StarCom Radios Question

[Jake68111]

Heard some banter over a local system about fire pages going out without voice.

Are the radios for this system capable of such features? Like, can the radios be used as voiceless pagers for a fire department as opposed to the voiced fire pages we've all expected with the use of a scanner?

I don't know a whole lot about the hardware used for a system like this and wanted to make sure this isn't yet, another possible spear in the hobby.

 

[MikeyC]

Heard some banter over a local system about fire pages going out without voice.

Are the radios for this system capable of such features? Like, can the radios be used as voiceless pagers for a fire department as opposed to the voiced fire pages we've all expected with the use of a scanner?

I don't know a whole lot about the hardware used for a system like this and wanted to make sure this isn't yet, another possible spear in the hobby.

I know there's an "alert" system in place that I assume causes radios to make a noise when utilized. Normal FD uses this for stations so maybe it can be rigged up to other in station alerting mechanisms? I think I've seen Ameren use it when trying to get the attention of a radio. I'm sure others know more about this than I do

 

[VASCAR2]

The new APX radios have a text feature but many agencies are sending messages through their CAD systems to the mobile data terminals. Our County uses an app where fire pages are sent via text to Fire Fighters cell phones.

When I was in District 15 in the late 80’s our 800 radios had numerous keys which when pushed sent a message to the dispatch console. The buttons were for routine traffic such as 10-41, 10-42 (on or off duty), 10-28 and an Alert button for priority traffic. The radio also had a feature the dispatch console could send an alert tone (Beeps) to notify the unit they had traffic. This was handy if a unit had inadvertently turned down their radios volume.

 

[Jake68111]

The new APX radios have a text feature but many agencies are sending messages through their CAD systems to the mobile data terminals. Our County uses an app where fire pages are sent via text to Fire Fighters cell phones.

When I was in District 15 in the late 80’s our 800 radios had numerous keys which when pushed sent a message to the dispatch console. The buttons were for routine traffic such as 10-41, 10-42 (on or off duty), 10-28 and an Alert button for priority traffic. The radio also had a feature the dispatch console could send an alert tone (Beeps) to notify the unit they had traffic. This was handy if a unit had inadvertently turned down their radios volume.

I'm assuming this would reduce the amount of radio traffic for a department who would introduce such a system. Is it safe to say that?

 

[VASCAR2]

I'm assuming this would reduce the amount of radio traffic for a department who would introduce such a system. Is it safe to say that?

Yes, the status buttons have been used for several decades and work on the same principal as tone coded squelch. In many departments if a unit changed their status via a button on the mobile radio, Dispatch would verbally acknowledge by saying the unit number. The Dispatcher could also send an audible tone to the mobile acknowledging the message. Information can be exchanged between Dispatch and mobile with no voice traffic. In the county where I live if there is a message for an Officer to call someone a message is sent to the officers MDT computer. Some Offers acknowledge via radio others via MDT. The Text feature via APX radio gives the same ability if an officer is on bike, foot patrol or out of the vehicle.

Americain Medical Response has started using an app for smart phones through cellular for all their dispatching in southern Indiana. There are still radios in the ambulance but all dispatching traffic is handled through the phone app. When a run is dispatched the address is displayed on the phones mapping program with a route and any patient info. The Medic responds via phone and the two way mobile radio is used only as a backup to the smart phone.

Even small LE agencies are using mobile data terminals for dispatching and report writing. Illinois was giving grants to small agencies for MDT/IWIN so crash reports could be submitted to IDOT electronically thereby by eliminating paper crash reports. Electronic reporting is cheaper to manage than paper crash reports. Same for electronically submitted traffic citations.