InterceptRadio.com Forums

I'm hearing the automated computer voice(female) for Eastside Fire Dispatch (TG 22384) today. Sounds kinda like Seattle's. I recall reading this was going into effect soon. I guess they have switched over.. :D

She's just a bit faster and omits phrases such as "on channel". I think the faster speed makes here a little bit easier to listen to (since so many people hate the SFD dispatcher). And I've been hearing the dispatcher come on and basically repeat everything on about half the calls...

It still pronounces "Street" as "S-T". I wonder if that is their preference of they'll change that. I believe Seattles is configured to say "Street" and "Avenue".

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Paul
KF7TH

I'm really not a fan of this automated voice during dispatching. First Seattle started using it, now Eastside. My agency is dispatched by Valleycom, and I hope they don't use it either. But with Valleycom replacing their entire CAD system, it could be a posibility.

I have heard that using the automated dispatching makes dispatching faster, because the CAD computer can alert each station (for different calls) simultaneously without having to wait for the primary 800 MHz talkgroup to clear.

For instance, two calls may need dispatching, and traditionally the dispatcher would dispatch them in succession, having to wait for the toning sequence to finish over the air. With automation, the station alerting is controlled over IP lines to each station. This allows the CAD computer to begin the dispatch process without the dispatcher having to do the initiation.

The audio portion is ultimately aired over the 800 MHz talkgroup, but it may have already been broadcast over a stations PA/alerting system. So if you're listening to Seattle Fire Channel 4 and hear multiple calls in a row from Locution and without any breaks, this is exactly what is happening. If the four calls came in at the same time, they all can get dispatched nearly at the same time.

This is the big advantage to voice automation. I don't like the automated voice aspect of it, but if it gets us out the door faster, I can't argue with that.

I've moved to Spokane, so I'm away from this but;
Is there a way for the responding units to talk to a 'real' person? There must be.

:beer:

The big advantage I see is consistency. The audio sounds exactly the same every single time. With human dispatchers, some are louder than others, some quieter. Some faster, some slower. Not with Locution.

Yes - the units usually switch to a response/tactical channel, and are updated by a real person. Locution is just for the initial dispatch and alerting functions.

Brad/N7JGX
Whidbey Island, WA

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Whatever.....

I heard a full response toned out today. Locution had gone through the entire dispatch and cleared by the time the last two tone pair went out on VHF. There's definitely a big improvement in dispatch speed.