2014 SW Area Comms Letter

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Dear Chiefs

Southwest Area

Radio Communications Notice- Frequency Changes

March 2014

Annually, the SWCG Communications Committee, consisting of SWCG member agency radio communications professionals assemble agency radio frequency information, coupled with other efforts, to develop standardized accurate, pre-approved, and authorized radio frequency data. Of important notice, there have been many recent changes of SWCG agency radio frequencies within the Southwest Area. This notice is a summary of those changes. Accurate and authorized radio frequency information is contained within the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts & Frequency Guide (ACFG), which is distributed by SWCC as a quick reference user guide that lists approved radio frequencies as well as aviation information. Another document entitled, 2014 Southwest Area Wildland Fire Radio Frequency Interoperability Guide (RFIG),has been developed and is a technical aid intended for COMT’s, COML’s and other radio professionals. Both documents establish the foundation for the distribution of accurate and approved radio frequency information for Southwest Area wildland responders for initial attack. Both guides are available on the password protected side of the SWCC web site.

While we all face the challenges of wildland firefighting, careful consideration of the radio frequency changes listed in this notice should be given equal priority. Effective wildland radio communications and interoperability have been pre-established through the use of these initial attack radio frequency reference guides. Larger, extended attack and managed incident communications are usually supported by COMT’s, COML’s and is some cases COMC’s involving other radio frequencies that are enlisted solely to support specific incidents thus freeing up IA networks for their intended purpose. Planning radio channel usage, and establishing partner agency channels into radios in advance of incidents, strengthens preparedness. However, technology alone, no matter how expansive or advanced, is limited in its effectiveness unless it is exercised and tested regularly. It is further suggested that for agency personnel to effectively use authorized partner agency radio frequencies and interoperability channels, adequate training and exercises are also needed. Test often, Train regularly, Report issues.

Summary of two-way radio frequency changes;

  • USDA Forest Service Region 3 has obtained three new Initial Attack (IA) radio frequencies for use throughout Region 3 to replace the previous use of NIFC TAC1, NIFC TAC2 & NIFC TAC3. The new R-3 FS Tactical Frequencies are; 167.550 (R3 TAC 1), 168.675 (R3 TAC 2), and 168.775 (R3 TAC 3). These frequencies are available to support IA within Region 3 in the same manner as the NIFC tactical frequencies were used to support IA in the past. However, the use of NIFC Tac 1,2 & 3 Frequencies;168.050 (NIFC TAC 1), 168.200 (NIFC TAC 2), and 168.600 (NIFC TAC 3) are assigned to NIFC for national incidents and coordinated by the NIFC CDO, (208) 384-5644. Use of NIFC TAC 1,2 & 3 is no longer available for use for Initial Attack incidents unless specifically coordinated and assigned by the NIFC CDO for specific incident use.

  • Santa Fe NF reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • Prescott NF reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • Apache-Sitgraves NF reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • Coconino NF reported changes - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • Kaibab NF reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • BLM in Arizona reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • BLM in New Mexico reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • New Mexico State Forestry Division reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • Arizona State Forestry Division reported changes for 2014 - please consult the 2014 Southwest Area Aviation Contacts and Frequency Guide.
  • There were no changes reported for the NPS, BIA, USF&WS or other National Forests for 2014.

Other important radio communications items to consider are;

  • Enhanced use of CTCSS or Tone – Channel Guard, Tone, PL Tone or Code Guard are all manufacture’s terms describing the same thing for the common use of CTCSS, (Carrier Tone Coded Squelch System). CTCSS is a pre-defined set of nationally recognized and engineered set of sub-audible secondary sub-frequencies that are becoming more widely implemented by member agencies. Some uses of CTCSS tone include: transmit tone only, tone on both transmit AND receive, and, in some cases, may or could be a different tone between transmit and receive. While some agency frequencies do not use CTCSS tones at all, other agency frequencies must have the appropriate CTCSS tones applied otherwise radio communications issues may occur. The implementation of CTCSS tones are not selected at random but rather are implemented using technical algorithms and applied as needed by agency communications professionals. Radio user training should include the importance and correct use of CTCSS on your radio and never be added to radio frequencies unless specified by COML’s, COMT’s or other radio communications frequency managers or radio professionals.

  • Air Guard use – Most agencies follow the prescribed standards for Air Guard being the last channel on a group of frequencies. This prescribed standard was developed so that in the event of an emergency a user could turn the radio channel knob to the last channel and place an emergency call without looking and searching for an emergency channel. AIR GUARD is restricted to the following use: Air-to-Air emergency contact and coordination, Ground-to-Air emergency contact, Initial call, recall, and re-direction of aircraft when no other contact frequency is available.

  • Radio Use Training – Annual End-User Radio Communications Refresher training should be completed prior to fire season and include some radio communications basics such as; repeater use, tactical, line of sight, air to ground use, air guard use, command channel, ICS205 & 204’s & CTCSS.

  • Annual Radio Equipment Maintenance Inspection Checks - Mobile and Portable two-way radios require yearly maintenance checks to ensure that electronic devices are operating at peak efficiencies, remain reliable and conform to agency standards. If your mobile or portable radio has not been inspected by a radio communications professional in more than a year, even though it appears to be functionally correctly, then it probably should be scheduled for a maintenance check. Consult your agency Communications Section for further guidance.

SWCG Agency Communications Specialists and Communications Assistance Teams are available to help facilitate safe and effective communications.

Remember………. Test ……. Train…..... Report.