Difference between revisions of "National Incident Radio Support Cache"
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This cache is maintained and used primarily for wildland fire, however, it may show up on | 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 | 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 [http://www. | + | and Democratic National Conventions in 2004), and tornadoes. The cache is located and maintained by the [http://www.nifc.gov/NIICD/index.html/ National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD)] of the [http://www.nifc.gov/ 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. |
* Pre-Assigned national frequencies are listed in [http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book.htm Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations 2011] Chapter 15 Communications | * Pre-Assigned national frequencies are listed in [http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book.htm Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations 2011] Chapter 15 Communications | ||
Revision as of 11:36, 24 April 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.
- Pre-Assigned national frequencies are listed in Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations 2011 Chapter 15 Communications
Tactical
Frequency Type Description 168.0500 M Tactical 1 168.2000 M Tactical 2 168.6000 M Tactical 3 164.1375 M Tactical 4 (removed) 166.7250 M Tactical 5 166.7750 M Tactical 6 168.2500 M Tactical 7
- According to this pdf document on the NIFC web site 164.1375 was taken away in April 2011.
- These frequencies are authorized for use in handhelds and mobiles only. Installation in base stations is not authorized.
Command
Frequency Type Description 168.7000 RM Command 1 168.1000 RM Command 2 168.0750 RM Command 3 166.6125 RM Command 4 167.1000 RM Command 5 168.4750 RM Command 6 162.9625 RM Command 7
- These frequencies can be used direct (simplex), but are most commonly used with repeaters. The repeater input frequencies are not shown. 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.
Logistics Retired
Frequency Type Description 414.6500 RM Logistics 1 415.4000 RM Logistics 2 415.5000 RM Logistics 3 417.3000 RM Logistics 4 417.3500 RM Logistics 5 417.5000 RM Logistics 6 417.8000 RM Logistics 7
Logistics New 2009
The outputs can be used Simplex as well
Output Frequency Type Input Frequency Description 406.4000 RM 415.4000 Logistics 1 406.5875 RM 415.5875 Logistics 2 407.7875 RM 417.7875 Logistics 3 410.2750 RM 419.2750 Logistics 4 410.7750 RM 419.7750 Logistics 5 408.8000 RM 417.8000 Logistics 6 408.5000 RM 417.5000 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
- Links for Aircraft are typically dedicated to Aircraft Ops
- Due to the restructuring of frequency assignments in the federal UHF band (406-420 MHz)as listed in the NTIA Redbook issuance of January 2008, new logistical repeater, command repeater linking, aviation frequency remote base, and camp simplex frequencies have been established. The above frequencies are no longer valid. I'm unable to provide the new frequencies at this time (9/08).
- These frequencies may also be used for cross band repeaters and links.
- These frequenices are normally used as repeater outputs.
Air VHF FM
Frequency Type Description 164.8250 M Air Tactics (Texas 2011) 166.6750 M Air Tactics 166.6875 M Air Tactics (removed) 166.9375 M Air Tactics (Texas 2011) 167.9500 M Air Tactics 168.0125 M Air Tactics (Texas 2011) 168.6250 BM National Air Guard (PL 110.9) 168.6500 BM National Flight Following (PL 110.9) 168.7500 M Air Tactics (PL 110.9) (Texas 2011) 169.1500 M Air Tactics 169.2000 M Air Tactics 170.0000 M Air Tactics 171.1375 M Air Tactics (removed)
- According to this pdf document on the NIFC web site 166.6875 and 171.1375 were taken away in April 2011.
- 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.
- 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 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 above frequencies.
Air VHF AM
Frequency Type Description 122.925 BM AA/AG/FW/RW 122.850 BM AA/AG/RW 122.975 BM AA/RW 123.050 BM AA/RW/Helispots 123.075 BM AA/AG/RW/Helispots 123.975 BM National Air Tanker Base AA = Air to Air AG = Air to Ground FW = Fixed Winged (Airplanes) RW = Rotary Wing (Helicopters)
- 122.925 Is is a national natural resources multi-com frequency and is usually not used on fires as it can be used by any level of government in the U.S. as long as it is being used for natural resource management purposes.
- Additional locally assigned frequencies are also used.
Common
Frequency Type 163.100 BM 168.350 BM
- These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government. 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.
Intra-Crew Communications
Frequency Type 163.7125 M National Intra-Crew (for assembling crew and travel) 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
- 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.
Incident Command System Initial Callup
Frequency Type 168.550 BM
- Used as a common frequency during initial phase of an incident.
- Also used by smokejumpers as a tactical/air to ground while accomplishing jumping.
Source: The Forest Service Manual, Northern and Southern California Geographical Area Coordination Centers Mobilization Guide, the National Intra-crew Communications Plan and other sources gained as a retired USFS employee. Fred Richter August 2008