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CAP Communications Orientation Class

CAP Communications Orientation Class. Developed by: LTC Bruce Bream Ohio Wing/Eagle Squadron February 2006. Voice of Command. Note: This presentation does NOT contain any For Official Use Only (FOUO) information. Basic Communications Course Overview. Licensing

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CAP Communications Orientation Class

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  1. CAP Communications Orientation Class Developed by: LTC Bruce Bream Ohio Wing/Eagle Squadron February 2006 Voice of Command Note: This presentation does NOT contain any For Official Use Only (FOUO) information. CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  2. Basic Communications Course Overview • Licensing • Operators and Radio Stations • Call Signs • Radio Communications Systems • Equipment Familiarization • Use of Repeaters • Radiotelephone Operating Procedures • Timekeeping and Date-Time Groups • Prowords • Phonetic Alphabet • Radio Nets • Message Forms • Distress and Emergency Communications • Radio Communication Practice CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  3. National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6332 RADIO OPERATOR AUTHORIZATION Name and address of operator: JOHN E. DOE CHARTER SER-AL-001 ISSUED: 05-03-95 Card No.: Expiration: AL-00123 ON MEMBERSHIP CAP Radio Operator Licensing Communications Orientation • 2-3 Hour Class on: • Standard Operating Procedures • Local Operating Procedures • Entitles CAP member to operate a CAP Radio • Issued a Radio Operator Authorization (ROA) by Ohio Wing TWO Levels of Operator Licensing: • Advanced Communications User Training • 4-5 Hour Class • Pass the Advanced Communications User Test, CAPF 119 • Entitles CAP member to be assigned a call sign for their radio • Required as part of the Communications Specialty Track The regulation for all CAP Communications is CAPR 100-1 CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  4. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) • Licenses Public radio stations • TV, FM, AM commercial broadcasters • Amateur Radio, FRS, Citizens band CAP Radio Station Licensing • CAP is a considered a federal agency for radio licensing • Federal agencies are not allowed to use services allocated exclusively to the public sector for their business • Amateur Radio and Citizens Band cannot be used for CAP business • Family Radio Service (FRS) • On ES missions: limited to communication with victims to expedite a rescue • May be used for all non-ES mission activities on a non-interference basis National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) • Licenses Federal agencies • Department of Defense • Department of Homeland Security • Civil Air Patrol • FEMA, NASA, EPA, USPS, Etc. CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  5. Types of Stations & Tactical Call Signs Ohio Wing Call Sign Examples GROUND & MOBILE AIRMOBILE CAPFLIGHT 3421 Columbus 104 Columbus 401 First two digits are Wing number Ground & Mobile Reserved Call signs Last digit assigned to command staff: ..1 Commander (C 101) ..2 Deputy (C 302) ..3 Chief of Staff (C 1003) ..4 Communications (C 4) ..5 Chaplain (C 705) • Airmobile Call Signs • CAP Corporate Aircraft are always CAPFLIGHT except, • CAPFLIGHT RESCUE used only during actual missions • Member-owned aircraft • Use assigned CAPFLIGHT for reimbursable missions • Otherwise, use tail number CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  6. CAP Communications Systems • CAP Frequencies • HF - Long-range (50-1000+ miles) FAA Aeronautical Frequencies • Uses FAA frequencies • Communicate with all radio equipped aircraft • Satellite Digital Imaging System (SDIS) • Used for digital imaging • Data relayed through satellite Range determined by time of day, frequency, and sunspot cycle Capabilities • VHF - Short-range (5-50 miles) • ISR (Intra Squad Radios) • Short range (2-3 miles) • Similar to FRS radios Range determined by “radio horizon” HF Static Voice is the primary means of communication Sounds HF SSB CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  7. Frequency 1 Frequency 2 Voice Operating Modes Single Frequency - One Station at a Time SIMPLEX F1 F1 REPEATER Two Frequencies - One Station at a Time F1 F2 Input Output R T Your radio switches to Frequency 2 when you press the PTT switch CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  8. Repeater Operational Advantage Output Input Repeaters increase the range of mobile stations due to the high profile location typically covering a 20-50 mile radius CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  9. Inside the Repeater Repeater retransmits if it hears one of two sub-audible tones: 1) Universal Access Tone or 2) Repeater site specific tone Output Channel Voice Input Channel Voice Voice Transmitter Receiver + Repeater Sub-audible Tone + Sub-audible Tone PTT Tone Decoder “Mike Button” Tone Decoder “presses” the Push To Talk (PTT) button to turn on the repeater’s transmitter Tone Decoder “listens” for either the universal or site specific tone on the incoming signal Radio must be set to the correct 1) transmit channel, and 2) sub-audible tone to use the desired repeater CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  10. Ohio Wing Voice RepeatersOperating on CAP VHF-FM • Repeater Locations: • Cambridge • Carey • Cincinnati • Columbus • Dayton • Jackson • Lafayette • Lancaster • Lima • New Philadelphia • Thompson • Wauseon • If you are not sure which repeater to select: • Use the Universal Access Tone CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  11. Airmobile use of Repeaters • Primary mode of operation should be simplex • Repeaters can be used if simplex not possible • Selectively use a repeater through use of its assigned sub-audible access tone • Use of universal tone is prohibited since this will bring up multiple repeaters • The key is to limit use to a single repeater CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  12. FAA Aeronautical SAR Stations • Air-Ground Communications on FAA aircraft frequencies • Aeronautical Search And Rescue (SAR) ground stations operate on two Aircraft Frequencies: • 122.9 MHz - TRAINING Only • 123.1 MHz - ACTUAL Missions Only • Ground Station Call Signs assigned by geographical location • “THIS IS Lost Nation Base OVER” ELTs - Training & Actual 121.775 MHz Training transmitters 121.5 MHz Actual ELTs CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  13. Basic Radio Station Operation Summary • Power (On/Off) • Usually part of Volume control • Battery powered radios should be turned off when not being used to conserve the batteries • Volume • Set to easily hear stations but not annoyingly loud • On portable radios the higher the volume, the more battery power is used and the sooner the battery runs out • Squelch • Adjusts the point where audio and noise (hiss) are suppressed (quiet) • Adjust until noise is heard and then back off to just past the point where the noise stops • Some newer radios do not have a squelch knob • Channel Selector • Selects both receive and transmit frequencies • Unless it is a corporate radio, there is no assurance that the frequencies are set the same on the channel selector. Know the frequencies in use and how your radio is set up or programmed • Consult the person who furnished the radio for the specific settings for the radio • Microphone • Speak into the microphone using a normal speech level • Don’t yell or whisper; Shouting does not increase intelligibility or range • Push to Talk (PTT) Switch • Press the PTT when talking; Release PTT to listen • Monitor the channel for a few seconds before you transmit to ensure that you don’t interfere with other traffic prior to pushing the PTT CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  14. Basic Radio Station Components • Antenna • Frequency sets relative size • VHF-FM • Magnetic Mount • Fixed vertical • HF-SSB • 50 foot Dipole • Fixed vertical • Bumper mount vertical • Power Sources • 120VAC Power Supply • 12VDC • Generator • Batteries 1 Power Supply V S C 120 VAC Outlet • Antenna Coax • Special cable that connects radio to antenna • Radio Transceiver • Designed for a single or multiple frequency band and modes • CAP VHF-FM • CAP HF-SSB • FAA VHF-AM • Ground • Required for Electrical Safety CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  15. CAP VHF-FM FAA Aircraft VHF-AM Intra Squad Radio (ISR) Icom IC-4008M Radios you will see in CAP NAT NPX-138 Tait 2020II E.F. Johnson 5317 “Stealth” mobile E.F. Johnson 5112 portable Neutec SM-1645 CAP HF-SSB Motorola Micom-2 Tait T196 ICOM A-22 CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  16. Tait T2000IICAP VHF-FM Direct channel number entry possible with keypad and enter key Up / Down buttons change the channel • Note: • These Tait 2020 radios are factory-modified for CAP • A standard Tait 2020 purchased on your own from other than CAPMart will not be NTIA compliant CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  17. E.F. Johnson 5317 “Stealth”CAP VHF-FM • Channel / Group Knob • Toggles its function each time you press it in • Turn to select channels or groups • There are 16 memory groups with 10 channels per group • Groups and channels are labeled with text names CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  18. E.F. Johnson 5112 PortableCAP VHF-FM On-Off-Volume and Squelch PTT Channel Selector Microphone CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  19. Neutec SM-1645CAP VHF-FM Selects one of 16 numbered channels It is important to note whether the PRI light is on or off Check channel card attached to top of radio Pressing the PRI button gets to a second bank of 16 channels - It is NOT a priority button The display only shows a number, so you must have a list or card of how it is programmed CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  20. NAT NPX-138 Radio OperationCAP VHF-FM • Features: • FAA accepted for aircraft use • 100 pre-programmed channels • Same channels in all aircraft • Operates from 138-174 MHz • “Guard” channel monitor • Use with CAP as well as Coast Guard, State Highway Patrol, and local Police Controls: MN Main Volume & On/Off - (Channel activity light to right of MN knob) GD Guard Channel Volume (Leave CCW) SCAN/NORM/GDTX Leave in NORM GD1/GD2 Guard Channel Select GD1=Repeater (Ch 1) GD2=Air/Ground (Ch 4) DISP ID=Channel Name, RX=Receive frequency, TX=Transmit Frequency CHAN +/- Step up/down through programmed channels BRIGHT +/- Change display brightness EDIT Don’t move this switch! SQ Push to open squelch to check volume and weak signals Operation: Powers up with other radios as shown above Turn on (if necessary), Set Channel, Adjust Volume, Check Squelch, Set Audio Panel CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  21. Motorola MICOM-2CAP HF SSB Radio • Channels are switched via the up/down buttons • Function button toggles between various displays including the frequency and the channel number CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  22. Intra Squad Radio (ISR) • Similar to FRS radios but on shared-use federal government frequencies • Designed for ground team use and large functions like encampments and schools • Not issued to individuals - issued in deployable packages • Won’t talk with CAP VHF-FM radio system • NHQ furnished radios and cases, but no batteries • Cost of ni-cad battery and charger almost equal to cost of radio itself • Ni-cads available run 10 hours before needing recharge • Alkaline AA batteries last 30 hours max before requiring replacement • Commanders, and ES Officers should plan for readily available batteries • Incident Commanders and Mission Coordinators should anticipate battery expenses for actual and practice missions • ISR battery costs are reimbursable on CAPF108 if mission/SAREX is reimbursed (with receipts, complete forms, etc.) • Project Officers for encampments and training activities should anticipate and plan for battery costs • Flight-line supervisor should use VHF-FM (Ch4) to marshal pilots in aircraft • ISR frequencies are shared with other DOD agencies CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  23. Zulu Time is Standard Time • Known as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) based on an accurate atomic clock • Similar to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - based on mean earth rotation Zulu time is the same, no matter what time zone you are in Standard Time Zones: EST Eastern +5 = Z CST Central +6 = Z MST Mountain +7 = Z PST Pacific +8 = Z 1 hour less for Daylight Saving Time EDT +4 = Z WWV Time Broadcast CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  24. CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  25. Date-Time Group 16 0218Z APR 01 Date Time Month Year Date and Time in ZULU ZULU - Means that time is UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) Don’t forget to account for change in day, month or year A DTG specifies one minute in a century Z = EST + 5 hours Z = EDT + 4 hours CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  26. Date-Time Group Practice • Practice making a DTG for the following times/events: • Right Now • July 7, 1997 3:07 am • Apollo 11 Moon Landing, 7/20/1969, 4:17 EDT • April 15, 2001 9:18 pm • ELT Heard: Feb 28, 2005 7:21 pm • What local date/time is 010459Z JAN 05? CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  27. PROWORDS • THIS IS Preface to your call sign • ROGER Last transmission received OK • OVER I’m done, go ahead • OUT I’m done, bye • WAIT I will be back in a few seconds • SAY AGAIN Say that again • CORRECTION Oops! I really meant to say • WILCO ROGER and I will comply • AFFIRMATIVE Yes Special words used for Clarity and Brevity in communications Most commonly used prowords: CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  28. Phonetic Alphabet & Numbers A Alpha (Al fah) B Bravo(Brah voh) C Charlie(Char 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 Juliet (Ju lee ett) K Kilo (Kee loh) L Lima (Lee mah) M Mike (Mike) N November (No vem ber) O Oscar (Oss cah) P Papa (Pah pah) Q Quebec (Keh beck) R Romeo (Row me oh) S Sierra (See air rah) T Tango (Tang go) U Uniform (U nee form) V Victor (Vik tah) W Whiskey (Wiss kee) X X-Ray (Ecksray) Y Yankee (Yang kee) Z Zulu (Zoo loo) • Pronunciation • of Numbers • 1 Wun • 2 Too • 3 Tree • 4 Fo-wer • 5 Fife • 6 Six • 7 Seven • 8 Ate • Niner • 0 Zero CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  29. Contacting Another Station • To Establish Contact • “Columbus 40 THIS IS CAPFLIGHT 3421 OVER” • Response from the Ground Station • “CAPFLIGHT 3421 THIS IS Columbus 40 OVER” • No need to use call signs until communications are complete • Say “OVER” before releasing PTT on mike • On Closing the Contact • “… CAPFLIGHT 3421 OUT” • 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.” CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  30. Radio Net Operation • Net Control Station (NCS) • Maintains net discipline by controlling who is talking • Must be contacted first for permission to contact another station: “Columbus 10 THIS IS Columbus 404 with a Priority message for Columbus 710 OVER” • Sample Net Check-in (C10 is the NCS): “Columbus 10, THIS IS Columbus 404 with no traffic, OVER” • Acknowledging readiness to receive traffic: "THIS IS Columbus 710, GO AHEAD with your traffic OVER" • Acknowledging receipt of a message: "THIS IS Columbus 710, ROGER your message OUT" A Formal Net controls flow of traffic on a single radio channel CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  31. Radio Nets - Contacting another Station All transmissions must receive permission from the Net Control Station (NCS) “Columbus 10, THIS IS Columbus 401 with traffic for Columbus 404 OVER” C 10 NCS “Columbus 401, Contact Columbus 404 with your traffic, OUT” 2nd 1st “Columbus 404, THIS IS Columbus 401, OVER” C 401 C 404 3rd CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  32. I SPELL / FIGURES / INITIALS • Use “I SPELL” for pronounceable words • Example: LODI • “I SPELL LODI LIMA OSCAR DELTA INDIA LODI” • Use “FIGURE(S)” AND “INITIAL(S)” for non-words • Example: N516F • “INITIAL NOVEMBER FIGURES FIVE ONE SIX INTIAL FOXTROT” CORRECTIONS • Use proword “CORRECTION” • Example: • “… Turn right at next corner … CORRECTION Turn left at next corner…” CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  33. SENDING NUMBERS 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” CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  34. CAP RADIO MESSAGE FORMAT (CAPF 105) • Message Heading • Precedence (Urgency) • Date-Time Group (DTG) • From (Originator) • To (Addressee) • Info (Other Addressees) • Message Text • When read, separate from heading and end by the proword “BREAK” • Receipt Block • FROM or TO Call Sign • DTG received or sent • Initials of radio operator CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  35. Message Precedence PRIORITY (P) • Used For Messages Where “Routine” Isn’t Fast Enough • Processed Ahead Of Routine Messages, not to exceed 6 hours ROUTINE (R) • Most Used; Delivered In Order Received, no later than beginning of next duty day • Other Precedence you may hear but not used by CAP. Both are handled before Priority or Routine Traffic. • FLASH • Highest Priority • Handled as fast as possible, ahead of All other messages • IMMEDIATE (O) • Messages related to situations gravely affecting the security of the Nation • Requires immediate delivery not to exceed 60 minutes CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  36. Distress and Emergency Signals } MAYDAY Distress PAN Urgency SECURITE Safety Supercedes all Priority or Routine Traffic Operator Responsibility #1 LISTEN #2 Be Prepared to Assist Do NOT Transmit unless your services are needed or contact is requested CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  37. PROHIBITED Operating Practices • Violation of Radio Silence • Personal Conversation • Use of given names or nicknames in place of call sign • Excessive tuning and testing • Profane, indecent, or obscene language • Interruption of scheduled net activities in progress • Transmitting in a Net without permission of NCS • Leaving a directed net without the permission of the NCS, except in emergency situations or equipment failure Other discouraged practices • Use of 10 codes or Amateur Radio Q Signals • Transmitting radio frequency info over the air (FOUO) • Use of Amateur Radio or Citizens Band frequencies for CAP business CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  38. Good Radio Operator Habits • Always listen before transmitting • Listen for your callsign; Other stations may have traffic for you • Speak clearly and slowly • Annunciate your words • Speak clearly and in a normal voice when transmitting • Remain calm no matter what happens -- “Don’t Panic” • THINK -- “Use Your Head” • Read the message as written • If you don’t understand it, ask the Originator • ONLY the Originator can change the message • Keep your traffic short and succinct CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  39. Radio Signal Reports Signal Strength LOUD Your signal is very strong GOOD Your signal strength is good WEAK Your signal strength is weak VERY WEAK Your signal strength is very weak FADING At times your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied on Readability CLEAR The quality of your transmission is excellent READABLE The quality of your transmission is satisfactory UNREADABLE The quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot understand you DISTORTED Having trouble understanding you because your signal is distorted WITH INTERFERENCE Having trouble understanding you due to interference INTERMITTENT Having trouble understanding you because your signal is intermittent Example: “Loud and Clear, Over” Reports such as: “Four By Four” “Five By Five” “20 Over S9” will NOT be used CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

  40. Radio Operation Practice Messages • Mission sortie assignment • Mission status report • Radio signal report • Ground Team position report • Takeoff / Landing time and airport report • Reporting a clue or find • Passing information or directions • Request relay to regain communications "I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is exactly the same, except that there is no cat.“ Attributed to Albert Einstein CAP Basic Communications Orientation Course (Feb 2006)

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