Amateur Radio REMO Telecommunications Procedures

1. Amateur Radio REMOTelecommunications Procedures Al Penney VO1NO

2. RADIO NETS

3. Radio Nets • A group of two or more radio stations operating on the same frequency for the purpose of communicating information of mutual interest. • In the REMO context, nets are used to pass information and instructions relating to emergencies, to request assistance and support, and to coordinate activities.

4. Net Control Station • A Net Control Station (NCS) is a member of the net whose function it is to • Prioritize the order in which traffic is passed; • Maintain circuit discipline; • Pass instructions relating to the conduct of the net; and • Generally ensure the efficient operation of the net.

5. Directed and Free Nets • Directed Net - In a Directed Net stations obtain permission from the NCS prior to communicating with other stations in the net; and • Free Net - In a Free Net the NCS authorizes member stations to transmit traffic to other stations in the net without obtaining prior permission from the NCS

6. Possible Emergency Nets (1) ECC Net • Primary net used to pass traffic, information and direction between Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) and emergency site or sites. • Stations on this net would include the ECC and the emergency site or sites. • NCS is normally the ECC.

7. Possible Emergency Nets (2) Health Services Net • Used to pass traffic of concern to Health Services officials. • Stations on this net would include the ECC, local hospitals, and possibly an ambulance dispatch centre. • NCS is normally the ECC, but this may be delegated.

8. Possible Emergency Nets (3) Evacuation Net • Used to pass traffic and instructions required to coordinate any evacuation in Kings County. • Stations on this net would include the ECC, Emergency Shelters, and any Registration and Inquiry (R&I) Centre. • NCS is normally the ECC, but this may be delegated.

9. Possible Emergency Nets (4) Standby Net • Used to coordinate the tasking and employment of Amateur Radio operators and volunteers. • Once activated, all Amateurs check in to advise of their availability and receive instructions/taskings. • Stations on this net include the ECC and any Amateurs interested in assisting with the emergency. • NCS is normally the ECC.

10. Suggested Frequency Plan • 147.180 (+) VE1AEH, Glenmont • 145.210 (-) VE1VAL, Stronach Mtn (Greenwood) • 147.240 (+) VE1WN, Greenwood • 444.050 (+) VE1VLY, Greenwood

11. Practical Considerations… • Unlikely we would ever have to man all these nets. • We don’t have enough operators to man all of them in any event! • Will probably have to include the functions of several different nets into one common net. • Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!

12. Message FormandStation log

13. General • Formal messages are transcribed onto a standardized ICS 213 message form. • Entries on the forms are typed or printed neatly in ink. • Corrections are initialed. • They are legal documents that must be retained after the emergency has been resolved.

14. (Actual field is larger) (Actual field is larger)

15. Purpose • The General Message Form (ICS 213) is used by the incident dispatchers to record incoming messages that cannot be orally transmitted to the intended recipients. • The ICS 213 is also used by the Incident Command Post and other incident personnel to transmit messages (e.g., resource order, incident name change, other ICS coordination issues, etc.) to the ECC Communications Center for transmission via radio or telephone to the addressee. • This form is used to send any message or notification to incident personnel that requires hard-copy delivery.

16. Message Form • The ICS 213 is a three-part form, typically using carbon paper. The sender will complete Part 1 of the form and send Parts 2 and 3 to the recipient. The recipient will complete Part 2 and return Part 3 to the sender.

17. TO / POSITION: • Enter the name and position the General Message is intended for. • For individuals, use at least the first initial and last name. For Unified Command, include agency names.

18. FROM / POSITION: • Enter the name and position of the individual sending the Message. For individuals, use at least the first initial and last name. • For Unified Command, include agency names.

19. SUBJECT: • Enter the subject of the message. DATE / TIME: • Enter the date (month/day/year) and time (24-hour clock) of the message. MESSAGE: • The content of the message. Try to be as concise as possible.

20. SIGNATURE / POSITION: • Enter the name, signature, and ICS position/title of the person approving the message. REPLY: • The intended recipient will enter a reply to the message and return it to the originator.

21. DATE / TIME • Enter the date (month/day/year) and time (24-hour clock) of the reply to the original message. SIGNATURE / POSITION • Enter the name, signature, and ICS position/title of the person replying to the message.

22. Notes • Text should be concise. • If more than one topic, divide into numbered paragraphs. • Have originator re-read message to ensure it is clear and unambiguous. • Amateur Radio operators must NEVER modify or paraphrase the text of a message!

23. Message Precedence • ICS does not use precedence designators (e.g.: Immediate, Priority, Routine). • Usually won’t be an issue. • If given more than one message at a time, ask originator/responsible authority for guidance. • Otherwise, first come - first served! • May have to use common sense and judgement!

24. Radio Log • Radio messages are logged using the ICS 309 Communications Log form. • Entries on the forms are typed or printed neatly in ink. • Corrections are initialed. • They are legal documents that must be retained after the emergency has been resolved.

26. Radio Log Notes • Not always possible to transcribe every tactical message word for word. • Capture important instructions and events. • For formal messages (those on ICS 213 forms): • Indicate the time the message was received; and • Include the message Subject, Date and Time in the “Message” field.

27. Transmitting a Message

28. Message Parts • A formal message consists of 3 parts: • HEADING: Consists of the “TO/POSITION”, “FROM/POSITION”, “SUBJECT”, “DATE” and “TIME” boxes. • MESSAGE TEXT: Contains the information and instructions that the originator wishes to send. It is separated from the Heading by the proword “BREAK”. “BREAK” is not part of the message – it simply precedes and follows the text. • MESSAGE ENDING: Separated from the text with the proword “BREAK”. The “SIGNATURE” and “POSITION” fields are not transmitted. Contains any operators’ notes or instructions, or prowords such as “MORE TO FOLLOW”. The last word spoken is “OVER”.

29. Sequence to Pass a Message (1) 1. Callsign of the station called (e.g.: ECC). 2. The proword THIS IS. • Callsign of the sending station (e.g.: Valley Regional). • The proword MESSAGE. 5. The proword TO followed by the name and position of the addressee. 6. The proword FROM followed by the name and position of the originator. 7. The proword SUBJECT followed by the subject of the message.

30. Sequence to Pass a Message (2) 8. The proword DATE followed by the date of the message. 9. The proword TIME followed by the time of the message. 10. The proword BREAK to indicate that the text follows. 11. The text of the message. 12. The proword BREAK to indicate the end of the text. 13. Any operator notes (e.g.: “MORE TO FOLLOW”). 14. The proword OVER.

31. 1615 Local 2 June 2018

32. RADIOTELEPHONEPROCEDURES

33. Expressing Time

34. Phonetic Alphabet

35. Punctuation

36. Difficult Words • Difficult words may be spelled using the phonetic alphabet and preceded by the proword I SPELL. • If the operator can pronounce the word to be spelled, he/she will do so before and after the spelling to identify the word. • Example: TRIVIA - I SPELL TANGO ROMEO INDIA VICTOR INDIA ALPHA - TRIVIA

37. Numbers To distinguish numerals from similarly pronounced words, the prowordFIGURES may be used preceding numbers. NUMERAL SPOKEN AS NUMERAL SPOKEN AS 0 ZE-RO 5 FIFE 1 WUN 6 SIX 2 TOO 7 SEV-EN 3 THU-REE 8 AIT 4 FOW-ER 9 NIN-ER Note: When conditions are good there is no objection to pronouncing numerals in the regular way i.e., THREE, FIVE, NINE etc.

38. Numbers Numbers will be transmitted digit by digit except that exact multiples of thousands may be spoken as such.   Example: Numeral Spoken As 44 FOW-ER FOW-ER 90 NIN-ER ZE-RO 7000 SEV-EN THOUSAND 5318 FIFE THU-REE WUN AIT

39. Grid References Grid References will be spoken digit by digit, preceded by the proword “grid”. The word “dash” is spoken between the two groups of figures. Example: Grid 3018-4576 is spoken as: “GRID THU-REEZE-RO WUN AIT DASH FOW-ER FIFE SEV-EN SIX”.

40. Prowords • Prowords are pronounceable words or phrases which have been assigned meanings for the purpose of expediting message handling on circuits where radiotelephone procedure is employed. • In no case shall a proword or a combination of prowords be substituted for the textual component of a message.

41. Prowords • AFFIRMATIVE - Yes • ALL AFTER - The portion of the message to which I make reference is all that which follows ____________ . • ALL BEFORE - The portion of the message to which I make reference is all that which precedes _______ .

42. Prowords • BREAK – Indicates separation of the text from other parts of the message. • CORRECT - You are correct, or what you have transmitted is correct. • CORRECTION - An error has been made in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly transmitted _________ . • An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is ___________ . • That which follows is a corrected version in answer to your request for verification.

43. Prowords • DATE – The date of the message follows. • MESSAGE – A message which requires recording is about to follow. • MORE TO FOLLOW – The transmitting station has additional traffic for the receiving station.

44. Prowords • DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION - OUT - This transmission is in error. Disregard it. (This proword shall not be used to cancel any message that has been completely transmitted and for which receipt or acknowledgment has been received.) • FIGURES - Numerals or numbers follow.

45. Prowords • GRID - The portion following is a grid reference. • I SAY AGAIN - I am repeating transmission or portion indicated. • I SPELL - I shall spell the next word phonetically.

46. Prowords • NEGATIVE - No • NO DUFF - The message that follows is NOT an exercise message. Used to indicate an actual emergency during an exercise. • NOTHING HEARD - To be used when no reply is received from a called station.

47. Prowords • OUT - This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected. • OVER - This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit. • ROGER - I have received your last transmission satisfactorily. (Note that it does NOT mean “Yes”)

48. Prowords • SAY AGAIN - Repeat all of your last transmission. Followed by identification data means Repeat __ (portion indicated)”. • SILENCE (Pronounced SEE LONCE and repeated three or more times) - Cease transmissions on this net immediately. Silence will be maintained until lifted. • SILENCE LIFTED - Silence is lifted.

49. Prowords • SUBJECT – The subject of a message follows. • THIS IS - This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows. • TIME – The time of a message follows.

50. Prowords • WAIT - I must pause for a few seconds • WAIT – OUT - I must pause longer than a few seconds.