1. Radio Communications System Failure and System Trouble

2. The Main Points The back up plan must be easy Recognize various failures The plan must be Standard The plan must address ALL departments in Division 112 The Incident Commander must adapt on the scene It must use existing resources

3. System Failure Broken Link - FD to Dispatch and Dispatch to FD Broken Link to on scene operations Broken Link from Incident Commander (I.C.) to resources.

4. Types of Failures Dispatch controller failure (700) Tower site failure (700) System Overload/Bonking (700) Complete System Failure (700) Failsoft mode (700) VHF Paging failure

5. 700 System Failures Dispatch will notify all departments with VHF capability by the MABAS tone. Dispatch will call the two Green Bay Battalion Chiefs as well as the stations. ALL Division departments will have to switch to the SIREN frequency (channel 15)for operations. –Necessary radio traffic only. Calls will be paged by VHF using the MABAS tones on BF MAIN. GB will get their calls by phone.

6. Types of Failures System Overload System Overload/Bonking (700) Too much traffic on a the system A tone will emit when the PTT button is pressed resulting in the BONKED sound If this persists then traffic must be moved off the system. SIREN may be used as an option

7. 700 System Failures Failsoft Activation In a Motorola trunking system, failsoft refers to a mode of operation when the trunking controller has gone down (Or, the subscriber radio cannot hear any of the control channels), and the system operates in conventional mode, matching channels to specific, pre- programmed frequencies. Failsoft mode still utilizes the repeaters, but only channels that have frequencies can be used (usually dispatch channels) can be used, and radio emergency buttons stop working.Motorolarepeaters

8. 700 System Failures Failsoft Activation All radios will go red/show FAILSOFT Text and beep every 10 seconds BC departments will still be paged on the VHF system assuming it is still functioning GB can get their calls as usual All communications for BC departments are on one channel there are no talkgroups in Failsoft This happens automatically

9. 700 System Failures Failsoft Activation Options remain available when in Failsoft SIREN may still be the best answer Other Annex K 800 frequencies are in each radio The IC may develop a radio plan when the incident dictates

10. Working Incidents with 700 mhz System Failure/Problem 1.It is the responsibility of the Incident Commander to account for personnel if a radio system failure occurs during an incident. 2.It is up to the individual department to decide how to conduct a PAR and or to notify all operating units on scene of the radio failure. 3.This may include any of the following suggestions- deployment of a secondary team into the IDLH atmosphere to notify personnel, and/or sounding of the air horns on scene.

11. “VHF Failure” B.C. Fire depts main dispatching channel –No ability to page calls –No ability to tone MABAS –Does not effect GBMFD dispatching 700 system will probably still be functional. Dispatch will notify each Fire Chief of failure Possible solution is to staff the stations

12. “POINTS TO REMEMBER” ALL communications for every department in Division 112 should initially take place over SIREN when a total radio system failure occurs. Only Relevant traffic. A working fire or life safety issue will take absolute priority over all other traffic.

13. “POINTS TO REMEMBER” The IC may have to develop a radio plan based on the type of failure and situation encountered. The IC may have to coordinate this with dispatch by phone Simple is best but options are available (Annex K freq’s)