1. Basic Communications User Training (BCUT) New Hampshire Wing, CAP Version 1-2 May 26, 2010 1Lt Tony Immorlica Communications Training Officer New Hampshire Wing

2. What is Communications?  Hand signals  Whistles  Light signals  Telephone  Texting  Facebook  Twitter  Email  Radios 2

3. So, what is communications? The meaningful transfer of information 3

4. What is this course?  Basic Communications User Training  Authorizes the member to operate CAP radios  How to talk the CAP way  How to operate CAP radios  Introduce the other communications courses  Completion qualifies the student for a Radio Operator Authorization (ROA) – CAPF 76 4

5. Who is this course for?  Cadets – Must have Curry Award  Seniors – Must have Level 1  All – Must have OpSec 5

6. What is CAP Communications?  Provide the commander with a reliable means of commanding their troops and to communicate with upper and lower echelons.  Provide a reliable point-to-point and air-to- ground communications network. 6

7. Who regulates CAP communications?  National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)  Authorizes Federal Agencies [including CAP] to use specific frequencies  CAP Regulations are promulgated by  United States Air Force  CAP National, Region and Wing  Public stations are licensed by the FCC  Federal agencies [inc. CAP] are not allowed to use services allocated exclusively to the public sector  This excludes the use of Amateur Radio and Citizens Band for CAP business. 7

8. CAP Communications Regulations  CAPR 100-1 Primary rules and procedures  CAPR 100-3 Radio Telephone Operations  CAPR 174-1 Property Management and Accountability 8

9. Frequencies are all FOUO For Official Use Only  What is FOUO  A designation that there is sensitive information  Used when frequency documentation is needed in the document  What FOUO isn’t  Classification  For use on every single document UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Frequency information contained in this document is designated by the Department of Defense (DoD) as For Official Use Only (FOUO) and may not be released to anyone without the prior permission of NHQ and CAP-USAF. 9

10. CAP Radio Operator Authorization 1. Basic Communications User Training - BCUT  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 Authorization by Wing or higher headquarters 2. Advanced Communications User Training - ACUT  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 currently done in two phases: 10 NOTE: BCUT and ACUT will soon be replaced by a new Introductory Communications Users Training [ICUT] course; release date is pending

11. Who can talk on CAP radios?  Anyone with a Radio Operator Authorization [ROA]  Anyone who has completed appropriate training AND is listed on a Wing or higher Headquarters roster  Anyone who is supervised by someone with an ROA or appropriate authorization 11

12. Communication Basics

13. How to use Communications ListenListenListen 13

14. I’m listening, when can I talk?  Be ready to respond, but don’t transmit unless you need to  When you do transmit, use discretion - remember that there are other people listening  Scanning enthusiasts  News Media  Other Federal agencies  No code words or jargon, use prowords  Be professional 14

15. What are “prowords”?  A word or phrase intended to provide clarity  Conservation of speech  CAPR 100-3  Over – I’m done, you’re turn to talk  Out – I’m done with this conversation  Roger – Understood  Wilco – Will comply  Affirmative – Yes  Negative – No  Wait – standby, will be right back  Break – Header done, body of message follows 15

16. What letter was that?  Alpha  Bravo  Charlie  Delta  Echo  Foxtrot  Gulf  Hotel  India  Juliet  Kilo  Lima  Mike  November  Oscar  Papa  Quebec  Romeo  Sierra  Tango  Uniform  Victor  Whiskey  X-ray  Yankee  Zulu 16

17. What number was that?  1 – one  2 – two  3 – three  4 – four  5 – five  6 – six  7 – seven  8 – eight  9 – niner  0 – zero (not oh) 17

18. How to say things  Annunciate  Spell out words using the international alphabet  Numbers: Use Prowords “FIGURES”, “DECIMAL”, “TIME”, “INITIALS”  Less than 4 digits: say the numbers one at a time  CAPSTONE 43 - pronounced CAPSTONE FOUR THREE  4 digits: either group by 2 or say thousand  CHARTER OAK 3000 – pronounced CHARTER OAK THREE THOUSAND  CAP 9317 – pronounced CAP NINTY-THREE SEVENTEEN 18

19. 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…” 19

20. 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” 20

21. Call Signs 21  New HampshireAbenaki  MassachusettsPatriot  MaineDown East  VermontVermont CAP  Rhode IslandNarragansett  ConnecticutCharter Oak  New JerseyRed Dragon  New YorkWhite Peak  PennsylvaniaPenn CAP  Northeast Region CAP Stone  National HQ CAPHEADCAP

22. Call Signs  Single digits  1 – Commander  2 – Vice Commander  3 – Chief of staff  4 – Director of Communications  5 – Chaplin  The Call Signs 1 thru 20 are Issued to Wing Directors. 22

23. Call Signs NHWG  CAP aircraft have the call sign CAP xxxx  First two digits are Wing Number  Second two digits are last two digits of aircraft tail number  CAP 2800N99100  CAP 2813N913CP  CAP 2827N827CP  CAP 2830N9930E  CAP 2860N360CP  CAP 2869N169CP 23

24. When calling a station  Say the station you are calling, then your station  “Abenaki 45, this is Abenaki 4 – over”  Wait a bit and try a second time  If there still isn’t a response, say “Nothing Heard” 24

25. Nobody Hears Me! Choose a Good Communications Site.  High ground (the higher the antenna, the better).  VHF is line of site.  Stay away from interference generators  High power lines  Power Transformers  Underground Cables  Computers (even in the field)  Other radios on different frequencies

26. Nobody Hears Me, STILL! Common Problems & Solutions  Operator Failure! (This is the most common cause!)  Make sure you are following normal procedures and briefings.  Check the radio  Is the radio turned on, correct channel, and volume up?  Is the battery good? (Replace with a charged battery)  Switch to a repeater, if available  Ask for a relay (from aircraft if available)  Move to higher ground or another location  If all else fails, find a telephone that works.

27. When answering a call  Say the station who is calling, then say your station  “Abenaki 4, this is Abenaki 45 – over”  Once communications are established, you do not need to keep saying your call sign 27

28. 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.” On Closing the Contact “… Abenaki 45 OUT” When ending a call 28

29. 5 Habits of a Good Radio Operator  Speak clearly  Annunciate your words.  Speak slowly  Remain calm no matter what happens - Never Panic  THINK - “Use Your Head” 29

30. 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.  FRS/GMRS may be used on missions only if search subject may have such radios  Use of 10 codes or Amateur Radio Q Signals 30

31. Radio Basics

32. Basics of Radio: Propagation The path radio waves take – dependent on frequency  VHF – Very High Frequency - is only capable of line-of-site communications  Buildings, mountains, leaves may interfere  Higher an aircraft, the wider coverage  2500’ AGL has an effective radius of 50 Miles  HF - High Frequency - is capable of world wide communication  Strongly dependent on frequency, antenna, time of day 32

33. 33 Basics of Radio: Modes The type of modulation  To send a signal via radio, you modulate or superimpose voice on a carrier of radio frequency energy. AM, FM and SSB are just ways of sending voice information.  CAP uses  AM – amplitude modulation  FM - frequency modulation, and  SSB – single sideband along with some “P25” digital modes.  Normally, we use:  AM on Aircraft Bands  SSB on HF  FM on VHF and UHF

34. 34  FM is used by CAP for VHF radios in vehicles, aircraft, walkie-talkies and base stations, for short range comms.  The advantage is less static from ignition systems in vehicles, and excellent audio quality.  FM also has a “capture effect” where the strongest station comes in over a weaker station. That is good and bad.  CAP also uses FM in the ISR UHF radios. Basics of Radio: FM Frequency Modulation

35. 35  CAP uses SSB on HF  SSB uses a very small bandwidth, compared to AM and FM modes  Used for L O N G Distance Comms  HF Operation is specialized, but very useful because it is very efficient  Seek Special Training in HF, not included in this course. Ask your Comm. Officer Basics of Radio: SSB Single Sideband

36.  Used in aircraft radios to communicate with ATC, tower, other aircraft, airport operations, etc.  Worldwide standard for aircraft communication  Very old type of modulation first used in early development of radio  Tends to be noisy, easily interfered with. Allows lots of static and ignition noise. Bad feature.  Allows two stations to be heard over one another – i.e. no capture effect as with FM. Good feature.  Both AM and FM are used on VHF in CAP 36 Basics of Radio: AM Amplitude Modulation

37. Types of radios  EJ Johnson  Base Radio  Mobile Radio  Portable  Motorola  HF  ALE  ICOM  ISR  Aircraft Radios  Aircraft use two types:  AM – used mostly by pilots to communicate with Air Traffic Control  FM – used primarily by Mission Observer to communicate with Mission Base 37 Ask for and receive specific instructions for each type of radio you will operate

38. Simplex vs. Duplex  Repeaters – Duplex mode  Used to extend coverage and get over obstacles 38 RT Single Frequency - One Station at a Time Two Frequencies - One Station at a Time Repeater increases the range of mobile stations due to its high profile location  Simplex  Transmit and receive on the same frequency  Buildings, terrain, altitude  Duplex  Transmit on one frequency and receive on another

39. Inside the Repeater Tone Repeater will turn on its transmitter only if the Tone Decoder hears a repeater specific tone Transmit Frequency Repeater Receiver Tone Decoder Repeater Transmitter “Mike Button” Voice Receive Frequency PTT The Tone Decoder “listens” for tones on the incoming signal The Tone Decoder “presses” the Push To Talk (PTT) button to turn on the transmitter. 39

40. NHWG Communications

41. NHWG VHF Communications  NH Wing maintains 6 VHF repeaters at fixed locations plus two portable units  Location of the fixed repeaters were chosen such that all squadrons have access to at least one  Derry, Laconia, Ascutney, Lebanon, Littleton, Keene,  In addition we have:  “Portable” – repeater currently based in Portsmouth  “Highbird” – utilized by aircraft assigned by the IC*  VHF Frequencies [Channels] are programmed to show the repeater location [Tag], not the frequency * Requires an ACUT qualification 41

42. CAP VHF Radio Frequencies  CAP Frequencies are FOUO  Thus, CAP radios are programmed to display the specific designator for each programmed channel, for example Designator:Function/Usage:  CC-1Command/Control 1  CC-2Command/Control 2  AIR-1Air/Ground 1  AIR-2Air Ops 2  CAPGUARDCalling Channel  TAC-1Tactical 1  When communicating, use designators, not a channel number – ex. This is Abenaki 45 on TAC-1 42

43. NHWG VHF Channels / Zones  EF Johnson RS5300 Radios operates on 16 Zones, each having a 16 Channel capability  NHWG uses Zones 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7  Remaining zones are used nationally  Use of Zones:  Zone 2 – primary analog channels  Zone 6 – duplicate of Zone 2 in a digital mode [more secure]  Zone 3 – Northeast Region repeaters  Zone 4 – NH Forestry  Zone 7 - Coast Guard and Weather Channels  Zones/Channels to be used for a specific mission will be assigned by the Incident Commander 43

44. NHWG VHF Channel Plan VHF Channel Plans vary with different radio models  Aircraft Radios do not use Zones  – channels are numbered sequentially from 1 to ~256  You must become familiar with the Channel Plan in the radio you are operating! Channel 1CC1Command and Control 2CC2Command and Control 3AIR 1Aircraft Channel 4AIR 2Aircraft Channel 5 CAP GUARDUniversal Calling Channel 6 TAC 1Ground Channel 7 DERRYNHWG Repeater 8 LACONIANHWG Repeater 9ASCUTNEYNHWG Repeater 10LEBANON NHWG Repeater 11LITTLETONNHWG Repeater 12KEENENHWG Repeater 13HIGH BIRDAirborne Relay Station 14PORTABLENHWG Repeater 15Fish and GameUsed for Liaison only 16SANFORDUsed for Fire Patrol Zone 2 44 The following example is for : EF Johnson series RS5300 radios. Each “Zone” has 16 channels and the radio has 16 zones for a total of 256 channels!:

45. 1. Primary mode of operation should be simplex. 2. Only use the repeater if simplex is not possible. 3. Within 75 miles of the Canadian border  Use of CAP VHF assigned frequencies prohibited above 3000 ft. AGL Aircraft use of CAP VHF Frequencies and Repeaters 45

46. Aircraft VHF-FM Radio Channel Plan * 46  CC1  CC2  AIR1  AIR2  TAC1  R67  R68  R69  R70  R63  R64  ALT R65  ALT R66  DERRY  LACONIA  ASCUTNEY  LEBANON  LITTLETON  KEENE  PORT PR1  PORT SEC  F&G CTC  CAPGUARD  WALTHAN  WORSTR  SANFORD  EQUINOX  MANSFLD * Subject to change Current as of 30 Jan 2010 for Technisonic TDFM 136 Radio SIMPLEX REPEATERS [DUPLEX] REPEATERS [DUPLEX] Note: Aircraft Radios do not use Zones

47. CAP HF Channel Plan  All operations are simplex, SSB, lower sideband  Frequencies are designated by two alpha characters  First letter denotes primary usage  A = National  N = Northeast Region  NE Region frequencies  NA, NB and NC  Frequencies can be found on-line  Password protected, FOUO 47

48. Communications Exercise  May occur with a days notice, or less  Goal is see where the weaknesses are  Do not need to be formal – pass traffic instead of just checking 48

49. QUESTIONS? 49