Tamarac Radio Communication For

1. Tamarac Radio CommunicationFor

6. FRS vs. GMRS While most 2-way radios have similar features, different makes and models of radio vary in their controls and method of operation. FRS portables are simple and their controls are for the most part, intuitive. Public safety, business, GMRS and amateur or “ham” radios have more and different functions which can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with them. So you need to READ THE MANUAL and become familiar with the features on YOUR radio

7. BASIC RADIO CONTROLS 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.”

8. Channel Selector 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. Your team will be assigned a “primary” working channel for operations. Select the channel which you are assigned in the incident communication plan.

9. Channel Assignments In large incidents organized channel assignments are necessary. (suggested) Channels 1 - 7 Shared with the General Mobile Radio Service Higher-power radios for longer range communications between Group Leaders and the CERT Team Leader, or between Team and Incident Command Post. Channels 8 - 14 Intra-team communications. Search and Rescue operations Inter-team communications Channels 15 – 22 Recommended incident channels for official only. All FRS radios have at least Channel 1. So in most cases we wouldn’t use FRS1 for CERT operations, but would use it to contact our neighbors to see who needs help.

10. Using the Radio Adjust the volume control until you can hear other users. If no one is on the air, you can open the “squelch” control until you hear “white noise” and adjust the volume from that. When the squelch is wide open you will hear a loud, hissing white noise. On some radios the squelch control is a separate knob. On others, it may be a concentric ring under the volume control. After you have adjusted the speaker volume to a level which you can hear, close the squelch control gradually until the noise just disappears.

11. Using the Radio The two-way radios we use for CERT all use a “Push To Talk” or “PTT” switch. You push to talk … release to listen. Please LISTEN more than you talk. If somebody seems to be in control, listen to and follow their instructions. It’s that simple.

12. Batteries To have reliable communications, you must have fresh batteries in the radio. If the batteries are old or depleted, you may be able to listen but you won’t be able to talk because it takes more current for the radio to transmit. It’s a good idea when storing your CERT gear to first turn off your radio, then remove and either replace or recharge the batteries. Always carry fresh batteries for your radio and at least one set of spares or an extra battery pack.

13. Using the Radio Most radios have fixed antenna. If your radio has a folding or telescoping antenna, ensure it is rotated vertical and fully extended. Hold your radio vertically at face level. This is especially true with low powered FRS radios.

14. Radio Etiquette 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, this results in chaos. The most important part of using a 2-way radio effectively is LISTENING, not talking!

15. “Clipping” Do not speak immediately upon pressing down on the push-to-talk, because your first syllable will probably get “clipped.” We use the “pro” words such as “This is” to help eliminate “the clipping” at the beginning of a message. 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.

16. Doing a Simple Radio Check The radio check consists of: Call: “THIS IS (unit ID) CERT TEAM ONE, RADIO CHECK, TESTING 1,2,3,4,5, HOW DO YOU COPY? OVER.” Response: “THIS IS OPERATIONS LEADER, I READ YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, OVER.” Response: “CERT TEAM ONE, OUT.”

17. Different Radio Test Responses LOUD AND CLEAR = Excellent, copy with no noise. GOOD READABLE = Good, copy with slight noise. FAIR READABLE = Fair, copy with occasional repeats as needed. WEAK READABLE = Weak, copy with frequent repeats as needed. WEAK UNREADABLE = Unable to copy…. You may have to relay your messages via another CERT team or member.

18. Important Things to Report Remember to do your site assessment, your 360, your walk around. Report your location accurately, give address, name of location, floor you are on, side of building, N, S, E, W, what has happened, and the condition 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.

19. CAUTIONS Radio use on searches requires caution, be careful you don’t use the radio to distract you from hazards in your environment. Designate one team member to operate the radio. Don’t use the radio when busy with the tasks which require your full attention. STOP - what you are doing, then, when in a safe place. OBSERVE - your situation. Is it SAFE to transmit? Sniff for gases and odors. You may have to leave the area before you transmit. THINK - about what needs to be communicated PLAN - what you are going to say, and make your call.

20. Example Call The call: “CERT TEN, THIS IS COMMAND, OVER.” The answer: “THIS IS CERT TEN, GO AHEAD.” The response: “CONTACT MEDICAL ON CHANNEL ONE FOUR, OVER.” The acknowledgement: “CERT TEN CHANGING TO ONE FOUR FOR CONTACT, OUT.”

21. Confirm Information Use the “echo” technique to confirm and read back critical information. Ask for clarification if needed. Read back critical information EXACTLY as you have heard it. Ask the sender to CONFIRM that you have received and copied it correctly. Be sure you have the other person’s attention before blurting out a long string of information. Acknowledge any calls directed to you. Answer questions simply, using as few words as possible. Don’t tie up the channel! If it is more expedient to let third parties to speak directly to each other, then HAND THEM THE RADIO !

22. Use of Phonetics In some situations the use of PHONETICS may be needed in order to express certain letters over the air that are difficult to understand. Example: ALPHA for A, BRAVO for B, CHARLIE for C, DELTA for D, Etc. etc. Try not to get carried away with this type of communicating, only use when needed. Try to use numbers with clarity … e.g. TWELVE may be expressed as ONE, TWO. Use the military clock standard as much as possible.

23. “PRO” WORDS GOOD TO USE “THIS IS” “OVER” “GO AHEAD” “OUT” “SAY AGAIN” “AFFIRMATIVE” for YES “’NEGATIVE” for NO “COPY” is the same as OK or ROGER It is considered “bad form” to say “OVER and OUT”

24. A.S.A.P. A is for ACCURATE: precise, clear. S is for SPEEDY: quickly copied and delivered A also means APPROPRIATE DISTRIBUTION The right persons get the information. P means PERMANENTLY RECORDED Maintain logs as instructed.

25. Triage When communicating patient triage results, the terms ‘Immediate’, ‘Delayed’, and ‘Dead’ -- as taught in the original CERT training classes, may want to be replaced with rather ‘Red Tag’ (Immediate) ‘Yellow Tag” (Delayed) ‘Black Tag’ (Dead). RADIO WAVES have ears and this subject can be disturbing to the community.

26. Good Operating Practices Always operate in a responsible manner. Remember that others are listening. Never interfere with the operations of another station. Never use profanity or CB lingo (e.g., “10-4”). Be considerate of inexperienced operators. Never transmit rumors. Your community will rely on you to supply complete and accurate information. Pause between transmissions so that others can break in with urgent matters. Never monopolize the channel, share it among all users. Keep transmissions short. Press the microphone button and pause before you start speaking, so your words are not cut off. Speak across the microphone in normal voice. Speak clearly and distinctly. Don’t yell!

27. Maintain your equipment in good operating condition. Have spare batteries at hand. Over-modulated equipment or "noise toys" should never be used. Relay transmissions from stations with weak signals to others, if necessary. Never put yourself in a situation where you endanger yourself or others. Never make the situation worse by your presence or operations. Never interfere with existing emergency services or groups. If another group is handling an emergency, let them handle it. Participate only if you are invited to do so. Assist anyone in your neighborhood to the best of your ability Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply monitor the channel for someone in need. Being there when someone needs assistance is more important than constantly advertising your availability.