1. New Hampshire Wing CAP Communications Voice Of Command Basic Communications Users Training Course This version of the briefing slides has been purged of referenced to CAP Frequencies. For CAP internal use, the complete briefing is available at http://nhwgcap/comm/secure/BCUTforNHWG.ppt

2. Mission and Purpose : The communications mission of CAP is to organize and maintain a reliable, nationwide, point-to-point, air-to-gound and ground mobile radio capability for use in emergencies and for training communications personnel. The primary purpose of any CAP communications facility is to provide the Commander with the means for controlling his/her units and their activities.

3. CAP Radio Operator Authorization Basic Communications User Training 3-4 Hour Class on: »Standard Operating Procedures »Local Operating Procedures –Entitles CAP member to operate a CAP Radio –Issued a CAPF 76, Radio Operator’s Permit by Wing or higher headquarters Advanced Communications User Training –4-5 Hour Class –Pass the Advanced Communications User Test, CAPF 119 –Entitles CAP member to be assigned a call sign –Required as part of the Communications Specialty Track Authorization is done in two phases:

4. Part I: Standard Operating Procedures 1) Calling and Answering 2) Types of stations and Tactical Call Signs 3) Operating the Radio 4) Basic Pro-Words 5) Prohibitions 6) National Communication Policies B-CUT Topics :

5. Part II Local Operating Practices 1) Location and Use of Local Repeaters 2) Local Operating Practices 3) Types of net and local net schedule 4) Basic repeater operation 5) Message Construction 6) SAR Message Procedures 7) Hands-on practice with Radios 8) Practical Factors, (Mission Radio Operator Tasks.)

6. CAP Radio Station Licensing CAP is a considered a federal agency, thus its Radio Stations are authorized by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 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. The regulation for all CAP Communications is CAPR 100-1 Vol. 1

7. Types of Stations & Tactical Call Signs GROUND AIRMOBILE Abenaki 265 CAP Flight 2821 Ma (19xx) Maine (17xx) Vermont (41xx) ( first two digits are Wing Num.) Abenaki 405 MOBILE NEW HAMPSHIRE WING CALL SIGN EXAMPLES

8. Northeast Region CAP Stone New Hampshire Abenaki Massachusetts Patriot Maine Down East Vermont Vermont CAP New York White Peak Connecticut Charter Oak Rhode Island Narragansett New Jersey Red Dragon Pennsylvania Penn CAP National HQ CAP Head CAP CAP Radio Tactical Call Signs :

9. 1) Region/Wing Commander (Abenaki-1 ) 2) Region/Wing Vice Commander 3) Region/Wing Chief of Staff 4) Region/Wing Director of Communications 5) Region/Wing Chaplain The Call Signs 1 thru 20 are Issued to Wing Directors. Region / Wing Tactical Call Signs:

10. PROWORDS THIS ISPreface to your call sign ROGERLast transmission received OK OVERI’m done, go ahead OUTI’m done, bye WAITI will be back in a few seconds SAY AGAINSay that again CORRECTIONOops! I really meant to say WILCOROGER and I will comply AFFIRMATIVEYes Prowords are a special set of words used for clarity and brevity in communications. Some of the most commonly used prowords are: Reference: 100-1

11. Phonetic Alphabet AAlpha BBravo CCharlie DDelta EEcho FFoxtrot GGolf HHotel IIndia JJuliet KKilo LLima MMike NNovember OOscar PPapa QQuebec RRomeo SSierra TTango UUniform VVictor WWhiskey XX-Ray YYankee ZZulu

12. Numbers Pronunciation 1WUN 2TOO 3TREE 4FO-WER 5FIFE 6SIX 7SEVEN 8ATE 9NINER 0ZERO When writing the numbers, do not write them down the way they are pronounced. For example, do not write “one” as “wun” or “five” as “fife.” Write them as “one” and “five.”

13. I SPELL / FIGURES / INITIALS Use “I SPELL” for pronounceable words –PIZZA »“I SPELL PIZZA PAPA INDIA ZULU ZULU ALPHA PIZZA” Use “FIGURE(S)” AND “INITIAL(S)” for non-words –N516F »“INITIAL NOVEMBER FIGURES FIVE ONE SIX INTIAL FOXTROT” CORRECTIONS  Use proword “CORRECTION” to correct a mistake Example: “… Turn right at next corner … CORRECTION Turn left at next corner…”

14. SENDING NUMBERS Use Prowords “FIGURES”, “DECIMAL”, “TIME”, “INITIALS” Digit-by-Digit Not “Seven Fifty” 750“FIGURES SEVEN FIVE ZERO” Niner Not Nine 849“FIGURES EIGHT FOUR NINER” Decimal Point 14.5“FIGURES ONE FOUR DECIMAL FIVE” Z Time1635Z“TIME ONE SIX THREE FIVE ZULU” Initial And Figures E21“INITIAL ECHO FIGURES TWO ONE” One Figure and Initial 3-A“FIGURE THREE DASH INITIAL ALPHA”

15. ZULU Time AKA Greenwich Mean Time or Universal Coordinated Time. Refers to the current time in Greenwich, United Kingdom. Also known as UTC. Zulu time is a system of timekeeping that refers to the same time, no matter what time zone you are in. Note: If the local time is 2100 hours, with a conversion to UTC of + 5 hours, then UTC or Zulu time is 0100 the next day. Zulu is +4 hours from the first Sunday in april to the last Sunday in October. +5 hours otherwise.

16. Date-Time Group (DTG ) 16 0218Z APR 97 DateTimeMonthYear Date and Time in ZULU The DTG is used to identify (ID) of each message Only the radio operator can put the DTG on a message

17. Distress and Emergency Signals MAYDAYDistress PANUrgency SECURITESafety } Supercedes all Priority or Routine Traffic

18. Operator Responsibility LISTEN Be Prepared to Assist Do NOT Transmit Unless You Have Something to Offer or Contact is Requested

19. Calling Another Station To Establish Contact –“Abenaki 40 THIS IS Capflight 3421 OVER” Response from the Ground Station –“Capflight 3421 THIS IS Abenaki 40 OVER” No need to use call signs until communications are complete On Closing the Contact –“… Capflight 3421 OUT”

20. Calling Another Station cont Always end a transmission with OVER or OUT - NOT BOTH! Do not use “Roger Wilco” instead of Wilco. “Roger Wilco” means “Last transmission received OK last transmission received OK and I will comply.”

21. Radio Checks 1) Signal Strength LOUD, Good Example: I read you loud and clear. Weak Very weak Fading 2) Readability Clear Readable or Unreadable Distorted, with interference, Intermittent

22. Airborne operators: Before transmitting, make sure you are on the correct frequency. Before leaving the aircraft at the close of a mission, make sure the ELT is off.

23. Habits of a Good Radio Operator Habits of a Good Radio Operator Read the Msg. If you don’t understand it, ask the Originator, only the Orig. Can change the message. Speak clearly Annunciate your words. Speak slowly Remain calm no matter what happens - Never Panic THINK - “Use Your Head”

24. Prohibited Operating Practices Violation of Radio Silence Personal Conversation Transmitting in a Net without permission of NCS Lack of identifying call sign Excessive tuning and testing Use of Amateur Radio or Citizens Band frequencies for CAP business, and Vice-Versa. Use of 10 codes or Amateur Radio Q Signals

26. CAP Communications cont. Telephones - Landline and cellular telephones can be used in addition to radio communications. Video downlink INTERNET - E-mail communications, information web pages, internet phone and other methods of communication over the internet. GOAL - To have a readily available and comprehensive communications network using a variety of assets.

27. NTIA Deviation Changes Currently, 25Khz channel spacing and 5Khz deviation By January 1, 2008, the NTIA has mandated the Federal government to use radio equipment with 12.5kHz channel spacing and 2.5kHz deviation to allow for more channels and more users. If you purchase your own equipment, be sure that the equipment has the new 2.5 kHz deviation and that it is capable of the new channel plan. Make sure that the receiver will be selective enough to ignore stations that are 12.5 kHz away

28. Voice Operating Modes Voice Operating Modes SIMPLEX REPEATER Single Frequency - One Station at a Time RT Two Frequencies - One Station at a Time

29. Repeater Operation Uplink Freq Downlink Freq 100.0 Hz Tone Note: All CAP Repeaters respond to the 100.0 Hz tone Repeater increases the range of mobile stations due to its high profile location Universal Access Tone used by low power stations only

30. Inside the Repeater Uplink Freq 136.5 Hz Tone or 100 Hz Tone Receiver 100.0 & 136.5 Hz Tone Decoder Transmitter “Mike Button” Voice Downlink Freq PTT Repeater will only turn on its transmitter if it hears one of two tones: 1) Universal access tone (100.0 Hz) or 2) Repeater site specific tone (136.5 Hz for the Derry Repeater) The Tone Decoder “listens” for either of the two tones on the incoming signal The Tone Decoder “presses” the Push To Talk (PTT) button to turn on the transmitter.

31. Primary mode of operation should be simplex. Only use the repeater if simplex is not possible. Selectively use a repeater through use of its assigned access tone Use of 100 Hz tone is prohibited since this will bring up multiple repeaters The objective is to limit use to a single repeater Portable radios of 6 watts or less may use 100HZ, if its incapable of using primary tones. (Vol.1,8-2,d,(3)(b) ) Airborne VHF transmitters are limited to a maximum of 10 watts.(Vol.1,8-4 ) Airmobile use of Repeaters

32. Abenaki 100: Derry, NH. Abenaki 200: Ascutney,VT. The net schedules associated with these repeaters starts at 1900 hours and ends at 1930 hours. Frequencies FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY available in separate document New Hampshire CAP Repeater Sites:

33. CAP Radio Frequencies - FOUO HF-SSB –National Calling Frequency –Northeast Region primary HF-AM –Short range communications - Not often used VHF-FM –Alternate Repeater Input –Primary Repeater Input –Alternate Repeater Output –Alternate Simplex –Primary Repeater Output & Simplex –Air-Ground –Packet

34. Aeronautical SAR Stations Aeronautical Search And Rescue Stations (SAR) Operate on two Aircraft Frequencies –TRAINING Only –ACTUAL Missions Only Contact ground teams by using VHF-FM –Air-to-Ground Simplex Base Call Signs assigned by geographical location –“THIS IS Concord Mission Base OVER”

35. Radio Operation Summary Common Controls: Volume Squelch (not adjusted the same way on all radios). Channel Selector Mike with Push to Talk Switch (Release to Listen) Radio Setup Radio Transceiver (VHF-FM, HF-SSB, Airband) Power Supply (110 VAC or 12 Volt DC) Antenna (Vertical, Magnetic Mount, Dipole) VS 1 Power Supply

36. Personnel and equipment safety 1) All equipment must have good grounds 2) Don’t touch antennas, especially HF ants. 3) Disconnect and don’t operate during Lightning storm 4) Don’t open radios 5) First Aid kit 6) wooden cane or rope 7) Fire extinguisher Co2 ( Not water ) 8) Fuses of correct size COMMUNICATIONS SAFETY:

37. Radio Net Operation A Formal Net is established to control the flow of traffic on a single radio channel The Net Control Station (NCS) maintains net discipline by controlling who is talking Break Ins to the Net should be done only if you have emergency traffic The NCS must be contacted first for permission to contact another station Sample Net Check-in (Abenaki 10 is the NCS): –“Abenaki 10, THIS IS Abenaki 404 with no traffic, over”

38. All transmissions must receive permission from the Net Control Station (NCS) Radio Nets - Contacting another Station Abenaki 401 Abenaki 10 NCS Abenaki 404 1 2 3 1 - “Abenaki 10, THIS IS Abenaki 401 with traffic for Abenaki 404 OVER” 2 - “Abenaki 401, Contact Abenaki 404 with your traffic, OUT” 3 - “Abenaki 404, THIS IS Abenaki 401, OVER”

39. NET STATION CHECK IN AND OPERATING EXAMPLES Checking into a Net with no traffic during roll call: “This is with no traffic OVER" Requesting permission from NCS to send a message: " this is with a message for OVER" Acknowledging readiness to receive traffic: "This is, go ahead with your traffic OVER" Acknowledging receipt of a message: "This is, roger your message OUT"

40. There are two kinds of message traffic, Formal (written) and Informal (conversation). The message format may take several forms. Form 4 is no longer used. It appears that the new ICS form 213 described in CAPR 60-4 is the replacement form for general messages. ICS form 213 will be discussed in the A-CUT. 99 % of time the radio operator will be using the SAR message format, so this the area we will concentrate on. Vol.3,3-2, and 3-5 state that CAPF 105 will be used. TYPES OF MESSAGE TRAFFIC: (Vol.3,3-6)

41. Message Construction MESSAGE HEADING –The Originator (From) –The Addressee (To) –Precedence (Urgency) –Date and Time Group TEXT –Information being sent. –Separated from the heading and ending by the proword “BREAK” (may not be part of the text being passed) ENDING –Reserved for the Radio Operator’s Notes

42. Levels of Precedence FLASH - Not used in CAP Messages –HIGHEST PRIORITY –HANDLED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, AHEAD OF OTHER MESSAGES IMMEDIATE –MESSAGES RELATED TO SITUATIONS GRAVELY AFFECTING THE SECURITY OF THE NATION. –REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DELIVERY PRIORITY –USED FOR MESSAGES WHERE “ROUTINE” ISN’T FAST ENOUGH –PROCESSED AHEAD OF ROUTINE MESSAGES ROUTINE –MOST USED. DELIVERED IN ORDER RECEIVED.

43. Locally generated forms are used for SAR communications.Locally generated forms are used for SAR communications. The instructor will hand out the “Pink and Blue “ SAR message forms and a point-to-point log. CAPF 110.The instructor will hand out the “Pink and Blue “ SAR message forms and a point-to-point log. CAPF 110. The class will practice sending and receiving a few SAR messages, and will fill out the appropriate forms and logs.The class will practice sending and receiving a few SAR messages, and will fill out the appropriate forms and logs. The SAR message:

44. Practice generating and sending the following messages. 1. opening and closing station 2. radio checks and position rpt. 3. take-off / landing rpt. 4. pit stops / lunch break. 5. reporting a find. 6. passing information or direction.

47. Practical Factors: Mission Radio Operator Tasks L-0001 to L-0010