Common Questions

Setting up an MCFRS Active911 Account

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Would you like to set up an Active911 account with MCFRS? The process is simple, but some people need clarification. To make things easier on everyone involved, here is what you need to know:

  • Ensure you have met the prerequisite: You are either on the IECS list or you are serving in an admin role and have the permission of a chief within MCFRS.
  • Submit a TSR:
    • Ensure you choose the proper category: Messaging
    • Provide your phone type (just tell us Android or iPhone, please) if you do not have an Active911 account elsewhere
    • Provide your device code if you do have an account elsewhere
  • Look for the closed TSR ticket notification. In that message, the tech will provide you with a device code. You will need that.
  • Download and open the Active911 app for your phone/tablet.
  • Find and click the Pay Individual Subscription button, located below the username and password boxes when you launch the app.

    Active911 Pay Button

  • Enter the Device Code in the Device Code box and click the Next button. Set up your payment and login information.

    Active911 Pay Setup Screen

    Note: If you do not pay for your subscription within a couple weeks, you will be in danger of having it deleted. In order to keep the database clean, users who have not subscribed are warned in a monthly e-mail message that accounts will be deleted by a date noted in the message.

Answering Some 800 MHz Radio (Model 8000) Questions

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

With the May 2023 rollout of the model 8000 radio, some field personnel have been asking questions. Here are answers to the common questions:

  • The Wi-Fi symbol will be starting to appear on radios as the Wi-Fi system is turned on at stations.  It is the symbol above the C in MCFRS and below the Z scan symbol. The only purpose of the Wi-Fi is for radio programming. (No, you cannot connect your phone to the radio and surf the web.)

    800 MHz Portable Radio Model 8000 Interface

  • The satellite symbol between the Bluetooth and H indicates GPS lock. If it is flashing, it does NOT have GPS reception like when in a building.
  • The H indicates the channel or talkgroup is transmitting in high power. There are some channels by regulation that must transmit in low power and those will display an L.
  • The 3 dot button on the face of the new RSMs is unused right now and does nothing

Avoiding Losing Your MDC Touchpad

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

With a common keystroke mistake, MDC users (with the Panasonic FZ-55) are disabling their touchpads while trying to lower screen brightness. If this happens to you, press the FN and ESC keys.

  • Fn-Esc is a toggle to turn off and on the touchpad.
  • Fn-F1 reduces the brightness.
  • Fn-F2 increases the brightness.

There is no way for MCFRS IT to disable the Fn-Esc toggle, so you are advised to try this keystroke if you suddenly lose your touchpad capabilities.

MDC Esc and F1 keys

800 MHz Radio Model 8000 FAQ

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

In 2023, the 800 MHz Radio Model APX8000XE will replace the APX6000XE and APX7000XE portable radios. Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and information you need to know.

What is new about the 8000 portable radio?

  • All users — regardless of riding position — will now have access to VHF resources (e.g., 7V1, 7V2, etc.) and UHF backup med channels. As such, there will be no difference between the officer and firefighter radios.
  • New UHF zones: EMRC, MA41 and MA42
  • DC fire zones are updated. While that doesn’t match the rest of the fleet, differences do not affect fireground talkgroups.
  • You will receive a new remote speaker microphone. While it looks a lot like the previous model, the new version has better audio capability and does a better job of suppressing extraneous background noise.

Is there a new fleetmap?

How will I know which radio I have?

  • Model 6000 and 7000 radios each have a white sticker with black printing to identify the radio.
    Old Radio Sticker
  • Model 8000 radios each have a black sticker with white printing to identify the radio.
    New radio sticker

What about the batteries — are they different?

  • Model 6000 and 7000 batteries are each black with a green dot on the bottom, and a white label with green printing.
    Old battery bottomOld battery side
  • Model 8000 batteries are each white on the bottom and a black/white label.
    New batter bottomNew battery side
  • The model 8000 battery’s capacity is greater than the old battery’s capacity.
  • The model 8000 battery is intrinsically safe, rated through UL (Underwriter Laboratories).
  • The old batteries with the green dots are not compatible with the new radios and will need to be returned to TechOps once your station’s radios have been replaced.
  • Note: If you use the wrong battery in the model 8000 radio, you will get a message that you are using the wrong battery.

Are the Station Battery Multi-Unit Chargers (MUCs) different?

  • Model 6000 and 7000 chargers looked like this:
    Old radio gang charger
  • Model 8000 chargers look like this:
    New radio gang charger
  • If you come across an older style charger, please submit a TSR for radio equipment with the location of the old charger and a good point of contact to assist us in swapping it out.

What’s the plan for deployment?

  • We will swap out whole battalions at a time.
  • This is a one-for-one swap as the old and new radio IDs for the riding positions must match.
  • As we swap out radios by battalion, the loaners in the BC vehicles will be changed. If you get loaners from BCs other than your home battalion BC, they may have different radios/batteries than yours. Please get a loaner from your home battalion.
  • Volunteers will be asked to have their portable radios at their respective stations when those stations are scheduled for radio swap. People failing to switch out radios in a reasonable timeframe will have their radios turned off. Please do your part and, if you are unable to meet the exact timeframes, please communicate with Tech Ops.

How do I find out more information?

  • If you have specific questions, please submit a TSR and someone from Tech Ops will follow up with you.

 

 

Marking a Sender as Safe in Outlook Web (OWA)

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Do you get an e-mail message from someone and see that it has been going to Spam/Junk? Would you prefer to have it stay in your inbox? We need to mark the sender as safe. While there are multiple ways, here is one:

  • Find the message from someone you would like to mark as safe.
  • Find the e-mail address in the message preview and drag your mouse over it to select the full address.
  • Copy the address (or write it down with pen and paper for later recall).
  • Find and click the Settings button, located at the top-right corner of the screen.

    Outlook Settings Cog

  • Type the word block in the settings input box and then click the Blocked Senders and Domains search result that appears.

    OWA Junk Block Search

  • Find the section called Safe Senders and Domains and click the + Add button. An input box will appear.
  • Paste the address you copied earlier (or type it manually, if you simply wrote it down).
  • Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  • Click the Save button at the bottom-right corner of the window.

Getting Started with a New County Account

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Were you just assigned a new MCG account? The following TechTips/links may help you:

If you have any questions or need troubleshooting, please submit a Technology Service Request (TSR) and someone from FRS Technology will contact you.

Adding an Alternate E-Mail Address or Cell Number for MFA

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Do you prefer not to use your MFA key fob when you need to access county e-mail or ePortal? You may opt to use a personal e-mail address or cell number to receive a multi-factor authentication code.

  • Log into ePortal.
  • Hover over the words AccessMCG Self-Service, located at the top-right corner of the screen.
    AccessMCG Menu Link
  • Choose Manage Account.
  • Log into ePortal again, as prompted.
  • Find and click Setup Alternate Phone/Email/App Contacts.
    MFA Option to Add E-Mail or Phone
  • Input an MFA code, if you receive one to an existing (pre-setup) location.
  • Add your personal e-mail address and/or cell phone number. When you add one, click the Save button and input the code that is sent to that location, to finalize the connection between ePortal and the account/device.
  • Click the Continue button.
  • Click the Logout link at the bottom of the list of links.