* PLEASE LOCK * Repeater "busy" tone on convention

spock7230 · Post by **spock7230** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:01 am

When I first started in EMS, the company I was working for was using an 800MHz system. I'm not sure if it was trunked or not, but when you keyed up your mobile or portable, it paused for a second before you got a quick "triple chirp" and then you could talk, so I assume that it was. The nice thing about this system was that you couldn't talk over anyone and you knew that the repeater was open so that you weren't cutting your first few words off.

The system I work in now uses a repeated conventional UHF system where people cut themselves off all the time and walk all over others. Other than some better mic discipline (yeah, right!

), is there any way to duplicate what the other system would do? Can you get that repeater chirp from the radios on a conventional system, or is it a function of a trunked system?

HLA · Post by **HLA** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:24 am

just turn on the identifier and sidetone and set them to pre and it will do the same thing. i'm assuming you are using motorolas right?

601 · Post by **601** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:30 am

If you're using HT1000's or the like, try this. Another member came up with an interesting way to do just what you're looking for.

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... nventional

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:12 am

Program the radios for busy-channel lockout

libuff · Post by **libuff** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:41 am

repeater access control? i've seen it in the RSS/CPS but have no clue about it...

spock7230 · Post by **spock7230** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:12 pm

HLA wrote:just turn on the identifier and sidetone and set them to pre and it will do the same thing. i'm assuming you are using motorolas right?

Yes, MT2000 "S" split Model 1s. We have a short singletone pre with MDC post IDs, the singletone doesn't get transmitted. We should probably either lengthen the singletone or change the MDC to pre and that would solve the clipping problem.

Victor Xray wrote:Program the radios for busy-channel lockout

We tried this for about 3 days last year, but where we use Med 9 (462.950 R) within 40 miles of at least 3 other systems that also use it (Boston EMS, Northeast CMED and Northern CT), the radios wouldn't let us key up at all, even when our own system was idle. Is there an option in RSS to only lockout the channel if our PL is present?

Victor Xray · Post by **Victor Xray** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:06 pm

I don't think so, but you should be able to double-key the PTT and it will then transmit on top of the busy carrier.

spock7230 · Post by **spock7230** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:24 pm

For myself and the Captain in charge of our radios double-keying the PTT wouldn't be an issue, but for those medics that expect the radio to "just work," that might be an issue... Anyway, thanks for the info.

libuff · Post by **libuff** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:25 pm

Victor Xray wrote:I don't think so, but you should be able to double-key the PTT and it will then transmit on top of the busy carrier.

'

that feature is an option called "SMART KEY" not a normal feature, you need to enable it in the RSS/CPS..

Post by Pj » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:42 pm

I know the system your talking about. Pretty much, there is no good fix as the med channels are a free-for-all.

thebigphish · Post by **thebigphish** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:33 pm

all these solutions will fix is the "talk before the radio is ready" problem, they will do absolutely NOTHING in terms of preventing you from talking over someone else...that's a remote function of a trunked system with a trunking controller, these are all local fixes that are located in the handset...

you think that county is bad...tune in to med 10 North Central CT some times...

Salem The Cat · Post by **Salem The Cat** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:34 am

Doesn't say much for the "professionalism"
of the medics does it ?

Sounds like you need a leader like
"Gunny Highhway" to knock some sense
upside their heads!

No technical solution will mitigate a
fundamental user problem.

thebigphish · Post by **thebigphish** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:04 pm

Salem The Cat wrote:Doesn't say much for the "professionalism"
of the medics does it ?

not ALL of us. To some, the definition of professionalism is owning their own radio, programmed by 'fred the a$$clown', who does all kinds of cool things like use MODAT as a audible ID tone on a TPL repeater...because it sounds cool.

Salem The Cat wrote:Sounds like you need a leader like
"Gunny Highhway" to knock some sense
upside their heads!

here, let me get you an application.

Salem The Cat · Post by **Salem The Cat** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:25 pm

thebigphish wrote:
Salem The Cat wrote:Doesn't say much for the "professionalism"
of the medics does it ?
not ALL of us. To some, the definition of professionalism is owning their own radio, programmed by 'fred the a$$clown', who does all kinds of cool things like use MODAT as a audible ID tone on a TPL repeater...because it sounds cool.

Salem The Cat wrote:Sounds like you need a leader like
"Gunny Highhway" to knock some sense
upside their heads!
here, let me get you an application.

an application implies it's voluntary -

discipline is administered by leaders who
have professional values to pass on to
their subordinates.

so how much you gonna pay me to whip
them into shape ?

thebigphish · Post by **thebigphish** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:53 pm

salem the cat wrote:so how much you gonna pay me to whip
them into shape ?

how about a nice big pat on the back?

It would be nice if it was just once agency, that was the end-all be-all of reigonal co-ordination and dispatch, but it isn't....that is the gem that is north-central.

spock7230 · Post by **spock7230** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:14 am

Salem The Cat wrote:Doesn't say much for the "professionalism"
of the medics does it ?

I agree with you. These same people (the minority here, but that's how it always is, right?) are the ones who don't believe in 12-lead ECG or beta-blockers pre-hospital, but are all over RSI cause it's sexy...

Anyway, for the mods, I've gotten the answers I was looking for and you may lock this thread at your leisure.

Thanks everyone!

JRUTA · Post by **JRUTA** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:02 am

spock7230 wrote:
Salem The Cat wrote:Doesn't say much for the "professionalism"
of the medics does it ?
I agree with you. These same people (the minority here, but that's how it always is, right?) are the ones who don't believe in 12-lead ECG or beta-blockers pre-hospital, but are all over RSI cause it's sexy...

Anyway, for the mods, I've gotten the answers I was looking for and you may lock this thread at your leisure.

Thanks everyone!

A. 12 leads are completely useless in the field unless you are 50 miles away or more from the hospital (and have run out of things to do enroute) as it does NOT change your treatment. As you know- hospitals repeat the 12 lead upon pt. arrival anyway. not to mention the fact that you, as an experienced medic, i'm sure, have seen COUNTLESS "normal" 12 leads that lead to triponin levels that conclude an MI.

B. Beta blockers? don't know what you're carrying, but unless they're tachycardic, we usually don't give any in the field either. of course sinus bradycardic arrythmias aren't addressed at all- because even without the "benefit" of a 12 lead, it's accepted that it's protective of the myocardium.

C. RSI? I agree, it's simply the latest-greatest, over utilized and a total ego trip. seldom needed. some seasoned medics even remember what it was like to intubate a pt. without it. (insert joke here) Morphine and ativan/valium usually did the trick. not to mention the fact that where I work- it went from being used on "critical" traumas to nearly "routine" for CHF pts. Nasal intubation is/was a true "skill" and well tolerated by pts. RSI? too much paperwork, too risky for what medics are paid, and for CHF- NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING beats morphine, nitrates and CPAP!
besides, what in gods name do you really need vecc/succs for? (the exception being true clenched jaw head traumas) etomidate works fine all on its own.

D. Medics are NOT radio buffs, most expect to push the PTT and have it work- believe it or not, some cops are not gun buffs either, they expect to pull the trigger and have it go BOOM.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:16 am

And with that off-topic rant... thread locked.