1. STATE OF ALASKA Division of Homeland Security &Emergency Management
Interoperable Emergency Communications Training INTEROP03 Radio Operations Unit 4 – CES Radio Operation

2. Overview ALMR Coverage Radio Walkaround Display Symbols
Sounds and Lights
Attached Equipment
Radio Lineups and Protocols
Security
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3. ALMR Coverage 3 Cooper Mountain Pipeline Hills Sterling Ski Hill
Kasilof
Ninilchik
Anchor Point
Homer
Nikiski
Kenai Prism
Seldovia
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4. XTS 2500 Top View Channel Select Power/Volume Zone Conv: Nuisance
Trunk: Unused
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5. Antenna To install the antenna: Turn the radio off.
Screw the antenna (clockwise) into the antenna receptacle on top of the radio.
Tighten the antenna firmly with your fingers.
To remove the antenna:
Unscrew the antenna (counter-clockwise) and remove it from the antenna receptacle on top of the radio.
The antenna is color coded according to its frequency range.
Radio operators can then refer to an antenna identification table in the users manual to make sure that they have the correct antenna.
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6. Time-out Timer
The time-out timer turns off your radio’s transmitter.
The timer is set for 60 seconds at the factory, but it
can be programmed from 0 to 7.75 minutes (465
seconds) by a qualified radio technician.
Hold down the PTT button longer than the programmed time.
You will hear a low-pitched warning tone, the
transmission will cut off, and the LED will go out until you
release the PTT.
Release the PTT button.
The LED will re-light and the timer will reset.
Press the PTT button to re-transmit. The time-out timer restarts.
The timer will restart and the LED lights red.
LED
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7. Nuisance Delete (NUIS)
When the radio scans to a channel that you do not
wish to hear (nuisance channel), you can temporarily
delete the channel from the scan list.
To delete a nuisance channel:
Press the orange button on the top of the radio to temporarily delete the displayed channel from the scan list.
If desired, re-enable the channel by exiting and re-entering scan or turning the radio off and on.
Note: Nuisance Delete cannot remove a priority channel
( ) or the last channel in the list.
You can only Nuisance Delete one channel at a time. If you Nuisance Delete
another channel, you will push the first deleted channel back into rotation.
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8. XTS 2500 Front View Mic Speaker Symbol Line Zone Channel Name Radio ID
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9. Status Symbols – 1 of 2 Signal Strength Direct/ TalkAround Monitor
Scan
Battery
Status
Explain each status symbol that appears on the radio’s display.
Note Icons may not always be illuminated at all times, for example Scan Vs Priority scan. The Dot will only appear when the “priority” group is active.
Continued....
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10. Status Symbols – 2 of 2 (Not All of These Apply)
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11. Trunk: Site Scan/Search
XTS 2500 Left Side View
Scan
Zone Front/Back
Push to Talk
Conv: Talkaround
Trunk: Site Scan/Search
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12. Scan On or Off
The scan feature allows you to monitor traffic on different channels by scanning a preprogrammed list of channels. Your radio can have several different
scan lists. These lists must be preprogrammed by a qualified radio technician.
To turn scan on:
Press the Scan button on the top left side of the radio to enable scan.
The scan symbol ( ) will be displayed, indicating scan is active.
To turn scan off:
Press the Scan button on the top left side of the radio to disable scan.
The scan symbol ( ) will no longer be displayed, indicating scan has been deactivated.
Scanning allows you to monitor different channels automatically.
If there is activity on a channel, Scan will automatically take you to that channel.
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13. Site View/Search
You can view the number of the current site or force your radio to change to a new one.
To view the current site:
Press the Site Search button.
The display momentarily shows the name of the current site and its corresponding received signal strength indicator (RSSI). OR
If the radio is scanning for a new site, you momentarily see SCANING SITE displayed.
To change the current site:
Press and hold down the Site Search button.
You momentarily see SCANING SITE displayed and hear a tone. When the radio finds a site, it returns to the home display.
Your site should automatically switch during periods of low reception. But if you
feel the site is struggling to reach you, you can change the site to which your radio
is affiliated for possibly better reception.
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14. Charging the Battery
The battery must be charged before use. Memory effect is a phenomenon that causes a loss in battery capacity or voltage due to repetitive shallow discharging or long-term overcharging. This memory effect has been
greatly reduced in your batteries through the use of new cell technology. It is still recommended, however, that you discharge your battery as much as possible before recharging it. Recharging after each shift is good standard practice. When charging a battery that
is attached to your radio, turn the radio off to ensure a full charge.
Batteries are shipped uncharged, so the user must charge the battery before attempting to use the radio.
Make sure the radio is turned off before removing the battery.
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15. Belt Clip 1 2 To install the belt clip:
Remove the battery before installing or removing the belt clip.
Hold the battery with the back of the battery facing you.
Hold the belt clip with the top facing upward, and align the clip with the slots on the battery back.
Slide the belt clip downward into the slots until it clicks into place.
To remove the belt clip:
Pull away the metal tab at the top of the battery clip from the battery.
Slide the clip upward until it comes away from the radio. 1
Remind students to remove the battery from the radio before installing or removing the belt clip.
Indicate where and how to align with the slots for easy assembly.
Do not use too much force to pull metal tab to remove clip. 2
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16. XTS 2500 Right Side View Universal Connector
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17. Universal Connector Cover
The universal connector cover protects the side
connector near the antenna.
To remove the cover:
Turn the radio off.
Carefully insert a flat-bladed screwdriver between the bottom of the cover and the connector.
Holding the top of the cover with your thumb, push the screwdriver gently downward and lever the cover away from the radio.
To install the cover:
Insert the hooked end of the cover into the slot above the connector.
Rub the ball of your thumb from the top to the bottom of the cover, applying pressure towards the radio. This will flex the cover and snap it into place.
Remember to turn off the radio.
The cover should be on the radio any time the operator is not using the radio with an accessory.
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18. Speaker/Microphone To install the Speaker/Microphone:
Turn the radio off.
Follow the instructions for removing the universal connector cover.
Attach the accessory connector to the radio’s universal connector as follows:
a. Make sure the RF adapter has been installed in your radio before continuing with installation.
b. Looking at the antenna side of the radio, insert the bottom hooked end of the accessory connector into the slot below the universal connector.
c. While holding the accessory connector seated in the bottom slot, pivot the top of the accessory connector toward the radio until its RF interface connector aligns with the circular contact target on the RF adapter, then engage the accessory connector’s spring-loaded latch in the radio’s top slot.
.If a more permanent attachment is desired after the
accessory connector is latched to the radio, secure the
latch to the connector housing using the screw supplied
Remember that receiver audio will be heard only from the accessory speaker while the accessory is attached to the radio.
Set the high/low switch on the public safety speaker microphone to the “low” position to monitor audio at a low volume; for a high volume level, set the switch to the “high” position.
The public safety speaker/ microphone performs best when it is operated with the antenna above the user’s shoulder.
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19. Status Alert Tones
Tone Name
Tone Information
Acknowledge
Receipt of a call sent to the central controller
Button Press
A valid key was pressed on the keypad
Call Alert
- Receipt of a Call Alert page sent to your radio
- Confirmation receipt of a page received sent from your radio
Emergency
Emergency alarm was sent from your radio
Failsoft
Radio has lost communication with the central controller
Low Battery
Weak battery indication
No Acknowledge
A call to the central controller was not acknowledged
Out of Range
Radio is out of range of the system
Power-up
Radio has successfully powered on
Private Call I
Receipt of a Private Conversation call sent to your radio
Private Call Enhanced
Prohibit
Talkgroup or channel is not accessible
System Busy
Channel, system or target radio is busy
Talk Permit
Channel is ready to use
Time-out Timer
Time-out timer limit has been reached
Pressing each speaker symbol will play the sound heard from the radio
Not all sounds can be demonstrated live, for example Failsoft or system busy.
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20. Zone 1
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21. Zone 2
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22. Zone 3
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23. Zone 4
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24. Zone 5
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25. Zone 6
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26. New Alerting and Calling Protocol
CESRPTR (conventional) and CESMAIN trunked will be patched
Responders will tune their radios to their station talkgroup, Station 1 will tune to CESMAIN
Dispatch will alert all stations (ALL CALL) for a fire with a solid alert tone and voice
Dispatch will use voice call to Station 1 and the responding station for EMS calls
Dispatch will alert all stations for a CO 7 RECALL using a two-tone alert and voice
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27. Lost/Stolen Radios Radios may contain Sensitive information
Sensitive for Law Enforcement
FOUO for DOD
Report to your equipment manager any missing suspected stolen radios in a timely fashion
ALMR can disable the radios remotely until the missing radio is found
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28. Hands-On Radio Operation
Any Questions?
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