Difference between revisions of "National Incident Radio Support Cache"
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== Non-Federal Forest Firefighting Agencies == | == Non-Federal Forest Firefighting Agencies == | ||
− | * The following frequencies may be authorized to fixed, land and mobile stations operated by non-Federal forest firefighting agencies on a scondary non-interfereing basis. (See: [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/redbook/ed200801rev201009/4c_9_10.pdf NTIA Manual | + | * The following frequencies may be authorized to fixed, land and mobile stations operated by non-Federal forest firefighting agencies on a scondary non-interfereing basis. (See: [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/redbook/ed200801rev201009/4c_9_10.pdf NTIA Manual Chapter 4 US Footnotes US8]) |
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Revision as of 16:39, 3 July 2011
Contents
National Incident Radio Support Cache
This cache is maintained and used primarily for wildland fire, however, it may show up on any large incident such as floods, hurricanes, law enforcement (it was used for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2004), and tornadoes. The cache is located and maintained by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD) of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. The use of these frequencies is coordinated by the NIICD Communications Duty Officer to avoid interference with nearby incidents.
- All frequencies listed are narrowband FM (FMN) and carrier squelch (CSQ, no PL tone) unless noted. It is possible that P25 digital mode may be used in some areas. According to this PDF document on the US Forest Service web site all aviation FM radios are to be P25 capable.
- Pre-assigned national frequencies are listed in Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations 2011 Chapter 15 Communications.
- Other frequencies temporarily assigned to specific incidents may also be used.
- Frequencies listed are be subject to change at any time and are not verified to be 100% accurate, complete or current in all areas.
Tactical
These frequencies are authorized for use in handhelds and mobiles only. Installation in base stations is not authorized.
Frequency | Type | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
168.0500 | M | Tactical 1 | |
168.2000 | M | Tactical 2 | |
168.6000 | M | Tactical 3 | |
164.1375 | M | Tactical 4 | (1) |
166.7250 | M | Tactical 5 | |
166.7750 | M | Tactical 6 | |
168.2500 | M | Tactical 7 |
- (1) According to this pdf document on the NIFC web site 164.1375 is no longer available for use as of April 2011.
Command
These frequencies can be used direct (simplex), but are most commonly used with repeaters. These repeaters fit in a small fiberglass case and are placed on the ground in a high place that provides coverage to all or most of the incident. Portable antennas and solar power are normally employed.
Frequency | Input | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
168.7000 | 170.9750 | R | Command 1 |
168.1000 | 170.4500 | R | Command 2 |
168.0750 | 170.4250 | R | Command 3 |
166.6125 | 168.4000 | R | Command 4 |
167.1000 | 169.7500 | R | Command 5 |
168.4750 | 173.8125 | R | Command 6 |
162.9625 | 171.7875 | R | Command 7 |
- During wildland fires in Texas in 2011, Civil Air Patrol HIGHBIRD aircraft flew airborne command repeaters over the incident area.
Logistics (2009)
- The outputs can be used Simplex as well
- Links for Aircraft are typically dedicated to Aircraft Ops
- These frequencies may also be used for cross band repeaters and links.
Frequency | Input | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
406.4000 | 415.4000 | R | Logistics 1 |
406.5875 | 415.5875 | R | Logistics 2 |
407.7875 | 417.7875 | R | Logistics 3 |
410.2750 | 419.2750 | R | Logistics 4 |
410.7750 | 419.7750 | R | Logistics 5 |
408.8000 | 417.8000 | R | Logistics 6 |
408.5000 | 417.5000 | R | Logistics 7 |
408.9000 | BM | Link - Special 2 | |
411.2500 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
411.3000 | BM | Link - Misc | |
411.4000 | BM | Link - Special 1 | |
411.4250 | BM | Link - Misc | |
411.5000 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
411.5250 | BM | Link - Misc | |
411.5750 | BM | Link - Misc | |
411.7500 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
411.8000 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
411.9250 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
412.1500 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
412.2000 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
412.6000 | BM | Link - Aircraft | |
414.6500 | BM | Link - Misc | |
417.9000 | BM | Link - Misc |
Logistics (old)
These are probably no longer used.
Frequency | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
414.6500 | R | Logistics 1 |
415.4000 | R | Logistics 2 |
415.5000 | R | Logistics 3 |
417.3000 | R | Logistics 4 |
417.3500 | R | Logistics 5 |
417.5000 | R | Logistics 6 |
417.8000 | R | Logistics 7 |
Air VHF FM
- These frequencies are no longer being referred to as Air Tactics 1, 2, 3, etc. like the tactical, command, and logistical frequencies. They are now referred to using the frequency only. This is due to many aviation radios not being pre-programmed for incidents like mobiles and handhelds are, with frequencies being dialed in.
- Air Tactics Frequencies can also be used as Air to Ground and are normally pre-assigned by area. Other locally assigned frequencies may also be used.
- These frequencies are only approved for use in the western U.S., which starts at either 95 degrees longitude or at the Mississippi River. In the east these frequencies may be used, but with restrictions and subject to pre-approval by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division Communications Duty Officer (NIICD CDO).
- There are additional air to ground frequencies being used in local areas for initial attack. They are shown in the annual "Fire Mobilization Plan" for each Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC). These frequency assignments are made for portions of a GACC and are somewhat permanent without much change from year to year. Many of these plans are available on the Internet, however, since 2006 this type of frequency information has not been available to the public. In addition, incidents that grow past the initial attack phase will often have a unique air tactics frequency assigned to it. This assignment is made by incident communications unit leaders using the pool of non-allocated federal frequencies in the area of the incident. This frequency may not be used on other incidents or even used in the same area in the same, or subsequent, years.
- Anyone monitoring a large incident that uses air support should search the federal VHF frequency band (162.000-174.000, 12.5 kHz steps) to find the VHF FM air to air tactics frequency for the incident if they do not receive air to air radio traffic from the incident on the frequencies listed below.
Frequency | Type | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
168.6250 | BM | National Air Guard (PL 110.9) | |
168.6500 | BM | National Flight Following (PL 110.9) | |
166.6750 | M | Air Tactics | |
166.6875 | M | Air Tactics | (1) |
167.9500 | M | Air Tactics | |
169.1500 | M | Air Tactics | |
169.2000 | M | Air Tactics | |
170.0000 | M | Air Tactics | |
171.1375 | M | Air Tactics | (1) |
- (1) According to this pdf document on the NIFC web site 166.6875 and 171.1375 are no longer available for use as of April 2011.
Air VHF AM
- Most areas have regionally assigned air-to-air frequencies.
Frequency | Type | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
122.925 | BM | AA/AG/FW/RW | |
122.850 | BM | AA/AG/RW | |
123.025 | BM | AA/RW | |
123.050 | BM | AA/RW/Helispots | |
123.075 | BM | AA/AG/RW/Helispots | |
123.975 | BM | National Air Tanker Base | (1) |
AA = Air to Air AG = Air to Ground FW = Fixed Winged (Airplanes) RW = Rotary Wing (Helicopters)
- (1) According to this PDF document on the US Forest Service web site 123.975 is no longer a nationally assigned air tanker base frequency.
Government Common
These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government. (See Federal Government Itinerant) As of January, 2008 the NTIA Redbook contained direction that these frequencies are to be used as a repeater pair, with 168.350 being the input and 163.100 being the output. This repeater pair is to be used for temporary, or itinerant, repeater placement. It may take a few years until all federal agencies using these frequencies program their radios to reflect this change. These former simplex frequencies are most often being replaced with 163.7125 and 168.6125, which are also included in the so called "intra-crew" frequencies used below. Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses.
Frequency | Input | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
163.1000 | BM | (1) | |
168.3500 | BM | ||
168.3500 | 163.1000 | R |
- (1) Often used as air tanker base deck frequency.
Intra-Crew Communications
- Hand held use only
- These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government
- Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses.
Frequency | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
163.7125 | M | National Intra-Crew & Travel Net |
167.1375 | M | Primary Initial Attack & On-scene of Incident |
168.6125 | M | Secondary Initial Attack & On-scene of Incident |
173.6250 | M | Tertiary Initial Attack & On-scene of Incident |
Incident Command System Initial Callup
- 168.5500 can be used as a common frequency during initial phase of an incident. It is also used by smokejumpers as a tactical/air to ground while accomplishing jumping.
Non-Federal Forest Firefighting Agencies
- The following frequencies may be authorized to fixed, land and mobile stations operated by non-Federal forest firefighting agencies on a scondary non-interfereing basis. (See: NTIA Manual Chapter 4 US Footnotes US8)
Frequency | Type | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
170.475 | BM | East of Miss. River | |
171.425 | BM | East of Miss. River | |
171.575 | BM | East of Miss. River | |
172.275 | BM | East of Miss. River | (1) |
170.425 | BM | West of Miss. River | |
170.575 | BM | West of Miss. River | |
171.475 | BM | West of Miss. River | (1) |
172.225 | BM | West of Miss. River | |
172.375 | BM | West of Miss. River |
- (1) Frequency may also be used by non-federal conservation agencies for repeater operation only.
Related Links
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
- Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACC) (Some of the regional GACC web sites and dispatch centers listed on the regional GACC web sites have frequency plans)
- Interagency Air Tactical Group Supervisor's Guide Chap. 4 Sec. IV Communications (Page 4-7, PDF file page 37)
- National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD)
- National Wildfire Coordinating Group
- NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (Redbook)
- US Bureau of Land Management Fire & Aviation
- US DOI Indian Affairs Division of Forestry and Wildland Fire Management
- US Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Management
- US Forest Service Fire & Aviation
- US National Park Service Fire & Aviation