[Scan-DC] Interoperability

[Eco14@aol.com]

The idea that everyone can talk on one channel is a nice concept.  It's not 
quite as simple as it sounds.  I can't speak for the nuts and bolts & flipping 
switches part of it but just getting multiple agencies who use different 
terms, different vehicle/officer identification terms, different radio codes, and 
different procedures, would be a nightmare.  It would be great if only one 
person in the chase talked at a time.  Anyone who has listed to scanners or who 
works in the public safety field knows it's not uncommon to get stepped on when 
trying to transmit a message.  Compound that with three helicopters, 
supervisors, and the rest of the responding units, and it would be a mess.

On mutual aid incidents where unit designations are changed to fit the lead 
jurisdiction, it can get confusing.  Montgomery's Engine 11 becomes Engine 901 
when it runs into PG.  Montgomery's Engine 101 becomes Engine 710 when it runs 
into Fairfax.  Add in more units who have not been assigned switch over unit 
designation and it gets worse.  

Since that concept is not often used, the personnel in the field and at 
communications are not well practiced at in the concept.  Command & control would 
also be overwhelmed by all that chaos on the radio.  Expecting all the units 
from last night's chase to all talk on one channel is unrealistic.  Anytime 
multiple agencies are involved, you can expect them to continue to use multiple 
channels.

Carl in Rockville


--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
The reason this message is shown is because the post was in HTML
or had an attachment.  Attachments are not allowed.  To learn how
to post in Plain-Text go to: http://www.expita.com/nomime.html  ---