QUINEBAUG VALLEY
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

QVEC Radio Signal List - OLD
REPLACED BY PLAIN LANGUAGE

Explanations

23-EMERGENCY, MEDICAL
A.  To be broadcast by the Base Station, upon receipt of good information that a medical emergency exists.   
B.  This signal requests priority use of the frequency.  Routine transmissions must be held until the frequency is cleared.  
C.  Routine apparatus and ambulance calls will not receive a Signal 23.   
Examples:  Transfers, lift assists, Routine R-2 only calls.  
D.  Signal to be given as:  "Q.V. to all stations Signal 23 ...(give company name, type of call, location)

25-WEATHER WARNING  
A.  Signal to be broadcast by the Base Station upon receipt of good information that a severe weather condition exists, or may exist within a reasonable period of time.  This signal is to include, but is not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, very severe thunderstorms or very severe winter weather conditions.  The less frequently it is used, the more impact the signal will have when needed.

44-WEAPONS INVOLVED  
A.  This signal is to be used for a situation in which weapons are involved or a scene is not yet secured by State or local Police.  Units should report to their station to await further instructions.

50-NOTICE OF FIRE  
A.  To be broadcast by the Base Station upon receipt of good information that a fire exists.   
B.  This signal requests priority use of the frequency.  Routine transmissions must be held until the frequency is cleared. 
C.  Routine service calls or investigations will not receive a Signal 50.   
Examples:  Stand by at a motor vehicle accident, smoke investigations, power lines down (not burning) etc.  
D.  Hazardous Material Incidents will receive a Signal 50.  
E.  Signal to be given as:  "Q.V. to all stations, Signal 50...(give company name, type of call, location).

51-REPORT TO YOUR STATION  
A.  To be broadcast by the base station, upon request of a fire officer.  Signal may also be broadcast by a department mobile unit.  It is to be used sparingly and for legitimate reasons only.  
B.  No reason for the signal need be broadcast.  The use of this signal is to secure manpower at a given company station, to carry out normal department functions.  This signal is not intended for securing manpower for meetings, drills, fund raising events, etc.  
C.  Signal to be given as:  "Q.V. to the ..(department), Signal 51.

52-OFF THE AIR 
 A.  To be given to the base station when the unit is off the air at its home location, or in cases when the unit expects to remain off the air at some other destination (specify location).  It is recommended that individual departments use their station phone in place of radios when signing off in station.

53-ON THE AIR/RESPONDING
A. To be given to the Base Station when a piece of apparatus or chief officer is signing on the air.  Each piece of apparatus will give an on the air/responding whenever it leaves the station.  Chief officers are expected to sign on the air when responding to an alarm or such other times as a chief of a department may deem necessary.  Units should refrain from using an on the air/responding for drills, parades, gas runs, driver training etc.  Other officers of a given department will sign on the air as responding.  
B.  Signal to be given as:  "Q.V. this is (call letter), on the air/responding.  
C.  Response to be:  (call sign), on the air/responding.  

54-UNDER CONTROL  
A.  To be given to the base station by the officer in charge of a given Signal 23 or Signal 50 emergency incident at such time as the situation is under control.  
B.  Signal to be given as:  "Q.V. this is (call sign), under control."  
Give road name as an identifier if more than one signal 23 or 50 exists at the same time.  
C.  Base Station response to be:  (call sign), Signal 54 under control on (give type of call and if needed, location)

59-CALL BY PHONE  
A.  This signal is to be used by the base station or mobile unit to other units, requesting that the individual being called, use the telephone to reach a certain party.  
B.  Signal to be given as:  (call sign of designation), Signal 59 your (unit destination).

60-CHANGE FREQUENCY  
A.  To be used as a signal between base station and mobile units, or from mobile to mobile, to change from one frequency to another.   
B.  Signal to be given as:  (call sign), This is (call sign), Signal 60 to (last two digits of frequency).  
C.  No response is necessary to this signal.  Both units will change frequency following the initial transmission.

62-CALL MUTUAL AID (not a base station signal)  
A.  This signal is to be used by an officer or from a piece of apparatus to the Base Station requesting mutual aid.  The caller may request a specific unit or entire company to be dispatched.  If no specific request is made, the dispatcher will refer to the alarm list or pre-plan for the appropriate departments.

63-ON THE SCENE  
A.  The intent of this signal is to allow the base station an units responding to know the arrival of the first apparatus an first officer or chief, if he so desires.  Upon arrival, the first unit may give a brief description of the situation as he sees it at the time.  Examples:  Nothing showing, smoke showing, fully involved.  No base station response is necessary after the first unit is answered.

64-MAKE INSPECTION AT  
A.  This signal is to be used for incidents requiring an inspection or investigation by a fire officer or department member but do not constitute a Signal 23 or 50.  Situations may include:  Service calls, trouble alarms, smoke/CO detector activations/malfunctions without medical or fire related emergencies, and the like.

69-SPECIAL CALL APPARATUS  
This signal may be used when a department or officer requests a specific piece(s) of apparatus be dispatched to an incident in place of an entire company response.

70-REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS OR SPECIAL MESSAGE  
A.  This signal is to be used by units in the field to the base station or to other units requesting special instructions.  It may also be used at the request of a department chief officer to broadcast a special message over the air to the department.  Messages should not be for routine fire department functions or events.

71-RETURNING TO STATION  
A.  This signal is to be used at the discretion of the department chief to inform the Base Station that apparatus is returning to its station.  It is recommended that units group whenever possible and use one signal 71returning.

79-GIVE YOUR LOCATION  
A.  This signal is to be used to ascertain the location of a given unit.  Response should be thought out and given as briefly and clearly as possible.

80-ALL CLEAR  
A.  To be given as soon as reasonable possible following receipt of a signal 54 on any given 23 or 50.  This signal clears the frequency from the priority use request, which was initiated by the signal 23 or 50.   
B.  Signal to be given as:  Q.V. to all stations Signal 80 on (company name and signal cleared), KXV431.  
C.  The F.C.C. identifier (KXV431) will be given only following a Signal 80 in compliance with F.C.C. regulation 89.153.

83-PROCEED WITH CAUTION (specify)  
A.  Signal intention is self explanatory.  Specify if due to hazardous road conditions or to respond with traffic due to non-emergency.  

85-RADIO TEST  
A.  This signal is designed for the occasional maintenance tests of radio sets.  The Base Station should be called first to see if the frequency is clear for the test.  The base station should indicate if transmissions are less than desirable.

88-CHECK STATION FOR MESSAGE
A.  This signal is intended to inform a company that members should check their station for an important message.  Use of this signal will eliminate the need for lengthy routine messages to be given out over the air.
B.  Signal to be given as:  Q.V. to the (name of dept.) Signal 88.

90-SILENCE
A.  This signal is intended as a very firm and last resort measure to quiet the frequency.  It can be requested by a mobile unit but will be given by and at the discretion of the Base Station operator.  Following a Signal 90, all units (even those operating on a Signal 23 or 50) will observe air silence except for communications of the utmost importance, until such a time as the emergencies necessitating the signal 90 have been taken care of.

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