1. Tactical Use Of Radios Part 1
How to use your hand-held radio effectively in an emergency
Some of you may have never used a portable 2-way radio before.
Others of you may have learned sloppy radio procedures which could stand gentle correction.
Whether you are “mic shy” or have simply gotten rusty in radio operating procedure and need a refresher in basics, this workshop should be helpful.
Particularly, if you have never used 2-way radio before, these materials will make doing so less intimidating and give you a quick-start to using your radio more effectively in an emergency.
Advancement Module 01
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2. After completing both parts of this module you will be able to:
Objectives:
After completing both parts of this module you will be able to:
Understand the types of radios and licenses
Identify typical radio features and controls
Use correct radio operating procedures
Know standard procedural words, and phonetics
Use your portable radio more effectively during an emergency!
You may bring a radio with you on deployments or be issued a radio by the Dallas Emergency Operations Center. It is crucial that you be ready to operate the radio and use it efficiently to maximize effectiveness of your rescue efforts.
We will teach the basics of radio discipline and operating procedures. If you later use a 2-way radio on a CERT team deployment, please lead by example and teach others these recommended procedures.
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3. KEY ISSUE: SAFETY! Allowing feedback from search teams
Radios enhance situation awareness by:
Allowing feedback from search teams
Helping communicate observations to first responders and command posts
Coordinating re-deployment of resources
Broadcasting weather, environment and other warnings to action teams
Communication about what is going on in an incident is crucial for two purposes: first, it allows the incident command to make decisions about operations and resources; second, information received at incident command allows proper documentation that affects reimbursement of local agencies.
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4. What are some scenarios where radios would be useful?
Do we need radios?
What are some scenarios where radios would be useful?
What are some circumstances when we should not be using radios?
Useful – coordinating search teams, liaison with first responders, when time is important
Should not use – near explosives or explosive vapors
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5. Why don’t we use cell phones, landlines, CB radios, or business radios, responder radios?
Using cell phones and landlines is perfectly OK for some functions:
To connect the CERT team to the Emergency Operations Center
(214)
To activate CERT team members
In an emergency for field operations:
Cell towers may be down or without power
Landlines are not mobile
CB radios do not penetrate structures well
Business radios are restricted by licensing
Responder radios are restricted by law; in some jurisdictions responder radios may be available to CERT for liaison use
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6. TYPES OF RADIO - What is FRS?
The Family Radio Service
No license is required
Radios designed and “Type Accepted” for use in the FRS
Max. transmit power 500mw Short range – “line of sight”
The FCC created FRS as an unlicensed service for use by families and groups. FRS radios operate in the Ultra-High Frequency or UHF band. If you have line of sight to the person you want to talk to, FRS radios will work nicely. If talking within a mile or less of another vehicle and all you want to do is talk to that vehicle, FRS is great. Despite the advertising claims, reliable communication of over a mile using FRS is the exception and not the rule. FRS radios are limited by FCC regulation to 500 milliwatts (½ watt) of transmitter output. This is line-of-sight communication.
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7. TYPES OF RADIO - What is GMRS?
General Mobile Radio Service
An FCC Part 95 Licensed Service for personal and business use by immediate family members
FCC license, 5 years w/Fee, no test is required
More powerful than FRS for longer range.
FRS channels 1 through 7 are shared with GMRS
FRS and GMRS may legally talk to each other on the shared simplex channels.
Licensing is how the FCC makes sure that applicants have selected the right radio service for their need. Radio spectrum is regulated to serve many interests, including business and public safety use. Licensing ensures that an operator of a malfunctioning radio that is causing interference can be identified and advised of malfunctions more easily. GMRS and FRS users can legally talk to each other.
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8. What is a NEXTEL i355 / Direct Talk Radio?
TYPES OF RADIOS
What is a NEXTEL i355 / Direct Talk Radio?
The NEXTEL/Direct Talk radios are former cell phone units that have been decommissioned, but they have a walkie-talkie feature which can still be used. Range is only a mile or two. Dallas has about 60 of them to use during deployments.
Dallas has some ex-cell phones with walkie-talkie features that are just right for CERT deployments.
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9. TYPES OF RADIO - What is Ham Radio?
Ham radio is granted for access to a wide range of radio frequencies available to amateur operators
FCC licensing is required and is obtained through training, passing exams and paying fees
Licenses are good for 10 years
Licensed operators may use substantially more powerful radios that can reach long distances
Communications can use repeaters, digital modes and a variety of special applications including video
Unique call signs are assigned to each licensee
Ham radio or “amateur radio” has a long history of supporting emergency service. Unlike with FRS/GMRS and CB radio, ham radio requires licensing. The tradeoff is that hams have access to more frequencies and more types of service, including digital transmission, video transmission, long distance communication and more.
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10. FCC Part 95
If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license.
If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license.
GMRS radios generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas.
Radios marketed as "FRS/GMRS" or "dual-service radios" are available from many retail or discount stores. Dual service radios can be used on the FRS frequencies without a license, but the higher powered GMRS frequencies require an FCC license.
The FCC grants five-year renewable licenses for GMRS Systems. To apply for a GMRS system license, you may file online through the Universal Licensing System(ULS), or file FCC Form 605 manually.
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11. What are the parts of a radio?
Typical controls include:
On/Off switch, possibly combined with a volume control
Channel or frequency selector
Push-to-talk (PTT) button
Squelch
Other important parts include:
Microphone and speaker (sometimes combined)
Antenna
Battery
While most 2-way radios have similar features, different makes and models of radio vary in their controls and method of operation, but most radios have these features. When you are working with a team using radios, take time to be sure each team member knows the features that you will be using.
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12. Portable Radio “Anatomy”
Power On-Off, Switch
Is combined with volume control on some models
Or “push-button” on others
Portable radios should be turned off before removing the battery pack. Disconnecting the battery from a radio without turning it off first on many models will causes it to lose its memory or “personality.”
The power on switch on some radios may be a push-button, on others it is combined with the volume control.
To use the radio you must first ensure it has batteries or a battery pack installed and turn the radio “on.”
First of all, make sure the radio is “turned on”
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13. Channel Selector Up-Down arrows or a rotating knob
The channel selector on some radios is a set of “up-down” arrows, whereas on others it is a rotary knob with numeric indicators. In order to talk to others on your team, or to the command post, you need to know which radio frequency or “channel” they are on. It’s helpful to have a pre-established plan of suggested channel allocations. We will talk about that.
Your team will be assigned a “primary” working channel for operations. Select the channel which you are assigned in the incident communication plan.
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14. More Portable Radio “Anatomy”
About “privacy codes” – they are a feature on FRS/GMRS radios, but they don’t really insure privacy. If they are “digital” units, they may offer some privacy.
The ex-Nextel radios used by Dallas CERT for deployment are digital and they use a variety of special encoding and transmission methods that DO insure some level of privacy. We’ll get back to this a bit more when we talk about Communication Security.
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15. Example of Channel Assignments for Large Incidents
CH1 Neighborhood Watch liaison to CERT
CH2 CERT Sizeup Team
CH3 CERT Search Teams
CH4 CERT Rescue Teams
CH5 CERT Fire Teams
CH6 CERT Triage and Scribe
CH7 CERT Liaison to Public Safety Responders
In large incidents organized channel assignments are necessary. The FRS radio channels make a good example but other radios have channel arrangements too. The i355 units used by Dallas CERT have channels and privacy codes. Using channels allows people doing different tasks to carry on their work side-by-side without competing for radio time.
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16. Next – tactical radio protocol or, what to say and when to say it
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17. Starting up the radio First things first – turn on the power
Adjust the speaker volume
Next, adjust the squelch
When you are using the radio, it’s best to hold the antenna in a straight up vertical position
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18. A 2-way radio is not “Like a telephone...”
BECAUSE:
Only one person can talk at a time
No one else can speak when YOU have the talk button depressed!
SO…
Controlled nets are necessary because 2-way radio is not like a telephone. You can’t hear anyone else if YOU are talking. Nobody else can hear anybody but YOU when you are talking. If everybody tries to talk at once, NOBODY gets through, which results in chaos. The most important part of using a 2-way radio effectively is LISTENING, not talking!
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19. Speak ONLY if you have to
When Do You Speak?
Speak ONLY if you have to
LISTEN don’t “talk over” others
WAIT until others have finished
THINK about what you will say
USE PLAIN LANGUAGE
KEEP IT SHORT!
If you take nothing else away from this workshop, please remember this:
LISTEN more than you talk.
WAIT until the channel is clear before speaking and speak on the radio ONLY if you have to
THINK about what you are going to say
USE PLAIN LANGUAGE, and
Be BRIEF.
If someone seems to be in charge... Listen to them and do what they say.
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20. Push-To-Talk…PAUSE…talk
Push the “talk” button then wait a couple of seconds before speaking
This avoids chopping off the first couple of words as the radio changes over from its receive state to transmit
Do not speak immediately upon pressing down on the push-to-talk, because your first syllable will probably get “clipped.” That is another reason we teach the use of “This is” before identifying yourself.
Portable radios also have a “battery-save” mode, which means that it takes a fraction of a second to change over from receive to transmit.
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21. 1. Name the unit you are calling 2. Then say the words “THIS IS”
Single Station Call
1. Name the unit you are calling
2. Then say the words “THIS IS”
3. Followed by your Unit name
Optionally, then say “OVER”
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22. Tactical Call Signs
Tactical call signs are used in emergencies and during special events such as marathons, parades, or ceremonies
Tactical call signs pertain to the activity that is being supported, for example:
Water Stop One
Northeast Triage
Driver Fourteen
Mounted Patrol Six
Rescue Team Three
Tactical call signs are used during “back and forth” conversations. Periodically the net control/command unit will identify by FCC call sign. Remote or operational units talking with net control or each other should identify at the end of the conversation.
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23. Single Station Call – Example:
The call “SEARCH TEN, THIS IS COMMAND, OVER” The answer “COMMAND, THIS IS SEARCH TEN” The response “CONTACT MEDICAL ON CHANNEL ONE FOUR, OVER” The acknowledgement “TEN CHANGING TO ONE FOUR FOR CONTACT, SEARCH TEN CLEAR”
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24. Acknowledge Calls To You:
When you hear a call to you,
reply in this format:
“THIS IS” followed by “<your ID>”
This lets the unit calling know that you are ready to receive a message. Here’s an example:
“THIS IS P2 GARAGE, GO AHEAD”
Answering a call to you is just as easy.
Say “THIS IS” followed by your call sign, then acknowledge to the other station you are listening and ready to receive their traffic by using the words “Go ahead.”
This demonstrates the fundamentals:
WAIT
THINK
PLAIN LANGUAGE
KEEP IT BRIEF
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25. When the message is not clear:
CLARIFY:
<REPEAT Critical Information>
CONFIRM:
“correct”
Example:
“You want me to contact Team 7 on channel 3?”
“Correct!”
Use the “echo” technique to confirm and read back critical information.
Ask for clarification, if needed.
Read back critical information EXACTLY as you have written it down
Ask the sender to CONFIRM that you have received and copied it correctly.
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26. Basics for a “controlled net” – be thoughtful!
WAIT to be recognized before speaking Don't send information that must be copied until certain that you have the other's attention ACKNOWLEDGE transmissions to you ‘Control’ then knows you are ready to continue with your assignment, releasing the frequency This avoids having to repeat the message.
Once Control gives you permission to call your station, be sure you have the other person’s attention before blurting out a long string of information.
Acknowledge any calls directed to you, so that the other station knows you are listening and ready to copy.
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27. KEEP IT SIMPLE Answer questions directly; do not explain
Add details, but be brief
Let ‘Control’ or the requestor ask for details
ASK who a message is for if you don't know
Let third parties speak directly to each other
Answer questions simply, using as few words as possible.
If Control or the receiving station wants more detail, they will ask for it. Don’t give long explanations which tie up the channel. If you believe that additional information you have is vital for life, health and safety reasons, be as brief as possible.
If you are on the receiving end of a message and don’t know who should get it, ASK before the other station finishes and maybe leaves the radio.
If it is more expedient to let third parties need to speak directly to each other, then HAND THEM THE RADIO!
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28. Don't speak louder in a noisy environment
If you speak louder than is needed for normal speech, the radio will distort your voice, reducing intelligibility.
It is a natural reaction to speak louder when it is noisy around you, but that makes matters worse.
An earphone is recommended in noisy environments, to help keep the ambient noise level down in crowded areas such as incident command posts where people need to concentrate.
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29. In Noisy Environments Preventive Steps:
Use earphone or headset (if you have one)
Turn down volume - don’t add to noise level!
Shield microphone from the wind
Speak ACROSS the microphone
Use a normal speaking voice
If not using an earphone, turn down your speaker volume so that you don’t add any more to the ambient noise than is absolutely necessary.
When transmitting, speak across the microphone element in a normal voice to minimize distracting breath sounds.
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30. Use Procedural Words Correctly
Using proper key words helps expedite radio messages and reduces copying errors
They are effective ONLY if everyone understands and uses them correctly
There are world-standard radio operating procedures recommended by the International Telecommunication Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The slides which follow describe the minimum, commonly recommended procedural words.
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31. “THIS IS” - Used to identify who is calling
The “Basic Four” Everyone who uses a 2-way radio should learn and use these:
“THIS IS” - Used to identify who is calling
"OVER" - Means “I have finished speaking and it’s now your turn”
“GO AHEAD” - Means “I’m ready to copy”
"OUT" or “CLEAR”- Means - “I am finished and expect no reply’
The station who initiates the call always TERMINATES it.
The basic four opening words that everyone should know are:
“This is,” “Over,” “Go Ahead” and “Out.”
“THIS IS” - is always used when you identify. It makes it clear WHO is INITIATING the contact.
"OVER" - means that you are ready for the other person’s reply and it is their turn to speak
“GO AHEAD” - you are ready for the other person to speak so you can copy their message.
“OUT" - means that you are done and expect no further reply’
The station who initiates the contact should end it.
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32. - Tells everyone the contact has ended.
Procedural Word Recap
“OVER”
- Leaves no doubt whose turn it is…
“OUT”
- Tells everyone the contact has ended.
This is simple.
“OVER” says to the other person it is their turn to speak.
“OUT” means that you are done and no further reply is expected.
It’s considered “bad form” to say “OVER and OUT” together, it’s unnecessary.
Just use one or the other. Use “OVER” when you expect a reply.
Use “OUT” when you don’t, it’s that simple.
No go out and practice, we have a little exercise for you…
Using “Over and Out” together is unnecessary,
use either one or the other.
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33. Communications Security
Voice radio communication is fairly leaky – anyone with a scanner can intercept transmissions
CERT teams may encounter situations with mass casualties, crimes, or security concerns
Radio protocol in such circumstances must protect the privacy of individuals and the security of operations, so what things should we think about?
Patient confidentiality falls within the HIPAA federal regulation. Other Communications Security (COMSEC) considerations are practical security precautions: you don’t want extraneous people converging on an incident scene, whether they are the public at large or media representatives. They may only be curiosity seekers or they may have looting in mind or perhaps be tempted to exploit victims.
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34. Communications Security
Avoid mentioning names of subjects or victims
Avoid “fat fingering” the Push-To-Talk button so that there is an “open mike” when confidential conversations are taking place (if you have a voice-activated mike – don’t have confidential discussions near the radio!)
Avoid mentioning casualty numbers or incident locations
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35. End of first section
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