1980s: RADIO: MOTOROLA “CENTRACOM” CONSOLE

In the 1980s, Motorola produced the Centracom Base Console for emergency department dispatch offices.

We had this set-up when I first worked for Berkeley (CA) PD. I could select one channel and easily have multiple channels on unselected audio. If I chose to, for certain situations, I could multi-selct and broadcast on multiple frequencies at the same time – but that was only done for specific situations. We used the marker (beeping soudns set to about every 3 seconds) for police emergencies and manually used it when toning out the fire/ems calls. The consoles went away after the department upgraded to digital & computerized systems. I thought it was a shame. I guess I’m just an old-dog. I still believe the sound quality was better before all this digital conversion & narrow-banding mandate kicked in. – dianasprain (2013)

This is Southeast Ohio EMS (SEOEMS) old console. I can still see my name to page me. -paramedic192 (2013)

We used the same console at Eastern PA Medcom for ALS patching into hospitals in our six county region. Also MedEvac flight operations had a duplicate console as well. It was used through the 1980’s into the 1990’s. – wmullin (2014)

Submitted to NEMSM May 2007 by Cygnus Business Publications, additional content by Dianasprain, paramedic192 & wmullin