King County 4X4 SAR Radio Introduction April 2013

Transcription

1 King County 4X4 SAR Radio Introduction April 2013 New members to SAR typically have a lot of questions about radio equipment and policy. This document is intended to provide the answers to the most common questions, as well as some background. This begins with an introductory section, then follows in a question/answer format, and through that you can better focus on specific questions or concerns you may have. I would encourage everyone (new and experienced members) to read the entire document, as there is a lot of good information here. If you have questions this document does not answer or that you do not understand, you are welcome to send an to me individually, or to the communications@kc4x4sar.org mail list which will send the to everyone on the communications committee. The communications committee consists of 6 to 8 4x4 members who have a lot of radio communications knowledge and experience, and work as a committee to develop and implement 4x4 communications capabilities and policies. Introductory Information. Radio Services. Let's start by explaining there are many different types of radio services. These are defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Federal Regulations. For example, there is FRS (Family Radio Service), GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), Amateur Radio Service, Business, Commercial, Public Safety, Broadcast, Marine, Aviation, and more. Each of these radio services has specific regulations and requirements (for use and for equipment). There is absolutely no "one size fits all" answer to radios. For our purposes, we can consider FRS, Amateur, and Business radio services. I'll discuss each of these along with the pros and cons throughout this document. Each of these radio services is regulated by a different "Part" of the regulations, as discussed below. Radios. There are all kinds of radios available. What is important to understand is that only certain radios can be used (legally) for each of the various radio services. Radios are classified by which "Part" of the FCC regulations they are intended to work with. The parts we are concerned with are Part 90 (business/commercial), Part 95 (Personal Radio Services) and Part 97 (Amateur). In order to use a radio on a business/commercial frequency using a business/commercial license, it must be certificated for Part 90 use. In order to use a radio for CB or FRS/GMRS it must be certificated for Part 95 use. Amateur radio does not mandate certificated equipment (but does have specific technical requirements for equipment), so most any radio can be used as a ham radio (on amateur frequencies only). It is the licensed amateur operator's responsibility to insure the radio meets the technical requirements. Handheld versus Mobile Radios. The actual radios you use can be divided into two broad categories. Handheld radios and mobile radios. Handheld radios are often referred to as "HT's"

2 or Handy Talkies. Mobile radios are designed to be installed in a vehicle and will normally have much higher transmitting power than an HT. You can use a mobile radio at a fixed location, such as your home, you just need to install an antenna for it, and you need a source of power for it (a battery and/or a power supply). Under the FCC rules, some types of radios (such as FRS radios) must only be handheld devices with fixed (non-removable) antennas. But in most other cases, you could have either a handheld or mobile radio. Licenses. All radio transmitters require a license to operate (even FRS and CB). There are several different types of licenses. Here is a quick summary of each type. Please understand that (except for amateur radio), the license specifies all of the technical details including frequency, power, even how many radios you can operate under that license. Amateur is a little different in that an amateur station can operate on any frequency and power permitted under Part 97. Amateurs are not assigned specific frequencies or power limits like commercial and business licenses are. License By Rule. This applies to CB and FRS. The FCC, by rule, is granting license to everyone to operate a properly certificated radio on CB frequencies and on FRS frequencies. You do not need an individual, family, or business license. But you do need to only use approved radios (that meet all the technical requirements), and you do need to follow the regulations covering their use. There are no tests or fees involved. You can use FRS and CB for personal, business, public service, just about any type of communications. A radio must be approved for Part 95 use in order to be used for CB, FRS or GMRS. You cannot legally program any of these frequencies into any radio that is not Part 95 approved. Amateur Radio License. This is both an individual license and a station license (the person and the equipment are licensed under the single license). It applies to one person only. You must have an amateur radio license in order to transmit on an amateur radio frequency (or be under the direct supervision of a licensed amateur). There are different levels or classes of amateur license including Novice, Technician, General, Advanced and Extra. Only Technician, General and Extra can be tested for and obtained now, but there are many operators grandfathered in with Novice and Advanced licenses. The different classes give you access to different groups of amateur frequencies. Technician is the lowest level for a new license (it is the entry level license) and gives you access to all frequencies we might use in SAR (anything above 50 MHz). You must take a test, it costs about $15 to take the test but the license itself does not cost anything. It is good for ten years. Amateur radio is for fun and hobby use. It is permitted to use it for public service and for emergency communications, but you cannot use it to conduct business. Having a ham license is convenient, but not mandatory for new SAR members. It may be a requirement for advancement to some leadership positions in some SAR units. GMRS Radio License. This is a family license. A GMRS license covers the person who got the license, as well as everyone in their family (parents, children, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles). You do not need to take a test, the license costs $85 and is good for five years. GMRS is intended for family use. It is legal to use it to conduct business, but each person (family) must

3 have a license. We do not normally use GMRS in SAR, and there is no need to obtain a GMRS license for SAR purposes. Business License. A business license covers a business and all of its employees. The business license specifies exact frequencies, power levels, and other requirements, and that is all that can be used. It can cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to get a business license depending on many different variables. The advantage is that you can give a radio to any employee or agent of the business and they can legally operate it without having any kind of individual license. For example, every policeman, every fireman, every sanitation worker, etc., in Seattle, are covered by Seattle Business licenses. A business can only use their license for the purposes of their business. Public Safety frequencies are also covered under this category. Public safety and business licenses are governed by Part 90 of the FCC rules. KC4X4SAR holds a Part 90 Public Safety License (KNDR611), a Part 90 Business License (WQKJ372), and an Amateur Club License (KC4BY). In addition, we have written authorization from Washington State for use of three search & rescue frequencies they have licensed, and we have permission from the King County Sheriff's Office for use of two public safety frequencies they have licensed. On a case by case basis, we may also receive authorization to use selected other frequencies on particular missions, including what are known as National Interoperability Channels. Some common questions: How do I use one of the unit radios? You turn it on, set it on the specified channel for the mission, adjust the volume, and listen. When you need to talk, make sure nobody else is already transmitting (talking), then push the push-to-talk button on your microphone or HT, hold it for a second or two, then start talking. When you are done talking, let go of the PTT button. You call another station by given their identification first, then yours. For example "4x4 Group this is Lincoln 1". So push, pause, speak, let go. Don't hold the transmit button down while you are thinking about what you want to say. Also, wait for a couple of seconds after the other station stops transmitting before you start transmitting again. Leave a pause so someone else can interrupt if there is an emergency or higher priority traffic. Can I use my ham radio for SAR channels? No. With the exception of Amateur radio and Aircraft radio, ALL of our operating frequencies/channels require the use of what is known as a "Part 90 Compliant Radio" (to transmit). Part 90 compliant means the radio is both Certificated by the FCC for Part 90, AND actually operates in full compliance with Part 90 requirements. A Part 90 certificated radio that is not Part 90 compliant may not be used (and there are some). It is absolutely NOT permitted to use a ham radio that has been modified for use outside of the amateur bands. Using any radio that is not Part 90 compliant on SAR frequencies (to transmit) may result in disciplinary action (including losing your membership in SAR). Any member of the communications committee can help you identify whether or not a particular radio is Part 90 compliant. Also see the question later in this document about field programmable radios (which are not permitted). You may use any radio or scanner to LISTEN, but not to transmit.

4 Do I need to buy a radio? Probably eventually, but not necessarily right away. The unit has a limited quantity of both handheld and mobile radios that can be loaned out on missions, and that may serve your purposes for some time (perhaps a very long time). These are intended for short term loan, like for a specific mission, not to hang onto for a long period of time. It is a good idea to use loaner radios for a few missions until you get your feet on the ground and have some experience with how we use radios. Do not rush out and spend a lot of money on radios until you know what you want, what you need, and how active you expect to remain in SAR. 4x4 is kind of a radio intense group, but that does not mean you need to go spend money on radios, especially early on. When you do decide to buy a radio, you want a commercial Part 90 compliant VHF-High radio. How much does a radio cost? Anywhere from about $100 for a used radio to over $1000 for high end new equipment. Typically you can expect to pay around $250 to $600 for a new radio. You will also need an external antenna and a method to connect your radio to vehicle power for a mobile radio. The antenna can be temporary (a magnetic mount) or permanent. The approximate cost range for an antenna and mount is about $50. Should I get a handheld radio or a mobile radio? This is a difficult question. Ideally, in the long run, you will probably want both. But which to get first (or only) will depend on several factors. If you are a member of more than one SAR unit, then a handheld is probably going to be more useful to you, especially for field work (like going on ESAR teams). If 4x4 is your only unit, then a mobile radio is going to give you better communications over longer distances than a handheld (and is easier to operate while driving). What is a digital radio, and do I need one? You do NOT need any kind of digital radio. There are several forms of digital radio. In the public safety world, Project 25 is the digital standard (referred to as P25). Radio manufacturers also have proprietary digital radios unique to their brands (for example Icom has IDAS). In the amateur world, there are a various types of digital communications, the current popular type built into some radios is known as D-Star (mostly available from Icom). We do not use any digital radio in SAR, and there is no expectation that we will use digital in the foreseeable future. Digital radios cost (a lot) more. Don't spend your money on one unless you just want to play with digital. What is narrow band? Effective January 1, 2013 the FCC requires all commercial/public safety/business radios (operating between 150MHz and 500 MHz) to use "smaller channels" than they did before that date (12.5 KHz wide instead of 25 KHz wide). There is more to it than just that, but that's the big picture. As a result, a lot of old radio equipment that was not capable of being converted to narrow band has hit the used market (including auction sites) as those radios were replaced with narrow band compliant equipment. There are a couple of reasons this is important for you to be aware of, but mostly so that you do not inadvertently buy a used radio that is not narrow band capable. If you have any questions about whether or not a particular radio can be used for SAR, contact someone from the communications committee and we'll help you figure it out.

5 How about a CB radio? A few members have CB radios in their vehicles, but it is not used in SAR. There is no harm in having one, but there is also no need to get one. On rare occasion we might have SAR operations on an active logging road, and in those cases a CB radio is handy. What is the best brand of radio to buy? This is sort of like asking what is the best brand of car to buy. There are several major manufacturers and they all make good equipment. As long as you get a Part 90 compliant radio, it really doesn't matter who makes it. Icom is popular in King County SAR for a couple of reasons, and there is a lot of member support (programming ability, knowledge base, etc.) for Icom. But Kenwood, Vertex, Motorola, Thales, Daniels, Bendix-King, and others all make excellent radios (and we do have members with knowledge and experience with all of those brands). A low-end, low-cost handheld option is Wouxun. Regardless of what brand you choose, get some input and guidance on models and specific features before ordering a radio. What are "channels" and what are "frequencies"? A channel is a pathway of communication, and typically has a name that makes sense in your operating environment. For example, a small police system might have a "Dispatch" channel, a "Tac" channel, and a "car to car" channel. A radio operates on a frequency. For example, 4x4 has a primary frequency of Mhz. We very often use a King County frequency of MHz. But those are funny numbers, hard to remember, and don't make sense to very many people. So we put names on these frequencies MHz is named "4V High" MHz is named "F3" MHz is named "ESAR". When we program these into a radio, we program them into memory slots in the radio, or "channels". So channel 1 on a radio could be F3, channel 2 could be 4x4, channel 3 could be ESAR, etc. It is much easier to tell someone to "go to channel 1", or "go to F3". KC4x4SAR has a band plan that specifies what each channel is supposed to be (what name, and what technical parameters frequencies, tones, power levels & other data). We are working toward getting a standard plan for all of KCSARA. Unless you are programming your own radios, you really don't need to know or understand the technical stuff, just what channel number or name you should be set to (what communication pathway you need to be using). If you are programming your own radios, you need to be certain that you get all of the detailed nits and picks correct. You do not have any flexibility (choices or options) when programming public safety or business frequencies. They must be programmed exactly as the license specifies. What is a field programmable radio? (Please read this entire paragraph) Field programmable means that you can change the technical programming (frequency, power, and other parameters) by using front panel controls on the radio. However, in order to be a Part 90 compliant radio, it cannot have the ability to be front panel programmed. Some radios can be "locked" so they can't be programmed, or "unlocked" so they can be programmed. When they are unlocked, they are NOT Part 90 compliant. One of the really important aspects of Part 90 certification, and of having "locked" radios is so that the end user can't do something wrong. You should only be able to change channels to channels you are authorized to operate on. You should not be able to change the frequency, transmitter power, bandwidth, or other technical

6 parameters of the radio. That way you don't need to have a lot of training or knowledge. I can hand anyone a radio and say "Turn this to channel 4 and press to talk" and they can't mess it up. Most people do not even realize all the details of what a radio license requires. Just being able to change between low power and high power could allow you to violate the terms of your license. So the radios allowed for use on Part 90 frequencies have to be "locked" so all those technical parameters can't be modified (accidentally or on purpose). Commercial radios are programmed with a computer before going into field service. They are not able to be changed in the field. A ham radio on the other hand is easily programmed using front panel controls, but only to ham frequencies. This is one of the major reasons you cannot use a ham radio on commercial or business frequencies. If you have a radio that can be unlocked (front panel programming enabled), you are required to keep it in the locked mode during any SAR use. If you are not able to lock your radio, it is not permitted for SAR use. One company just introduced a Part 90 approved dual band mobile radio, but we're not sure yet if it can be properly locked down to permit actual Part 90 use (it may not be permitted for SAR even if it has a Part 90 sticker). There are some other very low cost handheld radios that (despite having a Part 90 sticker) cannot be properly locked and are not permitted for SAR use. It is important to understand, the license holder, not the individual, has absolute authority and responsibility over what can or cannot be used under their license. For SAR purposes, this includes Washington State, King County, and KC4x4SAR. Do not spend money on a radio that is questionable until you get clarification. What is a Repeater? A repeater is a piece of radio equipment that receives a signal on one frequency and simultaneously re-transmits it on another frequency. You typically put a repeater someplace high, like on a mountain top or the top of a high building. A repeater lets you have effective radio communications over a much wider area, just as if one of you were sitting on that mountain top talking to the other person moving around the low areas. In order to use a repeater, your radio must be properly programmed with both of the frequencies involved. We use several repeaters in SAR including the King County F2 repeater, the amateur repeater, the SARGUYS repeater, and a Low-band repeater linked to a UHF repeater. What is a band plan? We are licensed on three different frequency bands, VHF-Low (40 to 50 MHz), VHF-High (150 to 170 MHz) and UHF (450 to 470 MHz). Normally, you need a different radio for each band. But the only band that members actually need a radio for is the VHF-High band. We have published a VHF-High band plan, which tells you what should be programmed into each channel in your radio (and all the technical parameters). We sometimes use specialized equipment on the other bands to solve difficult communications challenges on some missions, beyond the scope of what most members need to worry about. Do we use FRS or GMRS radios? We will rarely use FRS, never GMRS, in SAR. You need an approved FRS radio in order to transmit on FRS channels. You cannot use commercial Part 90 radios for FRS or GMRS (they are covered by Part 95, not Part 90, of the regulations). GMRS requires a license.

7 What is a dual band radio? Should I get one? A dual band radio is (usually) a radio that can operate on both the VHF-High and the UHF bands. There are almost no (cost effective) commercial dual band radios. There are many amateur dual band radios designed for use on both the 2-meter and 70-centimeter amateur bands. Wouxun makes a dual band Part 90 handheld radio, however we do not use the UHF public safety or business frequencies we are licensed on for normal SAR activity, so it is of no practical value to have a dual band radio for SAR. It doesn't hurt anything to have a dual band radio, but it isn't necessary. If you are using your radio for both SAR and amateur purposes, having a dual band radio may be beneficial for the amateur use. Can I hook my CB antenna up to a VHF radio and use it? NO! Antennas are tuned to the specific frequency (or small range of frequencies) they are intended for. You must use the proper antenna for a particular radio, otherwise you could damage or destroy the radio. Basically, every radio you have in your rig needs its own dedicated antenna. That's why some of our rigs look like porcupines. Any use for a marine radio? Not in our SAR operations. Marine is yet another Part of the FCC regulations (Part 80), and requires yet another approved radio. You can't use marine radios to talk between ground based locations, and you should not program marine frequencies in Part 90 radios (for transmitting). Any use for an aviation radio? We do have an air support team that will use aircraft radios to communicate with pilots when necessary on a mission. Nobody else (outside of that team) should have or be using an aircraft radio. If you end up joining the air support team, they will explain everything you need to know about aircraft radio operations. Can I use a power amplifier to boost my signal when mobile? I'm going to say flat out no. You can't use more power than we are licensed for (and in some cases that is as little as 2 watts), so with very few exceptions all an amp would do is illegally increase your signal level higher than we are authorized to use. For ham use, have at it. For public safety/commercial radio use, don't use an amp. When can I use the club ham call (KC4BY)? There must be a licensed amateur radio operator present in order to use this call sign, and it must be in conjunction with a 4x4 function, event or purpose. You can talk about anything, the conversation doesn't have to be about 4x4, but don't use the club call sign unless you are involved in a 4x4 function of some type. For example, a couple of years ago we had a field training exercise the same weekend as amateur radio field day, and we set up an HF operating station and made a lot of field day contacts around the world using our club call sign. You can only operate with privileges that the operator present has (for example, if a Technician class ham is the highest license class present, then you can only use Technician level, not General, Advanced or Extra). The trustee of the license can set whatever operating requirements and rules desired. Remember, you cannot use amateur radio to conduct any kind of business (including 4x4 business). You should not use amateur radio to

8 conduct a mission or direct mission operations unless there are no other communications options. Can't you use any frequency on any radio in an emergency? NO! There is a section of the amateur radio rules (Part 97) that says: " Safety of life and protection of property. No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available" If you read this carefully, first of all it is in Part 97 and is talking about amateur radio (part 97) operations. Secondly, it says "by an amateur station", which means it only applies to licensed amateur operators and equipment. Third, it says "when normal communications systems are not available". That's really important. So, if you are a ham, this gives you permission to operate outside your license class, for example you could use Extra class frequencies if you were a only a Technician, but only if you could not achieve communications some other, normal way, first. It is open to interpretation as to whether or not this gives a ham the right to operate on non-amateur frequencies, and in fact the FCC has levied significant fines for doing that. For our purposes in SAR, you should always have some form of authorized communications available to you that would preclude even considering this option. I've read all of this, and I'm totally lost. Help! First off, all you really need to know and understand is "Think, Push, Pause, Talk, let go". With that knowledge you can operate one of our loaner radios and function just fine on a mission. However, if you do want to get more involved than that, feel free to contact a member of the Communications Committee, we'll be glad to sit down with you and explain whatever you don't understand. the entire committee: communications@kc4x4sar.org me directly: Carl@wingrider.net Prepared by Carl Leon, Communications Director, KC4x4SAR. carl@wingrider.net