The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Alpha Numeric Paging
As great as this sounds. I was told that with our dispatch using CAD and having the enhanced 911 system installed that we couldn't use the alpha numeric paging system. Can anyone tell me if this is true or just dispatch not wanting to add something to there routine? The enhanced 911 has been a great improvement but the MIN IV's still suck!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
-
I should point out that our alphanumeric pagers are mainly meant as a means for admin. to distribute information rather than through a paper memo. They're also used as a redundant means of paging out major incidents along with radios and minitor V pagers.
-
Permalink Reply by Alan on
-
We use the Min Iv's along with alpha pagers and recently we started having messages sent to our sent to our cell phones. The alpha pagers are nice, but in the middle of the night, its heard to read. I like having the messages sent to my cell phone at least I can read it easier.
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
-
But how do you really feel about texting and cell phones Brian?
-
-
Mike, I wouldn't be comfortable relying on either cell phones or text messaging for emergency dispacthing. Here in Chicagoland I've got Sprint/Nextel and every so often my phone drops a call. I've also had my wife text me and had the text arrive at my end several minutes later. Neither of those scenarios bode well for emergency dispatch! I'm more a fan of radios/pagers, or obviously the station system if we're in quarters. We also have CAD here so dispatch can send info right to the laptop mounted on all apparatus.
As a side note, when dispatch sends info to our laptops, the ringtone is the tones from Emergency! :)
-
Permalink Reply by Tony P on
-
Texting a turnout message to a phone isn't an option here. Immediate, priority texting isn't catered for by the phone companies. Delays would be unacceptable. Plus the digital phone coverage is very poor in many parts of the State.
Radios? The Region I'm in has 60 individual Brigades in it. We all use the one Dispatch channel - A broadcast emergency call would be received by around 2750 members. The only ones interested would be the members of the two Brigades required for an individual emergency. I don't think that's an option either. Plus radios are too expensive to issue to all!
The digital alpha numeric paging system we use covers virtually all of the inhabited parts of the State. It's used solely for Police Fire and Ambulance, it's ours. The message for a call contains:
A code showing in which part of our area the emergency is
A code showing what type of emergency (structure, wildfire, MVA, alarm etc)
The address - with the nearest cross street
The page and grid for the address in the commercial street directory we use
The 6 digit map reference
And a code showing the supporting Brigade(s).
Any further information gained after the pager message was sent is given to us (by radion) on turnout.
Simple, and it works. The system is also used to send information messages by State HQ, Region HQ and Brigades - to whatever individual or group of people that need it. We're also encouraged to use the messaging system ourselves for friends and family who need to contact us, very useful when out of mobile phone coverage!
-
Permalink Reply by Brian Evans on
-
I enjoy texting and I enjoy my cell phone but I don't want to rely on that for emergency information, too often are calls dropped, the text delayed or lets take for example 9/11 the networks were just overloaded. Granted that is an extreme example its there for the point
-
-
when I wake up my cell phone is way to bright I much rather use the softer light from a minitor IV
-
-
You're killin' me man! LOL
-
-
I knew I wasn't totally on board with what was being discussed. I guess now I can clarify what we do and my thoughts a bit more accurately now... sheesh... For dispatching, we only rely on radios... Period. Administrative people, media, etc. (non-emergency) are alerted via text messaging / page sendouts to cellphones. Fire station radios pickup the signal and the station tones go off, if we are in an engine, we always use the mobile or portable. We are always assessible by radio.
We just finished dumping our Nextel phones, all of them and switched to Verizon. Know anyone who needs any Nextel phones... Actually, I think we may be giving them to a woman's shelter and to special ed teachers who do home visits. But if you do have needs for phones and you can't afford them, drop me a line.
Anyway, using anything other than a radio is totally unreliable as you mentioned Brian. And someday, maybe ten years from now, we might actually have MDT's in our engines... And how cool to hear the same ringtone on the laptop that was on Emergency! I have not heard that in years. Brings back cool memories when I was in paramedic school in Los Angeles. Actually met Roy and Gage in person at a party in Santa Barbara and at my paramedic school graduation.
-
-
Hey Brian, Have you thought about turning it over so you can't see the light? I talked to my older brother (he's the good looking one) and he told me to share this with you. just a thought...
-
-
how soo
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
