There is another Member on this Forum who knows the new system in and out and could provide a much better rundown on things then I could. But till such time as he shows his hand . . . I’ll try my best to provide a rundown on the New Comm’s Setup as I know it so far, given I was on extended leave when the change-over occurred.
For those who have not picked-up on what has happened, FRNSW have gone from Four (4) Communications Centres (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Katoomba) down to Two (2) Communication Centres . . . being Sydney & Newcastle.
The Rationalisation to 2 Communications Centres also occurred while FRNSW Changed-Over from it’s old Computerised Dispatch System (FireCAD) to the Government’s new NSW Emergency Services Computerised Dispatch System (ESCAD)
http://gov.cebit.com.au/nsw/emergency-s ... escue-nsw/ , which in time will be used by, NSW Police, SES, RTA & RFS.
I have not seen any Correspondents from the Department outlining the new Radio Channel Allocations, nor has there been a new Communications SOG’s Up-Date, so to date there is no list of what Stations are on what channel or what Country Stations are covered by which Communications Center. The guys at work have stated, they received an “Admin Text” via the Station Turnout System when the New ESCAD went live, advising them to change to Channel D104, and this is now the Channel all Stations within MW1 & MW2 use for their day to day Radio Net usage for the time being.
But as previously posted on the forum, the following list seems to be true as to which Regions/Zones Stations fall under which Communications Centre Dispatch/Radio Net:
Newcastle Comm's: MN1, MN2, MN3 - MW1, MW2, MW3 - RN1, RN2, RN3. RW1, RW2, RW3
Sydney Comm's: ME1, ME2, ME3 - MS1, MS2, MS3 - RS1, RS2, RS3
In FRNSW Sydney Radio World, similar to the Old Sydney North/NorthWest and South/SouthWest Radio Nets, we now have a New Invisible Radio Boarder running through Sydney which is shown in the image below as a Red Line. This means unlike before, where Station’s within MetroEast and MetroWest could hear each other, this is no longer the Case, the new Boarder now Splits MetroWest from MetroEast-MetroSouth.
Below, RED Line represents Boarder between Sydney & Newcastle FireComm's. Stations in Blue are Station that come under Newcastle FireComm's Radio Net and those Station shown in Green come under Sydney FireComm's Radio Net.
I don't know what the Situation is with with Station's in MetroSouth and if they can hear MetroEast Stations at all, or if there like us out here in the west and can't hear Metro MetroEast at all.
Now as far as Appliances being told to Change Radio Channels!!!!
Under the New System, both Newcastle and Sydney ESCAD Systems are linked allowing both Newcastle or Sydney Operators to take Triple ‘000’ Call from any location in the State, process those triple 000 calls and Dispatch the closest Station to the incident which was not totally possible under the old FireCAD System.
Now looking at the image above, if a Triple '000' Call was received to a House Alight in Kiparra St West Pymble, the ESCAD System would chose RP37 & P42 as the closest resources to that location and automatically activate the Stations turn-out systems. As Kiparra St West Pymble comes under Sydney FireComm's Radio area, P42 would be advised upon their Code 1 to change from D104 to D101, as D101 would be the Operational Channel for that area and thus that incident.
My understanding is, as I was told when our radio’s were being Re-Programmed for the Digital GRN, in time Every Zone in Sydney would/will have it’s own Radio Channel, and all appliances attending incidents within different Zones would change to the Zone’s Operational Channel till such time that they returned to their own Zone Channel area.