1. Columbia County Radio Project High-band Protocols APX Radios
2016

2. High Band Radio Project
Lesson Objective:
Upon completion of this training session, we shall ………
- understand & demonstrate how to use correct procedures to operate the new HB Motorola APX4000 portable radios
-understand how to use correct procedures to operate the new HB Motorola APX4500 mobile radios
- develop an understanding of the operational concept of the new Columbia County High Band Radio Protocols

3. High Band Radio Project
New VHF High Band Communications Sequence
Dispatch
pager “A” one way communication from 911
Respond
pager “D” two way communication with 911
Operate
911 assigns a COMMAND & a FIREGROUND Ch
Assigned in dispatch, or while calling enroute
End Call
FD returns all radios to “Response Ch” (A Good Practice)

4. High Band Radio Project
MAIN Zone
Order 1
DPL
Channel #
Channel Name RX
PL/CTCSS TX
SCAN LIST 1
Response
DPL023 2
Dispatch
DPL025 x 3
Command 3
DPL026 4
Command 4
DPL031 5
Command 5
161.9
DPL032
157.3 6
Interior 6
DPL043 7
Fireground 7
DPL047 8
Fireground 8
DPL051 9
Fireground 9
DPL054 10
Fireground 10
DPL065 11
Fireground 11
159.27
DPL071 12
Fire Police 1
154.13
110.9 13
Fire Police 2
153.83 14
Fire Police 3
154.57 15
VCALL10
156.7

5. High Band Radio Project
INTERIOR 2
Channel #
Channel Name RX
PL/CTCSS TX
SCAN LIST 1
Response
DPL023
Dispatch
DPL025 3
Command 3
DPL026 4
Command 4
DPL031 5
Command 5
161.9
DPL032
157.3 6
Interior 6
DPL043 7
Fireground 7
DPL047 8
Fireground 8
DPL051 9
Fireground 9
DPL054 10
Fireground 10
DPL065 11
Fireground 11
159.27
DPL071 12 13 14 15 16

6. High Band Radio Project
Specific Radio Usage Protocols
Responding
Routine calls
Dispatch procedure will be the same with the addition of assigning the command and fireground channels.
Enroute = Response Channel
Unit to Unit Communications while enroute = Assigned FG Channel
Reporting on scene = Response Channel
Incident Scene Unit to Unit Communications = Assigned FG Channel
Special Ops (eg. Tanker Shuttle) = Assigned (alternate) FG Channel(s)
Assigned Command Channel reserved for IC to CC911 communications
CC911 will announce updates on Response and Assigned Command Channel (scanning needed if working on assigned FG channel)
Interior Operations = Reserved Interior Ops Channel INTERIOR 6
IC Terminating Alarm/In Service = Assigned Command Channel
Individual Apparatus Calling back in Service = Response Channel

7. High Band Radio Project
Specific Radio Usage Protocols
Responding
Battalion Responses
Each department should call enroute using ONLY ONE transmission. Transmissions such as “awaiting crew”, station acknowledging, etc. should not be used.
Task Force Responses
only the “home” department’s chief officers should call enroute. If the “home” department does not have a chief officer enroute, the first arriving mutual aid chief should establish Command and provide an arrival/size-up report.
Disaster / Severe Storm Emergencies (local Command Post)
On Scene Arrivals
Size-up protocols
Status Reports
By IC to 911 on assigned Command Channel
Terminating an Alarm
Apparatus In service vs Apparatus not in service
Concept is on Limiting unnecessary radio transmissions

8. High Band Radio Project
“Key” Components of the New HB system
Radio Zones
Main, Interior, EMS, Interop ,Highway, Other, Berkshire Ulster, Litchfield, (some have individual )
Channels within the Zone
Special Features
Emergency button -MAYDAY Alert identifies a radio in distress (portable radios)
Transmitted on Response channel

9. High Band Radio Project
Interoperability
-Vcall
VCALL channels are to be used as communications channels to contact other first responding agencies or the Columbia County 911 center if within range. The calling channels may also be used for setting up tactical communications for specific incidents.
-Vtac(s)
The VTAC, and UTAC tactical channels are to be used for coordination activity between different agencies in a mutual aid situation. Incidents requiring multi-agency participation will be coordinated over these channels. In other words These simplex channels are used at the incident scene for communications during large incidents requiring communication and coordination among multiple agencies.

10. High Band Radio Project
INTEROP ZONE 5
Channel #
Channel Name RX
PL/CTCSS TX
SCAN LIST 1
Response
DPL023 2
Dispatch
DPL025 x 3
Command 3
DPL026 4
Command 4
DPL031
Command 5
161.9
DPL032
157.3 6
Interior 6
DPL043 7
Fireground 7
DPL047 8
Fireground 8
DPL051 9
Fireground 9
DPL054 10
Fireground 10
DPL065 11
Fireground 11
159.27
DPL071 12
VCALL10
156.7 13
VTAC 11 14
VTAC 12 15
VTAC 13 16
VTAC 14

11. High Band Radio Project
On/Off/Scan [LARGE TOP KNOB & TOPSIDE PUSH BUTTON]
Selecting the Zone [WINDOW AND KEYPAD]
Selecting the Channel [SMALL TOP KNOB]
[ORANGE PUSH BUTTON]Sending the MAYDAY Alert
[MUST HAVE PRE-APPROVED AIR CLEARENCE FROM 911 DISPATCH PRIOR TO ENACTING A TRAINING TEST SCENARIO OF THE MAYDAY ALERT]

12. Using the Motorola Portable APX4000
Channel Selector
Scan on/off
Push Button
On the side
On / OFF Volume Knob
Emergency
Button

13. Using the Motorola Portable APX4000
Zone Selected
Channel Selected
Zone Selector
Radio ID#
Home Button Takes you back to Response Ch
Use up / down Buttons to select desired Zone

14. Side Button 2 = Nuisance Delete
COLUMBIA COUNTY APX 4000R HIGHBAND PORTABLE
Top Button(Orange) = Emergency
Top Side Button = Scan on & off
Side Button 1 = Display Light
Side Button 2 = Nuisance Delete

15. G

16. High Band Radio Project
Practical Skills
Using the VHF highband portable radios conduct the following scenarios;
Conduct a on/off/scan exercise
Conduct a nuisance delete exercise
Given simulated dispatch orders select the desired command / fireground channel as directed by dispatcher
Given a simulation demonstrate proper zone and channel use for interior operations
Given a simulation demonstrate proper zone and channel use for communication on a assigned VTAC Ch
Demonstrate proper zone and channel use for returning the portable radio to readiness for the next alarm. (Based on Fire Departments Policy)

17. High Band Radio Project
Practical Skills
Using the VHF highband mobile radio conduct the following scenarios;
Conduct a on/off/scan exercise
Conduct a nuisance delete exercise
Given simulated dispatch orders select the desired command / fireground channel as directed by dispatcher
Given a simulation demonstrate proper zone and channel use for interior operations
Given a simulation demonstrate proper zone and channel use for communication on a assigned VTAC Ch
Demonstrate proper zone and channel use for returning the mobile radio to readiness for the next alarm. (Based on Fire Departments Policy)