Each on duty firefighter has at least one 800 Mhz portable radio. Each "in service" fire dept vehicle has at least 1 800 Mhz mobile radio. Additionally - each firefighting vehicle / unit has 1 VHF mobile radio + 1 VHF portable radio + 1 UHF mobile radio + 1 UHF portable radio - per post to Radio Ref 10/6/2012 - for mutual aid communications
Unknown how many radios are maintained on reserve vehicles.
Portable radios are kept in the chest pocket of fire coat - have speaker / mike attachments
The Dispatch Center changed its on air name from " OCD " to " Metro " in 2011 or 2012
Dispatchers can receive and transmit at the same time - field units (portables and mobiles) cannot transmit and receive simultaneously
Dispatchers continuously monitor Channels 4, 6, 7, and 8 - as needed on Ch 5 and 9 (maybe 11 also) - Tac channels are monitored by dispatchers when activated for an emergency incident
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Ch 1 - old Division 1 area - ops channel - training + staging + small incidents + non emergency unit to unit messages - Central / East / West - 860.9375 R - PL 85.4
Ch 2 - old Division 2 area - ops channel - training + staging + small incidents - South / Harbor Area - 859.9375 R - PL 88.5 - (known as "2" or "Ops 2" 10/20/2012)
Ch 3 - old Division 3 area - ops channel - training + staging + small incidents - San Fernando Valley - 868.9375 R - PL 91.5
Ch 4 - EMS Dispatch - south of Mulholland Drive - home channel for ambulances based south of Mulholland - response channel for fire and EMS units to EMS incidents south of Mulholland - 857.9375 R - PL 94.8
Ch 5 - command channel for brush fires and river rescues - field commanders to dispatchers - "Alternate Control" - 856.9375 R - PL 97.4
Ch 6 - emergency trigger channel - MAYDAY signals from field radios to dispatchers - field radios automatically switch to Ch 6 and send emergency signal to dispatch center when emergency button on field radio (portable or mobile) is activated - 858.2375 R - PL 131.8
Ch 7 - Fire Dispatch - for fire incidents south of Mulholland Drive - home channel for fire resources based south of Mulholland Drive (except LAX units) - fire response channel for fire and EMS units based south of Mulholland Drive (except LAX units) - 859.4375 R - PL 192.8
Ch 8 - Fire & EMS Dispatch / Response - home channel for fire and EMS units based north of Mulholland Drive - response / enroute channel for all units and incidents north of Mulholland Drive (except for maybe helicopters) - 858.4375 R - PL 103.5
Ch 9 - Alternate Control channel for structure fires - up to 3 structure fires at once - for communications between dispatchers and fire commanders (maybe ICP actually) - 857.2375 R - PL 107.2
Ch 10 - EMS coordination - pumpers and ladders talk to ambulances on this channel when operating at EMS incidents; EMS chiefs talk to EMS units; etc - 856.2375 R - PL 123.0
Ch 11 - Command - ? unknown use - 860.7625 R - PL 127.3
Ch 12 - Tactical - ( fire scene communications ) - 860.4375 R - PL 186.2
Ch 13 - Tactical - 857.4375 R - PL 141.3
Ch 14 - Tactical - 856.4375 R - PL 146.2
Ch 15 - Tactical - 859.7625 R - PL 162.2
Ch 16 - Tactical - 858.7625 R - PL 162.2
Ch 17 - Tactical - 857.7625 R - PL 167.9
Ch 18 - Tactical - 856.7625 R - PL 173.8
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Repeaters operate in synchronized simulcast mode (all repeaters transmit at the same time on each channel)
Coverage in subway stations is attained via Bi Directional Amplifiers (see comm manual to obtain more info)
Repeater sites (10)
Verdugo Mtn
San Pedro Hill
Oat Mtn
etc
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Many field units have LAPD portable radios, and MDTs
Satellite radios are used by ..... ?
Helicopters use 119.975 AM - contact is maintained with the FD helipad office on this channel - and tactical fire scene comms are conducted on this channel
Possibly all motor vehicle accidents with entrapment, and all physical / technical rescues are assigned to a Tac channel
Possibly highrise fires are assigned more than 1 tactical channel
Possibly all major fires are assigned more than 1 Tac channel
"Structure Fire" is assigned 1 Control Channel ("Channel 9") and 1 Tactical Channel ("Tac 12") - 1526 5th St cross Venice - 10/20/2012
"Handi Talkie" is a radio ID - 10/20/2012