Boston Area Scanning
Information courtesy of Gary Saffer North East Regional Editor for the former Radio Communications Monitoring Association (RCMA) Journal. (garys@gis.net)
BAPERN was originally conceived in the early and mid seventies as a system to allow police departments in the greater Boston area to be able to communicate with each other while at the same time having discrete local operating frequencies. As conceived, it would go beyond the existing Intercity system that only allowed base stations to communicate and would allow mobile and even portable radios from different agencies to communicate directly via a system of district and region wide repeaters. This would allow for joint operations to be coordinated on one set of frequencies as opposed to a patchwork of different bands and frequencies.
In addition to the Local frequencies known as BAPERN 1 there are district and regional frequencies as listed below. A few systems also have a second local operations frequency that may be used for a variety of purposes. BAPERN 3 is the primary Intercity frequency used in the system. Pursuits will often be simulcast on the local channel and BAPERN 3. Also descriptions of wanted persons will be broadcast.
|
BAPERN District |
Freq (MHz) |
PL (Hz) |
|
BAPERN 2 NORTH |
470.4875 |
131.8 |
|
BAPERN 2 WEST |
470.7375 |
131.8 |
|
BAPERN 2 SOUTH |
470.9125 |
131.8 |
|
BAPERN 2 NORTHEAST |
471.7625 |
131.8 |
|
BAPERN 3 |
470.7875 |
131.8 |
|
BAPERN 4 |
470.5625 |
131.8 |
Common Police Jargon
These terms are not universally used, but are very common. They may be used in addition to, or instead of any official codes that the various departments use.
A&B Assault and Battery
ABDW Assault and Battery by means of a Dangerous Weapon
B&E Breaking and Entering
BOP Board of Probation (criminal background check)
DK Drunk
H&W Check on Health and Welfare of person
M&W Missing and Wanted
SP Suspicious Person
WMS Warrant Management Service (A computerized database of active warrants)
209A Domestic abuse restraining order
9&10 Registration and Stolen Check
11&14 License and Wanted Check
Boston EMS is the 9-1-1 provider for the City of Boston. Operated by the Public Health Commission Boston EMS is a third service system. All BLS units are staffed by two EMTs, and two paramedics staff all ALS units. In addition to ALS and BLS units, Boston EMS also operates bicycle units during the warm weather and for special events. Also during the warm weather months EMTs are assigned to Boston Police Department Harbor Patrol boats. Boston EMS also has two Special Operations trucks that are equipped for use at Mass Casualty Incidents or incidents with potential for large numbers of patients.
Boston EMS Radio Channels Channels 1-8 are MED 1-8
CH. Frequency Use Tone
09 462.950 Tactical 151.4
10 462.975 Citywide Dispatch 151.4
11 458.1375 Simplex (portable only) 97.4
12 460.550 Tactical (old TAC 11) 192.8
13 458.0625 Simplex (portable only) 210.7
14 460.525 Secure communication DVP
15 460.525 Channel 14 direct DVP
16 453.775 Radio Shop 156.7
Channels 11 and 13 are received only in mobile units. The Communications Engineering Section uses channel 16.
BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
483.1625 Channel 1 Main Dispatch Channel
483.1875 Channel 2 Primary Fireground
483.2125 Channel 3 Secondary Fireground
483.2375 Channel 4 Administrative, Fire Alarm Maint, Back Up Fireground
453.650 Channel 5 Tone Alerting of Stations, One way only
Tone for Channels 1-4 is 118.8, tone for Channel 5 is 131.8
Boston Fire is also licensed for two 800 MHz channels (867.8625, 868.8625) which are scheduled to be used for MDTs in the future.
BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT DISPOSITION CODES
1. Fire or
Explosion
110 Building and Contents or Building Only
111 Building: Contents Only
112 Building: Rubbish Inside
113 Bridge, Trestle, Overhead Elevated Structure
114 Building: Chimney or Flue
115 Building: Incinerator
116 Pier, Quay, Pilings
117 Tunnel
118 Utility Company Equipment (Manhole, Transformer, Vault)
119 Fire Detail
120 Public Mail Box
121 Fence, Pole
122 Other Outside Fire: Material has definable value
130 Road Transport Vehicle: Passenger
131 Road Transport Vehicle: Transport
132 Rail Transport Vehicle
133 Water Transport Vehicle
134 Air Transport Vehicle
135 Heavy Equipment
136 Special Vehicle
140 Forest, Brush, Grass, or Standing Crops
150 Rubbish, Trash, Waste
151 Dump
152 Dumpster
153 Compactor
154 Catch Basin
160 Explosion, No After Fire
170 Outside Spill, Leak with Ensuing Fire
180 Delayed Ignition of Oil Burner
190 Fire, Explosion not listed above
2. Overpressure
Rupture (No Combustion)
3. Rescue,
EMS Calls
4. Hazardous Condition
5. Service
Call
6. Good Intent Call
7. False Alarm, False Call
8. Natural
Disasters
9. Other situation