Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Scene Communications Made Easy Michael Koval, BA Abstract Narrowbanding has caused numerous communication issues. The solution is to use a mutual aid frequency like 123.025. That frequency is 155.3400, and every helicopter emergency medical service operator and emergency medical service agency should name this frequency as “EMS [Emergency Medical Services] Mutual Aid” and preset this frequency for all helicopter emergency medical service scene operations. Intermittent or no communication is a significant safety issue for helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) operators. Imagine heading to a scene. The landing zone (LZ) officer attempts contact, but the radio traffic is garbled. What did they attempt to say? Are they trying to give us LZ information? Perhaps the LZ is unsafe, and they want us to land somewhere else. Your likely response is “Ground team please say again; you are coming in garbled.” You and the crew assume you have the intended landing area in sight. Now you are on short final. The LZ officer breaks the silence with another garbled message, followed by yet another garbled message. In the cockpit, you have a savvy medic that understands the complexities of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) narrowbanding process. The medic begins to troubleshoot your new radio (eg, maybe they are talking on wideband instead of narrowband, maybe they are analog instead of digital, perhaps we should use the “direct” feature so that we bypass the repeater). Nothing is more frustrating to an air medical crew than trying to establish communications during a scene flight. This situation is occurring more and more often in the HEMS industry because of a variety of issues related to narrowbanding. The narrowbanding of public safety radios has created challenges for users and HEMS operators and has made scene communications a significant safety issue. Narrowbanding has not been easy. On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the 150- to 512-MHz radio bands were required to cease operating using 25-kHz efficiency technology and begin operating using at least 12.5-kHz efficiency technology.1 Coincidentally, most agencies have upgraded to newer radios to meet this mandate and have come across 3 major challenges. First, users can no longer simply “dial up” a frequency. In the past, emergency medical service (EMS) operators and aircrews could simply “dial up” a mutual aid frequency and establish communications. We now have channels, which require a computer and expert knowledge about the electronic spectrum to program. Second, each radio manufacturer has different standards, thereby making the quality of communications at times unacceptable. The radio used by aircrews typically has voice encoders/decoders that are incompatible with the EMS ground crew. In fact, the FCC admits “a number of problems have arisen regarding the qual212
ity of the digital services provided over the reduced bandwidth channels. Most of the problems have been associated with the development of voice encoders/decoders.”2 Finally, the new narrowbanding radios are not user-friendly. Wideband radios were typically analog and easy to troubleshoot. The new narrowband radios make it nearly impossible for users to troubleshoot. Agencies such as the New Mexico EMS Organization have recognized this fact. They have taken the initiative and developed a 71-slide “Radio Training Presentation” that describes the complexities of today’s communications.3 The inability to simply dial up a mutual aid frequency coupled with the great complexities of the new narrowband radios have made HEMS scene communications very difficult. HEMS operators and EMS agencies have erroneously purchased “interoperable” radios. There is an illusion in the marketplace that a P25 radio will talk to another P25 radio. When HEMS operators find they have a communication issue, they begin to troubleshoot the channel. Double-checking all the parameters of the channel and ensuring everything is correct will not solve the issue. The true issue is each radio manufacturer has proprietary network access codes and patented technology that must be shared to reach true interoperability.4 Your channel may or may not work with another’s channel even when all parameters are the same. Allow me to say that again; your channel may or may not work with another’s channel even when all parameters are the same. The FCC states “even P25 compliant radio systems are typically operating in only a single frequency band set . . . this means P25 devices cannot talk to each other due to frequency incompatibility, encryption incompatibility, or both.”2 This creates tremendous frustration between everyone associated with public safety and communications. There simply needs to be a narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency similar to the 123.025 helicopter air-to-air frequency. Ask any commercial helicopter pilot what is 123.025, and no matter where you are they will acknowledge this as the Federal Aviation Administration–designated helicopter air-toair VHF frequency.5 This frequency works in every aircraft radio. This is a wideband analog amplitude modulated frequency. Users can “dial up” 123.025 anywhere in the United States and talk to another helicopter operating nearby. It is a mutually understood and widely practiced standard. It works well in every situation in which a helicopter pilot must communicate with others. Unfortunately, most of the land mobile radios used by public safety officials are not capable of reaching this frequency. HEMS operators and EMS agencies alike all proclaim, “If only there was a narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency similar to 123.025.” 155.3400 is the narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency that every HEMS operator and EMS agency should rally behind. Imagine heading to a scene. The medical radio in the helicopter is programmed with 155.3400. The EMS ground Air Medical Journal 33:5
crew radio is programmed with 155.3400. “Air Med 18 this is Howard County EMS how do you hear us?” comes across loud and clear. It is that easy. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, 155.3400 is not well used. The National Interoperability Field Operations Guide is the reference for emergency communications.6 Version 1.4 has been out since January 2011. On page 40, the EMS mutual aid frequency of 155.3400 is designated. It is a narrowband, FM, no tone code, transmit and receive frequency that DOES work with every narrowband radio—ground and air! Narrowbanding of public safety radios does not have to affect HEMS scene safety. Everyone associated with a HEMS scene should use 155.3400 just as easily as helicopter pilots use 123.025. According to the National Interoperability Field Guide of 2011, the 155.3400 mutual aid frequency is a transmit and receive simplex frequency. This means users are not dealing with repeaters or towers that fail during disasters. 155.3400 works every time and everywhere because it is not tied to ground based infrastructures. The frequency is line of sight between the 10-W helicopter radio and ground units, which equates to a 15- to 20-mile range. In order to promote 155.3400, it is highly recommended that HEMS operators and EMS organizations discuss this topic during every scene LZ class and provide the widest dissemination possible. One day 155.3400 will be the “preset” in all HEMS and EMS ground radios for scene operations.
September-October 2014
References 1. FCC public safety VHF/UHF narrow banding information. http://transition.fcc.gov/ pshs/public-safety-spectrum/narrowbanding.html. Accessed October 28, 2013. 2. FCC public safety and Homeland Security Bureau tech topic 16. http://transition. fcc.gov/pshs/techtopics/techtopics16.html. Accessed October 28, 2013. 3. New Mexico EMS Bureau “Why is it a problem?” public safety radio bands. http://nmems.org/Communications/RadioTrainingSlidesGeneric.ppt. Accessed November 5, 2013. 4. P25 Forums Motorola on Harris & M/A-COM Systems, August 18, 2013. https://www.p25.ca/archive/index.php/t-3211.html. Accessed November 5, 2013. 5. FAA spectrum management regulations and procedures manual. May 15, 2008. http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/6050.32B%20Chg%201.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2013. 6. National interoperability field guide, January 2011. http://publicsafetytools.info/ nifog_info/downloads/NIFOG_1_4_J_for_personal_printing.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2013.
Michael Koval, BA, is a pilot at EagleMed in Durant, OK. He is also a lifetime member of the Oklahoma National Guard Association, the National EMS Pilots Association, and the Army Aviation Association of America. He is currently seeking a masters in Management with a Certificate in Emergency Management. 1067-991X/$36.00 Copyright 2014 Air Medical Journal Associates http://dx.doi.org:10.1016/j.amj.2014.03.007
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ity of the digital services provided over the reduced bandwidth channels. Most of the problems have been associated with the development of voice encoders/decoders.”2 Finally, the new narrowbanding radios are not user-friendly. Wideband radios were typically analog and easy to troubleshoot. The new narrowband radios make it nearly impossible for users to troubleshoot. Agencies such as the New Mexico EMS Organization have recognized this fact. They have taken the initiative and developed a 71-slide “Radio Training Presentation” that describes the complexities of today’s communications.3 The inability to simply dial up a mutual aid frequency coupled with the great complexities of the new narrowband radios have made HEMS scene communications very difficult. HEMS operators and EMS agencies have erroneously purchased “interoperable” radios. There is an illusion in the marketplace that a P25 radio will talk to another P25 radio. When HEMS operators find they have a communication issue, they begin to troubleshoot the channel. Double-checking all the parameters of the channel and ensuring everything is correct will not solve the issue. The true issue is each radio manufacturer has proprietary network access codes and patented technology that must be shared to reach true interoperability.4 Your channel may or may not work with another’s channel even when all parameters are the same. Allow me to say that again; your channel may or may not work with another’s channel even when all parameters are the same. The FCC states “even P25 compliant radio systems are typically operating in only a single frequency band set . . . this means P25 devices cannot talk to each other due to frequency incompatibility, encryption incompatibility, or both.”2 This creates tremendous frustration between everyone associated with public safety and communications. There simply needs to be a narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency similar to the 123.025 helicopter air-to-air frequency. Ask any commercial helicopter pilot what is 123.025, and no matter where you are they will acknowledge this as the Federal Aviation Administration–designated helicopter air-toair VHF frequency.5 This frequency works in every aircraft radio. This is a wideband analog amplitude modulated frequency. Users can “dial up” 123.025 anywhere in the United States and talk to another helicopter operating nearby. It is a mutually understood and widely practiced standard. It works well in every situation in which a helicopter pilot must communicate with others. Unfortunately, most of the land mobile radios used by public safety officials are not capable of reaching this frequency. HEMS operators and EMS agencies alike all proclaim, “If only there was a narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency similar to 123.025.” 155.3400 is the narrowband EMS mutual aid frequency that every HEMS operator and EMS agency should rally behind. Imagine heading to a scene. The medical radio in the helicopter is programmed with 155.3400. The EMS ground Air Medical Journal 33:5
crew radio is programmed with 155.3400. “Air Med 18 this is Howard County EMS how do you hear us?” comes across loud and clear. It is that easy. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, 155.3400 is not well used. The National Interoperability Field Operations Guide is the reference for emergency communications.6 Version 1.4 has been out since January 2011. On page 40, the EMS mutual aid frequency of 155.3400 is designated. It is a narrowband, FM, no tone code, transmit and receive frequency that DOES work with every narrowband radio—ground and air! Narrowbanding of public safety radios does not have to affect HEMS scene safety. Everyone associated with a HEMS scene should use 155.3400 just as easily as helicopter pilots use 123.025. According to the National Interoperability Field Guide of 2011, the 155.3400 mutual aid frequency is a transmit and receive simplex frequency. This means users are not dealing with repeaters or towers that fail during disasters. 155.3400 works every time and everywhere because it is not tied to ground based infrastructures. The frequency is line of sight between the 10-W helicopter radio and ground units, which equates to a 15- to 20-mile range. In order to promote 155.3400, it is highly recommended that HEMS operators and EMS organizations discuss this topic during every scene LZ class and provide the widest dissemination possible. One day 155.3400 will be the “preset” in all HEMS and EMS ground radios for scene operations.
September-October 2014
References 1. FCC public safety VHF/UHF narrow banding information. http://transition.fcc.gov/ pshs/public-safety-spectrum/narrowbanding.html. Accessed October 28, 2013. 2. FCC public safety and Homeland Security Bureau tech topic 16. http://transition. fcc.gov/pshs/techtopics/techtopics16.html. Accessed October 28, 2013. 3. New Mexico EMS Bureau “Why is it a problem?” public safety radio bands. http://nmems.org/Communications/RadioTrainingSlidesGeneric.ppt. Accessed November 5, 2013. 4. P25 Forums Motorola on Harris & M/A-COM Systems, August 18, 2013. https://www.p25.ca/archive/index.php/t-3211.html. Accessed November 5, 2013. 5. FAA spectrum management regulations and procedures manual. May 15, 2008. http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/6050.32B%20Chg%201.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2013. 6. National interoperability field guide, January 2011. http://publicsafetytools.info/ nifog_info/downloads/NIFOG_1_4_J_for_personal_printing.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2013.
Michael Koval, BA, is a pilot at EagleMed in Durant, OK. He is also a lifetime member of the Oklahoma National Guard Association, the National EMS Pilots Association, and the Army Aviation Association of America. He is currently seeking a masters in Management with a Certificate in Emergency Management. 1067-991X/$36.00 Copyright 2014 Air Medical Journal Associates http://dx.doi.org:10.1016/j.amj.2014.03.007
213
