State of California - Former “California Travel Net” no longer authorized

State of California The Resources Agency

Memorandum

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Subject:

8024.5 Telecommunications – California Travel Net Transition from USFS California Travel Net to CESRS Date: June 4, 2007

The former “California Travel Net” channel is no longer authorized by the federal government to be used by California fire services as of January 01, 2007. The frequencies for the old “California Travel Net” were 168.3250 and 169.1250 MHz.

The Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies (FIRESCOPE) requested the State provide an emergency communications channel for ground resources enroute to/from their home unit while assigned to an incident to replace the old “California Travel Net”.

The new channel to be used for resources in travel status is the California Emergency Services Radio System (CESRS – pronounced “See-zurs”). CESRS has a direct simplex configuration (CESRS direct) and a repeater configuration. Both channel configurations are recommended by FIRESCOPE to be loaded into VHF radios belonging to federal, state, and local government resources.

CESRS direct (the direct simplex configuration) may be utilized immediately. CESRS is being programmed in place of the old Travel net channel in all CAL-FIRE radio equipment and to be used in direct (Car to Car) mode this year.

• Kenwood Mobile TK790 – Group 3 Channel (164 CESRS)
• GPH CMD HT – Group 24 (164 CESRS)
• CESRS direct 153.7550 MHz. (Receive & Transmit)
• CESRS repeat 153.7550 MHz. (Mobile Receive)
• 154.9800 MHz. (Mobile Transmit)

The standard CTCSS tones will be used for the repeater operation on transmit only. CESRS repeater operation will become available as equipment upgrades are completed. Until further notice only direct operation is to be used.

Use of CESRS (both simplex and repeater) is authorized as follows:

1. Authorized use of CESRS is limited to ground resources enroute to/from an incident outside their home unit. This channel will not be used as a tactical net, nor will it be used for routine administrative traffic. Authorized uses are :

1. Emergency vehicle to dispatch communications.

2. Emergency vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

3. Initial contact, recall and/or reassignment of personnel and equipment.

4. Contact channel during long distance travel by overhead, strike team, etc.

5. The purpose of this channel is limited to ground resources enroute to/from an incident outside their home base and not to be used for routine administrative traffic or as a tactical net.

Please note that CESRS is used by several other state agencies (including CCC and DGS Telecom, etc.). The channel should be monitored prior to transmitting and agencies should be courteous to other users.

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Telephone: 916-653-6031 Website: www.fire.ca.gov