MDT Training

Zone OneAugust 2013

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A Few Rules1. Use the wireless system as much as

possible It allows for more verbal communications on

the Talk Groups MDT transmissions can take place

simultaneously with verbal communications or other wireless transmissions

No waiting for the ‘air’ to clear, or that annoying buzz!

2. If the MDT is not appropriate, use verbal transmissions

First arriving unit short report Instructions for incoming units Requesting resources

3. If you must operate the MDT while driving use extreme caution

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How the Software Communicates

MDT in the field

Packet Cluster Server

VisiCAD Server

How the System Works

In and near the Station*

Hi Speed Wireless

Out in the fieldCellular phone

style connection11Kbs

Civilian ‘Cellular’

tower

• Bellevue Police Stations and BSC too!

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High Speed ( In Quarters and near ) Connection• Green, Yellow, Gray, Red,

or White depending on signal strength

Low Speed ( Out of Quarters ) Connection

‘Green Angel’ – Should always be present

Wireless Connection Icons

Net Motion software constantly searches for the strongest wireless signal

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Screen Use and Care Both screen buttons and function ( F )

keys can be utilized to execute commands ‘Anchor’ your hand to the screen when you use

the touch screen option for stability Use bare hands or clean gloves when utilizing

computer. If screen or keyboard gets dirty clean with

Notebook Screen Kleen Wipes® only! Do not use sharp or hard object to activate

buttons. No pens, pencils, etc. A stylus will be available to help with touch

screen use If screen is too bright at night utilize the

‘Dy/Nt’ function. There is also a brightness adjustment wheel at

the bottom of the screen

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Night Screen

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Logging onto Windows This is done once a week to keep the

Laptop running better Will also be needed if you have to

swap out Laptops Procedure:

Under ‘Username’ type ‘pswfd’ ‘pswfd’ – short for public safety wireless fire

department This is case sensitive

Under password type ‘Seahawk$’ This is case sensitive Make sure ‘Cap lock’ and ‘Num lock’ are not on.

Windows will boot up and establish a connection with the wireless system

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Logging into Packet Cluster Rescue

Only do this when not on an alarm! Double click on the Packet Cluster

Rescue Icon From the Windows desktop

Click on the ‘Logn’ icon on the toolbar

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Double Click

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Log on button

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Shift Change Procedures Beginning of shift log off and log

back on to Packet Cluster Rescue Do this in the station, not on a call No need to exit Windows or reboot

the computer This erases history and messages

from the prior shift Once a week reboot the

computer Keeps the computer running better Allows for updates to Run

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Data The Data button is used to

upload files pushed out to MDT units. Files include virus updates, security and application patches.

Push Data button while within WLAN coverage area.

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Information Window This icon will bring up a list of all

significant communications for the unit you are in.

This will be cleared at shift change by logging off and on again. This can also be cleared by typing

‘ERASE’ in the command line It flashes when a new dispatch

status or change comes in.

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Receiving an Alarm over the MDT

‘Information’ Icon will flash and you will get an audible tone from the computer You will also get the pager activation and

audible ‘beep, beep, beep’ over the radio with voice dispatch

Voice dispatch will be replaced by a verbal instructions from dispatch to check your MDT if incident is low priority or transmissions are sensitive ( e.g. service responses, non-emergency aid responses, or bomb threats)

The ‘Assignment Information’ window will pop up on your screen The ‘assignment information’ window is

formatted similar to the dispatch printer page

This window will not pop up in front of other applications if PCR is in the background

If you are looking at one of the web sites

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Incident Response Screen ( Top Portion )

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Changes in Status The system will only acknowledge

status changes that occur in logical order! Examples:

‘Resp’ to ‘ONSC’ ‘ONSC’ to ‘Aval’ or ‘Tran’ ‘Tran’ to ‘Dest’

If you attempt ‘ONSC’ to ‘Dest’ CAD will not change your status Our kind dispatchers used to allow us to

make this error when we forgot to go ‘transporting’ and similar mistakes

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Incident Information Updates

If incident information is updated by dispatch... You will hear an audible tone from

the MDT You will see the ‘Info’ icon flash The Assignment Information screen

will automatically update/refresh

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Staged vs. On Scene

- ‘Staged’ is used for EMS calls only and is recorded by using the F2 key or icon on this screen.- Once cleared to proceed to the scene you will use the ‘ONSC’ button to indicate final arrival time

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Transporting a Patient Press the ‘Trans’ button on the

toolbar Enter the number of patients you are

transporting Select the ‘Destination of Transport’

from the drop down menu Select transport ‘Mode’ from drop

down menu Emergency v. Non-Emergency

Enter ‘Mileage’ only if required by your agency

When at the hospital press the ‘Dest’ button

If you are diverted, you will need to do a verbal transmission

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Transporting Status Screen

Number of Patients defaults to 1Tab between fields

Enter to send info to CAD

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Going ‘Aval’ You will need to select a final

disposition code when going available Always select ‘999’ (hit Enter twice)

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Going AvailableTo change unit status press in the following order:• Press the ‘Aval’ button on the toolbar, AVL

will track unit, CAD will put you ‘available’ at last location if no connection.

• Press OutQ for Local Area, CAD will track your movement via AVL when considering subsequent calls. If unit is stopped, CAD will place unit at home station until unit moves again.

• Press the ‘In-Q’ when back in your station.

‘Local Area’ If ‘Local Area’ is requested, or OutQ is

pressed while a unit is at another station (training), since the unit is not moving, should a call be generated in their home area that unit will be dispatched, unless a delay is requested.

‘Delay’ (2 min. or 5 min.) will add time to calculated response times. If E45 is ‘Local Area with a 2 min. delay’ enroute to Sta. 42 and a call comes in that is 6 min. from Sta. 42 and E45 is 3 min. from the call, CAD will add 2 min. to E45. E45 will be dispatched as they are now at 5 min. and closer than Sta. 42 units.

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Just Driving Around Just press the ‘OutQ’ button

If units are moving… This activates cadence of the AVL Places other unit ‘out of service’ in cross

staffing situations. If you want both units out of quarters and

available you will need to verbally communicate this to Fire Disp 2. (“Break cross staff”)

Warning: if E45 is dispatched, then A45 must be placed out of service, otherwise A45 can be dispatched on a subsequent call.

If you don’t place yourself ‘OutQ’ CAD will not look for your AVL location and will dispatch you as if you were in your station.

Position Update vs Move-up Position Update

Used when locating to another station for training or detail.

Tracks you via AVL enroute (you will be dispatched enroute if closest unit, unless a delay is used)

Don’t need to say you have arrived at new location.

If MDT loses connection, you will still be dispatched from new location not from your previous station.

Difficult for Dispatch to cross staff Aid Car and Engine/Ladder.

Pings closest unit while at location

Move-up Used when staffing a

station while their units are on another call.

Will show ‘Enroute to Post ‘.

Tracks you via AVL enroute (you will be dispatched enroute if closest unit, no delay is used)

Advised when at location. MDT shows ‘Local Area’.

Locution sends print out and voice to new location.

Not advised for when multiple units are at same station.

Can cross staff with Aid Car and Engine/Ladder.

Cannot have 2 cross staffed units at one station at a time.

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Some Inherent AVL Locating Problems

Large parking lots Freeway over/underpasses Frontage roads Any distance from a recognized

road Long driveways Dirt roads Access roads ???

Some Inherent AVL Locating Anomalies

If two units are at a station, AVL will dispatch one over the other depending on which direction the address originates. Example: A45 is parked north of

A42 at Sta. 42, if a call originates north of Sta. 42, A45 may be dispatched instead of A42 since they are positioned north of A42.

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Out of Service and Delays These will be handled by traditional

verbal communications with dispatch On Fire Disp 2 or by phone

‘Aval’ icon will not reverse this action Also on Fire Disp 2 or by phone

The status screen does not automatically show if units (yours or others) have been given a delay Comments can be entered into the Status

Screen by utilizing F4 key. These comments are removed by selecting the F5 key. When entered these comments will be seen by all users.

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F4 and F5 Notations

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Walk-ins and On-views These will be handled by a

traditional verbal communications with dispatch Phone in or Fire Disp 2 for Walk-ins

(Still Alarms) Fire Disp 2 for On-views (Incidents

you come across while out driving around).

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Status of Other Units Press the ‘Stat’ button on the tool bar This will display the status of all the

units in your group The status screen does not

automatically show if units (your or others) have been given a delay Comments can be entered into the Status

Screen by utilizing F4 key. These comments are removed by selecting the F5 key. When entered these comments will be seen by all users.

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Status Screen

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Responding with Agencies That Don’t Have MDTs

Outside of NORCOM Dispatch area – Use MDT to report to our dispatch

center Use verbal communications to talk

to their dispatch center Sno Pac – Sno Comm

Inside the NORCOM Dispatch area – Use MDT and verbal message to

report status to dispatch center

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Mail, Talk, and Announce Functions

If the ‘Announce’ button is flashing - go ahead and push it. It is probably the Battalion Chief with something ‘important’ to say!

Remember: any communications using these functions are recorded and public record!

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Mail Packet Cluster enables you to

send mail messages back and forth between users.

The unit does not need to be logged on to receive a mail message. When the unit is logged in you’ll see the following message in the Information window: ***You have new mail***

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Announcements An Announcement is a way to

immediately send real-time messages to groups of users, or all users on Packet Cluster

Announcements can be sent with an alarm

Remember, ALL group = All of Zone One!

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Talk Talk is like instant messaging

between units Choose unit from ‘Send To’ drop

down list in Talk screen, or double click on Unit ID line on Status screen

All Talk messages are recorded and disclosable from the Packet Cluster server

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Emergency Buttons There are two Emergency buttons available

Upper left hand corner of the keyboard Lower left hand corner of the display panel

Very Sensitive! Clyde Hill incident

When activated a window opens on all of the dispatch terminals

Everything in dispatch stops until Firefighter/Police Officer safety is assured and system is reset

These buttons are independent of the radio emergency buttons

All other units will receive the emergency message through the ‘Announce’ function Let the dispatcher handle these

situations!

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What Do We Do When It All Blows Up?

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In The Field:• Fall back to ‘Old Fashion’ verbal

communications• Notify Dispatch• Pre-fire books will still be onboard

• Attempt to fix problem after the emergency has been mitigated

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When Back In Quarters

Norcom IT support is 425-577-5690. This is staffed by NORCOM IT personnel during the day and at night and weekends a rotating on call Norcom IT staff will get the 425-577-5690 number forwarded to their cell phone. So call that number 24/7 with any technical problem of an urgent nature. If it is not urgent, have your supervisor submit at NOTIS ticket via notis.norcom.org and a NORCOM IT staff will get back to you.

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Let Us Hear Your Comments

We want this to be a smooth transition

Submit comments through your department’s application specialist

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Questions After Training Contact your on duty Guru

They can answer most of your questions

They will refer you to the appropriate resource if they cannot answer your question

NORCOM IT is becoming well versed in our equipment and software

Do not call dispatch with training questions!! Call NORCOM IT

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Pre-fires and Web Sites The MDT has access to Pre-fire

documents and select Web Sites Pre-fires include many surrounding

agencies Web sites include:

VisiNet Browser Webstaff (Bellevue only)

These functions run outside of PCR If you hear a tone while you viewing another

application, check back to PCR for critical information – i.e. dispatches!

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Pre-fires These are .pdf files that reside on

the MDT hard drive Updated when in quarters Each agency’s are a little

different Access is the same

Click on the ‘PreF’ icon to gain access

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Pre-fire ( Cont. )

Touch the tab or the shoulder patch of the agency you are

interested in

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Bellevue’s Pre-fire Main Page

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Kirkland’s Pre-fire Main Page

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Web Sites

Touch the ‘WEB’ icon

Select the web site you want

Remember: Your connection speed is

only 11kbs - 1/5th of a dial up modem- be patient