Radiocommunication Field Handbook

Transcription

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2 CONTACTS QUICK REFERENCE Radio Network General Services For Wildfire Radio Support, contact your local Logistics Chief For Information (all numbers 250 area code) Office Cell Call Sign Superintendent, Northern Interior Region Don Lewis CAR41 Superintendent, Southern Interior Region Rowe Barnett RA10 Superintendent, Coastal Region & Victoria Glenn Allen Director, Communication Services For Issue Escalation Keith Finnie Director, IM/IT Technology & Communication Services David Rejminiak Chief Information Officer, CSNR Information Management Branch Guy Gondor Doug Say Note to business areas that were not part of the Ministry of Forests and Range: At time of publishing of this handbook, the integration of support for the Ministry of Environment radio network had not occurred. When ready, an appendix will be published and distributed that explains how the needs of these users will be met by Corporate Services for the NR Sector, Information Management Branch. Please use the pouch in the back cover to store the new appendix when you receive it. 2

3 CONTENTS CONTACTS QUICK REFERENCE 2 NATURAL RESOURCE RADIO SYSTEM 8 AUTHORIZATION - INDUSTRY CANADA 8 Licensing 8 Federal Regulations 8 VHF HANDHELD AND MOBILE RADIOS 8 Range 8 OPERATING PROCEDURES 9 Tone of Voice, Voice Loudness and Articulation 9 Do Not Shout 9 Squelch Control 9 Microphone 9 CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) 9 District CTCSS Tones 10 LETTERS OF AUTHORITY 10 Check To See If You Have A Letter Of Authority 10 LOGGING ROADS 10 Entering and Working In an Active Logging Area 11 Road Channel Frequency Check 11 Prior to switching channels 11 Resource Road Channels (Safety Item: Complete a Radio Check BEFORE you leave) 11 Your radio display will show these new channels as RR-XXY. 11 Resource Road Channel Signage: 11 Resource Road Calling Procedures 12 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REPORTING ACCIDENTS 12 Calling For Assistance 12 International Distress Calling / Answering Procedures 12 Refer to APPENDIX H for emergency procedures and making distress calls. 12 Wildfire Management Program 12 Accident Response - Basic Rules 12 See APPENDIX J for Wildfi re Management Branch Accident Response Rules. 12 PRIORITY OF COMMUNICATIONS 12 NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS RADIOS 13 Types and Models of Field Staff Radios 13 Handhelds Radios 13 Satellite Phones 13 Mobile Radios 13 3

4 Air-Band Handhelds 13 ICOM F30GT Instructions 14 ICOM F3 and F3S Instructions 16 Globalstar GSP-1600 Instructions 17 Globalstar GSP-1600 Quick Reference Guide 19 Iridium 9505A Satellite Phone 21 Kenwood TK-780 Instructions 23 Kenwood TK-7180 Instructions 24 ICOM A4 Operating Instructions 25 Troubleshooting / Maintenance and Repair 25 Handheld Radios 25 CALL SIGNS 26 Obtaining a Call-Sign 26 Wildfi re Management Branch Call-signs 27 RULES OF OPERATION 27 Ministry Use Policy 27 General Policy 27 Road Frequency Use Policy 27 Important Narrowband Policy Notice 28 WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT BRANCH FIRE COMMUNICATIONS 28 OBTAINING AND RETURNING A NATURAL RESOURCE OPERA- TIONS HANDHELD RADIO 29 Radio Sign out Policy and Procedures 29 Obtaining or Returning a Radio (Non Fire Stock) 29 Failure to Return a Handheld Radio 29 Missing Radio Policy 29 Finding a Radio that does not belong to you 29 APPENDIX A - Call Sign Assignments 30 Northern Interior Forest Region - Base Call Signs 30 Southern Interior Forest Region Base Call Signs 30 Coast Forest Region Base Call Signs 30 Call Centre - Call Signs 30 APPENDIX B - Safety Requirements for Field Staff 31 WorkSafeBC (Formerly WCB) Requirements 31 WorkSafeBC: Accident Prevention Regulations: - Article WorkSafeBC First Aid Regulations: - Article 33.5 (1) 31 APPENDIX C Natural Resource Operations Frequencies 32 Standard Radio Channel Line-ups 32 ICOM F3/F3s and ICOM Mobiles Frequency Line-Up (Revised Nov 2010) 32 F30GT Handheld and Kenwood TK-780, TK-7180 (Revised: Feb 2010) 33 Incident Commanders and Fire Bosses Only 33 UHF Fire Repeater Frequencies 34 VHF AM Air Frequencies 34 4

5 CTCSS Tones 34 APPENDIX D Standard Operating Procedures 35 General Information 35 Antenna location is important 35 District Radio Repeater Systems 35 Description and Operation 35 Selecting Tones 35 Propagation Characteristics 36 How a District Repeater System Works 37 To call the District Offi ce back from the portable 38 In Summary 38 Exceptions 38 An example of diffi cult or marginal communications 38 Terminology 38 Simplex Frequency 38 Half-duplex Frequency 38 Full Duplex Frequency 38 DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency 39 VHF and UHF Frequencies 39 Standard Voice Phrases to Use on the Radio System 39 Reception and Reception Quality Assessments 40 Phonetic Alphabet 41 Sign In/Out (District Offices or Fire Control Centre) 41 District Offi ce Staff 41 Wildfi re Management Staff 41 Regional Staff and Headquarters Branch Staff 41 Check-in Examples 42 No Response Example 43 APPENDIX E Where To Get Help 44 Regional Radio Support 44 Radio Service Information 44 Online Information 44 PETUNIA and IRIS 45 APPENDIX F Knowing More About Your Radio 46 Squelch Control 46 PTT (Push-To-Talk) Button 46 Monitor Button 46 Channel Selector or Key Pad 46 Antennas 46 Hi Lo Power Switch 46 Batteries 47 Lithium Batteries 47 Leaking Batteries 47 Vehicle Power Supplies 47 Trunk Mounted Units 48 5

6 APPENDIX G Emergency Procedures 49 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 49 Levels of Distress 49 The Distress Signals 49 MAYDAY 49 PAN-PAN 49 SECURITY 49 A Distress Message 50 Radio Silence 50 APPENDIX H - Forest Region Map Supplement 51 Coast Forest Region Maps 52 Coast Forest Region 53 DCK - Chilliwack 55 DSQ - Squamish 56 DSC - Sunshine Coast 57 DSI - South Island 58 DCR - Campbell River 59 DNI - North Island Central Coast 60 DNC - North Coast 61 DHG - Haida Gwaii 62 Northern Interior Forest Region Maps 64 Northern Interior Forest Region 65 DKM - Kalum 67 DSS South - Skeena Stikine 68 DND - Nadina 69 DVA - Vanderhoof 70 DJA - Fort St James 71 DPG - Prince George 72 DMK - Mackenzie 73 DPC - Peace 74 DFN - Fort Nelson 75 DSS North - Skeena Stikine 76 Southern Interior Forest Region Maps 78 Southern Interior Forest Region 79 DQU - Quesnel 81 DCH - Chilcotin 82 DCC - Central Cariboo 83 DMH Mile House 84 DHW - Headwaters 85 DCO - Columbia 86 DCS - Cascades 87 DKA - Kamloops 88 DOS - Okanagan Shuswap 89 DAB - Arrow Boundary 90 DKL - Kootenay Lake 91 DRM - Rocky Mountain 92 6

7 APPENDIX I Wildfire Management Branch Updates 94 FIRE COMMUNICATIONS 94 Man Power & Equipment Mobilization Plan 94 First-Contact Communications 94 Offi ce of the Fire Commissioner 94 Ongoing Fire-Line Communications 94 Wildfi re Management Fire Control Centre (PFCC - Fire Season Only) 95 Fire Communications and Issues (Fire Season Only) 95 Accident Response Procedures 95 International Distress Calling Answering Procedures should be followed 95 Additional Wildfi re Management Rules 95 Radio Sign Out Policy and Procedures 96 Obtaining or Returning a Handheld Radio 96 Failure to Return a Handheld Radio 96 Missing Radio Policy 96 Call Centre Contact Information 97 Wildfi re Management Branch Radio Requisition Process 98 APPENDIX J - Call Centre Map Supplement 100 Cariboo 101 Coastal 103 Kamloops 105 Northwest 107 Prince George 109 South East 111 7

8 NATURAL RESOURCE RADIO SYSTEM The Ministry of Natural Resource Operations (MNRO) radio system is comprised of twenty-nine separate district systems in three regions, weather monitoring stations and an aircraft location and management system. The MNRO system is one of the largest systems in Canada - it includes base stations, mountain top repeaters, mobile units for vehicles, aircraft, and marine vessels, and handheld portable units for individual communication needs. The focus of the radio system has been to provide reliable two-way radio service to personnel required to operate in the rural and remote locations of British Columbia, and to provide emergency radio communications where and when required. The NRO radio system operates like a party line phone, ALWAYS ASSUME OTHERS ARE LISTENING. AUTHORIZATION - INDUSTRY CANADA Licensing All Ministry radios are licensed. Licenses are held at Radio Operations in Victoria. Federal Regulations 1. You shall not deliberately cause harmful interference to another user. 2. Do not transmit signals not related to work or safety. Unless a transmission is related to offi cial business or safety it should be deemed Not-Relevant. 3. You may not transmit a message (conversation) containing profane or obscene words or language. 4. You may not divulge or use information you may overhear - other than from a public broadcast. 5. Emergency transmissions have priority over all other communications! VHF HANDHELD AND MOBILE RADIOS Handheld portable radios and mobile radios are used for person-to-person communications either directly or through a radio repeater. Direct radio-to-radio (simplex) channels are identifi ed by a metallic colour. Repeater (duplex) channels are identifi ed by a rainbow colour. (See Appendix D for more information on Radio Repeaters and Appendix C for standard Forest Service channel frequencies.) Range The range of VHF radio depends on a number of factors including transmit power, antenna effi ciency, terrain and distance. Treat direct radio-to-radio communications as line of sight. Obstructing terrain such as hills or mountains will block your signals unless the distance between radios is very short. The rubber ducky antennas on portables are notoriously ineffi cient. Maximize the range of your radio by keeping the antenna vertical. Maximize the range of your radio by keeping the antenna as high as possible. 8

9 Some portables have been supplied / equipped with remote speaker Mics and are operated while the radio is being carried on the hip - this does reduce their range. If you are experiencing problems, you may have to remove the portable and operate it with the speaker Mic at an elevated position away from your body. OPERATING PROCEDURES (Things to know before you start) 1. You must have a call sign an ID by which you will be known. (To obtain a call sign refer to CALL-SIGNS ) 2. You will need to know the call sign(s) of the people or stations with which you wish to communicate. 3. You will need to know the safety checkin schedule that you are required to keep. If you are not sure read Appendix B and check with the district offi ce or your supervisor. 4. You must know the channel designation, or if you are working through a radio repeater you must know the channel Remember: You may know where you are but... does the person with whom you are checking- in know where you are and that you are safe? designation and access tone for the repeater with which you will be communicating. 5. How to operate the equipment If you are unsure then refer to Natural Resource Operations Radios. 6. Is the radio working? Perform a Radio Check before you leave to begin work. Tone of Voice, Voice Loudness and Articulation Do Not Shout Shouting may cause the radio to clip words rendering them indistinguishable at the receive station. Speak normally or a bit softer if someone says they can not understand you. Articulate your words. Squelch Control Radios generate noise when not receiving a signal. The squelch control allows the user to quiet this noise. Radios with internal squelch control will have been pre-set to an optimal value by a radio technician. Microphone Hold front of the microphone 5 cm from your mouth and speak into it with a normal voice tone and audio level. Articulate your words. CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) The Ministry uses 9 CTCSS tones on it s District Radio systems to reduce interference on the district repeater systems. CTCSS is a sub-audible tone (cannot be heard by users) which is placed on each radio transmission. The correct tone signals to the receiving radio that a message is coming through. If your radio is not set to the correct tone, you will not be able to talk through a repeater. CTCSS tones are never used on Silver, Gold, Copper, Nickel or Bronze. 9

10 District CTCSS Tones Adjacent Districts do not, as a rule-of-thumb, use the same tones. A radio Toned for one District s radio system will not work in an adjacent District if that district has a different tone. The Tone must be changed for the radio to work. The Natural Resource Operations Radio section has instructions for changing tones. Consult the Radio Repeater Maps for repeater colour and tone information. These maps are contained in this manual or may be downloaded from the ministry intranet site at LETTERS OF AUTHORITY For one user to operate on someone else s operational frequency requires an approval, or Letter of Authority (LoA) authorizing use of the frequency this is an Industry Canada (Federal Regulatory) requirement. The Ministry of Natural Resource Operations advises Industry Canada when a LoA is issued. If you have a LoA you must have a Call Sign to communicate with a Ministry of Natural Resource Operations offi ce. If you do not have one, one will be issued to you from the Ministry s Call Sign implementation plan. Requesting access to the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations radio system: Fill out a Ministry of Natural Resource Operations FS 1109 form:» On line printable forms are available at lib/fs1109.pdf 1. Go to the Radio Operations website and download the form; 2. Fill out the form, and; 3. Forward the form; (This will be to a Radio Superintendent or Manager of the Region(s) where you require access) a. Coast Forest Region: (See mailing address on Page 2) b. Northern Interior Forest Region: (See mailing address on Page 2) c. Southern Interior Forest Region: (See mailing address on Page 2) 4. A LoA with repeater maps will be issued if the application is approved. Check To See If You Have A Letter Of Authority Radio Operations staff within the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations have access to the LoA database. If you wish to see the status of your LoA ask the Regional radio technician to check the database for you. LOGGING ROADS ROAD SAFETY IS OF PRIME CONCERN TO THE MINISTRY Personnel operating vehicles on logging roads must have their vehicle equipped with a mobile radio programmed with the required logging channels for the area in which they are operating. For safety purposes the vehicle mobile must be used for km checks - handheld portable radios must not be used for in-vehicle road channel communications on logging roads. 10

11 Entering and Working In an Active Logging Area Road Channel Frequency Check Check your radio / frequency list and switch to the frequency that is posted at the entrance to the active logging road. Monitor and check for frequency traffi c and logging truck movement prior to proceeding. Confi rm your selection by calling someone before you enter the road. It is important to be familiar with the calling procedures used on that road. You must clear the road when you leave the radio advisory portion of the road. Listen carefully to all traffi c you hear. Shut off all other radios and limit conversations. If you must make a call on a channel other than the road channel you are on: Prior to switching channels 1. Advise others that you are stopping and where you are stopping; 2. Stop your vehicle in a visible location out of the way of passing vehicles; 3. Switch to your alternate channel and make your call when fi nished; 4. Switch back to the Logging Road Channel advising others you are moving again. Important:» If you do not know the frequency used in an active logging area, DO NOT enter this area. Contact the District Offi ce for information on the frequency used on that road.» Road channels are not to be scanned. Resource Road Channels (Safety Item: Complete a Radio Check BEFORE you leave) Road Channels: There are currently in excess of 250 road safety channels in use throughout the province of BC. Industry Canada, Natural Resource Operations, BC TruckSafe, WorkSafeBC, BC Forest Safety Council and other interest groups have been working to establish a smaller number of standard road safety channels for use province-wide on Resource Roads. Eleven frequencies were initially identifi ed for road safety which when coupled with one of three tones effectively providies thirty-three channels. Your radio display will show these new channels as RR-XXY. (RR = Resource Road, XX = Road Channel assignment, Y = Tone assignment). Resource Road Channel Signage: Loading and Unloading Zones: Three frequencies are currently allocated for Loading and Unlocading, when coupled with one of three tones this provides nine channels for loading and unloading zones. These will show up in your radio display as LD-XY. They must be posted at the entrance to Loading and Unloading Zones. (LD = Loading / Unloading, X = Channel assignment, Y = Tone assignment). 11

12 Resource Road and Loading Channels have been programmed into radios along with their corresponding tone per Industry Canada regulations PRC 07-3 Issue 3 May Do not change the Tones. Roads using these channels will be clearly identifi ed at the start of the road with a Black on Yellow sign with the channel ID and the actual radio frequency and tone. Signage will be subject to minor change over the next year as the Resource Road Working Group, Industry and Industry Canada clarify the optimal solution. NOTE: IT IS CRITICAL THAT CHANNELS BE CORRECTLY PROGRAMMED INTO RADIOS. THIS INCLUDES NARROW BANDWIDTH, POWER LEVEL, TONE AND CHANNEL NAME. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD RESOURCE ROAD CHANNELS OR LOADING CHANNELS BE PROGRAMMED INTO RADIOS THAT ARE NOT APPROVED FOR NARROW BAND OPERATION. (SEE PRC 07-3 Issue 3 May 2010) Resource Road Calling Procedures These are also being reviewed and are subject to change. The intent is to have a province-wide standard available beginning The proposed standardized calling procedure (up, down, loaded, empty, etc.) will be posted on the km markers. Loading Channel Signage: EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REPORTING ACCIDENTS Distress, urgency and safety procedures have been established by the International Telecommunications Union. Emergency communications and procedures have been standardized in order to be understood world-wide. Calling For Assistance All operators and personnel expected to use radio equipment must become familiar with distress signals. International Distress Calling / Answering Procedures Refer to APPENDIX H for emergency procedures and making distress calls. Wildfire Management Program Accident Response - Basic Rules See APPENDIX J for Wildfi re Management Branch Accident Response Rules. PRIORITY OF COMMUNICATIONS 12

13 Radio communications are vital to effi cient and safe Natural Resource Operations Aircraft, Marine and Ground fi eld operations. When multiple users require the simultaneous use of the radio following priority for radio communication will apply: 1. Distress Calls: MAYDAY, PAN-PAN and SECURITY calls Aircraft and marine distress calls Accident and medical emergencies 2. Safety Check-ins: For aircraft, vehicles, vessels and personnel Aircraft and vessel check-ins and position reports Regional, District, Call Centre and Branch staff safety check-ins and position reports 3. Operational Traffi c: Wildfi re Management initial and status fi re reports and updates (ground or aircraft) Air patrol aircraft and helicopter traffi c; vessel updates Regional, District, Call Centre and Branch operational and routine traffi c All radio communications must be recorded in the appropriate radio logs according to the local standard operating procedures. NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS RADIOS Types and Models of Field Staff Radios Handhelds Radios ICOM: F30GT (Ministry Standard) ICOM: F3 and F3s (Firestock Radios for Fire Crews) ICOM: F3161 Satellite Phones Qualcomm GSP-1600 Globalstar Satellite Phone Motorola 9505A Iridium Satellite Phone Mobile Radios Kenwood: TK-780 (Ministry Standard) Kenwood: TK-7180 (Ministry Standard) Kenwood: NX-700 Air-Band Handhelds ICOM: A3 and A4 13

14 ICOM F30GT Instructions TONES are labelled on the screen as ( Ton ## ). Tones are channel specifi c. Press P0 to access tones use channel up / down to change tone. Press P0 to exit. Tone off is indicated by ( Ton MR ) when P0 is pressed. For example, to set the above radio to Tone 04 Select colour channel, press P0 then F2 or F3 until display shows Ton 04, then press P0. The tone is now set for that channel. ONLY USE TONES ON REPEATER (COLOUR and TYPE A FIRE REPEATER) CHANNELS set channel then tone. NEVER USE TONES ON METALLIC CHANNELS - SILVER, GOLD, COPPER, NICKEL OR BRONZE. The use of portables for logging road safety is strongly discouraged. (Limited range and poor speaker volume) Use a mobile radio for this purpose.` 14

15 Squelch should be good around level By increasing the number displayed the radio will need a stronger signal in order to receive a call, reduce the number to receive weaker signals. Bank Selector Switch: Selects channel bank. Bank number is shown at the top of the display and on the rotary switch. Channel Select: Use the F2 Up and F3 Down keys to select the channel within the bank. Channels within the bank can be directly entered from the keypad using three digits. (001 for channel 1) Channel number is always shown on the display. F0: Squelch Adjust or Frequency Display Press F0 for one second and use the Up/Down keys F2 and F3 to set the squelch from (The radio will unsquelch below about 72 and will squelch again above about 90.) Press F0 for one second again to resume normal operation. This key can be optionally set to display receive frequency momentarily when pressed. F1: Scan Start/Stop and Scan Group Select Press F1 to fl ash the frequency of a channel that has a Company name in the Display or press to begin scanning the set scan list (use P1 to set channels to be scanned). Press and hold for 1 second to access scan group select then use F2 up and F3 down to select scan group (allows you to create multiple custom scan lists). F2: Up key For channel, CTCSS tone, squelch setting or scan group. F3: Down key For channel, CTCSS tone, squelch setting, or scan group. P0: User CTCSS setting Press P0 and use the up down keys to select tone. Press P0 again to resume operation on the new tone. Only one channel is changed at a time and tone remains until changed again. The tone is indicated in the display as Ton ##. Tone MR is tone off and is indicated on the display as Ton. P1: Scan Add/Delete After selecting the scan group with the F1 key, press to toggle between Scan On and Scan Off for desired scan channels. A line will appear in the top left when added. P2: High/Low Power Press to toggle between Low1, Low2 and High power. Low1 and Low2 settings will be indicated by a Low indication at the top of the display. Low1 is the lowest power output. P3: Keyboard Lock Press and hold to lock keypad (you will see a small key icon appear on top of the display). Press and hold again to release the lock. 15

16 ICOM F3 and F3S Instructions Note: the following is representative of all F3 and F3s radios used within the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations. The way the function buttons are programmed is now standard from Region to Region. ICOM F3S ICOM F3 / : Channel up/down - OR : Bank up/downthe Radios are divided into two banks of 16 channels. : NOT USED P0: CTCSS Tone Entry: Press P0 to enable tone select. Use the / buttons to select the tone. Press P0 again to resume operation on the selected tone. CtCH-mR indicates no tone present. CAUTION: The same tone will be applied to ALL channels. Fixing an incorrect tone on a repeater channel If the radio does not appear to transmit on repeater channels: Press P0 and check the repeater map to ensure you have set the radio for the correct tone. Press P0 to return to normal operation. Try the radio again. 16

17 P1: SCAN On/Off P2: High / Low power output Use low power option to extend battery life. P3: Keypad Lock Press and hold a small key will show up in display. A, B, C, D: Not programmed for Fire Stock F3 radios. Globalstar GSP-1600 Instructions The Globalstar GSP-1600 is capable of satellite and cellular communications. Most Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Globalstars are enabled only on satellite mode. Turning the phone on: Press and hold the PWR button for about one second. The phone will start looking for service. Turning the phone off Press and hold the PWR button until Powering Off appears on the display, then release it. Making satellite calls 1. Extend the antenna as shown in the Quick Reference Card. 2. Press and hold the PWR button for one second to turn the phone on and wait for the phone to fi nd service. 3. Call mode (satellite) should be automatically selected because the cellular function is not enabled. 4. Enter the phone number and press SEND. All calls to BC will be 1-(area code)-number. 5. Press END to terminate the call. 6. All Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Globalstars have a 403 area code. Receiving satellite calls Note: The Globalstar will not receive calls when the antenna is folded down. For receive standby purposes, the phone can be positioned on its side for better stability, as below: 17

18 When a call is received, the phone rings, the indicator light fl ashes and Incoming Call fl ashes on the screen until you answer the call. Press SEND to answer the call. Press END to terminate the call. Displaying the phone number: Press the Info button to display the phone number. Satellite signal level and battery level are shown on the top of the display. For more complete information see the GSP-1600 User Guide. Coverage: Users have noted the coverage is less reliable reliable the further North you are located. Coverage is further limited by obstructions such as buildings and foliage. Users should be aware of these limitations when using the Globalstar Phone. 18

19 Globalstar GSP-1600 Quick Reference Guide (Reprinted with permission from Globalstar) 19

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21 Iridium 9505A Satellite Phone The Iridium SAT phone is a competitor to the Globalstar phone and operates similarly. There are differences to note however. 1. To turn the phone on press and hold the bottom - leftmost button (button with a dot surrounded by a circle) until you see and/or hear activity. 2. Rotate the antenna to a vertical position as pictured in the Globalstar instructions on page When little House icon appears in the lower centre of the display it is ready to use. 4. All calls are entered as international calls. 5. To place a call press 00, followed by the country code, which is 1 for Canada and the U.S., followed by the 10-digit number, then press the OK button. 6. To end the call, press either the C or OK button. 7. To answer an incoming call, press the OK button. 8. If the antenna is stowed (in the down position) an attempted incoming call may be heard as a chirp. 9. If this happens, immediately rotate the antenna to vertical, then wait for the normal ring before trying to answer. 10. Consult the manual for more detailed information. The Radio Operations website has the manual at - User TRAINING and Information Iridium User Guide. 21

22 Radiocommunication Field Handbook 22

23 Kenwood TK-780 Instructions Note: The Kenwood TK-780 is capable of 250 channels. Channels are arranged in groups or banks. There is no external squelch control. Power on/off: Press to turn the radio on or off. Channel Selection: The channel is selected with the up or down keys to the right of the display. The C and D keys below the display select bank up/down. MON: The monitor button temporarily disables the receiver squelch and CTCSS fi lter to allow monitoring of all signals on that channel or test receiver volume. Alternately, if the radio has been programmed to do so, the Mon button allows the squelch level to be set with the channel up/down buttons. A: A telephone icon will show up in top right of display when a tone is selected. Press the A button to change the tone on a selected channel. Then use the channel up/down buttons to select the desired tone. Complete the action by pressing the A button again. NEVER USE TONES ON SILVER, GOLD, COPPER, NICKEL OR BRONZE B: Press to add or delete the selected channel from the scan list. Channels included in the scan will display a down arrow in front of the channel name. C and D: Change Channel Bank. Scan: Starts or stops the scan function. The microphone must be on hook for scan to work. Note: Scanning MUST BE DISABLED on active logging roads. 23

24 Kenwood TK-7180 Instructions Notes: The line in top right of the display indicates there is a tone on that channel. Tones are channel specifi c. A momentary press on the S button will enable the tone (display line visible) or disable the tone (display line hidden). Press and hold the S button for one second to allow changing of the tone on that channel, using the bank up/down (B/C)buttons - press S again to exit. Only use tones on COLOUR channels - set channel then tone. NEVER USE TONES ON SILVER, GOLD, COPPER, NICKEL OR BRONZE Scanning is not enabled on road channels. Do not attempt to change tones on company channels or road channels. These will have been preset, where required, by your radio technician. Squelch should be good around level 5 - By increasing the number displayed the radio will need a stronger signal in order to receive a call, reduce the number to receive weaker signals. 24

25 ICOM A4 Operating Instructions ICOM A4 / : Channel up/down, or frequency select. V/M: Push to select memory mode or frequency select (VFO) mode. In memory mode, the channel number will be displayed, and the channel can be selected using the up/down keys. In VFO mode, holding the button for two sec. will select the digit to change with the up/down buttons. MW: Memory write switch. Dial in the frequency in VFO mode, then push and hold for 5 sec. to write to memory. Use up/down to select the memory channel you want to write to, then push the MW button again for 5 seconds. SCAN: Starts and stops scan function SQL: Push and hold to open squelch. While holding; up/down may be used to set the squelch level. Troubleshooting / Maintenance and Repair Handheld Radios If you can not communicate on your radio check the following before calling your nearest Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Radio Technician: 1. The Obvious: a. Are you on the correct colour (channel), or simplex channel? b. Do you have the correct tone for the area in which you are operating? c. Never use tones on Silver, Gold, Copper, Nickel or Bronze. 25

26 2. Radio Coverage: a. You may be out of range of the repeater. If you are using a repeater remember repeater coverage far exceeds that of a Handheld. You may be able to hear the repeater but they can not hear you. b. You may be out of range of another simplex user. Heavy foliage or deep drainages can reduce your ability to communicate. Find a high ground elevation point and try again, or move to a repeater channel. 3. Antennas: a. Make sure the antenna is connected - ensure the connector is snug (do not overtighten). b. Make sure the antenna is not broken. A faulty antenna (rubber coating) will usually show visible damage. c. Ensure your antenna is in a vertical position when transmitting and receiving. 4. Microphones: If the unit has an external microphone or a Speaker Mic, there could be a break in the microphone cable. a. Try the radio with the Speaker-Mic unplugged (Handheld Radio Only) b. If a replacement microphone is available - try it. 5. Batteries: (See Appendix G) A common problem is weak but not dead batteries. a. Replace the batteries and try again. b. If replacement batteries are not available - put the radio into low-power mode and try once more. c. Check for corrosion on the battery terminals caused by leaking batteries. Follow the procedure in the section on Leaking Batteries in Appendix G. If you are unsuccessful: a. Write a note identifying the problem. b. Attach the note to the radio. c. Exchange it for a replacement unit by contacting your nearest Regional or Headquarters Radio Technician (See page 2 for contact names). CALL SIGNS It is against the law to transmit an unidentifi ed signal. The call-sign must be given when establishing contact and when signing off. Obtaining a Call-Sign For Regional, District, Branch or Headquarters call signs, please call the Radio General Services number on the inside front cover of this manual. Note: A Radio Call Sign Management Plan is under development. When completed, new instructions for how to obtain a Call Sign will be forwarded to you. When you receive them, please print them and store them in the pouch in the back cover of this manual. 26

27 Wildfire Management Branch Call-signs Wildfi re Management Branch Call Centre s staff: These call-signs are issued by Call Centres for their staff they must not confl ict with the Radio Call Sign Management Plan. RULES OF OPERATION Ministry Use Policy General Policy The Ministry prohibits the discussion of policy, policy interpretation, or personnel matters over the radio system. If there is any doubt about whether a message should be sent over the radio system, either do not send it, or discuss it with your supervisor fi rst. Note: The NRO radio system simulates a very large party-line service. Many people may be listening into your conversation and you have no way of knowing who they are or which company they may work for. Road Frequency Use Policy A Road Frequency (or Road Channel or Resource Road Channel) is the frequency which must be used on a logging road by an authorized logging operator for use by personnel to carry on day-to-day operations. Logging trucks are required to use this frequency (as defi ned by WorkSafeBC regulation Article (1)) to advise others in an active logging area of their whereabouts. Other logging road users are required to use this radio channel in compliance with Forest Service Road Use Regulation B.C. Reg. 173/95 Use of 2-Way Radio (WorkSafeBC Traffi c Control Systems: - Article (1)) When 2 or more vehicles are using a section of a road which is too narrow to permit them to pass, an effective traffic control system must be used by all vehicles on the road. The traffic control system must include instructional signs, including kilometre and road name/number signs, and the radio frequency for traffic control. (Forest Service Road Use Regulation) B.C. Reg. 173/95-5 Use of 2-way radio ) 27

28 A driver on a Forest Service road who uses a 2-way radio to communicate with other drivers on the road must announce, in accordance with any road markers posted at intervals along the road: (a) his or her position and, (b) the branch of the road being travelled if the radio s signal can be received on an adjacent branch of the road. To comply with this regulation, the Ministry requires that personnel driving on an active logging road (as defi ned in Article above) are required to monitor road frequency operating in the area. You must announce Location, Branch and Direction of Travel. To ensure compliance, the road channel must be monitored at all times while on the logging road except while stopped off the road in a pull-out area. The road frequency must be posted at the base of the logging road or at the entrance to the logging area. If the logging road you access does not have the logging road frequency clearly posted, you are requested to advise a NRO District Offi ce. Important Narrowband Policy Notice The Natural Resource Operations radio network and radios are narrowband compliant with Industry Canada regulations for Phase I Narrowbanding. Use of wideband radios on the radio network must not occur. For safety reasons, if you were planning to use your own VHF radio you MUST have it checked with a MNRO Technician prior to putting it into service, and you must have a Letter of Authority if you are not part of a fi re fi ghting crew. All aircraft using the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations radio network and simplex channels must ensure their VHF channels operate in narrowband mode. Aircraft operating wideband radios are not to be utilized due to the potential for a communications failure. WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT BRANCH FIRE COMMUNICATIONS See APPENDIX J for information on the following: First Contact Communications Interagency Fires and Interface Fires Non Interagency and Interface Fires Ongoing Fire-line Communications Provincial Fire Control Centre (PFCC - Fire Season Only) Fire Communications and Issues (Fire Season Only) Accident Response Procedures 28

29 OBTAINING AND RETURNING A NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS HANDHELD RADIO Radio Sign out Policy and Procedures Obtaining or Returning a Radio (Non Fire Stock) All portable and mobile radios are available from and assigned by your local Natural Resource Operations radio shop. The Radio Tech will see to the proper programming of channels and, in the case of mobiles, the installation in the vehicle. Do not purchase radios yourself as Radio Operations must be aware of all radios for legal and licensing purposes. Portable radios should be taken to the radio shop yearly for preventative maintenance and possible updating of the channel line-up. When a portable radio is no longer needed it should be returned to the radio shop. Mobile radios should be taken in the vehicle to the shop for removal by a Radio Tech. Alternately arrangements may be made with the radio shop for a tech to come to the site to remove the radio. Failure to Return a Handheld Radio Missing Radio Policy If you break, lose, misplace or have a radio stolen you must: You must fi ll out a Property Loss Form FIN-597. You must give the form to the appropriate District, Regional or Call Centre manager and a copy to the Regional Superintendent/Manager responsible for Radio Operations. Branch staff should give a copy to their Branch Manager and a copy to the Manager of Radio Operations in Victoria. Keep a copy. Finding a Radio that does not belong to you If you fi nd a Natural Resource Operations radio with no apparent owner, turn it in to the nearest radio shop or phone and leave a message as instructed. 29

30 APPENDIX A - CALL SIGN ASSIGNMENTS Northern Interior Forest Region - Base Call Signs Location Usual Call Sign Legal Call Sign Fort Nelson Fort Nelson XMQ85 Charlie Lake Charlie Lk Field Offi ce CIT788 Dawson Creek Dawson Creek XLT29 Mackenzie Mackenzie XLT304 Vanderhoof Vanderhoof XLT28 Fort St. James Fort St. James XLT85 Prince George Prince George XMW65 Burns Lake Nadina XLT31 Terrace XLV67 Kalum XLV67 Smithers Skeena VBH321 Southern Interior Forest Region Base Call Signs Location Usual Call Sign Legal Call Sign Williams Lake Williams Lake VEC909 Quesnel Quesnel XLU72 Alexis Creek Chilcotin XLW34 Kamloops Kamloops XLT52 Clearwater Headwaters XLU Mile House 100 Mile XLY72 Merritt Merritt VAQ838 Vernon Okanagan-Shuswap XLV38 Revelstoke XLT78 Revelstoke XLT78 Castlegar XLW61 Castlegar XLW61 Cranbrook XLT82 Cranbrook XLT82 Nelson XLU76 Nelson XLU76 Coast Forest Region Base Call Signs Location Usual Call Sign Legal Call Sign Bella Coola XLZ60 XLZ60 Chilliwack XMW348 Chilliwack XMW348 Cobble hill Cobble Hill CFR797 Squamish Squamish XLU22 Queen Charlotte City XLZ63 XLZ63 Campbell River XLV60 Campbell River XLV60 Port Alberni XLT40 Port Alberni XLT40 Powell River XLT33 Powell River XLT33 Port McNeill XLY78 Port McNeill XLY78 Prince Rupert XLV65 North Coast XLV65 Call Centre - Call Signs Location Usual Call Sign Legal Call Sign Northwest North West Call Centre VXC30 Prince George Prince George Call Centre XLT26 Cariboo Cariboo Call Centre XMW333 Kamloops Kamloops Call Centre XLT67 Southeast South East Call Centre VXE24 Coastal Coastal Call Centre VDI758 30

31 APPENDIX B - SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR FIELD STAFF (Worker s Well-being) Personnel operating vehicles on logging roads must have their vehicle equipped with a mobile radio programmed with the required logging channels for the area in which they are operating. For safety purposes, handheld portable radios must not to be used for road channel communications on logging roads or Resource Roads. WorkSafeBC (Formerly WCB) Requirements WorkSafeBC: Accident Prevention Regulations: - Article 8.32 Workers Working Alone Checking worker s well-being Where a worker is employed under conditions which present a significant hazard of disabling injury, and when the worker might not be able to secure assistance in the event of injury or other misfortunes, the employer shall provide a means of periodically checking the well-being of the worker. Checks shall be made at such intervals and by such means as are appropriate to the nature, hazard and circumstances of the employment. The current Forest Service procedure is four (4) check-ins per day at two hour intervals. For aircraft the check-in period is reduced to every 30 minutes. Note: Check with the specifi c District and Fire Control Centre to obtain local area check-in procedures. District Office Obligations: Normal offi ce hours for District Offi ces may vary. It is important that you establish and check the work hours for the District in which you will be working. If you are required to work outside these normal offi ce hours, ensure you have established and confi rmed a check-in procedure with your supervisor and that you have advised the District Offi ce. The District Offi ce should be advised of your Call-Sign. WorkSafeBC First Aid Regulations: - Article 33.5 (1) There shall be an effective means of communication between the location of the First Aid Attendant and the work areas served. Ask your work group leader, fi re boss or supervisor about the procedure and how to test this communications link. NRO radios are an effective method of providing communications to ensure the well-being of persons working in isolation. 31

32 APPENDIX C NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS FREQUENCIES Standard Radio Channel Line-ups ICOM F3/F3s and ICOM Mobiles Frequency Line-Up (Revised Nov 2010) Bank 1: Position Name Transmit Receive Channel 1 Red MHz MHz Channel 2 Purple MHz MHz Channel 3 Green MHz MHz Channel 4 Pink MHz MHz Channel 5 Blue MHz MHz Channel 6 Orange MHz MHz Channel 7 Brown MHz MHz Channel 8 Yellow MHz MHz Channel 9 Gray MHz MHz Channel 10 Black MHz MHz Channel 11 White MHz Mhz Channel 12 Gold MHz MHz Channel 13 Silver MHz MHz Channel 14 Copper MHz MHz Channel 15 Nickel MHz MHz Channel 16 Bronze MHz MHz Bank 2: Position Name Transmit Receive Channel 1 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 2 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 3 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 4 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 5 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 6 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 7 Gold MHz MHz Channel 8 Silver MHz MHz Channel 9 Copper MHz MHz Channel 10 Nickel MHz MHz Channel 11 Bronze MHz MHz Channel Temporarily Temporarily User Defi ned User Defi ned 32

33 F30GT Handheld and Kenwood TK-780, TK-7180 (Revised: Feb 2010) Bank 1 Position Name Transmit Receive Channel 1 Red MHz MHz Channel 2 Purple MHz MHz Channel 3 Green MHz MHz Channel 4 Pink MHz MHz Channel 5 Blue MHz MHz Channel 6 Orange MHz MHz Channel 7 Brown MHz MHz Channel 8 Yellow MHz MHz Channel 9 Gray MHz MHz Channel 10 Black MHz MHz Channel 11 White MHz MHz Channel 12 Gold MHz MHz Channel 13 Silver MHz MHz Channel 14 Copper MHz MHz Channel 15 Nickel MHz MHz Channel 16 Bronze MHz MHz Channel 17 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 18 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 19 Fire A MHz MHz Channel 20 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 21 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 22 Fire B MHz MHz Channel 23 FireCom MHz MHz Channel 24 OFC RPTR MHz MHz Channel 25 Primary Use: Reserved for Future Applications Secondary Use: User Defi ned Secondary Use: User Defi ned Channel 26 -? User Defi ned User Defi ned 33

34 F30GT and Kenwood TK-780, TK-7180 Bank Lineup Icom F30GT/Kenwood TK-780 Kenwood TK-7180 Bank# Channel Lineup Bank# Channel Lineup 1 NRO 1 NRO 2 Road Safety 2-25 Road Safety (Arranged by Freq) 3 LAD 26 LAD 4 Company Repeaters 27 PEP / S&R 5 Road Safety Scratch 28 Weather Broadcast 6 Misc Scratch 29 Loading / Unloading 7 Radio Tel 30 Resource Road 8 MoE 31 MoE Road Safety Scratch 13 Weather Broadcast 14 PEP / S&R 15 Fire Department 16 Loading / Unloading 17 Resource Road UHF Fire Repeater Frequencies RepeaterType Handheld Transmit Handheld Receive Type A UHF alpha MHz MHz Type A UHF bravo MHz MHz NOTE: The Alpha and Bravo frequencies are also used to link Types A-2 and A-3 fi re repeaters as required. VHF AM Air Frequencies (Air to ground Fire or emergency use only) Air-to-Ground Transmit Receive 1 Project Fires Rotary MHz MHz 2 Project Fires Rotary MHz MHz 3 Project Fires Rotary MHz MHz 4 Project Fires Rotary MHz MHz 34

35 CTCSS Tones (Accessing District Repeater Channels) The following tones need to be enabled in your mobile or handheld unit for you to access a District repeater system. Tone Frequency Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz Important: District tones must be used by all land and air users to communicate on the Ministry s Regional radio repeater channels. Tones may be put into effect on fi re repeater channels if radio interference develops during fi res. Tones are never used on the simplex channels, identified by metallic names: Silver, Gold, Copper, Nickel and Bronze. 35

36 APPENDIX D STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES General Information Most of the radios used by NRO are either VHF (very high frequency) or UHF (ultra high frequency). The radio you use is capable of communicating from a few hundred feet to many kilometres. CAUTION: Do not use a radio without an antenna attached. Do not hold a radio by its antenna. Your ability to communicate is impacted by factors such as: Are you line-of-sight with the person with whom you are trying to communicate? Are there trees, foliage, rocks or hills between you and the intended receiver (Obstructions do reduce the effectiveness of radios to communicate)? Are you in a gully or on a higher knoll? The higher your elevation (and your radio) the better success you will have in communicating. If you are at the end of a District s repeater system you may experience up to a ½ second delay as the entire district repeater system turns on. Speaking too soon before the entire system has turned on may result in the fi rst ½ second of your message being lost. In these situations hold the Mic button down for ½ second before you begin speaking. Antenna location is important If you have the radio on your belt or in a chest pack, your body will absorb some of the signal which will limit the radio s effectiveness. Try holding the radio up and away from your body. Are you holding your radio horizontal or vertical? (i.e. Is your antenna horizontal or vertical.) The NRO radio system uses vertical polarisation for person-to-person communications - holding your radio sideways with the antenna horizontal will reduce your ability to communicate effectively. Once you have established contact keep the radio in that location until you are fi nished your conversation. Remember, hearing a voice transmission does not guarantee that you will be able to talk with the other person. Vehicle mobiles have more output power than a handheld radio and better antenna systems improving chances of providing you with successful communications. District Radio Repeater Systems Description and Operation A radio repeater receives a radio signal and re-transmits that signal. Most NRO mountain-top repeaters are UHF between mountains, UHF to VHF on drop link repeaters and VHF to VHF for localised or fi re repeaters. Selecting Tones Your radio must be on the correct tone to communicate with a District repeater: 36

37 Look at the Regional or Call Centre map and determine where you are and which repeater colour channel you wish to link into; Once you know your location you will see a tone indicator in the coloured area a code value specifying the District tone. It will be from T1 to T9. Look in the key and you will see the corresponding tone value if you need it. Propagation Characteristics UHF signals require close to line-of-sight operation, more so than VHF signals which are at lower frequencies. Radio signals will bounce of rock faces or large surfaces. VHF signals, being lower in frequency, have better foliage penetration and refraction capabilities than UHF signals. This can allow their coverage to increase beyond the physical line of sight. Figure No. 1 Figure No. 2 Radio coverage from a transmitter installed at a District Offi ce could cover fi ve to thirty kilometres depending on the surrounding terrain and the height of the transmit antenna. 37

38 To extend the coverage to work areas further away a single repeater may be incorporated. When the distance is too great for a single repeater more repeaters are added. By establishing a series of repeater sites, radio coverage can be extended over a large area. The Ministry of Natural Resource Operations identifi es its various repeater channels by colours. For example, a red channel is the same in the Northern Interior Forest Region as it is in the Southern Interior Forest Region. Refer to the map supplement for the channel (colour) and tone to use at your location. Repeater Example Figure No. 3 How a District Repeater System Works The Process: (Refer to Figure 3) The District Offi ce transmits on Black. This is received by the BLACK Repeater which: Retransmits the signal on BLACK Transmits the signal to the GREEN Repeater on an UHF link channel The GREEN Repeater Transmits the signal on GREEN to: The portable (right of the GREEN Repeater) The vehicle (left of the GREEN Repeater) The PINK Repeater on another UHF link channel The PINK Repeater receives the signal from the GREEN Repeater and: Transmits the signal on PINK to the vehicle (right of the PINK Repeater) Transmits to the helicopter Note: 1. Your radio must be on the correct channel to communicate. 2. If you are operating into a District repeater system, you must also be on the correct District tone. (Check the District map or with District Offi ce staff if you are uncertain). 3. Mobiles, portables and aircraft will usually use the nearest repeater channel to their present location. 38

39 To call the District Office back from the portable The portable transmits on the GREEN. The signal travels up to the GREEN Repeater which: Sends a signal down to the (left) vehicle on the GREEN channel; Links to the BLACK Repeater on the fi rst link channel; Links to the PINK Repeater on the second link channel; The BLACK Repeater: Transmits a signal on BLACK that will be received by the District Offi ce. The PINK Repeater: Transmits a signal on PINK that will be received by the (right) vehicle and the helicopter. In Summary When any radio in a District transmits and is heard on one repeater, all the repeaters in the radio system retransmit the signal, each on its own colour channel. Staff wishing to communicate and not use the repeater system must be in close proximity to each other or within or near line-of-sight. In this case they would move to a simplex channel (Gold, Silver, Copper, Nickel or Bronze) and communicate directly. If this fails, the repeater system must then be used for communications. Exceptions Some districts have the ability to split their systems into two or more localized systems for fi re management or District administrative purposes. In these scenarios you will only communicate with repeaters and staff operating in your portion of the separated repeater system. An example of difficult or marginal communications If the portable is too far away, it may hear the repeater but not be able to talk to it possibly due to the inherent low gains of portable antennas, a poor location or possibly an incorrect antenna polarization. In this example the portable would hear all the traffi c on the channel but not be able to talk to anyone. Terminology Simplex Frequency A single one-way radio channel. Your radio transmits a signal and receives a signal on the same frequency but only one way at a time. Push the Mic button to talk release it to listen. An example is the NRO GOLD channel, which transmits and receives on MHz. Half-duplex Frequency A 2-frequency system where you transmit and receive on separate frequencies - it is not possible to talk and listen at the same time. An example is the NRO Red channel which transmits on MHz and receives on MHz Full Duplex Frequency A 2-frequency system where you transmit and receive on separate frequencies. A duplexer is used allowing each user to talk and listen at the same time. An example is a Telus AutoTel channel, which allows you to talk and listen at the same time. 39

40 DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency DTMF also known as Touch Tone, are the tones that you hear when you dial a push button phone. Some District repeater systems can be divided into two or more separate repeater systems by sending the correct DTMF tone sequence to them. When repeaters are separated in this manner each operates independently and conversations on one subsystem will not be heard on the other(s), allowing for greater repeater utilization. Note: There is an administrative procedure to follow prior to splitting a District repeater system. VHF and UHF Frequencies Ministry of Natural Resource Operations VHF (Very High Frequencies) frequencies operate in the 150 MHz 174 MHz band and UHF (Ultra High Frequencies) operates in the 400 MHz 470 MHz band. Standard Voice Phrases to Use on the Radio System When speaking on the radio, certain words and phrases have become standard. To avoid ambiguity and confusion, the following should be learned and used: ACKNOWLEDGE Let me know that you have received and understood this message. AFFIRMATIVE YES, agree, permission granted. CLEAR No further transmission from this station. Where possible this should be preceded by the call sign of the speaking person (i.e. BRAVO FOUR CLEAR ). CORRECTION An error has been made in the previous message. The correct version is... (Provide corrected version). GO AHEAD Continue - proceed with your message. NEGATIVE NO, permission not granted or NO I do not agree. SAY AGAIN Please re-transmit your last message. RADIO CHECK Please tell me how clearly you understand what I am saying. (See also P.41) ROGER or COPY I have received and understand all of your last transmission. ROGER - OUT I have received and understand all of your last transmission and I have no need to communicate further at this time. STANDBY I am busy for a moment. Please wait and listen to the radio until I can get back to you. If more than one person is waiting it is a common practice to also use their name or call sign(i.e. STANDBY John or STANDBY Bravo 4, etc.). 40

41 STANDING BY CALL-SIGN OUT OVER I have received your message to wait and will wait silently until you get back to me. (Give your call sign and say the word OUT ) My conversation has ended and no further response is expected. My transmission is ended and I expect a response from you. Reception and Reception Quality Assessments ALWAYS: Think Safety. Do a radio check before you begin driving, and prior to entering a logging or Resource Road - Think of Safety First. Everyone using a radio has heard the question - How do you read? How does one respond? There is a 5 by 5 code (reprinted below) invented in historic times for radio operators using AM radio, however it is awkward to use for the average person and both sides of the conversation must be fl uent in its use for it to have any meaning. A verbal description of reception conditions is perfectly acceptable or a simplifi ed version of the 5 code as noted may be used: Level Quality Description Level 5 Excellent Loud and Clear Level 4 Good Easily understandable with some background noise Level 3 Noisy Understandable with diffi culty Level 2 Poor Signal is chopping - missing words or phrases Level 1 Unreadable Cannot make out anything said For reference purposes and the diehard, here is the full description of the 5 by 5 code. The fi rst number derives from the fi rst column, the second number from the third. Level Signal Strength Level Signal Readability 5 Loud 5 Clear 4 Good 4 Readable 3 Weak 3 Unreadable 2 Very Weak 2 Distorted 1 Fading 1 With Interference 41

42 Phonetic Alphabet When a word is to be spelled, use the standard radio phonetic alphabet: A Alpha H Hotel O Oscar V Victor B Bravo I India P Papa W Whiskey C Charlie J Juliet Q Quebec X X-Ray D Delta K Kilo R Romeo Y Yankee E Echo L Lima S Sierra Z Zulu F Fox-trot M Mike T Tango G Golf N November U Uniform Judgement is required in the use of the phonetic alphabet. In noisy or hard to understand communications link use of this alphabet can improve the speed of communications eliminating the need for repeats. Where communication is clear the use of the phonetic alphabet can slow the message down as the alphabet use is not necessary to understand the message. In transmitting numerals clarity improves when certain syllables of some numbers are emphasised. Those requiring special emphasis and articulation are as follows: 4 FOWer; 5 FIFe; 7 SEVen 9 NINer (with emphasis on capitals) Sign In/Out (District Offices or Fire Control Centre) District Office Staff Each District Offi ce has individual sign in/out procedures and it is the responsibility of an employee travelling off highway in a district to be aware of and abide by the procedures for the district in which he/she is travelling. See Appendix B. District staff must be familiar with the procedures for their own district. If District staff plan to travel off highway in a District that is not their own they must secure a copy of the procedures for the District in which they will be operating - prior to embarking on the trip. Note: Normal hours of work may vary from district offi ce to district offi ce. Ensure you confi rm your location and make check-out arrangements prior to the District s formal closing time. Wildfire Management Staff Wildfi re Management staff may alternately check-in with the Fire Control Centre during fire season as an alternate to a district offi ce check-in. Regional Staff and Headquarters Branch Staff Regional and HQ Branch staff must follow the same procedures when traveling off pavement in any District. Make sure you check yourself in with the District Offi ce. 42

43 Check-in Examples Note: 1. The correct order of called and calling station must always be maintained. 2. When the stations involved are capable of multi-channel operation; the transmitting station must also indicate the channel it will be using. Example 1 You are from a Regional offi ce and are establishing communications with the Port Alberni Forest District Office: XLT40 Port Alberni, (Give your pre-assigned Call Sign such as 1Alpha6 or 1Romeo32). 1Alpha6 - XLT 40 - Go Ahead. This is Your Region [1] where you are from Your Branch name / Headquarters or Regional Location [A] for most Coast Forest Region staff and Your unique ID [6], you are calling the Port Alberni District Offi ce XLT-40. My destination (or Area of Work) is (Provide Location). I will be in the area until (Specify Time Using 24 Hour Clock). I will check back at (Specify Time Using 24 Hour Clock). Roger 1Alpha6 XLT 40 Alberni Clear. Example 2 Dispatchers, District Offi ces and Safety Offi cers should repeat check-in information back to fi eld staff or aircraft checking-in to ensure correct information has been received: XLT43 this is aircraft XRL off Disneyland to Knott s Berry Farm, ETA 14:00, over. Roger, XRL off Disneyland to Knott s Berry Farm, ETA 14:00, XLT43 out. Example 3 Coastal Call Centre calls Port Alberni Office: XLT 40 Port Alberni VDI 758 Coastal Call Centre. VDI 758 Coastal Call Centre - XLT 40 Go Ahead. Example 4 Kalum District Office tries to call mobile 2Bravo4: 2Bravo4 - XLV 67 Kalum (pauses 10 seconds-no response). 2Bravo4 - XLV 67 Kalum. XLV67 Kalum 2Bravo4 - Go Ahead. Example Mile District Office calls Timothy Lookout: XMJ 88 Timothy Lookout - XLY Mile. Stations constantly working together and expecting calls at any time may 43

44 drop the location name (i.e. XMJ 88 or XLY 22). Example 6 7Romeo32 wants to communicate to the Queen Charlottes District on yellow: XLZ 63 Queen Charlottes - 7Romeo32 on yellow. No Response Example Example 1 Kalum District Office tries to call mobile 2Bravo4 but no one answers: 2Bravo4 - XLV 67 Kalum (pauses 10 seconds-no response). 2Bravo4 - XLV 67 Kalum (pauses 10 seconds-no response). XLV67 Kalum Clear. 44

45 APPENDIX E TO OBTAIN RADIO SERVICES For Regional Radio Support Please use the quick reference page inside the front cover of this book in order to talk to a person regarding emergency Radio Network Service and Support for Wildfi res or other Natural Resource Sector Ministry related emergencies. For Information For answers to most Radio Network questions, or for information on how to obtain Radio Network services you can contact your regional Superintendent or you can call the Radio Network General Services number (Inside Front Cover). For example, for questions regarding any of the following: General information on: Repeater Maps, Training Radio System coverage or link path profi les How to obtain a Handheld or Modile radio Call sign information Radio repair, programming or maintenance Information on radio communications between regions Evaluation of specifi c radio or communication business needs To obtain more Radiocommunication FIeld Handbooks Coordination with other emergency agencies Provision of a Fire Repeater Provision of FIre Stock Handhelds for fi re line communications Information on obtaining and using Globalstar & Iridium handheld radios Any other question you may have To Obtain Radio Services Please contact the Radio Network General Services number to obtain Radio Network Services. The following are some examples: Letters of Authority (To use the Radio Network) Radio Licensing Radio repair, reprogramming, maintenance or spare parts Addition and removal of channels from your radio Repair and maintenance of the Radio Network repeater system Provision of radio equipment for forest fi res Fire Camp and Fire Communications (PETUNIA & IRIS) setup Online Information The CSNR Information Management Branch, Radio Operations intranet home page can be found at: 45

46 PETUNIA and IRIS PETUNIA - Provinvial Emergency Telecommunications Unit No Internet Available IRIS - Integrated Radio Interoperability System 46

47 APPENDIX F KNOWING MORE ABOUT YOUR RADIO Squelch Control The purpose of the squelch control is to quiet the noise that radios generate when not receiving a signal. All NRO radios have a squelch control however this control is not always accessible to the operator. Those radios with internal squelch control will have been pre-set by a radio technician. Some manufacturers combine the on/off switch, squelch control and the volume control as one switch. PTT (Push-To-Talk) Button The PTT button is depressed when you wish to transmit a message to another user. The button is located on the side of the handheld radio or if you have a remote Mic, it is located at the end of a coiled cord on the side of the microphone. Monitor Button Some radios have a Monitor button or switch that will disable the receiver tone coding function (CTCSS) (See more on CTCSS under OPERATING PROCEDURES pages 9-10). On some radios this function will disable the squelch, allowing the speaker to generate a loud hiss or roar. Channel Selector or Key Pad Channel selection on most radios is with either a numbered rotary switch or with an up/down arrow the channel being displayed on the front screen. Some radios have a key pad for channel or the frequency (if enabled) selection. On the keypad, press the channel number(s) then enter to select a channel. Antennas The antenna radiates power (a radio signal) into the air without it your radio will be unable to properly transmit or receive and your message will not be heard. Radio signals, like visible light, can be polarised. Mobile communications use vertical polarisation - therefore the antenna on the radio needs to be in a near vertical position for best communications. Antennas have a specifi ed length which correlates to the wavelength used for communications. Antenna lengths should only be altered by qualifi ed radio technicians. Telescopic antennas should be used in extended mode (length is critical). Care must also be given to avoid damage to the antenna connector. Contact the Superintendent of Electronics or a NRO Radio Technician for more information regarding various antenna options. Important: Never hold your radio by the antenna Do not transmit if there is no antenna on the radio Hi Lo Power Switch Some radios have a Hi-Lo Power switch or button which changes the output power of the unit. The Lo position should be used when communicating in close proximity to another receiver. The Hi position should be used to extend the transmission range. Using the Hi position will greatly reduce battery life. 47

48 Batteries Hand held radios may also use rechargeable Lithium batteries. These should be recharged after four to eight hours of use. An AC charger is supplied with each unit and in-vehicle chargers are available. If you have no charger, batteries can be removed and sent in to the local NRO radio shop for a charge. Instructions for the removal of batteries vary somewhat from one unit to another but most unclip at the back or bottom`. Lithium Batteries Lithium Batteries should NOT be left in chargers for an extended period of time. They should be removed from the charger, ideally after three hours or after they ve reached a full charge. Further, the batteries may be recharged after a partial discharge without danger of memory issues. Frequent recharging of the battery will extend its life. Important: Rechargeable batteries are not to be discarded in the garbage but are to be given to your Radio Technician. Return defective batteries to your Radio Technician. Leaking Batteries Remove all batteries in a pack, even if only one has leaked. If you are unable to return the unit to the nearest radio shop then: Completely disassemble the battery holder and/or compartment; Wash with baking soda and water (or CLR cleaner), brush and remove loose corrosion; Sand and clean all corroded metal; Thoroughly rinse and dry the unit; Install new batteries and tag the unit for investigation of continuing damage. If leaking cells are found in a Portable and you do not have a replacement battery pack: Clean as above - otherwise replace it with a new pack and return the damaged one to a radio shop. Vehicle Power Supplies All vehicle mobile radios run off your vehicle battery and are protected by an in-line fuse on the positive (red) wire. Power to a vehicle radios may or may not be routed through the ignition switch of the vehicle, you should know whether your radio is or is not powered through the ignition switch. To check: Turn your ignition off; If you can still talk on and listen to your radio the ignition switch has been bypassed. This will allow you to monitor the radio system without having the keys in the ignition. Leaving the radio on will drain the battery in 8 to 72 hours depending on the radio, your battery condition and the outside air temperature. Important: If your mobile unit is not wired through the ignition switch, it is a good habit to shut off the radio when you leave the vehicle for an extended period of time. 48

49 Trunk Mounted Units The physical radio will be located in the trunk or under/behind the seat. A control head will be mounted in the vehicle dash area. Fused battery leads run to both the control head and to the radio mounted in the trunk / seat area. 49

50 APPENDIX G EMERGENCY PROCEDURES The following provides basic information for all persons utilizing the Natural Resource Operations Radio network. A working knowledge of this information must be maintained by all users of the radio network. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Use of emergency procedures in land communications is very rare. A station in distress should make use of any means at it s disposal to attract attention, to make known its position and obtain assistance. Use the frequency you would normally use but if unable to establish communications, use ANY other frequency at your disposal. Levels of Distress Each level is identifi ed using the appropriate and internationally understood terminology: MAYDAY, PAN-PAN, or SECURITY. The distress term used indicates the degree of distress or urgency and when transmitted, is always repeated three times. A distress communiqué when transmitted, it is immediately followed by the distress station s call sign and location or coordinates. The Distress Signals The average Forest Service employee or fi re fi ghter will rarely if ever fi nd the need to impose a radio silence. You are however, expected to thoroughly remember how to deal with an emergency and to request immediate assistance by transmitting MAYDAY. You need to know: How to proceed with MAYDAY distress transmissions; How operators impose radio silence; The correct procedure for canceling a MAYDAY. MAYDAY In radio communications MAYDAY spoken three times is a life-threatening distress signal. It needs to be followed by THIS IS, then your call-sign or the call sign of the station in distress, repeated three times. This signal indicates: Personnel are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance. Personnel are aware of a camp, vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc. threatened by grave and imminent danger that requires immediate assistance. PAN-PAN In radio communications PAN-PAN spoken three times indicates that a calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning or advising of possible jeopardy to life. PAN-PAN is used only on the authority of command personnel. The urgency signal will be followed by a message giving details of the situation. SECURITY In radio communications SECURITY spoken three times indicates the station calling is about to transmit a message concerning safety of navigation, road alerts, 50

51 or weather warnings. All stations hearing the safety signal must continue to monitor the frequency until satisfi ed that the safety transmission does not affect them. Acknowledging or Receiving a Distress Message: When acknowledging receipt of a distress message, the receiving station will: Transmit MAYDAY. The call sign of the station in distress three times. The words THIS IS (give the call sign of the acknowledging station three times) The words RECEIVED MAYDAY A Distress Message Allow time for any nearby station to respond. If not acknowledged: Immediately acknowledge the transmission; Take all possible action to notify the appropriate rescue authorities; Make notes of the transmission, (Include time and details). Radio Silence The station in distress, or any station in the immediate vicinity, may impose silence on a particular station. This procedure is imposed if communication traffi c is interfering with the distress transmission. Should radio silence be imposed during a distress situation, all traffi c not associated with the distress transmission must cease immediately. Imposing Radio Silence A request for radio silence is addressed to ALL STATIONS or to a particular station if it can be identifi ed. The station in distress will use the expression SILENCE MAYDAY or SEELONCE MAYDAY an internationally understood term. Other stations imposing silence during a distress situation will use the expression SILENCE DISTRESS or SEELONCE DISTRESS. Canceling Radio Silence When a station is no longer in distress, the station which transmitted the distress signal and any station which relayed the distress message, will transmit an ALL STATIONS message advising that the distress traffi c has ended. Procedure for canceling the distress message is: The word MAYDAY (Transmitted only once) The words ALL STATIONS (Repeated three times) The words THIS IS (call sign of the station transmitting) The fi ling time of the original distress message. The call sign of the ship, aircraft, vehicle, that had been in distress. A short description of why the distress situation is being canceled. the words SILENCE FINISHED the word OUT 51

52 APPENDIX H - FOREST REGION MAP SUPPLEMENT 2011 Region/District Layout 52

53 Coast Forest Region Maps 53

54 Coast Forest Region 54

55 55

56 DCK - Chilliwack 56

57 DSQ - Squamish 57

58 DSC - Sunshine Coast 58

59 DSI - South Island 59

60 DCR - Campbell River 60

61 DNI - North Island Central Coast 61

62 DNC - North Coast 62

63 DHG - Haida Gwaii 63

64 64

65 Northern Interior Forest Region Maps 65

66 Northern Interior Forest Region 66

67 67

68 DKM - Kalum 68

69 DSS South - Skeena Stikine 69

70 DND - Nadina 70

71 DVA - Vanderhoof 71

72 DJA - Fort St James 72

73 DPG - Prince George 73

74 DMK - Mackenzie 74

75 DPC - Peace 75

76 DFN - Fort Nelson 76

77 DSS North - Skeena Stikine 77

78 78

79 Southern Interior Forest Region Maps 79

80 Southern Interior Forest Region 80

81 81

82 DQU - Quesnel 82

83 DCH - Chilcotin 83

84 DCC - Central Cariboo 84

85 DMH Mile House 85

86 DHW - Headwaters 86

87 DCO - Columbia 87

88 DCS - Cascades 88

89 DKA - Kamloops 89

90 DOS - Okanagan Shuswap 90

91 DAB - Arrow Boundary 91

92 DKL - Kootenay Lake 92

93 DRM - Rocky Mountain 93

94 Field Notes 94

95 APPENDIX I WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT BRANCH UPDATES FIRE COMMUNICATIONS Man Power & Equipment Mobilization Plan Please consult the Wildland Firefi ghting Resources manual - FS Know The Radio Communication Plans 2. Know When To Add Radio Manpower Resources 3. Know What Communication Resources Are Available 4. Know When To Add Radio Equipment Resources First-Contact Communications Office of the Fire Commissioner OFC-1 OFC-2 OFC-R SILVER mhz is the fi rst contact channel/frequency and remains as the OFC designated Coordination and Control channel/frequency on interface and interagency fi res mhz is the OFC designated Command and Control channel/ frequency on interface fi res OFC-R is the designated Command and Control repeater channel on interface and interagency fi res as determined by an incident commander or the OFC mhz is the secondary contact channel with the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations on interface/interagency fi res involving the MNRO should attempts to communicate on OFC-1 fail. Interagency Fires and Interface Fires Effective 2005 the Offi ce of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) has specifi ed that for all Interagency and Interface fi res inbound personnel and aircraft making fi rst contact will communicate on the OFC Coordination and Control channel. Non-Interagency and Non-Interface Fires The OFC ruling does not impact communications which are within the forest and do not involve non-ministry of Natural Resource Operations personnel. Non- Interagency / Non-Interface fi res should continue to use the standard Forest Service channels to communicate. Ongoing Fire-Line Communications The Forest Service implemented in 2004 a new communication plan procedure to improve fi re-line communications. The procedure defi nes: Two plans - Plan A and Plan B for improving fi re-line communications; When to add radio manpower resources; What communication resources are available; When to add radio equipment resources; A copy of this plan is in the Wildland Fire Fighting Resources book. 95

96 Wildfire Management Fire Control Centre (PFCC - Fire Season Only) To further improve fi re communications additional radio resources will be put on duty by the PFCC to coordinate radio communication requirements between call centres and between call centres and Regional radio staff and to provide assistance to Call Centres on radio communication issues. Provincial Radio Communications Offi cer Call Centre Radio Coordinator Radio communication problems should be routed through to the Provincial Fire Control Centre ( ), to the Regional Radio Supervisor / Radio Technician, or through to Radio Operations in Victoria. Requests for radio equipment or radio technician manpower should be made on the FS 477 form. The PFCC Radio Offi cer may put a radio technician on standby in any Region if it is deemed necessary. Fire Communications and Issues (Fire Season Only) Fire radio communications equipment or manpower issues and problems need to be passed on to the Wildfi re Management Duty Offi cer and the Provincial Radio Communications Offi cer (Provincial Radio Engineering Operations) as soon as they occur. The Provincial Radio Communications Offi cer is a Radio Technician or Radio Supervisor/Manager and must be assigned at the time an Incident Fire occurs or when a Type 1 team is deployed. This person is responsible for implementing and coordinating radio communications for Incident Fires throughout the province, for the coordination of radio communications between Regional and Zone Fire Centers and ensures application of the Fire Commissioner s Coordination and Control channel and Command and Control repeater on interface and interagency fi res. Accident Response Procedures International Distress Calling Answering Procedures should be followed See Distress Calling / Answering Procedures in Appendix H. Additional Wildfire Management Rules Code means that you are being dispatched to a potential accident scene. Assume aircraft may or may not be involved; Assume that all persons involved are alive, injured and burned; Code may be transmitted to confi rm a fatality. In assessing the scene, always ensure the safety of yourself, crew and the public. Names of persons involved are not to be relayed over the radio system. If dealing with an aircraft accident, do not refer to the air carrier name or the aircraft registration over the radio system. Do not use the term fatality or death in your communication. With the exception of the two 10 codes noted above and the specifi ed Do Not statements, use plain language over the radio system to describe you assessment of the situation and resource requirements. 96

97 Radio Sign Out Policy and Procedures The Ministry tracks highly desirable assets such as handheld radios. To ensure compliance personnel will have consigned to them their own handheld radio asset which will be recorded in the Radio Management System. You are responsible for your radio take care of it. Seasonal staff or contractors requiring temporary use of a Ministry handheld radio will be consigned a radio upon completion of an FS-1255 (Radio Sign-out form). For Crew Workers, one person or crew leader may sign-out more than one radio, however in doing so he or she becomes responsible for all assets consigned to them. All radios designated as Firestock (F3 and F3s radios) will be issued to personnel using this form. In signing out a radio or group of radios an individual is now responsible for the care and safe return of these units to the Forest Service. Obtaining or Returning a Handheld Radio Complete an FS 1255 Radio Sign-out Form. (Available at any Radio Shop) The Logistics offi cer or Radio Technician will give you the top copy for your records KEEP IT, you will need it when returning the radio. You will be issued a radio when this is completed. If you are a Crew Boss you have the choice of signing out all crew radios or having the individuals sign them out on separate FS 1255 forms. If you sign out 10 radios you are responsible for 10 radios. When returning your radio(s), hand in the radio(s) and your copy of the FS form. Failure to Return a Handheld Radio Failure to return a radio to the Forest Service upon completion of temporary work will make the consignee or the corresponding responsibility center liable for the replacement cost of the radio unit. Depending upon how the radio was lost or became non-functional, either the consignee or the appropriate responsibility centre will be responsible for providing funds to replace the radio unit. Missing Radio Policy If you break, lose, misplace or have a radio stolen you must: You must fi ll out a Property Loss Form FIN-597. You must give the form to the appropriate District, Regional or Call Centre manager and a copy to the Regional Superintendent/Manager responsible for Radio Operations. Branch staff should give a copy to their Branch Manager and a copy to the Manager of Radio Operations in Victoria. Keep a copy. 97

98 Call Centre Contact Information Location Phone Call Sign PFCO N/A Coastal VDI758 (Coastal Call Centre) Northwest VXC30 (Northwest Call Centre) Prince George XLT26 (Prince George Call Centre) Cariboo XMW333 (Cariboo Call Centre) Kamloops XMV583 (Kamloops Call Centre) Southeast VXE24 (Southeast Call Centre) 98

99 Wildfire Management Branch Radio Requisition Process 99

100 Field Notes 100

101 APPENDIX J - CALL CENTRE MAP SUPPLEMENT 2011 Call Centres Layout 101

102 Cariboo 102

103 103

104 Coastal 104

105 105

106 Kamloops 106

107 107

108 Northwest 108

109 109

110 Prince George 110

111 111

112 South East 112

113 113

114 Field Notes 114

115 115

116 Field Notes 116

117 POCKET STORAGE 117

118