Communication Flashcards
Base Station
Serves as dispatch and coordination area, ideally in contact with all other elements of the system
Should be located in suitable terrain, preferably a hill, and in proximity of the hospital that serves as a medical command center
Base Stations relatively have a high energy output of 80 to 150 watts and should be equipped with a suitable antenna within a short distance.
A fixed location
Land Mobile Radio Systems(LMRS)
Usually operate at UHF (ultra high frequency) or VHF (very high frequency)
700-800 MHz systems that allow for dispatch base-to-vehicle (mobile and portable radios), vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to medical facility, and medical facility to medical facility communications.
Mobile Radios(Transmitter/Receivers)
Vehicle mounted devices used to communicate with EMS systems
Transmit effectively at lower power than base stations (20-50 watts)
Most are capable of transmitting over a 10-15 mile range
Transmission can be affected by mountainous terrain or tall buildings
Mobile transmitters with higher output proportionally have greater transmission ranges
Portable Radios(Transmitter/Receivers)
Handheld device useful outside of vehicle or in patient compartment to stay in contact with base, partner, and medical direction.
Power output ranges between 1-5 watts, limited range
Range of transmission may be boosted by retransmission through a repeater
Repeater
Device that receives transmissions from a low powered source such as a mobile or portable radio
Rebroadcasts at another frequency and higher power
Repeater can be located in emergency vehicles or at fixed sites throughout the area covered by EMS
Repeaters make communication/transmission possible in hard to reach areas
Digital Equipment
Allows mobile and base stations to operate on the same broadcast Frequency, allowing more messages to be transmitted over those already crowded frequencies
Mobile data terminal: mounted device in cab of ambulance, instead of voice dispatch MDT receives a signal from digital radio and displays info on terminal screen. Response works at push of a button. Can respond via radio too
Encoder: breaks down sound waves into unique digital codes
Decoder: recognizes and responds only to those codes( digital codes)
Cellular Phones (Wireless)
Often used as backup when establishing a radio system is too great.
Disadvantage is cell phones are part of the public phone system and can be easily overwhelmed during multiple casualty disasters.
If cell phone is used to deliver information the content and format of info should be similar to info being provided via radio communications
Telemetry
Used to transmit patient data, vital signs, ECG(electrocardiogram)
Land Mobile Satellite Communications
Used in remote/rural areas that are sparsely populated
Alternative communication systems where EMS radio communications are commonly non existent or too expensive
Broadcast Regulations /FCC
FCC (federal communications commission) has has jurisdiction over all radio operations in the US
FCC licenses individual base station operations, assigns radio call signs, approves equipment for use, establishes limitations for transmitter power outputs, assigns frequencies and monitors field operations
FCC sets regulations to limit interference with emergency radio broadcast and to bar obscenity and profanity in broadcasts(malicious interference)
