1. Saratoga County 800 Radio Project
EMS Version
Steve Lohnes – CPHM
Good (evening) (day)
This is a presentation for training on the Saratoga County Astro P-25 Radio Project.
The County radio project encompasses many users Police, Fire, EMS, Public Safety Administration, as well as the Highway and Maintenance divisions of the County.
At the end of this project will have a totally functional 800 Trunked radio system, with many more capabilities than you are currently used to.
This presentation will help you to understand some of those capabilities.
Version 9 – June 1, 2011

2. Saratoga County Radio Sites
BLUE = Original Towers
Spruce
Providence
Halfmoon
GREEN = New 800 Towers
Mt. McGregor
Sheriff’s Office (Milton)
Stillwater (Radar Base)
CPHM
RED = APA Towers
Hadley (Fraker Mtn)
Edinburg
YELLOW = addit 800 tower
Lakeview
(10 towers, 15 frequencies)
This represents a basic view of the Radio Sites. The BLUE spots represent the original radio towers at Spruce Mtn, Providence and the Halfmoon Water Tower, these sites were the back bone of the VHF Radio system, they will continue to be used with the 800 system. The GREEN spots represents towers that were built for the 800 System, They are at Mt. McGregor, the Sheriff's Office in T/O Milton, The Radar Station in the T/O Stillwater and on the property adjacent to the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Emergency Corps on the Crossings Blvd. RED spots for the two new towers in the Adirondack State Park on Fraker Mtn and in Hadley, they include two new VHF repeater frequencies each. The YELLOW spot represents the Lakeview Tower, which came on line at the end of May 2011.
As you can see by this map, Previously the County used only 3 tower sites for all of its radio voice and paging, With the new system, we've added Milton, Stillwater and McGregor. Using these 6 towers, we will simulcast the VHF paging of EMS and Fire, greatly increasing the pager coverage in the County.
With this new system, you will hear Agencies and Units you were not able to before. And you can communicate to other units across the County. It becomes very important to monitor the talk group you are going to use.

3. VHF Paging 155.9250 Remains on 925 Simulcast (already on):
Both EMS and Fire
Simulcast (already on):
Milton, Stillwater, McGregor, Spruce, Providence, Halfmoon
Narrowband (soon)
VHF paging will remain on mHz – note the simulcasting done from 6 towers at once for all pagers. Narrowbanding will happen soon – the frequency will narrow one additional decimal point from to Older pagers will no longer work on the narrow band system.

4. 800 Radio Talk Groups - EMS What is a Bank? Talk group vs. channel
EMS TEMPLATE 1
BANK A
BANK B
A 1-EMS 1
B 1-EMS 1
A 2-EMS 2
B 2-EMS 2
A 3-TAC 3
BLANK
A 4-TAC 4
A 5-TAC 5
A 6-TAC 6
B 6-COLONIE*
A 7-TAC 7
B 13-ICALL
A 8-TAC 8
B 14-ITAC 1
A 9-TAC 9
B 15-ITAC 2
A 10-GRND 1
B 10-ITAC 3
A 11-GRND 2
B 11-PAGING
A 12-GRND 3
B 12-DREGRP
A 13-PAGING
B 13-TAC 24
A 14-FIRE 1
B 14-CAP800
A 15-TAC 24
B 15-EMS 2
A 16-EMS 1
B 16-EMS 1
What is a Bank?
Talk group vs. channel
EMS 1 = home talk group
All communications with EMS Dispatch will be on EMS 1
What is a TAC?
“Talk Around Channel”
Fire use of TACs
TAC use must be assigned
What is a Ground talk group? (local only use)
A talk group is similar to what we previously knew as a channel. Each position on the radio selector switch represents a talk group. The radio system controlling computer determines the actual frequency being used and this will vary from transmission to transmission. The user does not know the frequency being used and it is not important. Banks are groups of 16 talk groups. Portable radios typically have 3 banks, labeled A, B and C. TAC are talk groups that are designed for field units to communicate with each other. They are recorded and can be listened to in Communications, but this cannot be depended on. That is, to reach EMS Dispatch, you should switch back to EMS1.

5. Fire Template Fire 1 = home Fire Comm replaces Fire Control
BANK A
BANK B
A 1-FIRE 1
B 1-FIRE 1
A 2-FIRE 2
B 2-FIRE 2
A 3-TAC 3
B 3-EMS 1
A 4-TAC 4
BLANK
A 5-TAC 5
A 6-TAC 6
B 6-COLONIE*
A 7-TAC 7
B 7-ICALL
A 8-TAC 8
B 8-ITAC 1
A 9-TAC 9
B 9-ITAC 2
A 10-GRND 1
B 10-ITAC 3
A 11-GRND 2
B 11-PAGING
A 12-GRND 3
B 12-DREGRP
A 13-PAGING
B 13-TAC 24
A 14-EMS 1
B 14-CAP 800
A 15-TAC 24
A 15-FIRE 2
A 16-FIRE 1
B 16-FIRE 1
Fire 1 = home
Fire Comm replaces Fire Control
TAC groups used more extensively
Fires involve multiple units and departments
Fire talk groups are very similar to EMS. The fire service plans to use a TAC group for virtually every response they handle. Their field units will all switch to the assigned TAC for all communications. Their Incident Commanders will need to switch back to Fire 1 when they need to speak to Fire Comm.

6. * COLONIE is not currently programmed into radios
EMS TEMPLATE 1
BANK A
BANK B
A 1-EMS 1
B 1-EMS 1
A 2-EMS 2
B 2-EMS 2
A 3-TAC 3
BLANK
A 4-TAC 4
A 5-TAC 5
A 6-TAC 6
B 6-COLONIE*
A 7-TAC 7
B 13-ICALL
A 8-TAC 8
B 14-ITAC 1
A 9-TAC 9
B 15-ITAC 2
A 10-GRND 1
B 10-ITAC 3
A 11-GRND 2
B 11-PAGING
A 12-GRND 3
B 12-DREGRP
A 13-PAGING
B 13-TAC 24
A 14-FIRE 1
B 14-CAP800
A 15-TAC 24
B 15-EMS 2
A 16-EMS 1
B 16-EMS 1
FIRE TEMPLATE 1
BANK A
BANK B
A 1-FIRE 1
B 1-FIRE 1
A 2-FIRE 2
B 2-FIRE 2
A 3-TAC 3
B 3-EMS 1
A 4-TAC 4
BLANK
A 5-TAC 5
A 6-TAC 6
B 6-COLONIE*
A 7-TAC 7
B 7-ICALL
A 8-TAC 8
B 8-ITAC 1
A 9-TAC 9
B 9-ITAC 2
A 10-GRND 1
B 10-ITAC 3
A 11-GRND 2
B 11-PAGING
A 12-GRND 3
B 12-DREGRP
A 13-PAGING
B 13-TAC 24
A 14-EMS 1
B 14-CAP 800
A 15-TAC 24
A 15-FIRE 2
A 16-FIRE 1
B 16-FIRE 1
Comparison of EMS to Fire Templates. Notice the similarities. Also notice that no matter what type of portable radio you have (Fire or EMS), when you turn the selector switch all the way left or right, you will be on your home talk group.
* COLONIE is not currently programmed into radios

7. TAC Use In EMS You may request a TAC assignment
Major incidents
Special events/operations
EMS Dispatch may assign you a TAC
If your call involves multiple units
If the EMS 1 talk group has heavy traffic
When on a TAC, you will normally need to switch back to EMS 1 to reach Dispatch
TAC groups are assigned. In order to use one, you must ask EMS Dispatch to assign you a TAC. Even if all you want to do is discuss a lunch order with another unit, you must ask to have a TAC assigned so that you don’t accidentally walk into another operation that has been assigned to that TAC. Ground frequencies and ITACs are okay to use without permission.

8. Interoperability EMS and Fire
Fire radio home is Fire 1
Fire Comm replaces Fire Control for dispatch
On EMS calls with Fire, you will be advised of the TAC assigned to the Fire units
To speak directly with FD, switch to the assigned TAC
To reach EMS Dispatch, switch back to EMS 1
EMS TEMPLATE 1
BANK A
BANK B
A 1-EMS 1
B 1-EMS 1
A 2-EMS 2
B 2-EMS 2
A 3-TAC 3
BLANK
A 4-TAC 4
A 5-TAC 5
A 6-TAC 6
B 6-COLONIE
A 7-TAC 7
B 13-ICALL
A 8-TAC 8
B 14-ITAC 1
A 9-TAC 9
B 15-ITAC 2
A 10-GRND 1
B 10-ITAC 3
A 11-GRND 2
B 11-PAGING
A 12-GRND 3
B 12-DREGRP
A 11-PAGING
B 13-TAC 24
A 12-FIRE 1
B 14-CAP800
A 13-TAC 24
B 15-EMS 2
A 16-EMS 1
B 16-EMS 1
If you need to speak to Fire, you can switch to the TAC they have been assigned to. If they wish to call you, they will more than likely ask Fire Comm to contact you and ask you to switch to their TAC.

9. Helpful Hints Always monitor EMS1 (use a portable on the TAC)
You can/will miss pages when scanning
Most everyday use will be on Bank A
For simplicity:
Bank A and C are same
EMS 1 is 1st and last on portable selector switch
Important to note that members should carry pagers. You cannot depend on the 800 radio to hear pages since it will stop on other talk groups when scanning. If you need to conduct communications with other units (i.e., Fire Units on an EMS assist), you would be best to keep your mobile radio on EMS 1 and use a portable radio to talk on the TAC assigned to Fire so that you don’t miss an EMS transmission. So that there is not a blank bank in portable radios, Bank A and Bank C are the same. This programming feature avoids someone accidentally selecting a bank with no talk groups programmed into it.

10. The 800 Radio System Brains

11. Helpful Hints A computer controls the radio system traffic
Push-to-Talk
(PTT Button)
A computer controls the radio system traffic
Push to talk and WAIT until the radio beeps
Two radios cannot talk at once
If the channel is busy or the radio is out of range, you will get a BUSY tone.
Test the busy feature and demonstrate to the students the tone and procedure for talking on the radio. Note also the delay as the voice is digitized and passed through the 800 computer system.

12. Talk Group Usage EMS 1 – Primary dispatch communications EMS 2
Overflow (assigned by communications when necessary)
Carries EMS Emergency Button signals
TACs 3 thru 9 – interoperability (assigned)
Ground 1 thru 3 – radio-to-radio only (no permission needed to use)

13. Talk Group Usage
Paging – Cross band repeated paging from Not for two-way communication.
FIRE 1 – Primary FD communications with Fire Comm for dispatch, call info.
TAC 24 – County-wide major incident talk group for all users (Police, Fire, EMS, DPW).
DREGRP – (Dynamic ReGrouping) used to create a new talk group “on the fly.” This would be a rarely used feature.

14. Talk Group Usage
I-Call and I-TACs – Nationwide radio to radio talk groups. For interoperability when outside Saratoga County. Similar to Ground TACs.
Colonie – potential future interface to Town of Colonie 800 system.
CAP800 – Potential future interface to other Capital District 911 Communications Center 800 radio systems.

15. Law Enforcement Talk Groups
Law Enforcement has their own set of talk groups.
Radios from other disciplines will not have access to these.
Police can be assigned to TACs for communications with EMS and Fire when necessary.
The Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police have interoperability between certain LEO (Law Enforcement Only) Talk groups, the most obvious one is the 911 talk group. It is simulcast on an 800 talk group and the current VHF Frequency to provide coverage in areas that were thought to not be covered by the 800 signal. Since there are available programmable 800 trunked scanners, some of the LEO Talk groups were encrypted, now Law Enforcement officers have the ability to have secure radio conversations across the County, with out the concern of unwanted individuals having the ability to hear them.

16. Radio Identifiers 800 system is computer controlled
Only radios registered and activated in the computer system will work
Communications can deactivate any radio
Radio identifiers are issued by OES
Users in the field can decipher radio identifiers to determine it’s identity
All transmissions display the radio ID in communications
You can buy an 800 radio from anyone but to work on the Saratoga County Radio system, it will need to get permission from OES and then be programmed by Pittsfield Communications. Currently, only Motorola equipment will be permitted on the system. Eventually, other brands of radios may be allowed.

17. Radio Identifying Number
FIRST digit “7” identifies Saratoga County (to other 800 systems)
SECOND digit distinguishes EMS Mobile from Portable. (Sheriff 1 or 2, Fire 5 or 6, DPW 7 only)
THIRD and FOURTH digits are the two digit EMS Agency Number.
FIFTH digit Identifies the what type of Unit it is.
SIXTH digit is used to identify additional units for that agency.
The display appearing in field units would be or
Alias Display in the County Communications Center for this Mobile will be 1251 and for this Portable will be P 1251
This is part of the unique numbering system for all of the Saratoga County radios. It is broken down to identify each individual Unit.
(Ex: Sheriff Units would be 71XXXX or 72XXXX, Fire Units 75XXXX or 76XXXX.
DPW Units 77XXXX.)
These numbers are displayed on your radio to help you identify who is calling or using the talk-group
78 and 79 are left open at this time, or are already being used to identify other users of the system.

18. Radio ID Assignments
Each vehicle ID can be associated with one mobile and one portable
Additional portable radios are identified using sequential IDs, starting with XX11. For example, 7151 has four portables. They may be identified as P7151, P7111, P7112, P7113
If 7152 also had four portables, they would be identified as P7152, P7114, P7115, P7116

19. Radio ID Assignments
Each vehicle ID can be associated with one mobile and one portable
Users should identify themselves by the vehicle they are using or their NIMS assigned task, regardless of portable ID
Example, “Portable 7151” or “EMS Command”
Agency leaders must know where portables are at all times (in case of emergency button activation)

20. Emergency Button
To activate, you need to push and hold the emergency button for at least 2 seconds. Once you activate the emergency button, the radio remains on EMS2 until you reset the emergency by turning the radio on and off. If you don’t reset the radio, and attempt to change the channel selector or do anything other than talk on the selected EMS2 will reactivate the emergency button.

21. Emergency Button

22. THE EMERGENCY BUTTON
Push when you are in imminent danger and unable to transmit a voice message
Radio will switch to EMS 2 and open your mic for 10 seconds
This is your opportunity to indicate what problem you are having
Communications will then call you with a two word question: “Activation status?”
- This is a very important section of this lecture for you to remember, and pass on to all your members.
- Your lack of proper response to an activation will get a response from the Police to your scene, all responding Units will believe you are in imminent danger.
Your response can be anything to get a Police response, but only the use of the one word “ACCIDENTAL” will not. “Oh Sorry, I accidentally hit the button” will get you a Police response. It is recommended that after your scene is secure and the emergency is over, you turn the radio off then back on to reset the emergency button. Otherwise, you will reactive the emergency button if you do anything else with the radio (like, for example, you try to change the talk group or adjust the volume).

23. THE EMERGENCY BUTTON “ACCIDENTAL”
The only way to stop a law enforcement response is with a one word reply:
“ACCIDENTAL”
Say anything else like, “Sorry, I hit the button accidentally,” and you will get a law enforcement response!
Emergency button activations for units not on an active call with no response when called by Communications will be referred to agency leadership to determine radio location.

24. Portable Radio XTS 1500 Light on/off Nuisance Delete Scan on/off
(long = Scan Program)
All Fire and EMS portables are programmed to operate in the same manner for consistency. The purple button turns scan on or off. If you hold the button down, the radio goes into scan program mode (see user manual). The 2 black buttons under the PTT (Push To Talk) activate the light (top button) and delete a nuisance channel from the scan list.

25. Restore After Nuisance Delete
To restore the preprogrammed scan list after using nuisance delete to eliminate channels from the scan list, do one of the following:
Turn scan off then turn scan back on
Turn the radio off and then turn back on
If you delete a channel from the scan list using nuisance delete, this shows how to reset the scan list. Note that when you program the scan list, this list as you reprogrammed it is retained in the radio memory.

26. IMPRES Charger Smart charger
If < 50% battery capacity, will deep discharge and then recharge (8+ hours)
LED color indicates status (see bottom of charger for codes)
Very important to note that these smart chargers do not work like conventional chargers. In most cases, it will be necessary for agencies to have additional batteries. We highly suggest people read the instructional manual (downloadable from the saratogaems.org web site to understand how the charger works.

27. Typical Mobile Radio Channel Select Emergency On/Off, Volume
Soft Menu Keys

28. Agency Purchased 800 Mobile (Model XTL 2500)
Volume
Knob
Dimmer
Button
Channel
Knob
Emergency
Button
Power
Button
Home
Button
Soft Menu
Keys
4-way Navigation
Button
If your agency purchased these (remote mount) 800 mobile radios, be familiar with the various function buttons

29. Dynamic Regrouping
Allows EMS Dispatch to temporarily combine talk groups or frequencies.
When your radio is regrouped, a special tone alerts you and the name of the regroup appears.
Talk as normal. When released, by dispatch, the radio will return to normal mode.
When you press the PTT button, the radio transmits on the dynamically assigned mode.
After the dispatcher releases your mobile from the dynamic ID assignment, your radio returns to the last selected, non-dynamic regrouping mode.
If no dynamic regrouping assignment has been made, an illegal-mode tone sounds if you attempt to select a dynamic mode. This means that the selection is not valid.
Secret Talk

30. Pittsfield Communications is Saratoga County’s authorized radio vendor for all repairs to County owned equipment.
Agencies owned equipment can be serviced by any vendor BUT, Pittsfield is the only vendor with necessary computer keys to program 800 radios.
Pittsfield will only program radios in accordance with permissions issued by OES

31. Questions, More Info…
– click on 800 Radio tab for resources
Steve:
Mike McEvoy (EMS-1):