Toronto Fire setup

[cryo504]

Toronto Fire is broadcasting on 4 separate multi-cast towers. Is best practice to program and scan all 4 or is it better to listen to one tower (closest to you)?
I happen to be closest to the West tower (living near Yonge / Eglinton), but I can hear all towers.

 

[mciupa]

If you have a newer scanner, they have loads of memory capacity. Why not put in all towers? In my BCD 536HP I put them in District order.
1-North, 2-East, 3-South, 4-West

 

[Enjoi19]

It's noteworthy that automated dispatch typically only comes off the South and West sites (though recently I noted it on the East at one point). Calls typically remain on their respective sites that match the trucks unless a unit from another district goes. Example, if High Rise 332 is dispatched to an east end fire, you'll usually get that East Tac channel off the South site.

mciupa is correct for District order, best way to do it quite frankly. I usually put the Ops / automated dispatch on a group (usually something like 5), then flip over to the respective District when I hear a call of interest.

Tac 1's are for minor / medical calls usually as well.

 

[cryo504]

If you have a newer scanner, they have loads of memory capacity. Why not put in all towers? In my BCD 536HP I put them in District order.
1-North, 2-East, 3-South, 4-West

Thanks. I have a SDS-100 and BCD436 so memory is not an issue. I presently have it exactly as you suggested, and was wondering if it is the best configuration.

 

[Forts]

So... if trucks in the North end are on the road, and are affiliated to the North site.. How do they get calls if the automated dispatch is only on South/West? I know it's handled differently when they are in the hall, but this part has me puzzled.

 

[Enjoi19]

So... if trucks in the North end are on the road, and are affiliated to the North site.. How do they get calls if the automated dispatch is only on South/West? I know it's handled differently when they are in the hall, but this part has me puzzled.

When they aren’t in station and not assigned a call, trucks monitor the “Ops” channels and get dispatched over the air by an actual dispatcher. Usually a second or two of quick tones and then the dispatch.

 

[Forts]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying.

 

[exkalibur]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying.

The dispatch talkgroup isn't used by TFS. It's there only for media and tows etc. calls are still voiced out for trucks out of the hall.

 

[gary123]

If you are in the Toronto area I would recommend you set up TFD as 4 seperate systems. One for each tower (NESW) then make a scanner department for each of the fire zones. This will make scanning a bit easier as you wont be pulled off a local TG to hear traffic from across the city. You could also make a scanner department containing all the Fire TG. Dont forget the EMS too