ResQR405
Member
Here are some facts on the Berkeley County Radios. All Berkeley County fire/ems radios have Helo 1 (468.000 PL 151.4) Helo 2 (468.025 PL 151.4). These are in place because all of the Medevacs (Aircare, StatMedevac, Medstar, MSP Troopers) can not UHF Digital Trunk..they dont have those radios in the helicopters so they cant get on the statewide digital trunking system. The Helo channels are used for ground operations at a landing zone. Most of the Medevacs mentioned above have Helo 1 and Helo 2 pre-programed in their radios. When they fly in to Berkeley County all they do is find out from MEDCOM what channel the ground units are on. Aircare, Medstar do this operation fine. Stat, and MSP Troopers don't have the Helo Channels pre programed in..thus some problems when they fly in Berkeley County. Medcom gives the helicopters the freqs and the PL when they call them for the flight.
All Berkeley County Fire/EMS radios have the conventional Med channels (1-10) in the mobiles and portables. They are used by some EMS providers when calling Winchester Medical Center with BLS patients on Med 4...Med 8 is also a option if needed. WMC uses MED 8 for trauma reports. Washington County Hospital does things somewhat different. They have no EMS Communications Operator so..so units in the field have to call Washington County Headquarters on Call 2, they decide what Med Channel you will use.
EMS units can not call WCH or WMC with ALS patients (IV or Heart montior on) because the WV EMS Protocols say so. They call MEDCOM on MED C, MEDCOM then picks MED A, B, D, or E on the trunk system to do the conversation on. It is up to the MEDCOM operators choice where they talk.
Event and Talk talkgroups - All Berkeley County Radios have Event 1, 2, 3, 4 and Talk 1, 2.
Event channels are for parades, fairs or large responding Events. Talk 1 and 2 are just that..."yap" talkgroups.
The radios also have "All Fire" talkgroup that everyone can use to just talk with non-emergency traffic. Also the L.E. radios have "All Police" talkgroups they can use for the same/
The "Private" talkgroups - All radios have a private talkgroups just for the specific department ( Company 1 MFD, Co 20 South Berkeley, Co 30 Hedgesville, Co 40 Bedington, Co 50 Back Creek, Co 60 Baker Heights, Co 90 OES Engine 90, Medic 98..97..96..99-from the BCEAA). Only that department has their own "Private talkgroup" even though scanner land can hear it.
Berkeley County Law Enforcement Radios have a Helicopter Ops Channel also for the use with MSP Troopers 3..5..8 or whoever comes in to do law enforcement flights. It is a common national law enforcement UHF frequency that all COPS can use nation wide.
Hope this clears up some myths on the radios in Berkeley County.
All Berkeley County Fire/EMS radios have the conventional Med channels (1-10) in the mobiles and portables. They are used by some EMS providers when calling Winchester Medical Center with BLS patients on Med 4...Med 8 is also a option if needed. WMC uses MED 8 for trauma reports. Washington County Hospital does things somewhat different. They have no EMS Communications Operator so..so units in the field have to call Washington County Headquarters on Call 2, they decide what Med Channel you will use.
EMS units can not call WCH or WMC with ALS patients (IV or Heart montior on) because the WV EMS Protocols say so. They call MEDCOM on MED C, MEDCOM then picks MED A, B, D, or E on the trunk system to do the conversation on. It is up to the MEDCOM operators choice where they talk.
Event and Talk talkgroups - All Berkeley County Radios have Event 1, 2, 3, 4 and Talk 1, 2.
Event channels are for parades, fairs or large responding Events. Talk 1 and 2 are just that..."yap" talkgroups.
The radios also have "All Fire" talkgroup that everyone can use to just talk with non-emergency traffic. Also the L.E. radios have "All Police" talkgroups they can use for the same/
The "Private" talkgroups - All radios have a private talkgroups just for the specific department ( Company 1 MFD, Co 20 South Berkeley, Co 30 Hedgesville, Co 40 Bedington, Co 50 Back Creek, Co 60 Baker Heights, Co 90 OES Engine 90, Medic 98..97..96..99-from the BCEAA). Only that department has their own "Private talkgroup" even though scanner land can hear it.
Berkeley County Law Enforcement Radios have a Helicopter Ops Channel also for the use with MSP Troopers 3..5..8 or whoever comes in to do law enforcement flights. It is a common national law enforcement UHF frequency that all COPS can use nation wide.
Hope this clears up some myths on the radios in Berkeley County.
