As mother nature reminded us last year with the windstorm on December 20th we all need to be prepared for emergencies. While the festive season is top of mind we also need to ensure our families are ready to deal with natural disasters. For first responders, when you are called upon to safeguard the communities you serve, the CREST network and our team are here to support you. Although the system is designed to handle high traffic loads, even a public safety grade system can be challenged. With multiples of people wanting radio access it is important to exercise good radio protocol by ensuring your communications are concise and as short as possible, therefore allowing the next person fast access to the system.
Month: December 2019
Behind the scenes
With quite a number of new board members, a tour was organized earlier in the year where board members could see some of the transmission sites up close and personal.
Digital Vehicular Repeater System (DVRS) can save money and ultimately lives
Fire officials from across Greater Victoria gathered in Central Saanich this fall to receive training on the DVRS, which roughly amounts to be being a portable WiFi booster that improves digital communication for emergency responders while on scene. Even with P25 digital technology, communicating inside high-rise office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, government buildings and tunnels can be challenging for emergency responders. This is where the DVRS kicks. You bring the coverage with you.
P25 Goes Live
All Police and Fire agencies in the Urban Core and the Saanich Peninsula, have moved successfully onto the new P25 system. BC Ambulance Services will move over early in January 2020.
Did You Know:
P25 upgrade increases the system capacity by 30% supporting over 2,500 mobile and portable radios.
What Emergency Responders are saying: “WOW What a difference.”
“I just wanted to drop you a quick e-mail to say the new P-25 system is working great. We did a few test buildings after we switched and wow what a difference – everything is coming in crystal clear. The crews took the portables into FMF 250 which in the past is a bad building for comms. There was no problem anywhere in the building even inside an elevator with the doors closed comms was no problem.”
Gordie Douglas
Fire Chief, CFB Esquimalt
Remind me – What is P25
P25 technology is considered a world standard and offers many improved system features that will strengthen public and emergency responder safety. P25 offers improved audio clarity, coverage and allows emergency responders to back each other up through seamless interoperability features. P25 incorporates a suite of standards for digital radio communications used by federal, provincial state and local emergency response agencies across North America.
