CFA outer metropolitan districts will soon reap the benefit from a significant upgrade to its existing digital radio network.
Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino recently made the announcement which will see CFA’s outer metropolitan districts transition from analogue systems to Victoria’s regional digital radio network.
CFA Operations Manager Jason Lawrence said the upgrade was an important step. Benefits would include duress alarms, resource tracking (still under development), enhanced coverage, clearer audio quality, radio identification and reduced interference which will be consistent across all CFA districts.
“It brings CFA outer metropolitan districts up to the same quality of dispatch communications as enjoyed by CFA regional districts and Victoria Police, MFB, Ambulance Victoria in metropolitan Melbourne,” he said.
“CFA regional districts have been using the Regional Radio Dispatch Service (RRDS) network since 2014 and this expansion will now ensure all CFA districts have access to the benefits of the RRDS network.”
“It is an important step and will further enhance our brigades’ capacity to carry out their duties.”
The expansion of the network will reach brigades in our outer metropolitan districts including Dandenong, Melton, Geelong and Lilydale and will provide enhanced coverage and better audio quality dispatch communications with VicFire.”
Mr Lawrence said CFA would work closely with other agencies including Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority (ESTA) and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) to ensure smooth delivery of the program.
“The upgrade program will ultimately enable all of Victoria’s Emergency Services to communicate on a common platform and will see greater performance and monitoring capabilities introduced to ensure that the network continues to meet CFA requirements, now and into the future,” he said.
Transition to the new service is expected to commence in November 2018 and be completed in February 2019.
Author: CFA Media