1. LDS Emergency Communications Specialists’ Course

2. Priesthood Leader’s Responsibility
“Maintain means of emergency communication that will enable local Church leaders to communicate with members and other leaders during an emergency.”
Church Emergency Communication Guidelines (May 2004)

3. Wireless Voice Communications
Cell Phone
Satellite Phone CB
FRS
Amateur Radio
GMRS

4. Cell Phone Shared infrastructure with Telephone (landlines)
When telephones are out, cell phones usually are also
Short range (Cell tower must be relatively close)
Battery life limited
Call volume overload very common in emergencies
Cell phone inexpensive $
“Air Time” usage can get expensive

5. Satellite Phone
Is a telephone that utilizes satellites orbiting the Earth
Assigned a telephone number for incoming calls
Requires a telephone number to dial out
Cannot be used indoors, without outside antenna
Call volume overload possible in a major emergency
Battery life limited
Satellite phones expensive $$$
“Air Time” usage is very expensive

6. CB Citizens Band Radios Been around for years
Radio Equipment: not expensive $$
5 watts legal limit
Range: 4-5 mile range (normally)
40 Channels
Channel 9 – for Emergencies only
FCC license not required
Most conversations not fit for family consumption!

7. FRS Family Radio Service Radio Equipment: Inexpensive $
Millions in use!
Very low power – ½ watt
range (1-2 miles unobstructed)
14 channels
No FCC license required

8. Amateur Radio (‘Hams’)
FCC License and call sign required to transmit on Amateur Radio Bands
Lots of Amateur Radio Frequencies
Power: 1,500 watts on some bands
Range: worldwide on some bands
Wide range of cost for equipment, handheld radio can be relatively inexpensive $$$

9. Amateur Radio Bands (most used bands)
Very High Frequency (VHF) Band
Local Communication
Handheld radios very popular $$
2 meter – most popular Ham band
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Band
440 Mhz – very popular Ham band
High Frequency (HF) Band
Worldwide communication
Base station $$$$
10, 15, 20, 40, 80 meters

10. Written Examination ($15)
Amateur Radio License
Technician Class
Entry level
Written Exam
UHF & VHF bands – local communications
General Class
HF – worldwide communications
Extra Class
All frequencies in the Amateur Radio Bands
** NO More Morse Code requirements **
Written Examination ($15)

11. Emergency Communications Amateur Radio in Action
Hurricane Katrina - September 2005
Northeast blackout - August 2003
Shuttle Columbia recovery effort - February 2003
World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks-September 2001
Hurricane Floyd - September 1999
Oklahoma City Bombing - April 1995
Amateur Radio Operator WTC 2001

12. GMRS General Mobile Radio Service Readily available
Radio equipment: Not very expensive $$
Power:
5 watts max on a Handheld (Portable) Radio
50 watts max on a Base (Mobile) Radio
Range: 5-25 miles (Extended by Repeaters)
Channels
7 shared FRS channels plus…
8 GMRS Repeater channels
FCC License required: $85 for 5 years
Covers the whole extended family

13. Radio Basics Repeaters Duplex vs Simplex Privacy Tones (PL)
Normal Radio Etiquette
Emergency Communications Etiquette
GMRS Call Sign Required
GMRS Net
GMRS Radio (one example)

14. What is a Repeater? A Repeater rebroadcasts the radio signal,
thus increasing the distance you can communicate.

15. Duplex: GMRS Repeaters
CH Listen Freq Talk Freq
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz
MHz MHz

16. Simplex: GMRS & FRS Shared Freq
Channels Listen Freq & Talk Freq
FRS MHz National SOS Channel
FRS MHz
FRS MHz
FRS MHz
FRS MHz
FRS MHz
FRS MHz
(GMRS 5 Watts Allowed )

17. Privacy Tones
Privacy Tones (also called: Privacy Codes, PL, CTCSS or Tone Squelch)
Like an Electronic Filter
You do not hear them
But they can still hear you

18. Privacy Tones Repeater (Duplex) Standardized for LV Valley
PT: Hz on Talk Freq
(Required for Repeaters to Hear You!)
PT: Hz on Listen Freq (Filters out others talking)
FRS Shared Channels (Simplex)
No Privacy Tones – Recommended

19. GMRS Repeater Channel #6
National Calling Frequency
REACT (LVMPD Volunteer Org)
Monitoring
Dispatch REACT personnel
Not for normal chit-chat
Move to another GMRS Repeater Frequency

20. GMRS Repeater Channel #3
Located at LV Bishop’s Storehouse
Can be used for daily radio traffic
During an emergency, for communications between
Local Stakes
Local Bishop’s Storehouse

21. GMRS Repeaters GMRS repeaters are private property
GMRS frequencies are shared frequencies, but repeaters are not 
Use of repeaters is with owners’ permission

22. GMRS Communications Etiquette
Listen before you transmit.
Make sure you aren’t interrupting a conversation.

23. GMRS Communications Etiquette
Do not use the radio to advertise the sale of goods or services.

24. GMRS Communications Etiquette
Use lowest power needed to communicate
FRS (1/2 watt)
GMRS simplex
GMRS repeater

25. GMRS Communications Etiquette
Do not use obscene, indecent, or profane words, language, or meaning.

26. Emergency Communications Etiquette
Good News - You’ll be heard by anyone monitoring the radio frequency! This increases your chances of getting the help you need.
Bad News - You’ll be heard by anyone monitoring the radio frequency! No radio communication is truly private, so don’t broadcast sensitive information.

27. Emergency Communications Etiquette
Use plain language.
Although you may know the meanings of all the “10 codes” and other radio jargon, the folks you’re trying to talk to may not, or they may know a different meaning altogether.

28. Emergency Communications Etiquette
If you must interrupt for a bona fide emergency, say “Break for a medical emergency” or other appropriate language. The other parties should yield the frequency to you or attempt to assist you.

29. GMRS Call Sign Requirement
GMRS requires FCC Call Sign
Every GMRS station must transmit a station identification:
(1) Following the transmission of communications or a series of communications; and
(2) Every 15 minutes during a long transmission.
(FCC code Part )

30. GMRS Net Every Monday night Check-ins start around 7:15 pm
Currently on GMRS Repeater CH #7 ( MHz with a PT Hz)
Great time to test your radio equipment on the GMRS repeaters
Get to know other GMRS operators
Some are with Volunteer Organizations
Some are Amateur Radio operators

31. GMRS Radio Equipment ICOM IC-F21GM Radio 16 channels
8 GMRS Repeater Channels
7 GMRS / FRS shared channels
Channel 16 – Scan all Channels
$130 at Amateur Electronics Supply ( )
Optional:
Extra AA Battery Pack (Strongly Recommended)
Lithium-ion Battery Pack
Headset with Microphone

32. Emergency Communications Amateur Radio Organizations
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (A.R.E.S.)
Skywarn (National Weather Service)
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (R.A.C.E.S.)

33. Em Communications Training
Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL)
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course
Level 1 Certification
ITU Phonetic Alphabet
Go Kits
ICS Command Organization
Message Handling
Various Digital Methods of Radio Communications

34. Emergency Communications Channels

35. Hurricane Katrina & Rita
Response
Amateur Radio (UHF/VHF) local communications
Amateur Radio (HF) regional communications
Communication Centers
Lessons Learned
Satellite Phones (limitations)
Amateur Radio workhorse

36. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. -- Howard Ruff --
Remember . . .
It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. -- Howard Ruff --

37. http://www.aa7i.org LDS Em Communications
More Emergency Communications Resources
LDS Em Communications