Toronto EMS

[dispatcher812]

I am currently in Toronto and unable to hear Toronto EMS on the P25 System for Toronto Emergency Services. I can here Fire just fine. Also I have heard some chatter on the Public Safety Talk groups but nothing from EMS.
They had a second alarm fire operating on West Strategic 1. I am going to assume I was too far away to hear that as I was only getting East and South sites.
Are the radios only associated with there sites, or should I be able to hear a West unit on the South site? I am a little familiar with this type of system from the US. My State Police uses this type, but I am able to hear units that would not normally be associated with my local site.

 

[Enjoi19]

Which scanner are you using? Are you scanning with the database or a favourites list?

Toronto Fire is divided into 4 Commands, based on the 4 main compass directions. If a call goes out in West Command, generally you will hear it on the West site, unless trucks from North are being sent and their radios affiliate onto the North site first. Same concept for other areas. Often times the South site will end up carrying a lot of the traffic on larger calls as they tend to filter out between all Commands, being more centralised.

Automated dispatch can be heard on the South, West, and sometimes lately, the East site.

The second alarm earlier was almost entirely handled by West Command, so there probably wasn't much traffic for it on the other sites. Strategic channels are for organizing unassigned crews for a second alarm and above, to free up air time on Tac channels.

 

[mciupa]

As for EMS, in the span of five minutes I've seen and heard A3, A6, A8, B1, talkgroups around 8:40 am this morning. Some talkgroups are P25 Phase II. If you are using the SDS 100 as seen in your signature. You should be hearing them as well.

 

[Enjoi19]

Worth noting that EMS doesn’t dispatch over the radio… so listening to them can be a bit tricky unless you're simultaneously listening to fire medical calls that line up with it.

 

[ve1sef]

A quick look at the database; first thing I noticed Toronto Emergency system has simulcast sites.
Second thing I notice Toronto EMS has both phase 1 and phase 2 talk groups
Depending on your scanner either one could be an issue.
By the way, if you were trying to monitor the provincial Toronto EMS, I believe they've may switched over
to the new encrypted system.

 

[mciupa]

Yes, provincial EMS units transferring inside of the Toronto boundaries are using encrypted talkgroups on the PSRN trunk system. Toronto Emergency Services Paramedic communications within city boundaries remain clear.

 

[dispatcher812]

Hey guys thanks. I am using an SDS100 from a favorite list. All service types departments etc are active and it's the Toronto Emergency Services Paramedics I am trying to hear.

 

[exkalibur]

You'll generally hear every TEMS group on the South zone. If you're hearing Fire but not EMS, that tells me there is nothing wrong with your system programming but perhaps double check the talkgroups for EMS. They don't do general dispatching on the system but you'll hear updates and such.

 

[dispatcher812]

I figured out. I never did the GPS for that department. Working now. Thanks again.

 

[Enjoi19]

Cool, enjoy the visit to the city!

 

[maxtracs]

If you are using a Motorola radio, EMS is using Phase 2. Not all scanners that do phase 1 do phase 2