Saturday, November 21, 2009

IAFC Solicits Ideas to Fight Digital Radio Noise 

The International Association of Fire Chiefs Digital Problem Working Group is working to identify the causes and potential solutions for the digital distortion some users of digital radio systems have experienced in high-noise environments. ...

Speech Impediments 

By John Facella and Dirk Young

Communications challenges fall under two categories: operability and interoperability. ...

Military, Civilian Emergency Communications Tested 

Being tested was the Incident Command System that is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Incident Management System....

IAFC Forms Digital Noise Working Group 

This working group will investigate problems related to the use of digital radios on the fireground and is open to all interested parties....

IAFC Seeks Input on Digital Radio Problem 

The organization has learned of firefighters experiencing unintelligible audio communications while using a digital two-way portable radio when operating in close proximity to the low-pressure alarm of their SCBA. ...

Urban Legends 

By Mary Rose Roberts

A collaboration between a university and a fire department has yielded a new wireless sensor system using interactive floor plans that increases situational awareness and aids in decision-making....

Connectivity 

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

I just returned from one of my favorite conferences, the Fire Department Safety Officers Association's 19th Annual Apparatus Specification & Maintenance Symposium in Orlando. There were more than 60 presenters for 28 programs, with chief officers and industry specialists teaming up to share experience and knowledge. ...

Telecom Council Seeks Recommendations on Common Nomenclature 

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council is requesting alternate recommendations on the common interoperability channel nomenclature scheme developed by the FCC’s Public Safety National Coordinating Committee. ...

DHS Issues Nationwide Interoperabity Assessment 

The Department of Homeland Security has released scorecard assessments of interoperable communications capabilities in 75 urban and metropolitan areas nationwide....

Survey Shows Significant Level of Communication Interoperability 

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the results of a nationwide survey of first responders and law enforcement that assesses progress in achieving interoperable communications. The national interoperability baseline survey was issued to 22,400 randomly selected law enforcement, fire response and EMS agencies, and confirms that roughly two-thirds of emergency response agencies across the nation use interoperable communications to varying degrees....

IAFC Board Urges Broadband Support 

At its recently concluded annual meeting, the International Association of Fire Chiefs Board of Directors approved a resolution calling for the allocation of 30MHz of spectrum in the upper 700MHz band to be held in trust to create a nationwide public safety wireless network...

Firefighter Radios May Fail During High-Temp Fires 

Given the protection provided by today’s PPE and SCBA gear, firefighters sometimes find themselves fighting blazes in relatively high temperatures. A recently released National Institute of Standards and Technology study, however, reveals that first responders shouldn’t rely on unprotected handheld radios even in routine firefighting situations, much less in higher-temperature fires....

Airport Unveils Interoperable Capability 

Dallas Love Field airport in Texas has announced implementation of an interoperable communications system that improves pubic safety by uniting all first responders in the event of an emergency....

APCO Statement Boosts Project 25 

The slow-moving Project 25 communication standard may get a boost from the recent release of a Statement of Requirements by its parent organization, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International...

Real World Examples and Tips 

By Glen Neal

Automated dispatching can be implemented in a variety of variations. Colorado-based Locution Systems Inc., for example, offers an advanced automated dispatching...

Now Hear This 

By Courtney DeWinter

Public safety departments today face very real resource challenges. The emergency call volume of most departments has risen due to population increases,...

Smart Talk 

By David Holmberg

Today's modern buildings function with multiple control systems programmed to run different building systems. Network communications carry commands from...

Fast Track 

By Bryant Krizik

Multitasking fireground radios deliver more than just communications, replacing the white board for instant personnel accountability....

DHS Launches Interoperability Survey 

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the launch of a survey designed to assess communications interoperability capacity among law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services agencies across the country....

Motorola to Donate $1 million to NFFF 

Telecom giant Motorola has announced it is donating $1 million to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to fund the Paul S. Sarbanes Scholarship Program and activities related to the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend...

Safety, MHz Heroes to be Honored 

The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors have announced Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, is to receive the 2006 Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award...

NENA Releases Program Findings and Recommendations 

The National Emergency Number Association has released Next Generation 9-1-1: Responding to an Urgent Need for Change, a report summarizing the initial findings and recommendations of NENA’s next-generation E-911 Program...

Ideal Chatter 

By John Towns

Today's headset and microphone technologies offer functionality under the most adverse conditions and noisy environments....

Beyond Alarms 

By Robert R. Rielage

Fire service communications have taken a quantum leap from street-corner boxes to elaborate 911 communications centers and personal radios....

Congress Approves Broadcast Band Restriction 

Congress has passed legislation that in three years will restrict use of the upper 700MHz and lower 800MHz broadcast bands solely to public safety agencies. Television broadcasters currently transmitting on those frequencies (UHF channels 63, 64, 68 and 69) will be required to cease such broadcasts by Feb. 17, 2009, to accommodate the restriction....