How to use your FRS Radio DURING A CERT EVENT Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Club March 4, 2011

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Topics: How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Why Use FRS? What is FRS? So What About GRMS? FRS vs. GRMS Radio Range Radio Anatomy Radio “Channels” CERT Radio Procedures Pro-Words Call Signs Proper Radio Phonics Control of Communications

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Why Use FRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Better than yelling or using tin cans tied together with string Great for short distances Intra-team communication Inter-team coordination Not dependent upon other services Cell phones Repeater systems Radios are cheap and available in many places

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event What is FRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS or Family Radios Service radios are compact, handheld, wireless 2-way radios that provide very good clarity over a relatively short range Operate on any of 14 dedicated channels (1-14) designated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) expressly for FRS radio use To comply with FCC standards, FRS radios have a maximum allowable power of 0.5 watt (or 1/2 watt) FRS radio transceivers and their antennas may not be modified to extend their range

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event So What is GMRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service radios operate on any of up to 8 dedicated channels (15-22) designated by the FCC GMRS radios typically have power ratings of 1.0 to 5.0 watts and have a maximum allowable power of 50 watts.

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS vs. GMRS How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS use does NOT require a license to operate GMRS use requires you to have an FCC operator’s license GMRS radios generally achieve greater ranges than FRS radios While FRS radios may not legally be altered, GMRS radios may legally be outfitted or retrofitted

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS vs. GMRS How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS/GMRS 2-way radios are simply dual-service, or "hybrid," radios that provide access to both the FRS and GMRS bands, utilizing FRS channels (1-14) and GMRS channels (15-22) Use of a dual-service radio’s GMRS bands requires an FCC operator’s license* Dual-service radios may be used without an operator’s license, ONLY IF the FRS channels are used * Note that a GMRS license can only be shared by FAMILY MEMBERS.

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Range How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event FRS: Stated as "up to 2 miles" Realistically achieved under optimal conditions Actual range: ¼ to 1 mile Channels: 1-14 GMRS: Typically greater range than FRS radios Specified by manufacturers as "up to 5 miles" or more Actual range: 1-2 miles Channels: 1-22 (Channels 1-14 shared w/ FRS) FRS/GMRS dual-service radio: Essentially the same as those stated above, for each of their respective bands

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Different makes and models of radios vary, so… READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!! BECOME FAMILIAR with the controls on YOUR radio!

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Power Supply Commonly use AA or AAA alkaline or a rechargeable battery pack Make sure the pack is charged Always carry spare batteries!

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Power On-Off, Switch Combined with volume control on some models Or “push-button” on others

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event “Push-To-Talk” (PTT) Switch PUSH to TALK Let go to LISTEN LISTEN more than you talk! If somebody seems in control of things on the air, LISTEN to them!

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Channel Selector Selects assigned “channel” Chosen by IC Found on Communications Plan “Up-Down” arrows Rotating “knob”

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Radio “Channels” How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Assigned by CERT IC per Communications Annex/Plan “Sub-channels” Actually are CTCSS* codes (38 available codes) FRS Radios have 532 available “Channels” 14 channels x 38 possible CTCSS codes per channel Sometimes called “Privacy Codes” Does not block or scramble that “channel” Others can listen in or even use the same “channel” Should be able to find a clear “channel” to use under most crowded conditions * Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event A RADIO IS NOT LIKE A TELEPHONE You can’t hear anyone if YOU are talking No one else can speak when YOU talk If EVERYONE talks, NOBODY understands Results in CHAOS During an operation/event, needless conversations should be kept to a minimum

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event How To Talk On The Radio Speak when spoken to (called) LISTEN – don’t talk over others Wait until others have finished Think about what you will say before you say it Use plain language Keep it short and to the point Wait a fraction of a second after pushing the PTT button before you start talking Use “Pro-words” effectively LISTEN

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event ANSWERING A CALL (Calling Station), This is (your ID) Go Ahead You acknowledge who called you You confirm to calling station that you are the one that they want to talk to You tell the calling station that you are ready to receive what they are about to transmit to you

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CALLING ANOTHER STATION (Station to be called), This is (your ID) Wait until the frequency is clear (nobody else is talking) Tells everyone on frequency who you want to talk to Identifies to everyone on frequency who made the call

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Good Radio Operating Practices Answer questions directly; no long explainations Don’t speak louder in a noisy environment It will only distort your voice, making it harder to understand Shield microphone Speak ACROSS the microphone Use Pro-Words properly Expedites communications They are NOT 10-codes or other types of jargon

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Pro-Words How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Procedural Words (Pro-Words) THIS IS: Identifies who the station is OVER: You have finished speaking and it’s the other stations turn to talk. Leaves no doubt who’s turn it is to speak GO AHEAD: Ready to copy or listen OUT: Finished with conversation and expect no reply COPY: Understand SAY AGAIN: Repeat the last transmission AFFIRMATIVE or NEGATIVE: Used in place of “Yes” or “No” because the sound is distinctive and their meaning is clear

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Pro-Words How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Procedural Words (Pro-Words) CORRECTION: Error was made and the correct information follows STAND-BY: Self-explanitory

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event WHAT’S MY CALL SIGN? It depends… CERT uses different types of Call Signs Call Signs are assigned by CERT Command Commonly determined by operating event Strike Team numbers Operating Initials Location ID

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event STRIKE TEAM NUMBERS Commonly used during an incident / emergency operations Easy to identify teams of individuals Easy for CERT Command to track

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event OPERATING INITIALS Identifies individual Typical Combinations Used: First letter of first and last name (e.g. DN) First and last letter of last name (e.g. VR) Commonly known initials (e.g. TJ) May use any of the combinations, providing the combination is not already in use MAKE SURE TEAM LEADER AND/OR CERT COMMAND KNOW YOUR INITIALS!

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event LOCATION Commonly used during an event Easy to identify where CERT teams are assigned Don’t have to know who is at the particular location Easiest for CERT Command to track

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Proper Radio Phonics How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event MAKES SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS Numbers: Spell them out 100 becomes “one zero zero” 75 becomes “seven five” Letters: Use phonetic alphabet Improves understandability “A” becomes “alpha” “B” becomes “bravo” Time: Use 24-hour or “military” time 12:00 a.m. becomes “twenty four hundred hours” 2: 15 p.m. becomes “fourteen fifteen hours” Proper phonetics found in “Communications” section on CERT website

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event WHO’S IN CHARGE? In communications between a portable/mobile unit and a fixed location (such as a command post), the FIXED station controls the communications (a.k.a. “Controlled Net”) Located with CERT IC (CERT IC may even be Net Control) Prioritize resources Quickly handle multiple situations Co-located with served agencies Able to log radio communications if necessary

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CONTROLLED NET PRACTICES Net Control is in charge of the frequency Respond only to Net Control Get permission from Net Control before calling another station/team Answer promptly Monitor radio continuously Answer immediately when called Don’t “leave the air” without checking out Wastes time trying to locate Wastes resources in thinking something may have happened to you

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event CONTROLLED NET PRACTICES Interrupt only if you have urgent information That’s why you leave short gaps in between transmissions When interrupting, speak only long enough to identify and say why you need to interrupt Emergencies supersede all other transmissions!!!

How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event In Conclusion… How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Remember… Act Professional – people ARE listening! Correct bad or improper radio discipline by others Make a good radio communications a habit Questions?