[Scan-DC] Interoperability (was: Unit 5 Enroute Rt 301 PG)

[David Lloyd]

I couldn't resist.  8,000 [edit: 1,000] channels and nobody to talk to... 

But in all seriousness, our agencies must be ready and plan, but until the actual event happens, it's hard to predict the resources necessary. NIMS has created a good command structure, but technology has made it difficult to execute.

I was listening to the apartment building full of carbon monoxide  in Montgomery County a few weeks ago, where the command officer had multiple channels for the fire ground, landing zone, and EMS.  From a command management perspective, I would think that this would be more complicated?   

During the incident, the command officer requested an Landing Zone, but delegated  the first-due company and another responding company to establish.   I think initially there was some confusion due to the three channels. How was the information that is relevant to all communicated?   Maybe I missed that part.  

As much talk as there is about interoperability, it doesn't seem like anyone is driving it.  MCOG seems to have issued standards, but as for true interoperability, I have yet to have seen it.    There is always some unforeseen glitch.   Murphy's law, huh?   

David

On Dec 6, 2011, at 7:59 PM, Doug Kitchener wrote:

> 
> I thought these radios had a capacity of about 8000 (no exaggeration) channels, or talkgroups, or "things"... if that's the case, or even if they (only!) have a capacity of 5000, I can't understand why, at least from a hardware standpoint, that interoperability would be difficult.