how to use your frs radio during a cert event navarre cert amateur radio club march 4, 2011
TRANSCRIPT
HOW TO USE YOUR FRS RADIODURING A CERT EVENT
Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Club
March 4, 2011
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Topics:
• 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
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Why Use FRS?
• 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
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What is FRS?• 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
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So What is GMRS?
• 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.
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FRS vs. GMRS
• 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
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FRS vs. GMRS
• 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.
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Radio RangeFRS:
• 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
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Radio Anatomy
• Different makes and models of radios vary, so…
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!
• BECOME FAMILIAR with the controls on YOUR radio!
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Radio Anatomy
Power Supply• Commonly use AA or AAA alkaline or a rechargeable battery pack
• Make sure the pack is charged•Always carry spare batteries!
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Radio Anatomy
Power On-Off, Switch• Combined with volume control
on some models
• Or “push-button” on others
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Radio Anatomy
“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!
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Radio Anatomy
Channel Selector
• Selects assigned “channel” • Chosen by IC• Found on Communications Plan
• “Up-Down” arrows• Rotating “knob”
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Radio “Channels”
• 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 undermost crowded conditions
* Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System
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CERT Radio Procedures
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
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CERT Radio Procedures
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
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CERT Radio Procedures
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
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CERT Radio Procedures
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
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CERT Radio Procedures
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
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Pro-WordsProcedural 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
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Pro-WordsProcedural Words (Pro-Words)
• CORRECTION: Error was made and the correct information follows• STAND-BY: Self-explanitory
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Call Signs
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
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Call Signs
STRIKE TEAM NUMBERS
• Commonly used during an incident / emergency operations• Easy to identify teams of individuals• Easy for CERT Command to track
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Call Signs
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!
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Call Signs
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
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Proper Radio Phonics
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
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Control of Communications
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
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Control of Communications
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
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Control of Communications
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!!!
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In Conclusion…
• Act Professional – people ARE listening!• Correct bad or improper radio discipline by others• Make a good radio communications a habit
Remember…
Questions?