SAR Fundamentals/Communications

00:00

3 min

Introduce topic title

Introduce Instructor

Present Objectives

00:03

4 min

• 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

00:07

4 min

• 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

00:11

3 min

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

00:14

8 min

• 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

00:22

3 min

• 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

00:25

2 min

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

00:27

3 min

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

00:30

4 min

• 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

1 min

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

00:35

1 min

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

00:36

3 min

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

00:39

1 min

• Connectors & Mobile Antennas
  • show pictures

00:40

8 min

• 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

00:48

2 min

• 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.

00:50

1 min

• 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.

00:51

2 min

• 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)

00:53

2 min

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

00:55

12 min

• 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

01:07

6 min

• 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

01:13

2 min

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

01:15

2 min

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

01:17

2 min

• 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"

01:19

5 min

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

01:24

8 min

• 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

01:32

2 min

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

01:34

3 min

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

01:36

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