The document summarizes the transition from the old FleetNet radio system to the new PSCS digital radio system, which will take place on November 25th. It describes the key features of the new PSCS trunked radio network and new Motorola APX handheld and mobile radios. It also explains how radio channels have been reorganized in the new system and provides a chart comparing the old and new channels. The document acknowledges that training has been limited but additional support will be provided during the transition period.

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PSCS Radio
System
Beausejour Brokenhead Fire Department
November 22, 2020

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PSCS Radio System
 PSCS – Public Safety Communications Services
 The previous P16 SmartZone 4.1 analog FleetNet system
reached end of life and thus required an upgrade and expansion
to P25 digital standards system.
 FleetNet was therefore replaced with the new Public Safety
Communication Services (PSCS) network.

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PSCS Radio System cont.
 PSCS is a trunked radio system that uses a specialized repeater
system with 154 towers and frequencies to provide wide
coverage throughout 99% of the populated areas of Manitoba.
 These services are provided to the Government of Manitoba and
other public safety and public service organizations by Bell
Mobility Inc.

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When?
 The transition from Fleetnet to PSCS system will happen
Wednesday November 25, 2020
 Yes, you read that right…3 days from now.

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Radios – Handheld & Mobile
 Handheld – Motorola APX 2000
 Mobile – Motorola APX 2500

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Handheld - APX 2000

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The following pages describe what each
function is able to do in more detail.
Please reference back to the previous
page as needed.

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Handheld - APX 2000 cont.

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Handheld - APX 2000 cont.

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Handheld - APX 2000 cont.

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Mobile - APX 2500

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Mobile - APX 2500 cont.

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Channels – What's Changed
 Lots has changed in regards to the channels and how the
province is broken up.
 Old System was broken up in three zones.
 Zone 1 = Southern Zone
 Zone 2 = Central Zone
 Zone 3 = Northern Zone
 New System is also broken up into three zones, with each zone
having up to 16 channels.
 Zone A = Provincial Ops (This is our zone)
 Zone B = Provincial Fire 1
 Zone C = Provincial Fire 2

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Channels – What's Changed cont.

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Channels – What's Changed cont.

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Channels – What's Changed cont.

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Channels – What's Changed cont.

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Channels – What's Changed cont.
 What does this all mean?
 It means that we have to get used to different names for
channels we otherwise are very familiar with.
 Same goes for talking with other departments and emergency
services such as EMS and Police.

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Channels – What's Changed cont.
PSCS
Radios
Fleetnet
Radios
Description Other Information
1 NORTHEAST B 1B Our “talk group” Used for getting more incident informtion
2 BEAUSEJOUR1 1C Fire dept channel Used by members from the same hall
3 BEAUSEJOUR2 - RM Fire Dept Channel Used by all the fire depts in one municipality
4 PROVINCIAL FIRE 1A Talking to 911 Used to initiate contact with 911
5 EMO OPS1 4H Emergency Ops
6 EMO OPS2 4I Emergency Ops
7 EMO OPS3 4J Emergency Ops
8 IAGE 1 1D Inter-agency, Encrypted Our normal Channel for contacting EMS
9 IAGE 2 - Inter-agency, Encrypted
10 IAGE 3 - Inter-agency, Encrypted
11 IAGE 4 - Inter-agency, Encrypted
12 IAGE 5 - Inter-agency, Encrypted
13 IAGE 6 - Inter-agency, Encrypted
14 IAGE 7 - Inter-agency, Encrypted Bridged with fleetnet system, use for Police, EMS
15 IAGE 8 - Inter-agency, Not Encrypted Bridged with fleetnet system, use for EMS only.
16 EMO SPX Memo Simplex Channel for contacting STARS Must be used in “line of site”

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Channels – What's Changed cont.
 Note that all channels are Encrypted except for IAGE 8.
 IAGE 7 & IAGE 8 are bridged with the old Fleetnet system,
police will be added to the new system next year. This gives us a
way to communicate with them during that process. We MUST
use IAGE 7 to contact police as it is the only bridged encrypted
channel.
 We also have the following channels in other zones, that we
need to be aware of.
Ch
.
Zone Channe
l Name
Description Other Information
9 Zone B – Provincial
1
NORTHEAST Our Mutual Aid District Used for Mutual Aid Operations
11 Zone C – Provincial
2
GSAR Ground Search &
Rescue
Used for GSAR Operations

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Other Features & Changes
 The radios can be used as a phone. They can call radio to radio,
phone to radio & radio to phone.
 Some channels will be changing in a year or so, this will be once
all the emergency services have switched over to the PSCS
system.
 Once 911 fully switches over to the new system we will be
contacting 911 a bit different. The radios have a RTT – Request
To Talk button that we will press and then 911 will tell you to go
to your talk group. This will be in the future!

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Other Features & Changes
 The new system will going live before we have any of the Mobile
radios installed. Therefore we are going to have to use the
handhelds until Prairie Mobile can get this done.

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Final Thoughts
 I know this is not an ideal way of training but we had very short
notice (yesterday) that this was going live on Wednesday
November 25, 2020.
 We will go through all of these things in more detail once we are
out the RED COVID state.
 I am planning to have a Teams Meeting Tuesday November 24,
2020 at 1930. This will be for answering any questions that we
might have regarding the new radio system.
 Please download Microsoft Teams on your computer or phone.