auxiliary braking, suspension and power train components will be in place to assure rugged dependability and safety.

To maximize visibility and highway safety, a lime yellow and red, chevron barricade reflective trim graphics package will be included on the rear of each unit. In addition red and white, rub rail conspicuity tape will also be included for unparalleled visibility.

This announcement has been anticipated for several months and requisite contract requirements were met in early January 2007. A single prototype unit will be built in less than six months and delivered by the summer of 2007.

The first unit will have a MCFRS Training Academy graphics package and will serve not only as a ‘model’ pumper, but will function as the ‘hands-on’ training and systems evaluation rig while construction begins on the remaining 36 units. This particular engine will introduce the entire Montgomery County career and volunteer membership to the various operational systems and more specifically with the associated training components necessary to take full advantage of the CAFS.

Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. intends to deliver approximately six (6) units every four (4) months so that in about 24 months from now every first-line MCFRS engine company will be operating with a full featured, precisely equipped modern pumper engine.

 

[MCMD5]

Only one truck will be delivered and that one is supposed to be here by summer. They are supposed to put the COG numbers on all of the new equipment. The county has not started using the COG designations yet.

 

[ScanManQSL]

Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc.

Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. intends to deliver approximately six (6) units every four (4) months so that in about 24 months from now every first-line MCFRS engine company will be operating with a full featured, precisely equipped modern pumper engine.

No, The county has not started using the COG System yet. I want to say they are going to phase it in slowly over a 24 month period.