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1. round tables work better, 3-4 ft diameter (big enough to keep them apart but small enough to share paperwork)
1a. never have enough space
2. we will have two stations, one covering all usual on site channels, one covering these as backup plus what we will need only in a major disaster, we are debating a on vehcile repeater for the team on site system, problem is it won't help with the locals' channels. Existing units vary from two to four radio positions, plus driver, plus remotes on one piece.
3. not usually, the exisistng county vans carry about 150% in generator capacity than they use normally, fire rescue or light tower trucks are usually available for supplemental
power and last but not least we occaisionally plug in to utility power
4. most of the area rigs carry a coffee pot, some motor home conversions carry a kitchen, we intend to limit the facilities to coffee, small fridge, and a microwave.
4a. OSHA says you have to have one at every work site, but we usually supplement with a contractor, local facilities, or a unit from one of the canteen services.
5. paper maps in tubes, rolled up to avoid creases
6. Arc View is the Commonwealth's current default standard GIS but we have not yet decided for the new rig. Electronic storage and retrieval is nice but if the computer breaks--
Also the topos cost about $7.50 each retail and can be bought as anticiapted (we normally would have about 125 quads or less than $1000 in maps) while the ERM system costs $1200 plus extra fees for 1:24000 Quads because they need multiple CD's
for the coverage area, if they have the coverage of your area.
You also need a workstation with a P166, over 32 meg, 4 meg video, Win 95 and a color printer. You will also need packet radio and GPS gear to fully utilize the system for tracking progress of search teams. And Win95 is not a great way to
run a computer.
7. Most units have the conference area at one end and communications at the other with service facilities in the middle. Most Delaware County rigs are built on motorhomes and have the conference area up front and use the rear for radio.
Montgomery County's uses radio up front and conference in the back. Due to weight and balance considerations we will probably put conference up front and use area for crew transportation to the scene.
8. Copiers vary from Cannon PC type to Xerox desktops. We intend to have a full function black & white unit on board
capable of up to 11x17 output.
9. Cellular in multiples, most units have two or more permanents and the bag phones from the arriving locals add more. Many units have either a wire block or a true PBX that allows interconnection with the PSTN via wire using regular station sets or with the cellular depending on what is plugged in. Satellite is not needed around here but the new rig may have one for trips into the mountains where cellular may be blocked.
10.TV is often present, either installed or battrery sets.
Some of the more elaborate county rigs have DBS for CNN and Weather Channel
11. Montgomery County has data radio back to county computer
via county radio system, others use CDMA or SMR providers.
We plan on CDMA, fax, weatherfax, ETAKS navigator.
12.There is always somebody who doesn't like something--
most of the big rigs are too big, the little ones too small.
irv lichtenstein 215-233-3360 215-233-2343 fax
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new unit under design re your questions 
Mobile Command Posts... Describe yours, Please !
(Robert Long)
