Helitac
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The following is taken in part from the Montana Mutual Aid & Common Frequencies Manual Updates 2010 and is available on the following website mutual_aid_manual_updates_2010.mcpx
“No degree of interoperability is possible without common communications. In Montana, 14 mutual aid and 6 common frequencies provide the basis for interagency radio communications.
This manual (Mutual Aid & Common Frequencies Manual Updates 2010) uses the term “mutual aid” to refer to frequencies designated for interagency communications that are licensed statewide.
The term “common” refers to frequencies designated for interagency communications, but not licensed statewide as a mutual aid frequency. They must be licensed by the using agency or used under agreement with a license holder for communications with that entity. Some are only available by agreement for communications with the license holder (e.g. the U.S. Forest Service common channel). For purposes of this manual, the term “common” is used for frequencies recognized across the state. Some jurisdictions using central dispatch have agreed on their own “common” channel, but these are referred to only in passing.
Color Names
The term “mutual aid” means different things to different people, even when restricted to radio. When used to name a frequency or particular channel, it often leads to confusion over just which mutual aid frequency is being referred to. In public safety radio where clarity and simplicity of communications are essential, long and contrived names for basic tools are burdensome. For this reason, the color names on the following page are offered for use in reference to mutual aid and common frequencies. Each is also given a descriptive title to clarify its use.
Color names were chosen because the names are short, commonly recognized, and have been linked with associative memory. The actual colors are not intended to be painted on radio control heads or otherwise used where different shades are indistinguishable or colorblind persons may mistake them."
Table 1: Montana Mutual Aid General Use Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
153.9050 MHz GOLD None General Mutual Aid and Coordination
157.4250 NEON None Air-to-Ground Coordination
155.2200 PURPLE None State Search and Rescue
170.475 RX ALPHA None General Use Multi Agency Mobile Repeater
170.575 Base BRAVO None General Use Multi Agency Mobile Repeater
Table 2: Montana Interoperable Narrowband Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
154.4525 CHARLIE None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
155.7525 DELTA None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
158.7375 ECHO None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
159.4725 FOX None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
Table 3: Montana Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.475 BLUE VLAW31 National Law Enforcement Emergency
155.790 SILVER None Law Enforcement Mutual Aid
153.800 BLACK None Law Enforcement Tactical
Table 4: Montana Mutual Aid Fire Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
154.070 MHz RED None State Fire Mutual Aid
154.280 MAROON VFIRE21 State Command and Control
154.265 CORAL VFIRE22 State Fire Ground #1
154.295 SCARLET VFIRE23 State Fire Ground #2
154.2725* MAGENTA VFIRE24 State Fire Ground #3
154.2875* FUCHSIA VFIRE25 State Fire Ground #4
154.3025* CRIMSON VFIRE26 State Fire Ground #5
153.830 RUBY None State Fire Repeater
159.345 GARNET None State Fire Repeater Control
Table 5: Montana Mutual Aid EMS Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.280 MHz WHITE None State Local Hospital-to-Ambulance
155.340 TAN VMED28 State Regional Hospital-to-Ambulance
155.325 GRAY None EMS Central Region Paging
155.385 PINK None EMS East/West Region Paging
Table 6: Common Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.820 MHz BROWN None State DES Direction and Control
155.160 VIOLET None National Search and Rescue
171.475 GREEN None U.S. Forest Service Common
NOTE: The following frequency was previously utilized by Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (State Forestry) as a common fire frequency
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
151.220 YELLOW None MT DNRC Common
*Highlighted frequencies are new/pending to Mutual Aid & Common Frequencies.
“No degree of interoperability is possible without common communications. In Montana, 14 mutual aid and 6 common frequencies provide the basis for interagency radio communications.
This manual (Mutual Aid & Common Frequencies Manual Updates 2010) uses the term “mutual aid” to refer to frequencies designated for interagency communications that are licensed statewide.
The term “common” refers to frequencies designated for interagency communications, but not licensed statewide as a mutual aid frequency. They must be licensed by the using agency or used under agreement with a license holder for communications with that entity. Some are only available by agreement for communications with the license holder (e.g. the U.S. Forest Service common channel). For purposes of this manual, the term “common” is used for frequencies recognized across the state. Some jurisdictions using central dispatch have agreed on their own “common” channel, but these are referred to only in passing.
Color Names
The term “mutual aid” means different things to different people, even when restricted to radio. When used to name a frequency or particular channel, it often leads to confusion over just which mutual aid frequency is being referred to. In public safety radio where clarity and simplicity of communications are essential, long and contrived names for basic tools are burdensome. For this reason, the color names on the following page are offered for use in reference to mutual aid and common frequencies. Each is also given a descriptive title to clarify its use.
Color names were chosen because the names are short, commonly recognized, and have been linked with associative memory. The actual colors are not intended to be painted on radio control heads or otherwise used where different shades are indistinguishable or colorblind persons may mistake them."
Table 1: Montana Mutual Aid General Use Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
153.9050 MHz GOLD None General Mutual Aid and Coordination
157.4250 NEON None Air-to-Ground Coordination
155.2200 PURPLE None State Search and Rescue
170.475 RX ALPHA None General Use Multi Agency Mobile Repeater
170.575 Base BRAVO None General Use Multi Agency Mobile Repeater
Table 2: Montana Interoperable Narrowband Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
154.4525 CHARLIE None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
155.7525 DELTA None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
158.7375 ECHO None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
159.4725 FOX None General Purpose Interoperability Channels
Table 3: Montana Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.475 BLUE VLAW31 National Law Enforcement Emergency
155.790 SILVER None Law Enforcement Mutual Aid
153.800 BLACK None Law Enforcement Tactical
Table 4: Montana Mutual Aid Fire Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
154.070 MHz RED None State Fire Mutual Aid
154.280 MAROON VFIRE21 State Command and Control
154.265 CORAL VFIRE22 State Fire Ground #1
154.295 SCARLET VFIRE23 State Fire Ground #2
154.2725* MAGENTA VFIRE24 State Fire Ground #3
154.2875* FUCHSIA VFIRE25 State Fire Ground #4
154.3025* CRIMSON VFIRE26 State Fire Ground #5
153.830 RUBY None State Fire Repeater
159.345 GARNET None State Fire Repeater Control
Table 5: Montana Mutual Aid EMS Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.280 MHz WHITE None State Local Hospital-to-Ambulance
155.340 TAN VMED28 State Regional Hospital-to-Ambulance
155.325 GRAY None EMS Central Region Paging
155.385 PINK None EMS East/West Region Paging
Table 6: Common Frequencies
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
155.820 MHz BROWN None State DES Direction and Control
155.160 VIOLET None National Search and Rescue
171.475 GREEN None U.S. Forest Service Common
NOTE: The following frequency was previously utilized by Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (State Forestry) as a common fire frequency
Frequency - MT Name - National Designation - Usage
151.220 YELLOW None MT DNRC Common
*Highlighted frequencies are new/pending to Mutual Aid & Common Frequencies.
