Basic Communications User Training

1. Basic Communications User Training (BCUT) New Hampshire Wing, CAP 1Lt Tony Immorlica Communications Training Officer New Hampshire Wing Version 1-2 May 26, 2010

2. What is Communications? • Hand signals • Whistles • Light signals • Telephone • Texting • Facebook • Twitter • Email • Radios

3. So, what is communications? The meaningful transfer of information

4. What is this course? • Basic Communications User Training • Authorizes the member to operate CAP radios • How to talk the CAP way • How to operate CAP radios • Introduce the other communications courses • Completion qualifies the student for a Radio Operator Authorization (ROA) – CAPF 76

5. Who is this course for? • Cadets – Must have Curry Award • Seniors – Must have Level 1 • All – Must have OpSec

6. What is CAP Communications? • Provide the commander with a reliable means of commanding their troops and to communicate with upper and lower echelons. • Provide a reliable point-to-point and air-to-ground communications network.

7. Who regulates CAP communications? • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) • Authorizes Federal Agencies [including CAP] to use specific frequencies • CAP Regulations are promulgated by • United States Air Force • CAP National, Region and Wing • Public stations are licensed by the FCC • Federal agencies [inc. CAP] are not allowed to use services allocated exclusively to the public sector • This excludes the use of Amateur Radio and Citizens Band for CAP business.

8. CAP Communications Regulations • CAPR 100-1 Primary rules and procedures • CAPR 100-3 Radio Telephone Operations • CAPR 174-1 Property Management and Accountability

9. What is FOUO A designation that there is sensitive information Used when frequency documentation is needed in the document What FOUO isn’t Classification For use on every single document Frequencies are all FOUOFor Official Use Only UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Frequency information contained in this document is designated by the Department of Defense (DoD) as For Official Use Only (FOUO) and may not be released to anyone without the prior permission of NHQ and CAP-USAF.

10. CAP Radio Operator Authorization Authorization is currently done in two phases: • Basic Communications User Training - BCUT • 3-4 Hour Class on: • Standard Operating Procedures • Local Operating Procedures • Entitles CAP member to operate a CAP Radio • Issued a CAPF 76, Radio Operator Authorization by Wing or higher headquarters • Advanced Communications User Training - ACUT • 4-5 Hour Class • Pass the Advanced Communications User Test, CAPF 119 • Entitles CAP member to be assigned a call sign • Required as part of the Communications Specialty Track NOTE: BCUT and ACUT will soon be replaced by a new Introductory Communications Users Training [ICUT] course; release date is pending

11. Who can talk on CAP radios? • Anyone with a Radio Operator Authorization [ROA] • Anyone who has completed appropriate training AND is listed on a Wing or higher Headquarters roster • Anyone who is supervised by someone with an ROA or appropriate authorization

12. Communication Basics

13. How to use Communications Listen Listen Listen

14. I’m listening, when can I talk? • Be ready to respond, but don’t transmit unless you need to • When you do transmit, use discretion - remember that there are other people listening • Scanning enthusiasts • News Media • Other Federal agencies • No code words or jargon, use prowords • Be professional

15. A word or phrase intended to provide clarity Conservation of speech CAPR 100-3 Over – I’m done, you’re turn to talk Out – I’m done with this conversation Roger – Understood Wilco – Will comply Affirmative – Yes Negative – No Wait – standby, will be right back Break – Header done, body of message follows What are “prowords”?

16. Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Gulf Hotel India Juliet Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu What letter was that?

17. 1 – one 2 – two 3 – three 4 – four 5 – five 6 – six 7 – seven 8 – eight 9 – niner 0 – zero (not oh) What number was that?

18. How to say things • Annunciate • Spell out words using the international alphabet • Numbers: Use Prowords “FIGURES”, “DECIMAL”, “TIME”, “INITIALS” • Less than 4 digits: say the numbers one at a time • CAPSTONE 43 - pronounced CAPSTONE FOUR THREE • 4 digits: either group by 2 or say thousand • CHARTER OAK 3000 – pronounced CHARTER OAK THREE THOUSAND • CAP 9317 – pronounced CAP NINTY-THREE SEVENTEEN

19. I SPELL / FIGURES /INITIALS Use “I SPELL” for pronounceable words PIZZA “I SPELL PIZZA PAPA INDIA ZULU ZULU ALPHA PIZZA” Use “FIGURE(S)” AND “INITIAL(S)” for non-words N516F “INITIAL NOVEMBER FIGURES FIVE ONE SIX INTIAL FOXTROT” CORRECTIONS •  Use proword “CORRECTION” to correct a mistake • Example: • “… Turn right at next corner … CORRECTION Turn left at next corner…” 19

20. SENDING NUMBERS Use Prowords “FIGURES”, “DECIMAL”, “TIME”, “INITIALS” Digit-by-Digit Not “Seven Fifty” 750 “FIGURES SEVEN FIVE ZERO” Niner Not Nine 849 “FIGURES EIGHT FOUR NINER” Decimal Point 14.5 “FIGURES ONE FOUR DECIMAL FIVE” Z Time 1635Z “TIME ONE SIX THREE FIVE ZULU” Initial And Figures E21 “INITIAL ECHO FIGURES TWO ONE” One Figure and Initial 3-A “FIGURE THREE DASH INITIAL ALPHA” 20

21. Call Signs • New Hampshire Abenaki • Massachusetts Patriot • Maine Down East • Vermont Vermont CAP • Rhode Island Narragansett • Connecticut Charter Oak • New Jersey Red Dragon • New York White Peak • Pennsylvania Penn CAP • Northeast Region CAP Stone • National HQ CAP HEADCAP

22. Call Signs • Single digits • 1 – Commander • 2 – Vice Commander • 3 – Chief of staff • 4 – Director of Communications • 5 – Chaplin • The Call Signs 1 thru 20 are Issued to Wing Directors.

23. Call SignsNHWG • CAP aircraft have the call sign CAP xxxx • First two digits are Wing Number • Second two digits are last two digits of aircraft tail number • CAP 2800 N99100 • CAP 2813 N913CP • CAP 2827 N827CP • CAP 2830 N9930E • CAP 2860 N360CP • CAP 2869 N169CP

24. When calling a station • Say the station you are calling, then your station • “Abenaki 45, this is Abenaki 4 – over” • Wait a bit and try a second time • If there still isn’t a response, say “Nothing Heard”

25. Nobody Hears Me!Choose a Good Communications Site. High ground (the higher the antenna, the better). VHF is line of site. Stay away from interference generators High power lines Power Transformers Underground Cables Computers (even in the field) Other radios on different frequencies

26. Nobody Hears Me, STILL!Common Problems & Solutions • Operator Failure! (This is the most common cause!) • Make sure you are following normal procedures and briefings. • Check the radio • Is the radio turned on, correct channel, and volume up? • Is the battery good? (Replace with a charged battery) • Switch to a repeater, if available • Ask for a relay (from aircraft if available) • Move to higher ground or another location • If all else fails, find a telephone that works.

27. When answering a call • Say the station who is calling, then say your station • “Abenaki 4, this is Abenaki 45 – over” • Once communications are established, you do not need to keep saying your call sign

28. When ending a call • Always end a transmission with OVER or OUT - NOT BOTH! • Do not use “Roger Wilco” instead of Wilco. • “Roger Wilco” means “Last transmission received OK last transmission received OK and I will comply.” • On Closing the Contact • “… Abenaki 45 OUT”

29. 5 Habits of a Good Radio Operator • Speak clearly • Annunciate your words. • Speak slowly • Remain calm no matter what happens - Never Panic • THINK - “Use Your Head”

30. Prohibited Operating Practices • Violation of Radio Silence • Personal Conversation • Transmitting in a Net without permission of NCS • Lack of identifying call sign • Excessive tuning and testing • Use of Amateur Radio or Citizens Band frequencies for CAP business, and Vice-Versa. • FRS/GMRS may be used on missions only if search subject may have such radios • Use of 10 codes or Amateur Radio Q Signals

31. Radio Basics

32. Basics of Radio: PropagationThe path radio waves take – dependent on frequency • VHF – Very High Frequency - is only capable of line-of-site communications • Buildings, mountains, leaves may interfere • Higher an aircraft, the wider coverage • 2500’ AGL has an effective radius of 50 Miles • HF - High Frequency - is capable of world wide communication • Strongly dependent on frequency, antenna, time of day

33. Basics of Radio: ModesThe type of modulation • To send a signal via radio, you modulate or superimpose voice on a carrier of radio frequency energy. AM, FM and SSB are just ways of sending voice information. • CAP uses • AM – amplitude modulation • FM - frequency modulation, and • SSB – single sideband along with some “P25” digital modes. • Normally, we use: • AM on Aircraft Bands • SSB on HF • FM on VHF and UHF

34. Basics of Radio: FM Frequency Modulation • FM is used by CAP for VHF radios in vehicles, aircraft, walkie-talkies and base stations, for short rangecomms. • The advantage is less static from ignition systems in vehicles, and excellent audio quality. • FM also has a “capture effect” where the strongest station comes in over a weaker station. That is good and bad. • CAP also uses FM in the ISR UHF radios.

35. Basics of Radio: SSB Single Sideband • CAP uses SSB on HF • SSB uses a very small bandwidth, compared to AM and FM modes • Used for L O N G Distance Comms • HF Operation is specialized, but very useful because it is very efficient • Seek Special Training in HF, not included in this course. Ask your Comm. Officer

36. Basics of Radio: AMAmplitude Modulation Used in aircraft radios to communicate with ATC, tower, other aircraft, airport operations, etc. Worldwide standard for aircraft communication Very old type of modulation first used in early development of radio Tends to be noisy, easily interfered with. Allows lots of static and ignition noise. Bad feature. Allows two stations to be heard over one another – i.e. no capture effect as with FM. Good feature. Both AM and FM are used on VHF in CAP

37. EJ Johnson Base Radio Mobile Radio Portable Motorola HF ALE ICOM ISR Aircraft Radios Aircraft use two types: AM – used mostly by pilots to communicate with Air Traffic Control FM – used primarily by Mission Observer to communicate with Mission Base Types of radios Ask for and receive specific instructions for each type of radio you will operate

38. Simplex vs. Duplex • Simplex • Transmit and receive on the same frequency • Buildings, terrain, altitude • Repeaters – Duplex mode • Used to extend coverage and get over obstacles Single Frequency - One Station at a Time • Duplex • Transmit on one frequency and receive on another Two Frequencies - One Station at a Time R T Repeater increases the range of mobile stations due to its high profile location

39. Inside the Repeater Repeater will turn on its transmitter only if the Tone Decoder hears a repeater specific tone Voice Transmit Frequency Repeater Receiver Repeater Transmitter Receive Frequency PTT Tone Decoder “Mike Button” Tone The Tone Decoder “presses” the Push To Talk (PTT) button to turn on the transmitter. The Tone Decoder “listens” for tones on the incoming signal

40. NHWG Communications

41. NHWG VHF Communications • NH Wing maintains 6 VHF repeaters at fixed locations plus two portable units • Location of the fixed repeaters were chosen such that all squadrons have access to at least one • Derry, Laconia, Ascutney, Lebanon, Littleton, Keene, • In addition we have: • “Portable” – repeater currently based in Portsmouth • “Highbird” – utilized by aircraft assigned by the IC* • VHF Frequencies [Channels] are programmed to show the repeater location [Tag], not the frequency * Requires an ACUT qualification

42. CAP VHF Radio Frequencies • CAP Frequencies are FOUO • Thus, CAP radios are programmed to display the specific designator for each programmed channel, for example Designator: Function/Usage: • CC-1 Command/Control 1 • CC-2 Command/Control 2 • AIR-1 Air/Ground 1 • AIR-2 Air Ops 2 • CAPGUARD Calling Channel • TAC-1 Tactical 1 • When communicating, use designators, not a channel number – ex. This is Abenaki 45 on TAC-1

43. NHWG VHF Channels / Zones • EF Johnson RS5300 Radios operates on 16 Zones, each having a 16 Channel capability • NHWG uses Zones 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 • Remaining zones are used nationally • Use of Zones: • Zone 2 – primary analog channels • Zone 6 – duplicate of Zone 2 in a digital mode [more secure] • Zone 3 – Northeast Region repeaters • Zone 4 – NH Forestry • Zone 7 - Coast Guard and Weather Channels • Zones/Channels to be used for a specific mission will be assigned by the Incident Commander

44. NHWG VHF Channel PlanVHF Channel Plans vary with different radio models The following example is for : EF Johnson series RS5300 radios. Each “Zone” has 16 channels and the radio has 16 zones for a total of 256 channels!: • Aircraft Radios do not use Zones • – channels are numbered sequentially from 1 to ~256 • You must become familiar with the Channel Plan in the radio you are operating! • Channel • 1 CC1 Command and Control • 2 CC2 Command and Control • 3 AIR 1 Aircraft Channel • 4 AIR 2 Aircraft Channel • CAP GUARD Universal Calling Channel • TAC 1 Ground Channel • DERRY NHWG Repeater • LACONIA NHWG Repeater • 9 ASCUTNEY NHWG Repeater • 10 LEBANON NHWG Repeater • 11 LITTLETON NHWG Repeater • 12 KEENE NHWG Repeater • 13 HIGH BIRD Airborne Relay Station • 14 PORTABLE NHWG Repeater • 15 Fish and Game Used for Liaison only • 16 SANFORD Used for Fire Patrol Zone 2

45. Aircraft use of CAP VHF Frequencies and Repeaters • Primary mode of operation should be simplex. • Only use the repeater if simplex is not possible. • Within 75 miles of the Canadian border • Use of CAP VHF assigned frequencies prohibited above 3000 ft. AGL

46. Aircraft VHF-FM Radio Channel Plan * • CC1 • CC2 • AIR1 • AIR2 • TAC1 • R67 • R68 • R69 • R70 • R63 • R64 • ALT R65 • ALT R66 • DERRY • LACONIA • ASCUTNEY • LEBANON • LITTLETON • KEENE • PORT PR1 • PORT SEC • F&G CTC • CAPGUARD • WALTHAN • WORSTR • SANFORD • EQUINOX • MANSFLD SIMPLEX REPEATERS [DUPLEX] SIMPLEX REPEATERS [DUPLEX] * Subject to change Current as of 30 Jan 2010 for Technisonic TDFM 136 Radio Note: Aircraft Radios do not use Zones

47. CAP HF Channel Plan • All operations are simplex, SSB, lower sideband • Frequencies are designated by two alpha characters • First letter denotes primary usage • A = National • N = Northeast Region • NE Region frequencies • NA, NB and NC • Frequencies can be found on-line • Password protected, FOUO

48. Communications Exercise • May occur with a days notice, or less • Goal is see where the weaknesses are • Do not need to be formal – pass traffic instead of just checking

49. QUESTIONS?