1. How to use your FRS Radio DURING A CERT EVENT
Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Club
March 4, 2011

2. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Topics:
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Why Use FRS?
What is FRS?
So What About GRMS?
FRS vs. GRMS
Radio Range
Radio Anatomy
Radio “Channels”
CERT Radio Procedures
Pro-Words
Call Signs
Proper Radio Phonics
Control of Communications

3. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Why Use FRS?
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Better than yelling or using tin cans tied together with string
Great for short distances
Intra-team communication
Inter-team coordination
Not dependent upon other services
Cell phones
Repeater systems
Radios are cheap and available in many places

4. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
What is FRS?
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS or Family Radios Service radios are compact, handheld, wireless 2-way radios that provide very good clarity over a relatively short range
Operate on any of 14 dedicated channels (1-14) designated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) expressly for FRS radio use
To comply with FCC standards, FRS radios have a maximum allowable power of 0.5 watt (or 1/2 watt)
FRS radio transceivers and their antennas may not be modified to extend their range

5. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
So What is GMRS?
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service radios operate on any of up to 8 dedicated channels (15-22) designated by the FCC
GMRS radios typically have power ratings of 1.0 to 5.0 watts and have a maximum allowable power of 50 watts.

6. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS vs. GMRS
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS use does NOT require a license to operate
GMRS use requires you to have an FCC operator’s license
GMRS radios generally achieve greater ranges than FRS radios
While FRS radios may not legally be altered, GMRS radios may legally be outfitted or retrofitted

7. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS vs. GMRS
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS/GMRS 2-way radios are simply dual-service, or "hybrid," radios that provide access to both the FRS and GMRS bands, utilizing FRS channels (1-14) and GMRS channels (15-22)
Use of a dual-service radio’s GMRS bands requires an FCC operator’s license*
Dual-service radios may be used without an operator’s license, ONLY IF the FRS channels are used
* Note that a GMRS license can only be shared by FAMILY MEMBERS.

8. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Range
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
FRS:
Stated as "up to 2 miles"
Realistically achieved under optimal conditions
Actual range: ¼ to 1 mile
Channels: 1-14
GMRS:
Typically greater range than FRS radios
Specified by manufacturers as "up to 5 miles" or more
Actual range: 1-2 miles
Channels: 1-22 (Channels 1-14 shared w/ FRS)
FRS/GMRS dual-service radio:
Essentially the same as those stated above, for
each of their respective bands

9. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Anatomy
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Different makes and models of radios vary, so…
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!
BECOME FAMILIAR with the controls on YOUR radio!

10. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Anatomy
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Power Supply
Commonly use AA or AAA alkaline or a rechargeable battery pack
Make sure the pack is charged
Always carry spare batteries!

11. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Anatomy
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Power On-Off, Switch
Combined with volume control on some models
Or “push-button” on others

12. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Anatomy
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
“Push-To-Talk” (PTT) Switch
PUSH to TALK
Let go to LISTEN
LISTEN more than you talk!
If somebody seems in control of
things on the air, LISTEN to them!

13. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio Anatomy
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Channel Selector
Selects assigned “channel”
Chosen by IC
Found on Communications Plan
“Up-Down” arrows
Rotating “knob”

14. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Radio “Channels”
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Assigned by CERT IC per Communications Annex/Plan
“Sub-channels”
Actually are CTCSS* codes (38 available codes)
FRS Radios have 532 available “Channels”
14 channels x 38 possible CTCSS codes per channel
Sometimes called “Privacy Codes”
Does not block or scramble that “channel”
Others can listen in or even use the same “channel”
Should be able to find a clear “channel” to use under
most crowded conditions
* Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System

15. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CERT Radio Procedures
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
A RADIO IS NOT LIKE A TELEPHONE
You can’t hear anyone if YOU are talking
No one else can speak when YOU talk
If EVERYONE talks, NOBODY understands
Results in CHAOS
During an operation/event, needless conversations should be kept to a minimum

16. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CERT Radio Procedures
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
How To Talk On The Radio
Speak when spoken to (called)
LISTEN – don’t talk over others
Wait until others have finished
Think about what you will say before you say it
Use plain language
Keep it short and to the point
Wait a fraction of a second after pushing the PTT button before you start talking
Use “Pro-words” effectively
LISTEN

17. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CERT Radio Procedures
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
ANSWERING A CALL
(Calling Station), This is (your ID) Go Ahead
You acknowledge who called you
You confirm to calling station that you are the one that they want to talk to
You tell the calling station that you are ready to receive what they are about to transmit to you

18. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CERT Radio Procedures
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CALLING ANOTHER STATION
(Station to be called), This is (your ID)
Wait until the frequency is clear (nobody else is talking)
Tells everyone on frequency who you want to talk to
Identifies to everyone on frequency who made the call

19. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CERT Radio Procedures
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Good Radio Operating Practices
Answer questions directly; no long explainations
Don’t speak louder in a noisy environment
It will only distort your voice, making it harder to understand
Shield microphone
Speak ACROSS the microphone
Use Pro-Words properly
Expedites communications
They are NOT 10-codes or other types of jargon

20. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Pro-Words
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Procedural Words (Pro-Words)
THIS IS: Identifies who the station is
OVER: You have finished speaking and it’s the other stations turn to talk. Leaves no doubt who’s turn it is to speak
GO AHEAD: Ready to copy or listen
OUT: Finished with conversation and expect no reply
COPY: Understand
SAY AGAIN: Repeat the last transmission
AFFIRMATIVE or NEGATIVE: Used in place of “Yes”
or “No” because the sound is distinctive and
their meaning is clear

21. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Pro-Words
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Procedural Words (Pro-Words)
CORRECTION: Error was made and the correct information follows
STAND-BY: Self-explanitory

22. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Call Signs
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
WHAT’S MY CALL SIGN?
It depends…
CERT uses different types of Call Signs
Call Signs are assigned by CERT Command
Commonly determined by operating event
Strike Team numbers
Operating Initials
Location ID

23. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Call Signs
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
STRIKE TEAM NUMBERS
Commonly used during an incident / emergency operations
Easy to identify teams of individuals
Easy for CERT Command to track

24. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Call Signs
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
OPERATING INITIALS
Identifies individual
Typical Combinations Used:
First letter of first and last name (e.g. DN)
First and last letter of last name (e.g. VR)
Commonly known initials (e.g. TJ)
May use any of the combinations, providing the combination is not already in use
MAKE SURE TEAM LEADER AND/OR CERT
COMMAND KNOW YOUR INITIALS!

25. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Call Signs
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
LOCATION
Commonly used during an event
Easy to identify where CERT teams are assigned
Don’t have to know who is at the particular location
Easiest for CERT Command to track

26. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Proper Radio Phonics
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
MAKES SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS
Numbers: Spell them out
100 becomes “one zero zero”
75 becomes “seven five”
Letters: Use phonetic alphabet
Improves understandability
“A” becomes “alpha”
“B” becomes “bravo”
Time: Use 24-hour or “military” time
12:00 a.m. becomes “twenty four hundred hours”
2: 15 p.m. becomes “fourteen fifteen hours”
Proper phonetics found in “Communications”
section on CERT website

27. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Control of Communications
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
In communications between a portable/mobile unit and a fixed location (such as a command post), the FIXED station controls the communications (a.k.a. “Controlled Net”)
Located with CERT IC (CERT IC may even be Net Control)
Prioritize resources
Quickly handle multiple situations
Co-located with served agencies
Able to log radio communications if necessary

28. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Control of Communications
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CONTROLLED NET PRACTICES
Net Control is in charge of the frequency
Respond only to Net Control
Get permission from Net Control before calling another station/team
Answer promptly
Monitor radio continuously
Answer immediately when called
Don’t “leave the air” without checking out
Wastes time trying to locate
Wastes resources in thinking something may have
happened to you

29. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Control of Communications
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
CONTROLLED NET PRACTICES
Interrupt only if you have urgent information
That’s why you leave short gaps in between transmissions
When interrupting, speak only long enough to identify and say why you need to interrupt
Emergencies supersede all other transmissions!!!

30. How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
In Conclusion…
How To Use Your FRS Radio During a CERT Event
Remember…
Act Professional – people ARE listening!
Correct bad or improper radio discipline by others
Make a good radio communications a habit
Questions?