EMT-B Chapter 9

base station

any radio hardware containing a transmitter & receiver that is located in a fixed place

cellular telephone

a low-power portable radio that communicates through an interconnected series of repeater stations called "cells"

channel

an assigned frequency or frequencies that are used to carry voice and/or data communications

dedicated line

a special telephone line that is used for specific point-to-point communications;also known as a "hot line"

duplex

the ability to transmit & receive simultaneously

Federal Communications Commission
FCC

the federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate & international telephone & telegraph services & satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity

MED channels

VHF & UHF channels that the FCC has designated exclusively for EMS use

paging

the use of radio signal & voice or digital message that is transmitted to pagers (beepers) or desktop monitor radios

rapport

a trusting relationship that you build with your PT

repeater

a special base station radio that receives messages & signals on one frequency & then automatically retransmits them on a second frequency

scanner

a radio receiver that searches or "scans" across several frequencies until the message is completed; the process is then repeated

simplex

single-frequency radio; transmissions can occur in either direction but not simultaneously in both; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, & the party that is transmitting is unable to receive

standing orders

written documents, signed by the EMS system's medical director, that outline specific directions, permissions & sometimes prohibitions regarding PT care; also called protocols

telemetry

a process in which electronic signals are converted into coded, audible signals; these signals can then be transmitted by radio or telephone to a receiver @ the hospital w/ a decoder

UHF
(ultra-high frequency)

radio frequencies b/w
300-3,000MHz

VHF
(very high frequency)

radio frequencies b/w
30-300MHz;
the VHF spectrum is further divided into "high" & "low" bands