Spokane Fire Dispatch - The "VOICE"

[SCMajorInci]

The Combined Communication Center (CCC) is currently testing an automated dispatch voice/quick dispatch. The changes went in to effect at 8am Monday morning and go till Friday at 8am. The "Voice" hopefully will improve dispatching incidents, and free up the normal dispatchers. You can find the official press release here: SFD News and Information: SFD Media Release - For more information on this release please call (509)625-7002

 

[k7wcb]

I've been in Spokane twice this week and heard "The Voice" I'm action. Not bad for a computer generated system. Easy to understand, should work well as an initial dispatching tool.

 

[Dann]

We have the same voice here in Clark County.

 

[kd7kdc]

That "voice" is cold and annoying, they also don't give as many details using the voice as
the human dispatcher did.
Other than freeing up the dispatcher thumbs down!

 

[DickH]

That "voice" is cold and annoying, they also don't give as many details using the voice as
the human dispatcher did.
Other than freeing up the dispatcher thumbs down!

It may be "cold and annoying", but it is always the same level and the same pronunciation. Very understandable - and isn't that the objective?, to be understood.
Some dispatchers mumble, mis-pronounce, whisper, think they have to get it all out in 2 seconds, etc., etc.
Locution is a Godsend to we who rely on hearing dispatches.

 

[SCMajorInci]

I have been keeping up with the "Voice" all week and it seems to be doing well. It does limit the information in the initial dispatch. There are some bugs that I noticed that I hope they fix when and if they decide to use the system full time. The plus side is the audio is always the same, and not distorted.

 

[matthew-mlwa]

Thanks to the original poster for the heads up. I listened during the one week system test and agree that the calls were easier to understand, but I did miss the reason for the call being broadcast. I had the Fire District 3 frequencies scanning also (I'm in Medical Lake), so I was able to hear the FD3 dispatcher give the specifics for this area.

The Spokesman Review ran an article saying this system was supposed to go online permanently starting 08 August. I haven't had my scanner on yesterday or today so I don't know if it started Monday or not. Link to the article.

Matthew

 

[SCMajorInci]

Well they haven't permanently put the system online, which is good. I really hope they dont. I am not a big fan of the system. I am going to miss the original tones that went out for a Structure Fire or Water Rescue.

 

[amtrak8]

Believe me, with the price tag of Locution, it will go online! And the system is highly configurable, so things will probably change. In fact, it can be set up to change automatically based on the call volume and pending calls.

I am a huge fan of the system, and we are hoping to get it in our center...just the price tag is holding it back.

 

[DickH]

I am a huge fan of the system, and we are hoping to get it in our center....

Me too. People who don't really NEED to get dispatched via radio can't fully appreciate the advantages of it.

 

[SCMajorInci]

One of the reasons why I liked the way a dispatcher put the information over radio, is so I didn't have to have my pager on me to get the initial page. The only other benefit other then helping the dispatchers get information out faster is the city stations that have speakers activate when there specific tone is heard. When I worked for ML we didn't have speakers in the station. If I was on duty I would carry a radio on the dispatch channel. The only places that I know that have station speakers are SFD, SVFD SCFD9, and maybe SCFD8, other then that nobody else has them.

 

[Clint106user]

Just a quick "chime in" . I came from Colorado where the whole state is on the digital radio front (talkgroups). They have many of these Locution computer generated dispatch programs in place, what you gents are calling "the voice". I do agree with the above posts. It does indeed sound like a GPS unit and sometimes the words seem to be fast at the end of the report. But overall it sounds clear. I'm in Thurston County where 1 dispatcher sounds like she jams her call sign at the end of the sentence.

 

[SCMajorInci]

UPDATE: Spokane Co. Fire Dispatch has THE VOICE Back online (8/28/11), looks like its here to stay. I am hearing some different tones also. If i get any more information i will post it.

I have a sound clip which can be found here: http://www.spokanecountymajorincidents.net/Valley Structure Fire.mp3 just click the link in and it will automatically play. *Note I shortened the clip, took out the dead space.