9/23/2018 - this is my overall impression of HT channel usage by FDNY
FDNY uses 2 types of portable radios / HTs - one type for firefighters and company officers - a second type for higher ranking officers - the higher chiefs radios have access to NYC interops channels - the lower rank radios dont
1. all HTs are usually tuned to Ch 1 aka Tac 1 - if an emergency button is activated, the signal goes out on Tac 1 and nearby radios receive the alert
2. Ch 16 is an emergency channel that is used at the discretion of the IC (incident commander) - unknown if it is ever used
3. if a "Command Channel" is established at a scene - the Battalion Chiefs (BC) aides and IC operate on the Command Channel - the primary "Command Channel" is Ch 2 in the HTs
4. if Ch 1 is busy - then the secondary fireground (FG) channel is Ch 3 - Ch 3 can also be used as a 2ndary FG channel at a major incident
5. if a HT wants to talk to a nearby EMS unit - then Ch 10 is used
6. if more FG or Cmnd channels are needed - then the channels HT4 HT5 HT6 HT7 and HT8 are used - there is a list of preferred channels per Boro
7. in subway stations, there might be a operational subway repeater - Ch 14 is primary - Ch 15 is secondary - these are used as Command Channels - so just the IC and the BC aides would use these channels afaik
8. there is a BLD RPTR channel - if a highrise has a 'built in' repeater, then the channel can be used as a Command Channel - so again, probably just the IC and BC Aides would use this channel
9. Tac U is a simplex channel for talking to nearby cops - maybe - aka Ch 13
9A - HT9 is a digital channel - maybe used for secret messages - emergency buttons do NOT work on HT9
10. Bank 2 has UTac channels - these are nationwide channels available to all public safety sgaencies - both simplex and repeater options are available - as different channels
11. Bank 3 is maybe for Chiefs only - it includes NYC interops channels
12. there is also a MOB RPTR channel - but I am not sure how that is used - apparently there are mobile repeaters (MO3 in FCC terms) in some chiefs cars
12. Ch 1 and 3 are 2 watts usually - other channels are 5 watts - a radio with an emergency alert button activation jumps from 2 watts to 5 watts automatically - all channels are simplex except BLD Rptr, MOB RPTR, SUBWAY 1, and SUBWAY 2
13. Chapter 11 of the Comms Manual lists the radio channels but does not give the actual freqs and PLs - but Radio Reference has that info