VHF Equipment
Our Team has two general kinds of VHF equipment: base/mobile units and portable or hand-held radios. The base/mobile radios operate at a higher power (typically 40-100 watts) with a more effective antenna. These units are excellent for long-range communications and for use as a mission base radio. The team portables (handheld transceivers, commonly called “HTs”) weigh about one pound. Our portable radios are lightweight and equipped with a flexible rubber covered spring antenna. These radios operate at lower power than the base/mobile radios (typically 5 watts) and therefore have a more limited range.
800 Digital Trunked Radio System
Most public safety agencies utilize an 800 MHz digital trunked radio system for communications, including the Sheriff’s Office. EPCSAR has a talkgroup on this radio system and access to many other talkgroups. Mobile 800MHz radios are located in team vehicles and extra handheld units are available in most team vehicles and the Communications room for missions or use by on-duty coordinators. Typically, the team leader(s) on a mission will carry one of these radios. You will need additional instruction before using one of these radios as they are more complicated and improper use can interfere with county-wide emergency communications.
Detailed operating instruction for each type radio and radio programming is located at Appendix H
