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OFF Topic / Re: Internode ADSL2+ Metropolitan Outage 30/03....teh 6th alarm internetz crisis

« on: March 31, 2010, 04:23:41 PM »

Yep, I was off line for about 12 hours (mostly overnight) which left my server with no access. Then a short outage about 5pm Yesterday when the DSLAM was reset at the Hampstead exchange. All back to normal now.

Arno.

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Country Fire Service / Re: CFS Appliances involved in MVA

« on: February 19, 2010, 08:18:50 PM »

Quote from: Darius on February 19, 2010, 06:18:20 PM

before you get too excited, all the old GRN radios are being crushed, it's part of the contract with motorola. I think it's wrong but the govt signed the contract.

I believe only when they are no longed needed or used by the "service", they can not be sold or disposed of in any other way but can be resigned for other communication work outside the GRN allocations by the "service". Ie local UHF simplex communications or say data links etc.

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Country Fire Service / Re: CFS Appliances involved in MVA

« on: February 17, 2010, 02:59:32 PM »

Quote from: Pipster on February 17, 2010, 10:10:01 AM

There is all of the old Region 6 GRN stuff all stacked up in a storage shed...with nowhere to go......most difficult problem is finding space to store it all, along with the staff to do something with it!!

Pip

The handhelds could also be reprogrammed for UHFCB and give then another 5+ years life. They make very good 5 watt UHFCB units and could even handle the extra 20+ CB channels when the ACMA releases the new bandplan.

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OFF Topic / Re: Voice over IP telephones

« on: January 28, 2010, 07:10:51 AM »

VOIP is becoming very popular in my case a 80% reduction as local are now 10c down from 30c on big T home line budget plan (saving 9$ per month then all STD calls untimed at 10c Aust wide. All my outgoing call are via VOIP using a ATA which feeds the whole house and the normal phone line is for incoming only with fall back if I loose power or the ADSL line.

Re Skype it is now being used by some SES units for conference calls and zero cost calls between units in the plans are for all SES units to have VOIP setup via their ADSL modem via a SES VOIP server which includes conference calls at no cost across the whole state. Things are moving slowly but cost savings are happening.

Arno.

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Country Fire Service / Re: Technology are we really using it

« on: April 13, 2009, 05:15:41 PM »

Quote from: Alex on April 13, 2009, 04:42:20 PM

Quote from: malleefire on April 13, 2009, 03:28:28 PM
Quote from: Alex on April 13, 2009, 07:32:42 AM
Why not just use self-hosted dial in teleconferences.

Already widely used in CFS.

Alex they are not used as widely as one thinks or maybe some places are a bit more reluctant to get a board

Maybe i'm more out of touch than i thought, but from my experience, all regions were using dial-in teleconferences regularly. This is surely the best way to have these meetings. Participants simply dial-in from home or go down to the firestation to avoid the phone bill.

The main problem with dial-in Phone conferences is the cost, you normally dial a 1800 Telstra number from anywhere and then the booking agency pays by the minute per user so a one hour teleconference will cost 100$'s per meeting while a internet VOIP teleconference call will have Zero cost every time for the meeting assuming the ADSL service is being paid for anyway for other data applications and the local VOIP software/hardware is in place.

Arno.

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Country Fire Service / Re: Technology are we really using it

« on: April 13, 2009, 12:28:36 PM »

Quote from: jaff on April 13, 2009, 11:56:48 AM

BUT most of our current(hah) technology most people arent using it correctly, GPS,GRN and Foam just to name a few!.
Perhaps we need to get most people up to speed on current technology and reap the benefits of efficiency gained by that, in parrallel with exploring new technologies.

God forbid , maybe a new arm of SAFECOM "emergency agency technological developments" or some such tosser name, the main thing is that everyone is singing from the same sheet!

The problem with Technology is the training manuals and any courses are always years behind their introduction. The people who use the equipment in their normal daily lives are mostly not qualified to instruct as there are only have manufacturer supplied information and are not approved (accredited) courses. Why can not these "users" of the equipment run informal weekend workshops to at least bring others up to speed with technology changes so it can be used and understood more widely by all.

Arno.

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Country Fire Service / Re: Technology are we really using it

« on: April 12, 2009, 10:47:20 PM »

Quote from: Zippy on April 12, 2009, 10:17:29 PM

Imagine one day, having the ability to speak to a Oncall officer from adelaide , at a Hazmat in Barmera using Webcams...

You could do it now as long as its outside of the government internet network as this network is currently locked down so tight that not even VOIP or Skype will access the outside world or get in.

Currently the only way is external (to Gov) internet access points to link the users for teleconferences either from you home/office or stations to regions. (Has been tested between SES units on slow ADSL lines with good results.)

Arno.

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All Equipment discussion / Re: Scanner

« on: February 25, 2009, 10:49:14 AM »

Quote from: Zippy on February 25, 2009, 07:11:24 AM

wait till the new model unidens come out...

Is there only a new portable release coming or also a replacement for the 996t as I am looking for a 996 soon.

OldOne.

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Forum Suggestions / Re: Zippy's Daily Suggestions!

« on: January 29, 2009, 12:26:31 PM »

Quote from: Darius on January 29, 2009, 08:43:36 AM

Quote from: SA Firey on January 28, 2009, 01:34:08 PM
Chariot is what most CFS groups use and you might get a discount

I just wonder why groups that get the safecom provided Internode connection are being charged around twice the rate we pay to chariot.

Best to check the plans first before comparing prices, I suspect Internode may be supplying a higher speed plan or a business plan with a service level agreement (SLA) where the Chariot plans are normally just domestic types with no supply guarantee and only "best effort".

OldOne

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SA Firefighter General / Re: Multi Agency Communications / Adelaide Fire

« on: December 28, 2008, 06:20:33 PM »

Quote from: 6739264 on December 28, 2008, 04:29:39 PM

As far as I know, all you're meant to do is request the allocation of a Multiagency TG through comms. What was the job?

Unless Adelaide fire misunderstood the request?

All multi agency talkgroups are allocated by SAPOL communications co-ordinator and normally requested by the SAPOL officer on the scene of the incident, again only if needed or requested by the other agencies.

OldOne.

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SA Firefighter General / Re: Recruiting the younger generation.

« on: December 20, 2008, 12:05:27 PM »

Quote from: 6739264 on December 20, 2008, 11:55:42 AM

Its also interesting to note though, that we have atleast two people posting in this thread that are under 20 and are SFF's in their Brigades.

Yes I agree there are some very keen and active you people in both CFS and SES who excel at all the courses they attend, but they are not the norm but are at the top end of the scale and will probably be the ones that stay for life and end up possibly running the groups in the years to come.

Arno.

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SA Firefighter General / Re: Recruiting the younger generation.

« on: December 20, 2008, 11:49:36 AM »

Quote from: 21337 on December 20, 2008, 11:12:43 AM

like pixie said, there should be cadet programs, I saw on tv about the programs that the cfa have and it was put across the same as scouts, there to have fun but learn at the same time.

That interesting, SES do have cadet groups at selected units, there are a number of challenges with running cadet units, Firstly you must have trained and SAPOL cleared officers as you are working with "children", the cadets need access to both male and female approved officers at all times, and a minor can not be but in any danger during any training and can not be used on operational tasking on a truck until 18 years of age by law, they are MINORS in the eyes of the law same as scouting and school events.

Trying for 13 to 16 year olds is mostly a wast of time for trainers and students as their school work should be most important thing to gain high marks etc for their future prospects. But note some people use SES cadets nights as cheep evening child minding centres.

The cadet trainers will have extra commitments in working out weekly safe training programs and attending cadet trainer meetings plus keeping up their own skills on normal training nights. So unless you have 12+ cadets in a group and can train on a different night it will not work out in the long run as you must comply with Child safety laws and all normal OHS&W requirements.

Arno.

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SA Firefighter General / Re: Recruiting the younger generation.

« on: December 20, 2008, 07:49:21 AM »

Quote from: Bill Corcoran on December 20, 2008, 04:56:39 AM

The other issue i see and hear about is that we still have far too many brigade's(cfs) and units (ses) who wont allow females to join the service.

Good luck with trying to get the younger guys and girls to join and if you need a hand contact your regional VSO......

Well "most" SES units have females in the rescue teams and a number also hold senior rank.

If a member, male or female has completed the training course they do the job. we have females using chainsaws and power tools as they are qualified to do so, there are also females who are vertical rescue qualified. there is no discrimination allowed in SES and any female or for that matter male who is discriminated against can report the matter and with a 21 day receive feedback response to the incident if reported in writing.

All emergency services are equal opportunity organisations as decreed by the Government.

Re new members, most units do not have block intakes so a new member in most SES units are paired up with a mentor member until they have done the induction courses.

Arno.

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SA Firefighter General / Re: Recruiting the younger generation.

« on: December 19, 2008, 06:16:18 PM »

Quote from: 6739264 on December 19, 2008, 05:44:47 PM

So are any Brigades/Units actively trying to recruit the younger members of the community? Are there any specific strategies that you have found useful? The fact that CFS (and I assume SES) courses can count towards SACE is a great incentive, but once again its seen by some people in our brigade as being a negative due to people not joining for the 'right' reasons.

From a Metro SES view point, over the last 5 to 8 years we find the 16-17 age group are heavily committed to final year high school studies and their social life is starting to get active at weekends. The 18 to 21 years groups mostly go to university or if employed go to trade schools, have very little spare time to commit to weekly training programs and are not normally available for daytime crewing either.

The best groups seems to be in the 21 to 28 year age group if they can manage their social activities with SES activities. The 26 to 35 age group normally do not last long due to the family growing, ending up in middle management at work and finding no spare time at all for regular SES commitments. Some times you get them back when the family and work settles down and they are looking for something different as a life challenge.

The best target range I have found is the 20 to 26 age group and you will normally have then for 3 to 5 years before life changes happen or aim for the mature over 35 age group.

Arno.

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SASES / Re: Domestic and Industrial Rescue

« on: December 19, 2008, 11:48:25 AM »

Once again, bring back the old clasification of Heavy Rescue, or atleast differentiate between "Rescue" appliances and "RCR" appliances.
[/quote]

A lot of people have lost or confused the difference between General Rescue, be it domestic or Industrial and Urban Search and Rescue and then also RCR. Each have their own specialised equipment and training.

General Rescue is all the standard Metro Type tasks including a single person trapped/injured or car taking out a wall or veranda posts to a roof blown off or a tree through a roof etc.

Then you have USAR where you look at mass casualties with a collapsed building due to maybe earthquake or explosions etc. These highly trained rescuers use items like heat cameras, remote night vision cameras. SCBA and specialised tunnelling equipment, there are currently a handful of SES volunteers and a larger number of paid members from SES, MFS and SAAS who are qualified to the international standards for USAR Cat2 and able to respond anywhere at very short notice 24/7.

Then you have the specialised members who do the RCR training and their unique equipment.

All metro SES units have trained members covering general rescue, advanced tools (use) and Storm damage operations with a large number also trained for USAR cat 1 (building collapse- surface search & rescue) and of course our country members also cover RCR accredited courses but normally drop of USAR cat1 course.

Re metro response, any structural or trapped person P1 or P2 taskings the SES and MFS are dual responded as we assist each other with manpower and equipment.

Arno.

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SASES / Re: Domestic and Industrial Rescue

« on: December 18, 2008, 09:21:47 PM »

Ah well, back to crossing our fingers, making do and hoping for the best

[/quote]

Well hoping is not the answer, training is preparation.

The Metro SES units all have trucks that are basically mobile workshops with a large collection of hand tools and both battery and power tools to handle most domestic emergencies as they also carry timber, acro props and sundry other repair items as standard.

All members who havd completed the Advanced SES Tools courses are proficient in the use and the limitations of all power tools that the truck carries and train regularly in the use of the equipment.

You can not plan totally for any incident as each incident is different from the last as each task needs its own assessment BUT you know what is available from your truck to assist with the task as it's a almost complete workshop including self contained generator for the power tools. Some trucks even carry air compressors for specialised air tools.

For industrial site incidents there is normally on site access to heavy lifting equipment etc and personnel with specialised skills to assist with the emergency, plus you have MFS, SES and SAAS all working as one big team each with their own skills base to support the challenge. How can you prepare yourself for a full arm stuck in a meat grinder?

Cheers,

Oldone

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