The International Association of Fire Chiefs Digital Problem Working Group is working to identify the causes and potential solutions for the digital distortion some users of digital radio systems have experienced in high-noise environments.

The working group currently has two task groups working on different aspects of the digital problem. The Testing Task Group is working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to identify scenarios to be tested in an effort to objectively quantify the nature and scope of the problem and potential solutions, and the Best Practices Task Group is working to identify procedural and technical solutions departments may have successfully implemented to address the problem.

The Best Practices Task Group is soliciting input from users of radio systems that use digital modulation. The task group is interested in the steps user agencies have taken to address audio distortion problems they have experienced in high-noise environments. These practices may be procedural, technical adjustments to radio equipment, or specific radio accessories that have been found to work well minimizing or mitigating digital audio distortion

To submit a best practice online, go to www.iafc.org/DigitalProblem and click on the “Submit a best practice” button. Where appropriate, the Best Practices Task Group will forward the practices collected to the Testing Task Group for validation and optimization.