[Scan-DC] MCFRS Re-Banding Plan - Week of 3/26/2012

[Doug Kitchener]

> > MCFRS Re-Banding Plan - Week of 3/26/2012
> >
> > Please see important information about changes to the MCFRS radio system
> > that will take place next week.
> >
> >
> >
> > Beginning March 26th Montgomery County will begin the re-banding process as
> > mandated by Federal Law. As a result of this process some changes will
> > occur – it is important that all MCFRS personnel understand these changes.
> > Below is an explanation of the changes and their affect on operations.
> >
> >
> >
> > The planned timeline is as follows:
> >
> >
> >
> > Vehicle Repeater System (VRS) Access Channel Changes:
> >
> >
> >
> > § As a result of rebanding and the switch to the NON * zones, there
> > are some fleet-map changes that the field will need to be aware of.
> > Basically as part of this process we have added the VRS talk groups to the
> > fourth channel in each incident block, as well as the 7N position.
> > (example: INC10 (7C), INC11 (7D), INC12 (7E), VRS1 (7F)) This was done to
> > make switching to VRS easier on the field providers placing it closer to the
> > selectable event talk groups in the radio.
> >
> >
> >
> > Please refer to the non-asterisk section of the laminated fleetmaps that
> > have been distributed or are available via Quicklinks to become familiar
> > with these changes.
> >
> >
> >
> > Vehicle Repeater System (VRS) Replacement in Battalion Vehicles:
> >
> >
> >
> > Beginning March 26th we will start replacing the VRS in the BC vehicles.
> > This is done in a “just in time” fashion to alleviate any out of service
> > problems with the VRS system over a long period of time. During this we
> > will manipulate the radio system so that there is NEVER an outage of VRS.
> > Our Plan is to install new Vehicle Repeaters per the following:
> >
> >
> >
> > 3/26/12 - BC700 (Backup Battalion Vehicle) – VRS Replacement
> >
> >
> >
> > 3/27/12 @0700 - 3/31/12 @0700 – MCFRS will staff a vehicle equipped with the
> > new Tactical VRS and old Tactical VRS to run ALL full assignments. For
> > radio communication, this vehicle will be designated as Communications 700.
> >
> > 3/27/12 @0800 – Two Battalion Vehicles to the Radio Shop at Crabbs Branch
> > Way for VRS Replacement. BC700 and another spare vehicle will be available
> > for switch-out while installation is completed
> >
> > 3/27/12 @1200 – Two Battalion Vehicles to the Radio Shop at Crabbs Branch
> > Way for VRS Replacement. BC700 and another spare vehicle will be in place
> > for switch-out while installation is completed
> >
> > 3/27/12 @1700 (PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE (4) BATTALION VEHICLES) –
> > Montgomery County Switches to the NON * Zones for ALL Public Safety
> > Operations. Regional Partners (COG and Ancillary Counties Notified VIA
> > RICCS and MEMA)
> >
> >
> >
> > ECC will announce each our on the hour “Attention All Stations & Units on
> > the Air, Montgomery County is now operating on the POST REBANDING radio talk
> > groups. All communications devices should be tuned to the NON Asterisk
> > zones for operations. (repeat). This message will continue until April 8th
> > 2012 at 0700.
> >
> >
> >
> > The ECC will ensure that Mutual Aid Partners which are called into
> > Montgomery County are advised that they should operate on the NON * zones.
> >
> >
> >
> > 3/28/12 @0800 – Last Remaining Battalion Vehicle to the Radio Shop at Crabbs
> > Branch Way for VRS Replacement. BC700 Vehicle will be available for
> > switchout.
> >
> >
> >
> > Effective sometime on 3/30/2012 - ALL legacy radios that were NOT re-banded
> > will cease to operate. This includes station scanners that are incapable
> > of rebanding. We expect that there will be complaints about “radios not
> > working”. All complaints should be directed to
> >
> > Overall system effects:
> >
> >
> >
> > During various times over the week the Radio System will be placed into SITE
> > TRUNKING. These brief interruptions will mean that the ECC is operating on
> > its back-up radios and NOT the primary “computer consoles” that are
> > routinely used. ALL talk-groups are still available to all users.
> >
> >
> >
> > This should not have a significant effect on operations.
> >
> >
> >
> > Once re-banded and on the NON * zones, the 7O & 7N in the * zones will NOT
> > work, so any personnel who do-not switch to the NON * zones will not be able
> > to communicate on 7O & 7N.