2. Basic Radio Authorization Course
Slides Prepared by Lt. Colonel Robert Nagel Nevada Wing Director of Communications
Prepared with Microsoft PowerPoint
Material Current as of 10/30/01
Slides Updated 10/30/01
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3. Purpose of this Course Basic Discussion or CAP Radio Operation
To Provide an Introduction for Using the CAP radios
To Encourage You to Take the Advanced Radio Operator Authorization Course

4. Is This Where You Stop? This Course Permits You to Use CAP Radios
You Need the Advanced Course if You:
Want to Own Your Own Radio Station for CAP and get your own call sign
Pursue the Communications Officer Specialty Training
Are Issued a Corporate Radio Asset

5. Course Content -- What We Will Cover --
Standard Operating Procedures
Local Operating Procedures
Repeater Network
There is No Test, But, Attendees are Certified Upon the Recommendation of the Instructor to the Wing Director of Communications

6. Standard Operating Procedures
Standard Operating Procedures -- Basic Familiarization and Demonstration of Do’s and Don’t’s:
Use of Call Signs
Basic Prowords / Alphabet / Numerals
Calling and Answering
Operating the Radio
Prohibitions
National Communications Policies
Local Communications

7. Standard Operating Procedures
General Information

8. General Information
CAP is a Federal Agency with Access to the Federal Radio Spectrum
CAP Must Have Appropriate Paperwork to Communicate with Non-Federal Users
CAP Uses Professional Communication Techniques. Therefore No 10 Codes or Q Signals

9. CAP Radio Station Licensing
CAP is a federal agency; its Radio Stations are licensed by the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration)
Public stations are licensed by the FCC\
Federal agencies are not allowed to use services allocated exclusively to the public sector for their business
This excludes the use of Amateur Radio and Citizens Band for CAP business

10. Use of Callsigns In CAP We Use Tactical Callsigns for
Aircraft Callsigns
Mission Callsigns
Wing Callsigns

11. Aircraft Callsigns
Aircraft are “CAPFLITE”
EXAMPLE
CAPFLITE 2795

12. Mission Related Callsigns
Mission Callsigns are Used at Activities
These Callsigns Designate Specific Functional Duties at the Activity
If Multiple Activities are Occurring, then the Callsign is Often Qualified with a Location
EXAMPLES
MISSION BASE
Ely MISSION BASE

13. Wing Callsigns
Wing Callsigns Are Assigned to Each Wing, Region, and to National Headquarters
Nevada is “Silver State”
Texas is “Texas CAP”
Arkansas is “Wild Wood”
Arizona is “Red Rock”
California is “Yosemite”
New Mexico is “Ship Rock”
Southwest Region is “CAP West”

14. The NV Wing Commander is Silver State 1
Tactical Callsigns
Tactical Callsigns are Made Up of the Wing Designator and a Number Assigned Each Individual
EXAMPLE
The NV Wing Commander is Silver State 1

16. PROWORDS
Combine Prowords with other Prowords and normal words to create transmissions
Silver State 20, This Is Silver State 341 Over.
Silver State 341, This Is Silver State 20 Over.
Could you scare up three more Cadets for the flight line Over.
Wilco, will have them there in five minutes Over.
Thank you, Out.

17. Prowords Avoid Sounding Stupid: Roger Wilco,Over and Out
Repeat last transmission Over
Don’t use “ten codes”, “Q signals” or other non approved codes

18. Phonetic Alphabet A Alpha B Bravo C Charlie D Delta E Echo F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliet
K Kilo
L Lima
M Mike
N November
O Oscar
P Papa
Q Quebec
R Romeo
S Sierra
T Tango
U Uniform
V Victor
W Whiskey
X Xray
Y Yankee
Z Zulu

19. Pronouncing Numerals 0 ZERO 1 WUN 2 TOO 3 THU REE 4 FO WER 5 FI YIV
6 SIX
7 SEVEN
8 ATE
9 NINER
13 WUN THU REE
19 WUN NINER
44 FO WER FO WER
90 NINER ZERO
136 WUN THU REE SIX
500 FI YIV ZERO ZERO
1478 WUN FO WER SEVEN ATE
2100 TOO WUN HUN DRED
16000 WUN SIX THOW ZAND
81268 ATE WUN TWO SIX ATE

20. Calling and Answering We use the system “You” this is “Me” over
If You are Courteous and Polite You Know the Rules Already
Listen to be Sure the Frequency is not Busy
Call Your Station
Conduct Your Business
State that You Are Through with the Frequency

21. Operating the Radio

22. Operating the Radio
Personnel with Basic Level ROA will be operating CAP Radios
These radios have similar characteristics and controls
Corporate Radios are channelized the same.

23. Often, radios can operate on Non-CAP frequencies
Make sure that the person who loaned you the radio explains the controls and settings
Often, radios can operate on Non-CAP frequencies
You are responsible for the transmissions from your radio
Operating on frequencies you are not authorized to use is a Felony. Penalties can be --
Up to 20 years in Federal Prison
Fines up to 20,000 dollars

24. Radio Controls Microphone -- you speak into the microphone
Push-to-talk Switch -- usually on microphone
Power Switch -- usually coupled with volume
Volume Control -- adjusts loudness of speaker
Squelch -- adjusts noise threshold of receiver
Channel -- changes the channel being used

25. Microphone You speak into the Microphone
Don’t yell or whisper, talk at a normal volume as if the person was standing a few feet away
Shouting does not increase intelligibility or range

26. Push-to-talk Switch
You push the Push-to-talk Switch when you want the radio to transmit
You must release the switch to listen
Monitor the channel for a few seconds before you transmit to ensure that you don't interfere with other traffic prior to pushing the PTT Switch

27. Power Switch The Power Switch controls the power to the radio
The Power Switch is usually coupled with the Volume Control
Battery powered radios should be turned off when not being used to conserve the batteries

28. Volume Control The Volume Control adjusts the loudness of the speaker
The higher the volume, the more battery power is used
Keep the Volume Control set to a comfortable, but non-annoying, level

29. Squelch
The Squelch adjusts the point where audio and noise are suppressed
Adjust the control until noise is heard and then back off to just past the point where the noise stops
If using tone squelch, defeat the tone decoder prior to adjusting the squelch

30. Channel Selector
This switch selects the receive and transmit frequencies being used
Radios in Nevada Wing are set up with channels 1 through 14. These are referred to as ‘Channel 1’ through ‘Channel 14’
Consult the person who furnished the radio for the specific settings for the radio you are using

31. Operating Techniques

32. Operating Techniques
Speak clearly and in a normal voice when transmitting
Hold the PTT switch in while transmitting and release to receive
Listen for your callsign. Other stations may have traffic for you.
Keep your traffic to the point

33. Prohibitions

34. You must not use the radio for personal communications
You must not use the radio for personal communications ... only those of the corporation
You must not use profanity or transmit music on the radio
You must observe radio silence if it is imposed upon your station
You must not argue on the radio

35. National Communications Policies

36. National Communications Policies
Use of Amateur Radio frequencies is forbidden for conduct of CAP business including SAR/DR operations
CAP Stations operating on non-CAP frequencies must have written authorization from the licensed agency and an appropriate SFAF on file

37. Local Operating Procedures

38. AIRCOMM
AIRCOMM is the Functional Callsign of Aircraft Operating at High Altitude to Perform Radio Relay
Use of AIRCOMM Permits Communications Over a Much Larger Area

39. Nevada Repeater Network

40. Nevada Repeater Network
There is a statewide network or radio repeaters for command and control of aircraft and ground teams
They are strategically located on mountain peaks to maximize their range and cover all major metropolitan areas and search bases

41. THAT’S ALL
FOLKS