Toronto Fire Service

[mlevin]

Well I'm here in Toronto listening to the TPS system. I was wondering though, howcome I don't hear any dispatches on the fire talkgroups. Are they dispatched through MDTs or something? How do they operate?

 

[EJB]

Listen to the South tower
They are, from what I remember only diapatched off the south tower.

 

[exkalibur]

This is correct. The only time you will hear a dispatch on another tower is on the respective Operations talkgroup, the only time this happens is if a truck being dispatched is "on the air in district" - IE, not on a call but not in the station.

 

[Chrome69]

going to ask this... I understand Dispatch is on South tower.. Do the other areas use south tower as well or would East Command TAC Channels use the east tower or would they be on the south tower as well. Basically what i am asking is does all of TFS use the south tower only or do they use the other 3 as well. I don't follow TFS much at all thats why i am asking...

 

[exkalibur]

Well, because it is a SmartZone system, there's no 100% way to tell. However, almost without exception (infact, I can't think of any time it has happened), each district will be on it's respective tower. IE, South on South, East on East and so on.

 

[Chrome69]

Ok thanks, like i said i don't usually listen to them, so i figured i'd ask...

 

[yorkphotog]

I'm not the biggest fan of this TFS dispatching system.

Being from the north, the south zone is a bit crackly up here -- but you must listen to the south to hear dispatches to the station.

 

[exkalibur]

Blah, get a real radio then With a decent commercial rig (yeah, STFU, I know...) you can easily hear the South Zone from as far north as Newmarket - probably much further north if it wasn't for all the dirt in the way.

The reason it's done this way probably stems way back to 1998 (or whenever it was) that TFS amalgamated Scarborough, Toronto, Etobicoke and North York into Toronto Fire Services and started dispatching on the trunking system. Originally, there was only one zone - south - to use. I imagine they haven't changed it because it works. South also has the most available channel resources, so it doesn't have as much of an impact on system loading as it would if they dispatched on all 4 zones.

 

[Chrome69]

I'm not the biggest fan of this TFS dispatching system.

Being from the north, the south zone is a bit crackly up here -- but you must listen to the south to hear dispatches to the station.

Your not one of those that uses a $9 antenna to get the world?

 

[mlevin]

Thanks again for all the help guys.

 

[plaws]

Are they dispatched through MDTs or something? How do they operate?

Telegraph. When a box comes in, it's transmitted to the stations ...

 

[exkalibur]

I wouldn't exactly call it a Telegraph.

They get voice announcements (via the dispatch talkgroup), text printouts via the station printer, and the call is put up on the MWS in the vehicles.

 

[yorkphotog]

I use a 800Mhz tuned antenna for the portable...and the signal is much better than the stock rubber ducky.

But it sucks for listening to Zone 1 Fleetnet, so I use the BCT15 for that.

 

[nec208]

You will NOT hear the tone go off if the truck is in the station and only hear the tone if the truck is out of the station.

The Toronto fire now uses MDT's so don't aspect to hear much on the radio.

 

[exkalibur]

No, you'll here everything on the radio. TFS hasn't gone to voiceless dispatch just yet - but it's in the works (then again, it was in the works 5 years ago...)

 

[Chrome69]

I agree most Fire services within the GTA rely on 2 methods of dispatching, Voice and data just in the event one has a failure.. I can't see a voiceless dispatch unless they go encrypted... But thats a whole new topic.....

 

[exkalibur]

Well, I know Toronto Fire was toying with the idea of voiceless dispatch. But really, why? It doesn't take any time to verbally dispatch the call, plus it gives them an extra heads up. Sure having the printout and the MWS is nice, but it's nice to also hear the address so you can start visualizing the route you'll take before you even jump in the truck. Plus hearing the call type gets you mentally prepared to what you might be responding to.

 

[nec208]

No, you'll here everything on the radio. TFS hasn't gone to voiceless dispatch just yet - but it's in the works (then again, it was in the works 5 years ago...)

I don't think you will hear Toronto fire voiceless but things like on the way and on seen or clear seen or back at station may be voiceless to keep radio traffic down.And also going from one station to other station or on the air or back at the station.

On seen of the call.

 

[nec208]

I agree most Fire services within the GTA rely on 2 methods of dispatching, Voice and data just in the event one has a failure.. I can't see a voiceless dispatch unless they go encrypted... But thats a whole new topic.....

You never hear the map page.They must get a map print out.

 

[exkalibur]

I don't think you will hear Toronto fire voiceless but things like on the way and on seen or clear seen or back at station may be voiceless to keep radio traffic down.And also going from one station to other station or on the air or back at the station.

On seen of the call.

Holy spelling.

But you're right. You won't hear Toronto Fire if they go voiceless. That's kinda the idea.