Posts Tagged CFD digital radio system

Chicago Fire Department moves to digital radios – more

This from Dave Weaver:

Chicago FD UHF Radio Zone Channel Names/Assignments

The numbers in parenthesis (1-16) are the channel numbers now in use by the Chicago FD Fire and EMS crews. Each of their radios are programmed with over 20 Zones, most carrying duplicate channels with numbering that may be different. These are the 2 primary Zones in use by Chicago Fire and EMS.

Zone (FD):

(1) FIREMAIN: Used by FS&R companies i

n the North jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.(2) FIREENGL: Used by FS&R companies in the South jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

(3) ADMIN: For communications between FS&R companies and ambulances. Used as alternate Fireground channel if a MAYDAY is requested.

(4)FIREGRND: For FS&R communications at the scene of an incident.

(5) FIRE CMD: Used by Chief Officers to coordinate activities at the scene of an extra alarm or other large-scale incident.

(6) EMS CMD: Used as the EMS tactical channel during EMS Plan incidents.

(7) EMS OPS: Under the direction of the ranking EMS Command Chief, EMS companies shall utilize the EMS OPS channel for communications when operating at a high-rise fire. May be designated by the EMS Command Chief as a EMS tactical
channel at a large incident.

(8) OPS 8: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). Used as an alternate Fireground channel at a second incident, if a MAYDAY is requested at an incident in close proximity.

(9) OPS 9: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). For FS&R communications at the scene of a second incident if an incident in close proximity is already using FIREGRND.

(10) OPS 10: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, , alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). Used by Chief Officers to coordinate activities at the scene of a second extra alarm or large-scale incident if another extra alarm or large-scale incident is already using FIRE CMD.

(11) CTA FIRE: Used by Department units/members working on the scene of an incident within the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) tunnel/subway.

(12) UMETRO 3: Interoperable channel to communicate with other city/county agencies. With permission from the Incident Commander, can be used as a backup channel for CTA to FS&R communication at the scene of a CTA subway incident.

(13) CW FIRE: Alternate dispatch channel used by the OEMC during high-volume periods.

(14) LAKEFRNT: Used to communicate with Chicago Park District lifeguards on the beaches.

(15) FIREENGL: Used by FS&R companies in the South jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

(16) FIREMAIN: Used by FS&R companies in the North jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

Zone (EMS):

(1) EMS MAIN: Used by EMS companies in the North jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

(2) EMS ENGL: Used by EMS companies in the South jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

(3) ADMIN: For communications between FS&R companies and ambulances. Used as alternate Fireground channel if a MAYDAY is requested.

(4) FIREGRND: For FS&R communications at the scene of an incident.

(5) FIRE CMD: Used by Chief Officers to coordinate activities at the scene of an extra alarm or other large-scale incident.

(6) EMS CMD: Used as the EMS tactical channel during EMS Plan incidents.

(7) EMS OPS: Under the direction of the ranking EMS Command Chief, EMS companies shall utilize the EMS OPS channel for communications when operating at a high-rise fire. May be designated by the EMS Command Chief as a EMS tactical
channel at a large incident.

(8) OPS 8: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). Used as an alternate Fireground channel at a second incident, if a MAYDAY is requested at an incident in close proximity.

(9) OPS 9: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). For FS&R communications at the scene of a second incident if an incident in close proximity is already using FIREGRND.

(10) OPS 10: May be designated by the Incident Commander as a tactical channel at a large incident (Search and rescue, support, alternate EMS tactical channel, etc.). Used by Chief Officers to coordinate activities at the scene of a second extra alarm or large-scale incident if another extra alarm or large-scale incident is already using FIRE CMD.

(11) CTA FIRE: Used by Department units/members working on the scene of an incident within the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) tunnel/subway.

(12) CITY W5: Used by Chicago Police as a Special Events Channel monitored by OEMC.

(13) CW FIRE: Alternate dispatch channel used by the OEMC during high-volume periods.

(14) LAKEFRNT: Used to communicate with Chicago Park District lifeguards on the beaches.

(15) FIRE ENGL: Used by FS&R companies in the South jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

(16) FIRE MAIN: Used by FS&R companies in the North jurisdiction for communications with the OEMC.

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Chicago Fire Department moves to digital radios – more

This from Chris R:

HELLO CHRIS

… A PAGE FROM THE CFD RADIO  TRAINING CLASS HANDOUT

PAY ATTENTION TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR THE COLOR CODE KEY TO THE ANALOG,DIGITAL,SIMPLEX OPERATION. REMEMBER DIGITAL CHANNELS HAVE A NAC CODE,ANALOG CHANNELS HAVE A PL CODE.

THIS SYSTEM IS A DIGITAL UHF P25, AND REPEATED ANALOG, AND SIMPLEX ANALOG NON REPEATED ANALOG SYSTEM NOT A P25 TRUNKED DIGITAL SYSTEM.

AND THE O’HARE 800 MHZ CFD TRUNKED SYSTEM WILL BE GONE SOMETIME IN 2013,ALL CFD FIRE APPARATUS WILL BE ON THIS UHF SYSTEM, THIS WAS IN THE POWER POINT PRESENTATION FOR THE CLASS.

THERE WILL BE NO RADIOS INSTALLED IN THE FIRE APPARATUS TILL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR ALL RADIO COMMS ARE BY HT RADIOS AND THE COMMS TO NIFERN OR MUITIAL AID ARE BY COMMAND PERSONNEL RADIOS ONLY THE REGULAR FIREFIGHTERS RADIOS ARE PROGRAMMED BY THIS ATTACHED PAGE NO IDEA ABOUT COMMAND RADIOS YET.

Chicago Fire Department digital radio programming

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Chicago Fire Department moves to digital radios

This from Dave Weaver:

Chicago FD Transition From VHF Analog Radio System KSC711 To UHF Digital Radio System WPSG985 11/18/12 0800 Hours Recording
http://www.justin.tv/radioman911/b/341101867
Direct Links To Feeds:
Chicago Tower http://www.justin.tv/radioman911 (Incident Board)
DeKalb Tower http://www.justin.tv/dekalbfeed
Joliet Tower http://www.justin.tv/jolietfeed
Northwest Cook Co Trunked Feed http://www.justin.tv/stcharlesfeed
North Cook/DuPage Co Feed http://www.justin.tv/summitfeed
South Cook Co/NW IN Feed http://www.justin.tv/williamneumann
Dave Weaver

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CFD switches to digital radios … last analog fire

This from Eric Haak:

At 0656 hrs Sunday morning, Engine 62 pulled up in front of the vacant 2-story ordinary at 10901 S. Michigan in Chicago and reported the last working fire to be communicated over the old analog radio system.  It took less than 10 minutes to knock it out as Engine 62 led a line through the front door to the first floor.  Engine 93 took the hydrant at the corner of 109th and Edbrooke Avenue and led out to the basement.  Truck 42 was RIT.

Chicago apartment fire 10901 S. Michigan Avenue

Eric Haak photo

Chicago apartment fire 10901 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago Truck 42

Eric Haak photo

Chicago apartment fire 10901 S. Michigan AvenueEric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

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Chicago Fire Department switches to digital

This from several readers:

ATTENTION : The Chicago Fire Department Main Fire and Englewood fire channels will be switching once again from analog to digital, this time permanently, on Sunday November 18th 2012. If you would like to continue listening and you do not want to buy a digital scanner, you can always go to RadioReference.com, it is a 30 second to 1 minute delay, but it is better than buying a digital scanner.

 

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CFD to test digital radio system

Subject: (CARMA) CHICAGO FIRE DIGITAL TEST

 

Chicago Fire Department
CFD CONDUCTS FULL SCALE TEST OF IMPROVED RADIO SYSTEM
On October 14th at 8 a.m., the Chicago Fire Department will switch its Fire and Rescue dispatch from the current analog VHF radio platform to the new UHF Digital radio system for a multi-day full scale test.
The infrastructure for the new system is already in operation for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division and is working well. During the test period, VHF channels traditionally used for North and South dispatch, (i.e. Main and Englewood) will be silent.
At the end of the test period, dispatch operations will revert to the analog system until the permanent switchover, before the end of the year.
Persons with interest in monitoring CFD communications should plan to replace analog radios with units designed for APCO P25 Digital UHF radio protocol as soon as possible. No VHF simulcast overlap operation will take place after the permanent switchover or during the interim test. When in Digital mode, “Main” will operate on 477.7875 MHz and “Englewood” will operate on 478.2125 MHz.
During the test period low power fireground operations will remain on VHF.

 

 

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NATO Summit will test new CFD digital radios

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that high level communications during the NATO Summit in Chicago will be conducted with the long awaited CFD digital radios.

A $23 million digital radio system — purchased in 2006 under a no-bid contract awarded under questionable circumstances — will help speed emergency response during the NATO Summit.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford disclosed Thursday that “some of the channels” provided by the long-stalled Motorola system would be used by top brass for “command and control” within the “NATO summit footprint” surrounding McCormick Place.

“This will allow us to operate and dispatch resources separately from the regular citywide system and the main radio system for better flexibility and control,” Langford said.

The Motorola radios were purchased in 2006 to prevent communications breakdowns like the one that contributed heavily to six deaths at an October 2003 high-rise fire at 69 W. Washington.

The complete article can be found HERE.

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Chicago FD begins transition to digital radios

Chris Ranck submitted information about the frequencies for the new CFD digital radio system.

The frequencies are UHF digital, so a digital scanner is needed. (I have a Radio Shack PRO 106, which needs to be set as a P25 digital talkgroup). 

The frequencies are:

  • citywide fire 476.6875
  • CFD EMS main 477.5125
  • CFD fire main 477.78750
  • Chicago OEMC 477.9875
  • CFD fire Englewood 478. 2125
  • CFD EMS Englewood 478.4625

I read that one bank of the scanner should only have digital frequencies.

There are several analog UHF frequencies.

  • CFD admin 462.9750
  • CFD fireground 458.0250
  • CFD EMS command 458. 1750
  • CFD command 458.1250
  • CFD fire tac 470.1625
  • CFD ops 8 476.2875
  • CFD ops 9 479.2875
  • CFD ops 10 477.6625
  • CFD ops 11 480.6625
  • CFD utilities 458.0750
  • CFD events 1 478.5000
  • CFD events 2 481. 5000
  • CFD CTA fire 460.0625

There are some other general city frequencies which can be found on either wwwradioreference.com or wwwchichagocarma.com. I hope this helps.

 

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