Communications Flashcards
How many UFOs are assigned to MPSTOC?
4
How long does a unit have from time of dispatch to status “en route”?
2 minutes
What does FD03 and 4 handle?
They are the controlling dispatchers for working interstate and larger scale events (FHOU, HAZMAT, etc.)
If the units GPS is not working where will the unit be recommended from?
The XY coordinates of the fire station from which the response area is identified through the AR command
When CAD is not functional where are units dispatched from?
Their home station
What is the dispatch format for incidents involving only Fairfax, Fairfax City and Ft. Belvoir?
- Single alert tone for two seconds
- List of units being dispatched
- Channel Assignment
- Box number
- Type of event
- Location of event
- Pertinent supplemental info (voiced during second general announcement only)
When the CAD is not operational due to a system failure how are the stations notified?
Between the hours of 0700-2200 an all call tone, at all other times notification shall be made by general announcement
When the CAD is down what should be voiced?
Enroute On scene Transporting At Hospital Available
When the CAD is down when should a unit voice the response area they are in?
Only if it is other than the normal first due for a lengthy period of time such as a relocation
What information should be included when submitting an EMD inquiry to the MPSTOC Capt II?
Officer's name Incident number Info being questioned Supporting arguments or suggestion for change Contact info for initiating officer
If a unit is experiencing MDT problems and is unable to update their status what shall the unit officer voice?
Unit identifier
Status (en route, on scene…)
District they are in
That they are currently a non-MDT unit
When adding to a call what information should be voiced on the appropriate response channel?
Unit identifier
Call they wish to respond to
Where they are responding from
Assignment they will be taking
What console should wires events, local power outages or roadways needing salt or sanding be sent to when in condition 2?
SD01
When is condition III activated?
When greater than 50% of FRD units are either committed to incidents or out of service
Who can authorize condition III?
DFCO or higher
When in condition III how should units add on to calls?
By using the ADD command and placing the other unit in service directly or by MDT message
How many alert tones will the MPSTOC make when changing “conditions”
3
When you start responding to a call out of jurisdiction before Fairfax dispatches you, what info must you provide on the radio to Fairfax?
Unit identifier
Jurisdiction responding to
Address
Operational channel you will be switching to
When you go in service out of county what should your AR code be?
For the COG, their number ex. AR100, if outside COG AR499
When will the FRD dispatch units to assist someone Locked out of a house?
- Child unattended inside
- Handicapped person inside
- Possibility of loss of life or property due to situation inside structure
- Extreme or inclement weather in which the civilian is unable to find suitable shelter
When will the FRD dispatch units to assist with someone locked out of their vehicle?
- Child or physically or mentally challenged person left in vehicle
- Any other potential life threatening situations
- Animal locked in a vehicle, high temp guideline of 75
What are the two Abort commands when dealing with a Helo?
On landing, “Abort, Abort”
On take off, “Abort life off”
What is the only helicopter that can be “prealerted?”
FFX1
If FFX 1 is unable to fly due to weather what helicopter shall be checked with?
AirCare
What channel can the RHCC be contacted on?
49A
What are the recommended activation levels for the RHCC?
- 10 or more pts from a single incident
- 3 of more pts from a hazmat incident
- an incident where pts will be transported to 3 or more hospitals
For police standby events ex. hostage situation, barricade, high risk warrant, etc. what FRD units are dispatched if requested?
- 1 Engine
- 1 Medic
- 1 EMS Super
- 1 BC
Once dispatched to a relocation how long does a unit have to status AOR?
5 minutes
What does Live MUM do?
Assists in monitoring resource deployment and recommends move ups
What are the circumstances that units may be placed in service prior to arrival?
- By command on the scene of an incident
- By the fire dispatcher, if another unit is closer and available to respond
- By the fire dispatcher, upon orders from the IC, senior responding officer, or the UFO
What are some event types a CSU is dispatched on?
- ABIOZ
- AIRF
- EXPLOF
- FBULK
- FTANKF
- METROF
- RTUNNEL
- TRAINF
- 2nd alarm fires other then FHOU
- 3rd alarm fires
- MCI alarm
- OJHM
- OJTR
How many radios does the National Capital Region Communication Interoperability Group have and how are they distributed?
1250 portable radios, 500 Fairfax, 500 Montgo, 250 DC, each with 2 disposable batteries and two rechargeable ones
How many Radio Cache Teams does VA have and where are they?
5, 3 type 1s, 2 type 3s.
1s: Fairfax, Hampton Roads, Harrisonburg
3s: Montgomery and Lunenburg
How long does a Radio Cache team have to respond once requested and how long are they self-sustaining?
2 hours, 48 hours
How do you request additional communications equipment for a drill?
Drill Request E-Form
What is the non-emergency number to 911 center?
703-691-2131
How long are radio and phone communications at MPSTOC recorded?
90 days
Who can request a recording?
BMT member or higher
When must recordings be returned to the DPSC director?
within 30 days
How many talk groups does our radio system have?
20
How many radio towers does our system have?
12
How long does the station radios activate for after a call?
180 seconds
After what hour should the station radios be in night mode?
2200 hours
What is the backup radio dispatch channel?
48A
What is 4P a simulcast of?
4A
What are 4L and 4M for?
Channels that are available to mutual aid units that do not have Zone 48. When operating on the back up system, 4L and 4M will be used for mutual aid events
What are 41J and 41K for?
They are talk groups from Arlington County Radio System, available to Fairfax County to provide adequate in-building radio coverage in the north McLean area along the Arlington County border
What are 41L and 41M for?
Talkgroups from Montgo available to Fairfax County to provide adequate radio coverage in the north Great Falls area north of Georgetown Pike.
The fourth tactical event is placed on what channels?
42B, C, D, E
What should the primary talk around channel be and what should the safety channel be?
4N for talk around and 4O for safety
When an “Emergency” button has been activated on a police channel, what is the terminology used to check on the person?
“Are you OK”
What is radio parroting?
The practice of relaying info through a dispatcher and having the dispatcher repeat the message to other units on the incident. This has been proven to hamper effective incident communications by creating unnecessary radio traffic
How long must the EAB be depressed before it sends an audible and visual signal to the dispatcher’s console?
1/2 second
Does an EA give radio priority or the ability to bump transmissions in progress from other radios within the talkground?
No
How long in the open transmission timer set for?
45 seconds
What are the six types of outages that can affect the radio communications operations?
- Busy system
- Fail-Soft
- Site Trunking Outage
- Tower Site Outage
- DPSC power failure
- Catastrophic Emergency at DPSC
What is a “busy system” in the radio system?
When there is insufficient call processing resources are available to accommodate all of the radio traffic demands of the radio system. When this occurs, users may experience occasional busy signals, indicated by a fast busy audio tone when the PTT is pressed. The system will automatically call back when a channel is available. The call back is indicated by the receipt of the normal talk permit tone
What is Fail-Soft?
The back up mode of operations that is automatically activated when the system experiences loss of its primary and backup central controller computers
How often is the Fail-Soft alert tone heard when in fail soft?
Every 10 seconds
When in Fail-Soft what are the available talk groups?
- 4A, B and C combined into one
- 4D, 4H, 41D and 41H only alternate talkgroups
- 49A all hospitals
When in fail-soft does evacuation tones and special announcement tones work?
no
What zone is the back up radio system?
48
When operating in zone 48 what channels will be assigned with out of jurisdiction units are responding?
4L or 4M
When operating in Zone 48 is a desk watch necessary?
Yes
What is one of the main drawbacks of operating in zone 48?
Fewer tower sites which may result in unreliable radio coverage, may need to use 48N or 48O inside some buildings or in certain areas
When a site trunking outage occurs what will be displayed on the radios and what will not work?
Site Trunking, emergency activations will not work
What is the only zone that will remain operational if MPSTOC suffers a catastrophic power failure?
Zone 48
In the event of a catastrophic emergency at MPSTOC how should stations notify appropriate BMTs of incoming emergency calls received at the fire station?
teleconference system
When the back-up dispatch center is operational will station tones and alerting work?
No
When the light is orange on the radio battery charger what is it doing?
Reconditioning the battery and it takes 12 hours
How long does it take to charge a radio battery?
8 hours
When should portable radio batteries be changed?
When battery level is below 50%
What is a GETS card?
Provide an end to end nationwide wireless priority communications capability during times of congestion or network outages in the public switched telephone network
Who has satellite phones?
Communication Support Units, Hazmat unit, UFO and the DFCO
What counties codes must be programmed into the station NWS weather radios?
Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, DC, Mongo, PG
When should each station shutdown and restart their MDTs?
Every Friday morning at 0700
If on a volunteer unit the FRD vehicle number is preceded by what?
70
When a unit is AIQ400 what does it mean?
These units will be selected only for dispatch if similar unit types are committed or out of service
When should each station shut down and restart their netdispatcher terminals?
Friday mornings at 0700
When the station is alerted to a call how many ramped alert tones are there?
3
How many ramped alert tones are used for the morning announcement?
4
When a Bell Message is received how is the station alert?
Two chimes followed by “Bell Message”
When the CAD system is not operational can the station alert system be used?
Yes, by manual activation, however it is not to be used for large events or during conditions 2 and 3
In the COG region what is the designator 1100 for?
Fauquier
In the COG region what is the 1200 designator for?
Culpeper County
In the COG region what is the 1400 designator for?
Rappahannock County
In the COG region what is the 1500 designator for?
Stafford County
What problems would result in filling out a GEO911 form via the MCT?
- Incorrect Routing
- Different Route then suggested via MCT
- Unknown address on the MCT
- New address/incorrect address
- Incorrect business name
- Road closures
- Open Road
What are the 4 C’s of communication?
- Connect
- Convey
- Clarify
- Confirm
We use what version of the Phonetic Alphabet?
The international phonetic alphabet
F
Foxtrot
J
Juliet
K
Kilo
P
Papa
Q
Quebec
R
Romeo
S
Sierra
T
Tango
U
Uniform
V
Victor
W
Whiskey
X
X-Ray
Y
Yankee
Z
Zulu
Define Emergency Traffic
Non-fireground, Non-police event, emergency notification
Signal 2- Urgent
Police needed immediately, though your life is not in danger
Signal 2 Non-Urgent
Police needed and may respond non-emergency
Signal 4
Need to convey sensitive information
Define extending (fire condition)
vertical fire communication to another occupancy, floor or attic
Define extension (fire conditions)
Used to describe interior fire transmission to another area or object
Define orderly retreat (operational mode)
Used to reassemble crews to the exterior and organize an attack
What is the communication transmission that means repeat traffic?
Say again
What is your default password for netdispatcher?
FFXCAD