SAR Fundamentals/Communications

Subject
This lesson plan covers the material of SAR Alberta's Telecommunications Training Standard.

Scope

 * SAR Fundamentals Manual: Ch.14 "Communications"
 * Basic SAR Skills Manual: F-4 "Communications"
 * Exercise

This training should include:


 * Why communications is important
 * Why professionalism, why standards?


 * communications methods used in SAR


 * Basic radio theory
 * Radio waves / light waves
 * Frequency
 * Bands
 * VHF: 30 - 300 MHz: 10 m to 1 m
 * UHF: 300MHz - 3 GHz: 1 m to 10 cm
 * CTCSS - continuous tone coded squelch system
 * interference
 * FRS sub channels
 * Propagation (sara std field)
 * Anatomy of radios (sara std field)
 * Types of radios
 * Base (sara std field)
 * Hand Held (sara std field)
 * Mobile (sara std field)
 * Repeater (sara std field)
 * Simplex vs Duplex (Repeater)
 * Connectors & Mobile Antennas (sara std field)


 * Use of radios
 * Battery Replacement (sara std field)
 * Using the controls (sara std field)
 * Posture of the user (sara std field)
 * Base Radio setup and use (sara std control)
 * Equipment and channels we have access to
 * Communication Protocols
 * Do not cut into a message being sent. Listen before you send.
 * choosing your words
 * Sound professional. Absolutely everyone is listening.
 * Make sure your information is clear, concise and short. Think before you speak, not during.
 * Speak slow and clear.
 * Use simple words.
 * Standard Words and Phrases
 * ITU Alphabet (sara std field)
 * numbers
 * 3-Tree 4-Fower 9-Niner
 * Calling procedures (sara std field)
 * Over - I have finished talking and I am listening for your reply. Short for "Over to you."
 * Out or Clear - I have finished talking to you and do not expect a reply.
 * Roger - Information received.
 * Copy - I understand what you just said (after receiving information).
 * Acknowledge - confirm you've received
 * This Is ...
 * Go Ahead
 * Stand By
 * Correction / I Say Again / Say Again
 * Read Back / That Is Correct
 * Wilco - Will Comply (after receiving new directions).
 * Affirmative / Negative / Wilco
 * Use the 24 hr clock to tell time.
 * Radio check
 * How Do You Read?
 * Strength / Clarity
 * 1 - (unreadable)
 * 2 - (breaking up)
 * 3 - (readable with difficulty)
 * 4 - (readable)
 * 5 - (perfectly readable)
 * MAYDAY / PAN PAN / SECURITY
 * Use of plain language (sara std field)
 * One exception 10-62 means turn radio off or move away from group. (sara std field)
 * PCSAR's codes
 * Death or injury relayed in code or special word by mgmt., instructions.
 * Call Signs
 * All Stations
 * Communications Traffic Logging (sara std control)


 * Laws
 * must identify yourself
 * profane language
 * false distress
 * e.g. tests that seem real
 * privacy


 * Hands On use of radios
 * Calling other stations (sara std field)
 * Passing traffic (sara std field)
 * Multiple Radio use simulation (sara std control)

Prerequisites
Communications is such an important aspect of SAR, so please review the following material:
 * □	Study Guide for Restricted Operator Certificate http://www.obsr.ca/radio-ric23.pdf

In particular:
 * □	memorize the phonetic alphabet
 * □	memorize the Procedural Words
 * □	study the examples on how the Procedural Words are used

See Assigned reading

Objectives
At the conclusion of this lesson the participants:
 * 1) will meet the requirements of the SARA Telecommunications Training Standard

Time Plan
Total Time: 60 minutes
 * 2013-02: 52 min

Introduce topic title

Introduce Instructor

Present Objectives


 * Why is communications important in SAR?
 * The biggest problem you will ever experience in a SAR situation is lack of communication.
 * Critiques: "The first problem is always communications"
 * Why professionalism, why standards?
 * communicating clearly with other groups
 * expectations of other groups (RCMP)
 * working efficiently
 * competence


 * What communications methods have you seen used in SAR?
 * commercial radios
 * HAM radios
 * FRS
 * cell phone
 * sat phone
 * SPOT
 * voice
 * hand signals
 * mirrors
 * Discuss value of each


 * Basic Radio Theory
 * all the wireless electronic communications methods are using radio waves
 * radio waves are electromagnetic radiation, same as light, longer wavelength


 * Wavelength / Frequency
 * All radio transmissions have a wavelength
 * The speed of radio is the same: 3 x 108 m/s (speed of light)
 * The number of waves received at a spot per second changes with the wavelength. Shorter wavelength, higher frequency.
 * Bands:
 * VHF: 30 - 300 MHz: 10 m to 1 m
 * UHF: 300MHz - 3 GHz: 1 m to 10 cm
 * Longer wavelengths bend around hills easier
 * Shorter frequencies can carry more information, packed closer together
 * Some frequencies bounce off the high atmosphere easier
 * Simplex: Transmit and receive on same frequency
 * one at a time
 * Duplex: Transmit and receive on different frequencies
 * simultaneously
 * typically using tower: repeater channels, cell phones


 * Power
 * Power is measured in Watts (W)
 * The more power the further the signal can be received
 * Generally: double the distance, 4 times the power
 * advantages to less power?
 * Neighbours can share the same frequency
 * Batteries last longer
 * Typical: 0.5 W FRS, 2 W GMRS, 3 W commercial handheld, 30 W commercial mobile, base station
 * 5 W HAM portable


 * Polarity
 * compare with polarized glasses
 * different types of antennas transmit and receive with different polar orientations
 * keep antennas upright


 * Signal Encoding
 * AM: Amplitude Modulation
 * FM: Frequency Modulation
 * more resistant to static interference
 * Generally: established by band, fixed in radio


 * Squelch
 * radio waves always present, but is it a real transmission?
 * Electromagnetic noise, interference
 * suppress speaker based on signal strength
 * squelch button: remove squelch
 * CTSS: Continuous Tone Squelch System
 * very low frequency tone added to transmission, if not present, suppress speaker
 * tone is so low can't be heard by human ear (maybe elephant, whale!)
 * FRS sub-channels
 * 2 sub-channels of same channel can't be use at same time

00:34
 * "Channel"
 * Combination of Frequency, Polarity, Encoding, and Squelch to transmit and receive on
 * Listed on our radios so other agencies can program theirs to our channel


 * Anatomy of radio
 * power source
 * microphone
 * transmitter / modulator
 * antenna
 * demodulator / receiver
 * squelch / speaker


 * Types of radios
 * show pictures
 * handheld/portable
 * mobile
 * base
 * repeater


 * Connectors & Mobile Antennas
 * show pictures


 * Use of radios
 * Battery Replacement
 * Using the controls
 * power, volume
 * channel selector
 * squelch
 * transmit (PTT)
 * external mic
 * Posture of the user
 * Keep the antenna vertical and fully extended.
 * Distance from outside noise when sending.
 * Keep the mic about 2 to 3 inches away from the mouth at 45 degrees.
 * normal speech levels
 * Hold the mic button down momentarily (1 sec) before and after you speak.
 * Mobile Radio setup and use
 * Base Radio setup and use
 * Equipment and channels we have access to
 * Channel 1 - Emergency Services repeater
 * Channel 2 - Emergency Services talk-around (Simplex)
 * Channel 9 - Tac 9 (RCMP) - Simplex


 * Communication Protocols
 * set by laws of physics
 * set by international treaties
 * set by Canadian law
 * set by SARA standard
 * set by professional expectations
 * Physics: Do not cut into a message being sent. Listen before you send.


 * Professional expectations:
 * Sound professional. Absolutely everyone is listening.
 * Make sure your information is clear, concise and short. Think before you speak, not during.
 * Speak slowly and clearly.
 * Use simple words.


 * Standard Words and Phrases
 * used internationally
 * pronunciations are tuned to world-wide speakers
 * vocabulary comes from both English and French
 * ITU Alphabet
 * letters all sound the same when spoken, clipped
 * say "Alpha" write A
 * A - Alpha (AL fah)
 * B - Bravo (BRAH voh)
 * C - Charlie (CHAR lee *or* SHAR lee)
 * D - Delta (DELL tah)
 * E - Echo (ECK oh)
 * F - Foxtrot (FOKS trot)
 * G - Golf (GOLF)
 * H - Hotel (hoh TELL)
 * I - India (IN dee ah)
 * J - Juliett (JEW lee ETT) (NOTE SPELLING: 2 T's)
 * K - Kilo (KEY loh)
 * L - Lima (LEE mah)
 * M - Mike (MIKE)
 * N - November (no VEM ber)
 * O - Oscar (OSS car)
 * P - Papa (pah PAH) (NOTE STRESS IS ON THE 2ND SYLLABLE)
 * Q - Quebec (keh BECK)
 * R - Romeo (ROW me oh)
 * S - Sierra (see AIR rah)
 * T - Tango (TANG go)
 * U - Uniform (YOU nee form)
 * V - Victor (VIK tor)
 * W - Whiskey (WISS key)
 * X - X-ray (ECKS ray)
 * Y - Yankee (YANG kee)
 * Z - Zulu (ZOO loo)


 * Numbers
 * 3-Tree
 * 4-Fower
 * 5-Fife
 * 9-Niner
 * Hundred
 * TOUsand
 * Decimal


 * Calling procedures
 * Treat like all your job is, is to pass on written messages. Think telegraph.
 * Call Signs
 * Format: (Dest Call Sign)x3, THIS IS (Source Call Sign)x3, (message) OVER (or OUT)
 * This Is ...
 * Over - I have finished talking and I am listening for your reply. Short for "Over to you."
 * Out or Clear - I have finished talking to you and do not expect a reply. Channel available for other use.
 * Roger - Information received.
 * Copy - I understand what you just said (after receiving information).
 * Acknowledge - confirm you've received
 * Stand By
 * Go Ahead
 * Correction / I Say Again / Say Again
 * Read Back / Message is / That Is Correct
 * Words Twice
 * Shortening the format


 * Call Signs
 * "All Stations"
 * "Control" - Network Control
 * SARA Standard:
 * A - Prefix assigned to Medical Teams
 * B - Prefix assigned to specialized resources, not just boats - boats, ATVs, Bikes, Horses
 * D - Prefix assigned to Dog Teams
 * H - Prefix assigned to Helicopter units or the aircrafts call sign may be used e.g.. C-GAHM
 * S - Prefix assigned to Search teams
 * T - Prefix assigned to Tracking teams


 * Specialized messages: answers
 * Affirmative / Negative
 * Wilco - Will Comply (after receiving directive/request).


 * Specialized messages: time
 * Use the 24 hr clock to tell time.
 * Hundred
 * Zulu - UTC (GMT) aviation


 * Specialized messages: radio check
 * How Do You Read?
 * Strength / Clarity
 * 1 - (unreadable)
 * 2 - (breaking up)
 * 3 - (readable with difficulty)
 * 4 - (readable)
 * 5 - (perfectly readable)
 * 5 x 5, "loud and clear"


 * Specialized messages: emergencies
 * MAYDAY / PAN PAN / SECURITY


 * General messages
 * use of plain language
 * not "10 code": 10-4
 * exceptions:
 * SARA standard: 10-62 means turn radio off or move away from group. (RCMP)
 * Death or injury relayed in code or special word by mgmt., instructions.
 * Pincher SAR's codes


 * Communications Traffic Logging
 * SARA Standard: log must be kept ICS-309 form
 * acting as radio relay


 * Canadian law
 * must identify yourself
 * profane language
 * false distress
 * e.g. tests that seem real
 * privacy


 * Hands On use of radios
 * Calling other stations
 * Passing traffic
 * Multiple Radio use simulation

See Plan (odt) (pdf)

Aids
See Slides (odp) (pdf)
 * FRS Radios
 * PCSAR's portable radios
 * Brett's portable ham radio
 * Example of PCSAR's mobile radio
 * computer projector
 * laptop
 * computer presentation slides
 * for each student:
 * phonetic alphabet (handout or in text book)
 * hand-out:
 * PCSAR DOC-51 Communications Log


 * see sar/pc/training/subject/sar-fundamentals/components/subject/11-communications



Question bank
see

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do external cell phone boosters work?

A: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_repeater

Feedback

 * 2010-10-06 Wuth presentation to PCSAR. Projector did not work.  Ran out of time for exercise.
 * see msg Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:32:17 -0600

License
Original content copyright © 2010-2013, Brett Wuth.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Canada License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ca/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Acknowledgements

 * SAR Alberta Telecommunications Training Standard
 * Rick Koinberg (VE6RAK)
 * Jack Humpries (VA6IX)
 * Bill Heise (VE6SAS)
 * Lyn Michaud (VE6OGN)
 * Earlier lesson plans
 * Jake Waiboer, Chris Jorgensen

Reference Material

 * SAR Fundamentals Manual: Ch.14 (pg 201)
 * Basic SAR Skills Manual: Ch.F-4 (pg F-9)
 * Study Guide for Restricted Operator Certificate
 * http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/ric21.pdf/$FILE/ric21.pdf
 * [ The 2009 SAR Alberta Telecommunications Standard]
 * GMRS on Wikipedia