Communications

Question 1

When to utilize a command channel

Answer 1

The incident expands requiring the use of groups and/or divisions

Question 2

If a second tactical channel is needed, where can the channel come from?

Answer 2

1. Same zone
2. Different zone
3. ICS channel in RMA zone after contacting Sheriff Comm Center

Question 3

When to use XSD 8DIR

Answer 3

1. Direct channel that is non-repeated (such as technical rescue call)
2. Communications failure during an incident

Question 4

What is station M

Answer 4

Sheriff’s Communication Center - Northcomm can contact SO on Station M’s dispatch channel to advise of their status (I.e. staging). The patrol Sheriff can direct and engine on a TAC or CARS1

Question 5

Code Three Cover Now

Answer 5

• Expedites requests of additional resources
• Used when a crew finds themselves in a situation on an incident where their general safety is being threatened by member of the public.
• “Cover Now” should be followed you with a brief report including unit number and location

Question 6

Routine traffic to any law enforcement dispatch center

Answer 6

• Utilize County Call
• Utilize tactical channel to go direct with PD officer if necessary
• RMA zone is programmed into PD radios. Utilize County TAC 1 - 4 for less urgent traffic.

Question 7

Station letter designators for County Communications Centers

Answer 7

Station C - Carlsbad

Station M - SD Sheriff’s

Station H - Escondido

Station O - Oceanside

Question 8

Emergency Traffic (ET) for LE

Answer 8

• Used when potentially dangerous situation exists. Dispatch announces “Emergency Traffic Only” every 30 seconds
• Utilize “County Call” only to contact LE during ET status

Question 9

800 mHz scan list (11 total)

Answer 9

5A thru 5G
CARS
5P EMER
CITYWIDE
10K

Question 10

Most talkgroups in the RCS radio system are repeated and ….

Answer 10

…record. Except direct only channels.

Question 11

Direct RCS channels

Answer 11

Work off of line of sight

2-5 mile range

Do not utilize a repeater

Ideal for TACTICAL conversations

Are not located near normal operation zones

Question 12

Escondido, Northcomm, and Monte Vista dispatch channel

Answer 12

5A, 3, 4A, 10A

DESIGNED FOR OUTBOUND TRAFFIC ONLY

Question 13

North Zone specific area radio channels

Answer 13

Coastal: 3C-3H

Central: 3I-3N

East: 4C - 4H

Escondido: Zone 5

Question 14

XSD 8DIR and SND 8DIR

Answer 14

• Conventional frequency in zones 1-6 and 10/11 while SND 8DIR is in zone 7-9
• non-trunked and used for a radio system failure
• only used in SD and Imperial counties

Question 15

Camp Pendleton Radio System

Answer 15

Utilizes 400 MHz system

Not compliant with SD RCS system

Utilize VHF

“XSD N CMD” for routine traffic

Question 16

11A channel

Answer 16

Travel Channel

Utilized for strike teams county-wide

Used until meeting at the rendezvous point

Question 17

Travel Frequency Options (such as during a strike team)

Answer 17

CESRS (VHF)

8M1 Zone: CARS A thru D (IN COUNTY ONLY)

8M1 Zone: 8TAC91 thru 8TAC94 (used nationwide.c utilize direct mode, do not use in SD County)

Question 18

10 K channel

Answer 18

County wide permitted talk group assigned to Monte Vista ECC.

Supplemental frequency for wildland incidents when VHF is not functioning during IA

Question 19

SD M/AIR, SD F/AIR, SD L/AIR

Answer 19

Medical: request for medical air made through dispatch then can use to communicate with air ambulance

Fire: 800 MHz channel for rotary wing resources such as SD County Copter 10 and 12 or SD City Copter 1 and 2. Should establish VHF A/G quickly for vegetation Fire.

Law Enforcement: hail LE resources such as ASTREA or ABLE.

Question 20

North Zone NZT1 thru NZT4

Answer 20

Utilized for training or non-emergency coordination

NZT1 and 2 are digital

NZT3 and 4 are analog

*4I thru 4N can be used as alternate talkgroups

Question 21

Regional Mutual Aid Talkgroups

Answer 21

16 county wide permitted 800 MHz talkgroups.

Is common to all portable and mobile radios in the RCS.

Question 22

RMA Zone 1 - San Diego County Call (SDCo Call)

Answer 22

Hailing channel used to communicate with any other RCS user such as CHP, Sheriff, CalTrans, etc.

Move to County TAC 1 for extended conversation

Question 23

RMA zone, mode 2 thru 5 (SDCo TAC 1 thru SDCo TAC 4)

Answer 23

Used for mutual aid conversations

Initiated on County Call then moved to these tactical channels

Question 24

RMA zone, modes 6 thru 16 (San Diego Incident Command System SD ICS1 thru SD ICS11)

Answer 24

Can be assigned by an IC to facilitate mutual aid communications

Request is made through SD Sheriff’s communication center before use

Can be reserved for special events (fair, parades, etc)

Question 25

Zone that is to NOT be used and should be removed from the RCS radios in the future

Answer 25

Conventional Zone (CNV)

Question 26

Mutual Aid Zone (8M1)

Answer 26

Utilized for communicating in or outside the confines of the RCS. Only use 8CALL90, 8TAC 91-94 in SD County in DIRECT mode ** other channels in this zone cannot be used in SD County until further notice.

Question 27

8M1 8CALL90

Answer 27

Conventional channel similar to County Call Mutual aid hailing systems monitored by many comm centers. Works in repeat and direct mode

Question 28

8M1 zone, 8TAC91 thru 8TAC94

Answer 28

Can be used for incident communications when more than one agency is involved Can be used as a travel channel in direct mode outside of SD County

Question 29

8M1 Zone, mode 6 and 7 (CALAW8 and CAFIRE1)

Answer 29

Common LE and Fire frequency throughout California CAFIRE can be used as a direct channel

Question 30

8M1 zone, mode 8-11 (CARS A - CARS D)

Answer 30

Line of sight communications within SD County only Used for IN-COUNTY travel use after meeting at rendevous

Question 31

8M1 zone, mode 13 San Diego County Air-to-Ground

Answer 31

XSD 8 A/G

Question 32

Site Trunking

Answer 32

A single site (Simulcast Cell or Intell-Repeater) loses connection to the Primary System Center. Trunking still occurs Users are isolated to their geographic site EMER button does not activate an alarm in dispatch rather Comm Center and others using the site will see “EMER Rcvd” with no idea who pressed the button Still get tall permit tones

Question 33

Failsoft Defined

Answer 33

Radio site cannot perform trunking from computer failure within the system. Talkgroups preprogrammed to switch to the like-discipline frequencies (Failsoft assignments) has May share talkgroups with other agencies FAILSOFT displayed on radio with beep every 10 seconds

Question 34

Radio Operations during Failsoft

Answer 34

Trunking stops EMER does not work May or may not receive permit to talk tones May hear other agency transmissions Talkgroups become analog No radio alias displays Grouped onto a conventional channel based on talkgroups user was on at time of Failsoft DO NOT CHANGE TALKGROUPS OR SETTINGS

Question 35

Alternate Contact Methods for dispatch during Failsoft

Answer 35

XSD CMD 5 (group 1 channel 1) XSD ESC DISP V (group 1 channel 8) FIREMARS (CNV) in repeater mode ICALL (CNV) in repeater mode Cellphone

Question 36

Users can use _______ cell but not _______ cell during Site Trunking

Answer 36

North Simulcast East or South Simulcast

Question 37

Radios in _________ mode cannot communicate with radios affiliated with an __________

Answer 37

Failsoft Intelli-Repeater

Question 38

Alternate communication plan for a Failsoft during a fire event

Answer 38

Utilize XSD 8DIR Remove from IDLH environment Conduct a PAR IC can use CNZ FIREMARS-Repeat to talk to dispatch

Question 39

During a Failsoft Escondido users should ________

Answer 39

Stay on current channel and go to VHF to monitor ESC DISP V

Question 40

RCS communication Failure Declaration

Answer 40

1. No RCS coverage available 2. RCS is degraded enough to not provide sustainable and functional Zone-Wide coverage (extended Failsoft or Site Trunking) - Determined by Zone Coordination Group, Duty Chiefs, and Communication Centers - require use of VHF radios

Question 41

800 MHz Channels to scan during a RCS Communication Failure Declaration

Answer 41

CNV SDMARS CNV FIREMARS

Question 42

Helicopter landing selection

Answer 42

100’ x 100’ Less than 8 degree slope No overhead wires Avoid dust if possible

Question 43

Code Guard

Answer 43

Squelch is completely off. Will only allow preprogrammed tone to be received. For example, is MVU 1 tone 4 is the pre- programmed tone, tone 4 will be the only one heard. If you have code guard off you will here other tones but may not be able to transmit This is the “MON” button of the portable Tk790