NDF Conventional Shared System Technology Overview

The NDF radio system consists of one frequency pair accessed via different PL tones. There are 36 repeaters and base stations. The Tonopah subgroup of repeaters uses a different repeater pair than the other sites. 5 Daniels repeaters and 5 Motorola repeaters are digital / narrowband capable. The other 26 Daniels repeaters are analog.

The main radios (base stations) are on McClellan Mt. (Reno, Carson City), Angel Peak (Las Vegas), Montezuma Peak (Tonopah), Winnemucca Mt. (Winnemucca), Elko Mt. (Elko), and Cave Mt. (Ely). The main radios are microwaved to the Minden and Elko Dispatch centers. The base stations are able to pick up every repeater. The NDF sites are either located in DoIT shelters, co-located with BLM or USFS sites, or arrangements have been made with private entities.

There are two dispatch centers: The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch in Minden and the Elko Interagency Dispatch Center. Elko dispatch controls the radios in Elko, Humboldt, and White Pine County, Lander and Eureka Counties. Minden has the responsibility for the rest of the NDF radio system in the state. The two dispatch centers are co-located with BLM and USFS. The Interagency Dispatch Center in Elko dispatches for numerous federal, state, and tribal wildland fire agencies and all-risk activities for Elko County for NDF.