How to use your FRS Radio DURING A CERT EVENT

1. How to use your FRS RadioDURING A CERT EVENT Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Club March 4, 2011

2. Topics: How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

3. Why Use FRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

4. What is FRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

5. So What is GMRS? How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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.

6. FRS vs. GMRS How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

7. FRS vs. GMRS How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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.

8. Radio Range How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • FRS: • 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

9. Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • Different makesand models of radios vary, so… READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!! • BECOME FAMILIAR with the controls on YOUR radio!

10. Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Power Supply • Commonly use AA or AAA alkaline or a rechargeable battery pack • Make sure the pack is charged • Always carry spare batteries!

11. Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • Power On-Off, Switch • Combined with volume control on some models • Or “push-button” on others

12. Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event “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!

13. Radio Anatomy How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Channel Selector • Selects assigned “channel” • Chosen by IC • Found on Communications Plan • “Up-Down” arrows • Rotating “knob”

14. Radio “Channels” How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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 under • most crowded conditions * Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System

15. CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event 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

16. CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

17. CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

18. CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

19. CERT Radio Procedures How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

20. Pro-Words How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • Procedural 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

21. Pro-Words How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • Procedural Words (Pro-Words) • CORRECTION: Error was made and the correct information follows • STAND-BY: Self-explanitory

22. Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

23. Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • STRIKE TEAM NUMBERS • Commonly used during an incident / emergency operations • Easy to identify teams of individuals • Easy for CERT Command to track

24. Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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!

25. Call Signs How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

26. Proper Radio Phonics How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

27. Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

28. Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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

29. Control of Communications How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event • 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!!!

30. In Conclusion… How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event Remember… • Act Professional – people ARE listening! • Correct bad or improper radio discipline by others • Make a good radio communications a habit Questions?