OES owns and operates 3 interconnected Mobile Relay radio networks for Mutual Aid coordination, and oversees a number of communications channels for field level coordination purposes. All of this is known as "SMARS" [Statewide Mutual Aid Radio System]. The interconnected networks are: == CESRS [Calif. Emergency Services Radio System], 153.755 MHz [154.980 input] CESRS has 21 interconnected sites around the state (and 4 stand alone radios not interconnected). It is used for radio coordination between OES staff (51xx and 51xxx units) and our facilities in Sacramento, Fresno, Los Alamitos, Oakland, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara; and between our Regional Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) [in Oakland, Los Alamitos, and Sacramento] and around 30 county EOCs. Other users of CESRS are the facilities of the Calif. Youth Authority [for their direction & control purposes], and the Department of General Services' Telecommunications Division units ("Area xx", and "DC-xxxx" units), who maintain it all. == CLERS [Calif. Law Enforcement Radio System], various frequencies in 150 and 450 MHz bands CLERS is the Law Enforcement 'dispatcher to dispatcher' mutual aid network, and consists of 26 'cells' covering the state. Some areas (like the East Sierra / Owens Valley area and Ukiah / Clearlake) are served by direct drops off the state microwave system. Otherwise, the users are served by a VHF or UHF repeater in their area. Some areas (Contra Costa County, for example) are really active; others are not so active day-to-day. CLERS also serves as the State's distribution network for Emergency Alert System (EAS) program feeds, and is occasionally used by CHP aircraft to coordinate with their operations bases. == OES FIRE [and Rescue Radio Network], 154.160 and 154.220 (with a combination of 33 and 159 MHz inputs) OES FIRE has three purposes. First, it is used to coordinate between the 65 Fire Operational Area Mutual Aid Coordinators, the 6 Regional Mutual Aid Coordinators, and OES Fire & Rescue Branch's EOC at HQ in Sacramento. Second, it is used between OES Fire & Rescue HQ and the OES Fire field staff [52xx units] enroute to or at major emergencies. Third, it is used to coordinate any and all of the above points with the 130+ OES Engines and support vehicles located in local fire departments around the state. OES FIRE, with 22 sites, is the state's oldest technology repeater system (lowband input, highband output), although we are in the process of converting the network to VHF-Hiband only. Due to various factors, this has not been a 'clean' process. As a result, we have a hodge-podge of frequency and access tone combinations [and multiple channel names, unfortunately] in place throughout the network. We are hoping for funding next fiscal year (starting July 1, 2000) to replace the 70+ base stations in the network, which will allow us to 'retire' the 33 MHz inputs (the mobile and handheld fleet is all VHF-Hiband) and bring the name nomenclature back in line. The SMARS field level channels are: == CLEMARS [Calif. Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System] (below) There are CLEMARS frequencies in each Public Safety radio band (except the 220-222 MHz band). CLEMARS is used for on-scene Law Enforcement communications. The nationwide Law frequency of 155.475 is included in the CLEMARS plan. Frequencies to monitor [CLEMARS Ch. #]: - Statewide: 39.46 [6,7], 154.920 [1], 154.935 [2], 155.475 [3], 460.025 [4,5], 868.5125 [8,9]. - Los Angeles Basin: 484.2375 [22] - "Northern California" (North of the line making up the north edge of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties): 866.2000 [20,21] - Coming soon to the Bay Area: 489.1625 [23,24] (Yes, that _is_ SFFD Control 4. We get it after their move to the 800 system.) == CALCORD [Calif. On-scene Coordination Channel] (156.075) CALCORD is a mobile-only channel for use on scene as a command channel. Yes, it is also Coast Guard channel 61A, but we have it licensed out of the old Highway Maintenance pool. No base stations are allowed (FCC regulation). == WHITE FIRE frequencies (WHITE FIRE 1, 154.280; WHITE FIRE 2, 154.265; and WHITE FIRE 3, 154.295), and the FIREMARS Channels (800 MHz) - The WHITE FIRE frequencies (not "OES White") are used for multiple agency fire coordination operations. By FCC rules, base stations are permitted on WHITE FIRE 1 (154.280) only [except L.A. County Fire has a waiver for 154.295, as they were there before the FCC designated the frequency as "intersystem"]. The old OES "FireMARS" system (153.830 in, 154.295 out, using handhelds and portable repeaters) is dead. The BART UNDERGROUND (153.770/154.295) will disappear with BART's move to 800. - The FIREMARS channels ("FIREMARS", 868.9875; and "FIREMARS 2", 866.9125 in the "Northern California" area defined under CLEMARS, above) are designated for Fire & EMS operations by those agencies operating on 800 MHz. == NATIONAL PLAN (800 MHz) Interoperability channels (866.0125, 866.5125, 867.0125, 867.5125, and 868.0125) When the FCC opened the 821-824/866-869 MHz spectrum to Public Safety use in the 1980s, the FCC established an advisory committee (the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee, or "NPSPAC") to recommended rules for the assignment and utilization of the new spectrum. NPSPAC recommended (and the FCC adopted) 5 Interoperability channels - a calling channel, and 4 tactical. In negotiating the border interface zones with Canada and Mexico, these 5 pairs were also adopted by those countries for Public Safety interoperability use. The channels, therefore, are known as I-CALL (866.0125), and I-TAC 1 thru 4 (866.5125, 867.0125, 867.5125, and 868.0125 respectively). Under the plans developed by California's two Planning Regions, OES administers the use of these channels. == STACOM ["STAte COMmunications", AKA "Operation SECURE"] (HF) Under "Operation SECURE" (State's Emergency Communications Using Radio Effectively), the FCC established frequencies in the 2-10 MHz range for State Government use. Each state can license up to 10 channels for intra- and inter-state emergency management communications. OES and CALTRANS use these frequencies, along with selected federal and local EOC sites in remote areas for an additional communications path when needed. Because of some confusion caused by the "SECURE" name, we call this network "STACOM". The network uses standard SSB for comms. 7.480 MHz (Upper Sideband) 7.802 5.140 2.419 2.422 2.812 2.804 2.326 5.195 7.805 They used to do a statewide (and Nevada) net every Weds at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on or near 7480 khz (7.480 MHz)...you might want to listen there. Then they switch to a ham freq, I think it's 7230 khz for another net right afterwards. About 30 minutes of stuff. Thanks to Don Root for providing this information.