1.0 PURPOSE 2.0 SCOPE Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division #32 ADVOCACY STATEMENT #2 VHF Radio Communications Interoperability 2 nd Edition The purpose of the statement is to provide all members of MABAS Division #32, using VHF radio frequencies, an outline for the effective organization and use of assigned frequencies. Although some deviations are required, the outline is intended to bring the Division s use of VHF radio into agreement with the recommendations of the MABAS Special Communications Committee. This recommendation applies to all members of MABAS Division #32 except the members based in the state of Missouri. The fire departments, dispatch agencies, and related emergency response organizations of the Division except the members based in the state of Missouri are encouraged to adopt the procedures set forth herein. 3.0 BACKGROUND Time and time again investigations into fire fighter fatalities point to a break down in communications as a contributing factor. There is no question that historically the utilization of fire service VHF radio frequencies in Division #32 was ineffective at best and repeatedly dangerous. Although most departments and dispatch centers are licensed to operate on two fire service radio frequencies (154.190 and 154.265) up to the time of this statement they only used 154.190, commonly referred to as the County Fire Net. This practice of overuse is alleviated by utilizing additional frequencies that are available. 4.0 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE The following Advocacy Statements and Recommended Practice approved by the MABAS Communications Committee are adopted for this statement by reference except where they are contradicted in which the provisions of this statement shall prevail. 4.1 Advocacy Statement #1- VHF Interoperability 4.2 Advocacy Statement #2- Radio Licenses 4.3 Advocacy Statement #3- Transmit Power Limitation
4.4 Advocacy Statement #5- Medical Helicopters 4.5 Advocacy Statement #6- CTCSS Tones 4.6 Advocacy Statement #7- Statewide Radio License 4.7 Advocacy Statement #8- Technician s Guidelines for Configuring Fire Radios 4.8 Advocacy Statement #10- Guideline for the Use of the IFERN and IFERN 2 Frequencies 4.9 Recommended Practice #2- Tactical Frequency Use Guideline 5.0 RADIO FREQUENCIES The names and uses of the VHF radio frequencies available in Division #32 are described in the referenced statements and practice. In addition to those names the following are added: 5.1 CENCOM Fire Net- Frequency 154.190 with CTCSS tone encryption for only those fire departments dispatched through CENCOM. The CENCOM Fire Net shall be considered the Dispatch frequency for CENCOM fire departments. 5.2 County Fire Net- Frequency 154.190 without any CTCSS tone encryption. 5.3 ICOM (Intra-department Communication) - All Division #32 departments are licensed on an additional VHF frequency originally assigned for fire ground use. These frequencies typically have high levels of interference that can be defeated with the use of CTCSS tones. A different tone shall be assigned for each fire department. Still alarm, business, and/or non-emergency traffic is assigned to these frequencies. 5.3.1 Division #32 ICOM Frequencies Department Frequency CTCSS Tone Albers 154.430 107.2 Alorton 154.235 94.8 Brooklyn 154.355 91.5 Cahokia 154.415 186.2 Caseyville 154.205 173.8 Camp Jackson 154.415 91.5 Church Road 154.235 100.0 Columbia 154.355 97.4 Dupo 154.205 94.8 East Side 154.355 100.0 Fairview 154.415 103.5 Fairmont City 154.385 103.5 Fayetteville 154.385 110.9 Freeburg 154.415 DPL-071 French Village 154.415 103.5 Golden Gardens 154.235 110.9 Hecker 154.250 91.5
Hollywood Heights 154.385 173.8 Lebanon 154.415 110.9 Lenzburg 154.415 123.0 Maeystown 154.430 203.5 Mascoutah 154.385 123.0 Marissa 154.415 127.3 Midway 154.355 110.9 Millstadt 154.430 123.0 New Athens 154.430 141.3 New Baden 154.430 186.2 Northwest 154.205 141.3 O Fallon 154.235 103.5 Prairie DuPont 154.205 110.9 Signal Hill 154.385 DPL-203 Smithton 154.235 127.3 St. Libory 154.235 141.3 Swansea 154.385 DPL-243 Valmeyer 154.235 167.9 Villa Hills 154.385 146.2 Washington Park 154.235 186.2 Waterloo 154.295 None 6.0 RADIO FREQUENCY BANKS AND SCAN LISTS 6.1 Frequency Bank and Scan List for an Eight Channel Radio 1. Dispatch Local Local Local 2. ICOM Local Local Local 3. IFERN 154.2650 154.2650 210.7 4. IREACH 155.0550 155.0550 None 5. Red 153.8300 153.8300 69.3 6. White 154.2800 154.2800 74.4 7. Blue 154.2950 154.2950 85.4 8. County Fire Net* 154.1900 154.1900 None 6.2 Frequency Bank and Scan List for a Sixteen Channel Radio or Bank #1 for a Multi-Bank Radio 1. Dispatch Local Local Local 2. ICOM Local Local Local 3. IFERN 154.2650 154.2650 210.7 4. IREACH 155.0550 155.0550 None 5. Red 153.8300 153.8300 69.3 6. White 154.2800 154.2800 74.4
7. Blue 154.2950 154.2950 85.4 8. Gold 153.8375 153.8375 91.5 9. Black 154.2725 154.2725 94.8 10. Gray 154.2875 154.2875 136.5 11. IFERN2** 154.3025 154.3025 67.0 12. Missouri Mutual Aid*^ 154.2800 154.2800 None 13. Merci 340*^ 155.3400 155.3400 210.7 14. Local Use** Local Local Local 15. Local Use** Local Local Local 16. County Fire Net* 154.1900 154.1900 None ** Optional for scan list ^ May be used for any other local frequency or left blank 6.3 Bank #2 for a Multi-Bank Radio (Missouri Frequencies) 1. St. L. FD Dispatch 154.0100 154.1300 203.5 2. St. L. FD Car to Car 154.1300 154.1300 203.5 3. St. L. FD Command A* 153.8300 153.8300 None 4. St. L. FD Command B* 155.3250 155.3250 None 5. St. L. FD Command C* 154.2650 154.2650 203.5 6. St. L. FD Command D* 154.2950 154.2950 None 7. St. L. FD Command E* 153.9500 153.9500 None 8. Missouri State Mutual Aid* 154.2800 154.2800 None 9. North-Central Car to Car* 154.4000 154.4000 None 10. Central County Car to Car* 151.4600 151.4600 None 11. South County Car to Car* 153.8900 153.8900 None 6.3 Bank #3 for a Multi-Bank Radio (ITTF/MABAS Frequencies) 1. IREACH* 155.0550 155.0550 None 2. V-Call * 155.7250 155.7250 156.7 3. V-TAC-1* 151.1375 151.1375 156.7 4. V-TAC-2* 154.4525 154.4525 156.7 5. V-TAC-3* 158.7375 158.7375 156.7 6. V-TAC-4* 159.4725 159.4725 156.7 7. BLANK 8. BLANK 9. BLANK 10. IFERN* 154.2650 154.2650 210.7 TX 11. IFERN2* 154.3025 154.3025 67.0 12. Red* 153.8300 153.8300 69.3 TX 13. White* 154.2800 154.2800 74.4 TX
14. Blue* 154.2950 154.2950 85.4 TX 15. Gold* 153.8375 153.8375 91.5 16. Black* 154.2725 154.2725 94.8 17. Gray* 154.2875 154.2875 136.5 7.0 ADOPTION This advocacy statement edition was adopted by MABAS Division #32, according to Bylaws Article IX, at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007.