News 
Transition
The Regional Radio Dispatch Service (RRDS) project reached a significant milestone on Sunday 10 August 2014, with District 5 marking the final transition across regional Victoria to digital dispatch. All CFA regional brigades now have access to clearer, high quality dispatch communications. The transition to RRDS enables CFA members communication between a 24/7 CAD centre and emergency appliances in regional Victoria using enhanced coverage and better audio quality.
“This has been a major project and CFA is very pleased with the results. RRDS will make a major contribution to better emergency management as well as the safety of our members and the wider community,” said CFA Deputy Chief Officer Joe Buffone.
“RRDS solves many radio ‘black spot’ issues,” Mr Buffone said.
“RRDS ushers in a new generation of high-quality digital dispatch capability across the state. It’s the sort of service already enjoyed by Victoria Police, MFB, Ambulance Victoria and our brigades in metropolitan Melbourne.”
Reflash 2
Following the transition to CFA’s new digital radio network, the Radio Reflash 2 team has once again commenced scheduling brigade visits to upgrade software in CFA Tait radios.
All CFA Tait radios must be updated with new software enhancements, enabling additional radio features which are available through the digital network.
Radios across the state will be upgraded with new software, delivering additional functionality, including a 6 digit grid reference display.
When operating within regional districts, additional functionality will also allow for:
- Resource tracking - this feature allows IMTs to track appliance movements whilst on a dispatch talkgroup
- Trunk RMR network site name display – shown when the PPT is pressed
End User Observation Reports
RRDS team members have performed extensive field testing of the regional radio dispatch service and, in collaboration with members, conducted confidence trials across the state.
We are currently in the warranty phase, and members are reminded to inform us of unexpected coverage issues through the use of the end-user observation reports (Docs, Forms, Manuals > Fire & Emergencies > Communications > Regional Radio Dispatch Service). These observation reports are an important tool for capturing feedback relating to black spots, echoes or delays in transmission, difficulties receiving or transmitting to ESTA VicFire and/or other appliances and any other coverage issues.
End-user observation forms are currently available for download on CFA online, via a link from the communications page. Instructions on where to send the form are available on the bottom of the form.
The RRDS team is developing an online version of the observation report. Members will receive communication once this has been finalised.
RRDS Support Material
To assist with maintaining the learning from RRDS, we have provided each brigade with the following:
- Complete Learning Package & Materials DVD
A DVD containing all materials of the Regional Radio Dispatch Service’s learning program. Brigades may have already received some of this material as part of their RRDS trainer kit however this disc contains the full catalogue of the learning package to assist with ongoing training and skills maintenance.
- CFA District Dispatch Talkgroups/Channels Map
The map and associated table below ensure all brigades and members will have access to one complete visual list of digital talkgroups, as well as current and previous analogue channels for each district.
Download maps RRDS-1 and RRDS-2 below
- Dispatch Radio Procedures Sticker (download RRDS-3 below)
The dispatch radio procedures sticker is designed to be applied to the dashboard of brigade appliances, support vehicles, big fills and FCVs. This is to replace the current “wordback table” sticker.
The blue “radio information” sticker is designed to provide radio operators with talkgroup and local command channel information as found in your current local “comms” plan.
