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Tracy CERT Communications. Tracy CERT and San Joaquin County ARES Working Together. Agenda. What radios are available and what do they do? (And what don’t they do?) What are CERT communications requirements? How will the radio networks meet the requirements?. Life Safety Notice.
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Tracy CERT Communications Tracy CERT andSan Joaquin County ARESWorking Together
Agenda What radios are available and what do they do? (And what don’t they do?) What are CERT communications requirements? How will the radio networks meet the requirements?
Life Safety Notice FRS and GMRS are NOT suitable for the protection of life. CERT Field Teams must at all times have contact with Net Control either via Radio or Cellular Telephone (if available).
Family Radio Service (FRS) • Capabilities • 28 mile range – Not! 1-3 block reliable range • No license required • Privacy codes – but not “private” communication • 14 channels (1-7 shared with General Mobile Radio Service) • Limitations • Typically rechargeable batteries – operation time • Line of sight communication • Inefficient antennas – cannot improve • Low power (0.5 watt) • Operation • Push to talk – can use earpiece
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) • Capabilities • Higher power – 5 watts in handie-talkie • ½-1 mile range (?) • Many FRS radios have GMRS channels built in (channels 1-7 shared with FRS) • GMRS also includes channels 15-22 • Limitations • Requires FCC license (no test, but $85 fee) • Family can use same license, but others can’t • Operation • Same as FRS
Public Safety Radio • Capabilities • Uses fire, public works, or police channels • Uses agency repeater • Limitations • Much bigger and heavier • Few channels • Special user training required • Operation • No individual license required on approved channels – public service agency holds the license
Amateur Radio • Capabilities • Many frequencies, multiple repeaters • Handie-talkies – 5 watt power • Can install good antenna • Vehicle radios – 50 watts – good antennas • Base station radios the same as vehicle radios • Can scan and monitor public service frequencies • Limitations • Requires amateur radio license • Can’t operate on public service frequencies • Operation
Amateur Radio Capabilities • High quality outside antennas at fixed sites • High quality antennas on handie-talkies • Repeaters that provide countywide coverage (and beyond) • Cross-band repeaters to extend handie-talkie range • Efficient network operations • Hardware improvisation • Potential for local, regional, national and international communication • Voice and data modes
CERT CommunicationsBasic Requirements • CERT Operations • Must communicate with the Tracy EOC operations • Fire Admin, Station 95, or mobile command • Must communicate with all deployed teams • Must communicate with deployed liaison personnel • CERT Logistics • Must communicate with Tracy EOC logistics • CERT Teams • Must communicate within the team • Must communicate with CERT operations
Team Leader Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member CERT team internal communications • CERT team internal (local) communications is by FRS • Each two or three-person sub-team carries at least one FRS • Team operations & control • Safety • Each CERT team is on a different FRS channel (and different privacy code)
CERT OPNS HAM HAM Team Leader Team Leader Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member CERT team external communications • Ham handie-talkies with teams • Ham base station at CERT base • Ham repeater gives area coverage Fire Station 95 CERT Team One CERT Team Two
CERT Communication Nets Tracy EOC CERT Liaison CERT Operations ARES Net Control Search Team Five Search Team One Search Team Two Search Team Three Search Team Four
CERT Communication Nets Plan FRS Ham
CERT Team Communications Summary • Each two-person team has at least one FRS radio (AA battery powered) • Team control • Communications within the team (multiple radios) • Team member safety • Team leader or communicator has ham 2-meter radio • Status reports to Operations • Communication with other teams • Linkage to public service agencies • Safety
Learn More • Hams are licensed and need training. • We offer “one-day” HamCram licensing events. • We offer hands-on training and radio programming. • TracyARC meeting: Perko’s 7pm 3rd Thursday. • Net: 8pm Wednesdays 146.655
ARES • Amateur Radio Emergency Service • Part of ARRL – National Organization of Amateur Radio Operators • Supports EMS Agency/Hospitals/Public Health • Coming events! • Is not CERT but we overlap and work together.
CAHAN Registration • Need your name, callsign, cellphone, home phone and e-mail address. • You will receive information back via e-mail. • My contact: david@coursey.com • Web: www.sjham.org (lots of info, including this deck)
It works! • The ham • link to EOC • allows command to concentrate on deployed teams