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James’ system is interesting from the point of view that in Scotland, they’ve not used low band and never did have as many channels as we in
the Lakes ended up with. As he points out in the accompanying emails, getting his colleagues to change channels is not as easy as we will find
it as it has no historical precedent. As such, his system is very much geared to no one having to change channel but the method operation is
not something we’re used to. Having now had it explained to me, it’s a perfectly viable system. Just one that we don’t happen to use down
here.
This works in the Borders but might be strange to us just as our system(s) would take some explaining to James’ colleagues. It goes to show
just how much of a difference can exist but then again, having worked for many years with Lakes MRT’s, I already know that!
James’ system is no less workable than any we’ve come up with, the critical factor for them all is that there has to be an access point for an
‘outside’ team or agency. We’re none of us quite at that stage just yet and in practice, probably only time will tell whether we are all going to
be compatible on a major incident.
What will be more critical before then but wasn’t intended to be a topic covered by this document, is that we at least all understand the differ-
ences in teams who have adopted the new systems in slightly differing ways.
This is one of the reasons that Tom considers monitoring of the ECC so important and it has to be said that having now seen examples of
communications methods from teams spread over a not insignificant portion of the UK, I think he may well be right! My own team, Kendal,
has a repeater that works but is not available to Langdale team whom we regularly support due to technical problems not easy to get round.
We will got over all the hurdles and any team’s major priority is it’s own area and casualties. No one is about to dictate how you go about that
because you’ve all been doing it for enough time now to know if you’re doing it right!
All we can ask is that an open mind is kept on the ideas of all and that these ideas are not kept from others who might benefit from them.
Now that IS the purpose of this document!!
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