Short definitions for the words you will see on the map and in the incident tools. Search the box at the top if you would rather type than skim. Each entry points to the page that talks it through.
3
3D terrain
The 3D square under the basemap picker is a viewing mode, not a globe. Right-drag or Ctrl-drag to pitch, spin to look along a ridge, and hover the button for Reset tilt. Hills are true scale. A compass under 3D turns the view north-up without flattening the tilt. Whatever is checked in Overlays — coverage, fires, TFRs, routes, access, placement, sites, ops, POIs, and field tests — sits on the hills. Site-link hops go straight through the air from pin to pin (dots when a plan site is involved, dashes when both ends are live). Measure, Profile, Compare, and dropping points stay on the flat map.
A
Access route
Tap the car icon on a site card. Pick a start and Find routes. You get a last-mile verdict (on the road, short gap, 4WD, or hike) and any drives the map actually knows. Forest and ranch roads are often missing. Save the line you want. This is travel, not Analysis → Route coverage, and not Admin → Access.
C
Combined coverage
When two or more coverage maps are loaded, Overlays can build a combined picture that keeps the strongest signal at each spot. The individual site shades hide so you can read the union first; turn them back on if you want to stack.
Compare (swipe)
The Compare control on the map workspace lets you pick a left and right coverage (or the combined map) and drag a vertical bar. Selected maps reset to 100% opacity. Click-inspect reports only the side you click. Click Compare again to leave — both compared maps hide so they do not stay stacked.
Coverage map
A coverage run asks: if this site transmits on the chosen band, where does a handheld, mobile, or other receiver still have usable fade? Results save on the incident and paint when you open them from Results.
Custody vs condition
Checking something out marks it as out. Condition (serviceable, damaged, lost, maintenance, demobed) is a separate call you make with a short note. Damaged and lost items cannot be issued.
D
Deygout
Use Faster — Generalized (Deygout) when you are iterating pads or need a briefing sketch. Site-to-site links still use ITM. Default coverage is the slower ITM engine.
F
Fade (available fade)
Green on a coverage map is comfortable fade (about 10 dB and up). Yellow or amber is still above threshold. Purple (or clear mode via the dBm key) is below — clear mode keeps a light fringe tint a few dB under the tick, then blanks. That 10 dB is a planning comfort target, not a paint cutoff.
Field Recorder
Open Field Recorder from the nav when you can edit testing. Load it once with signal, then save ratings as you drive. Points sync into Mapping → Testing when you reconnect.
Field Report
Share the 6-character Field Report code, direct link, or QR from Testing. Codes are case-insensitive. Reports land in a review queue. Accept copies them onto the Testing map; Reject drops them.
I
ICP
Fill the ICP on Overview (name, address, or coordinates). When it has a point, Mapping shows it as the standard ICP marker, separate from any extra ICP symbols you drop as POIs.
ICS-205 / I-217
Keep authorized channels on I-217, then promote what the incident is actually using into an I-205 zone. You can run more than one zone. Export is the official FEMA/NWCG form.
Irwin ID
When you look up or import a fire, the Irwin ID is stored in the background. Mapping can then fetch and refresh that fire’s outline without you searching again.
ITM (Longley-Rice)
Slower — Higher Accuracy (ITM) is the default coverage engine and the only engine for site-to-site links. Reach for it when you want a Radio Mobile–style planning map. Deygout is the quick alternative.
IWI
The large IWI toggle on the Operator radio log starts a short cancel window, then posts to every Ready integration and to roster IWI notifiers. Live view shows the same banner and timer.
J
Join request
Open Incidents on the Dashboard lists Live fires you do not have yet. Join sends a request to the owner and anyone with Accept join requests. They approve you into a group (Viewer unless they pick another) or decline with an optional note.
L
Link analysis
Pick Site A and Site B on Analysis. The reported margin is the worse of the two directions, because a repeater pair has to work both ways. Ratings run from Excellent through Blocked.
Live vs Plan site
A site linked to an incident kit, or set to Active / none, draws as a live (blue) pin. Planning / none draws amber. Favorites get a green diamond stroke. Hide removes the pin from the map without deleting the site.
M
Mapping-only incident
New incidents start this way. Sites, coverage, and frequencies on the map still work. Admin → Modules is where you turn on Inventory, Batteries, People, and the rest when the assignment needs them.
Measure
Measure sits in the map workspace header. Click two points for a dashed line and a midpoint distance in your preferred units. Drag to pan without placing a point. Clear removes it.
P
Permission group
Owners keep a reusable library of groups. Editor can do day-to-day ops; Viewer is mostly look. Incident Admin is the group that can invite, accept join requests, and change members — it is not a platform role.
Point check
Use this for ICP, a helibase, a spike, or “will Division hear Command from here?” without painting a full coverage map. Buildings near the pin can change the answer. Results open on the Link workspace.
Profile (terrain)
Profile on the map workspace previews ground height as you move the mouse, then locks a detailed strip when you click the end. Link and point-check results also have a zoomable elevation chart tied to the path mini-map.
R
Reliability
Higher reliability shrinks the yellow fringe. Standard (90%) is the usual planning pick. It does not replace field checks.
Route coverage
Draw the path crews actually drive or walk and run the analysis. A 200 ft ribbon under the line colors by link margin. You get a percent covered and can save it with the other results. For a truck path to the pad, use the car icon on the site card — that is Access route, not this tool.
S
S #
S # is how cache tracks the order. Serial is what is stamped on the device. Kit #, Unit ID, or Phone # is the operational id for that type of gear.
T
TFR
Overlays → TFR paints current restrictions from the FAA, not a saved incident layer. It loads only what sits near the window you are looking at. Click a red outline for the NOTAM and a link to tfr.faa.gov. Planning aid only — confirm there before flight.
Z
ZoneMap
Publish from Frequencies when the lineup is ready. Viewers can see a published code. If the card says Not configured, ask your system admin — the rest of Frequencies still works.