Chapter 05: Communications - Revision history

ChrisNiggel: /* RADIO ETIQUETTE */

2010-11-08T16:34:43Z

‎RADIO ETIQUETTE

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:19:51Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:15:55Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:13:17Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:06:07Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:05:15Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:04:36Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:03:34Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS */

2009-12-11T07:02:42Z

‎DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS

KimBeck: /* Patroller Tasks */

2009-12-09T19:05:24Z

‎Patroller Tasks

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
      It is not appropriate to use personal names, slang, profanity, sexual innuendo, nicknames, or to engage in personal conversations on the radio. Assume your conversation is being monitored by citizens using scanners, as well as by the USFS and other public agencies.  NOTE: Communicating by radio while in a car is called for rarely, such as sometimes happens while shuttling cars on the day of the Great Race, or if you are Mountian Manager. Wearing a radio while driving is emphatically NOT recommended, as it could cause severe chest injury or death in the event of an accident. If it is absolutely necessary to communicate by radio while driving, this task should be delegated to a patroller passenger. Preferably, the car should be stopped in a safe and legal location prior to making a transmission.
-    Transmission Problems: if you are having trouble reaching Grass Valley or Minden, try one of the following, after checking your battery and your channel setting:
+* Transmission Problems: if you are having trouble reaching Grass Valley or Minden, try one of the following, after checking your battery and your channel setting:
-*          Use a different repeater.
+#          Use a different repeater.
-*          Use a different radio.
+#         Use a different radio.
-*          Go to high ground if possible
+#         Go to high ground if possible
-*          Consider using a relay patroller on high ground or with a better view of a repeater.
+#          Consider using a relay patroller on high ground or with a better view of a repeater.
-* Enter radio feedback on Daily Ops Log
+# Enter radio feedback on Daily Ops Log
-*    Do not attempt to reprogram the radios. That said, to add or remove a channel from scan, turn the channel selector to that channel and press ENT or CLR on the keyboard.
+#    Do not attempt to reprogram the radios. That said, to add or remove a channel from scan, turn the channel selector to that channel and press ENT or CLR on the keyboard.
 === Patroller Tasks ===

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 #*         number of additional patrollers, <br />
 #*         and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.). <br />
-:: An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.) <br />
+#*        An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.) <br />
 #   (Start of Patrol, at the Trailhead)
 #*         BENDIX KING radios: Patrol Leader selects Ch 5 with either PRIORITY (CP, MP, PC) or SCAN (TM, GC) turned on, and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select Ch 5.

@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 #     (Before Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader distributes radios to team members and confirms each member’s permanent call signs.
 #     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley (for Castle Peak and Pole Creek) or Minden (for Tahoe Meadows) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes:<br />
-#*         location,
+#*         location,<br />
-#*         area to be patrolled,
+#*         area to be patrolled, <br />
-#*         call sign of Patrol Leader,
+#*         call sign of Patrol Leader, <br />
-#*         number of additional patrollers,
+#*         number of additional patrollers, <br />
-#*         and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.).
+#*         and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.). <br />
 :: An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.) <br />
-#    (Start of Patrol, at the Trailhead)
+#   (Start of Patrol, at the Trailhead)
 #*         BENDIX KING radios: Patrol Leader selects Ch 5 with either PRIORITY (CP, MP, PC) or SCAN (TM, GC) turned on, and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select Ch 5.
 #*         ICOM radios: Patrol Leader selects SCAN (CP for Castle Peak, TM for Tahoe Meadows, or GR for Great Race), and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select TBSP. (Note: Patrol Leaders should select SCAN and not ISCAN; ISCAN stands for 'incident scan' and includes applicable outside agency frequencies that are excluded from SCAN, but essential during an incident. ISCAN should only be used when Patrollers are involved in an incident.)

@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 #     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager keeps one radio for him/herself, and turns it on.  (See note below.)
 #     (Before Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader distributes radios to team members and confirms each member’s permanent call signs.
-#     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley (for Castle Peak and Pole Creek) or Minden (for Tahoe Meadows) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes:
+#     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley (for Castle Peak and Pole Creek) or Minden (for Tahoe Meadows) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes:<br />
-#.#          location,
+#*         location,
-*         area to be patrolled,
+#*         area to be patrolled,
-*         call sign of Patrol Leader,
+#*         call sign of Patrol Leader,
-*         number of additional patrollers,
+#*         number of additional patrollers,
-*         and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.).
+#*         and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.).
-An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.)
+:: An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.) <br />
 #    (Start of Patrol, at the Trailhead)
-*         BENDIX KING radios: Patrol Leader selects Ch 5 with either PRIORITY (CP, MP, PC) or SCAN (TM, GC) turned on, and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select Ch 5.
+#*         BENDIX KING radios: Patrol Leader selects Ch 5 with either PRIORITY (CP, MP, PC) or SCAN (TM, GC) turned on, and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select Ch 5.
-*         ICOM radios: Patrol Leader selects SCAN (CP for Castle Peak, TM for Tahoe Meadows, or GR for Great Race), and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select TBSP. (Note: Patrol Leaders should select SCAN and not ISCAN; ISCAN stands for 'incident scan' and includes applicable outside agency frequencies that are excluded from SCAN, but essential during an incident. ISCAN should only be used when Patrollers are involved in an incident.)
+#*         ICOM radios: Patrol Leader selects SCAN (CP for Castle Peak, TM for Tahoe Meadows, or GR for Great Race), and directs other patrollers to turn radios on and select TBSP. (Note: Patrol Leaders should select SCAN and not ISCAN; ISCAN stands for 'incident scan' and includes applicable outside agency frequencies that are excluded from SCAN, but essential during an incident. ISCAN should only be used when Patrollers are involved in an incident.)
 #    (During patrol, in the Patrol Area) Patrol Leader contacts or responds to Grass Valley, Minden, Careflight, Mountain Manager, or other patrollers as necessary while patrolling.
 #    (During patrol, in the Patrol Area) Patrol Leader uses spare battery if necessary.

@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 #     (Before Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader distributes radios to team members and confirms each member’s permanent call signs.
 #     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley (for Castle Peak and Pole Creek) or Minden (for Tahoe Meadows) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes:
-*          location,
+#.#          location,
 *         area to be patrolled,
 *         call sign of Patrol Leader,

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 This section summarizes the steps for handling and using the radios and batteries during the typical patrol day. (Time
 and Location is in parenthesis).
-#     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager takes batteries from the bottom of the battery slide (or charger if fully charged), attaches them to radio bodies, performs radio check to verfiy function, and puts the radios and radio pouches in bins for the Patrol Leader to take to the parking area for that day, marking the Equipment Checklist accordingly.
+#     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager takes batteries from the bottom of the battery slide (or charger if fully charged), attaches them to radio bodies, performs radio check to verify function, and puts the radios and radio pouches in bins for the Patrol Leader to take to the parking area for that day, marking the Equipment Checklist accordingly.
-#     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager tests an additional spare battery ('AA' clamshell if possible, otherwise another battery from the bottom of the battery slide) for operation with a radio body, then removes the battery and puts it in a waterproof container in the Patrol Leader's equipment bin, marking the Equipment Checklist accordingly. A spare battery should be carried by each team and by the Mountain Manager.
+#     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager tests an additional spare battery for operation with a radio body (for Bendix King radios: 'AA' clamshell if possible, otherwise another battery from the bottom of the battery slide; for ICOM radios: another battery from the bottom of the battery slide), then removes the battery and puts it in a waterproof container in the Patrol Leader's equipment bin, marking the Equipment Checklist accordingly. A spare battery should be carried by each team and by the Mountain Manager.
 #     (Before Patrol, at the Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager keeps one radio for him/herself, and turns it on.  (See note below.)
-#     (Before Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader distributes radios and call signs to team members.
+#     (Before Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader distributes radios to team members and confirms each member’s permanent call signs.
-#     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley or Minden (depending on area) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes location, area to be patrolled, list of call signs, total number of patrollers, and nature of service (patrol, training, overnight etc.). An example of such a communication, done succinctly: 'Nordic Units 10 through 14 and 3 additional patrollers, in service at Castle Peak trailhead for overnight training in Round Valley.' (The Patrol Leader could break this up into two communications if necessary to avoid the 15-second cutoff.)
+#     (Start of Patrol, at the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley (for Castle Peak and Pole Creek) or Minden (for Tahoe Meadows) to put team 'in service'. Essential information to communicate includes:
-#    (Start of Patrol, at the Trailhead) Patrol Leader selects Ch 5 with either PRIORITY (CP, MP, PC) or SCAN (TM, GC) turned on, and directs other patrollers to select Ch 5 and turn radios on.
+	* location,
 #    (During patrol, in the Patrol Area) Patrol Leader contacts or responds to Grass Valley, Minden, Careflight, Mountain Manager, or other patrollers as necessary while patrolling.
 #    (During patrol, in the Patrol Area) Patrol Leader uses spare battery if necessary.
-#    (End of patrol, in the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley or Minden to put team 'out of service'.  This is generally an abbreviated version of the 'in-service' call: 'Nordic Units 10 through 14 and 3 additional units out of service at Castle Peak trailhead.' If there is more than one patrol, DO NOT SAY ALL PATROLLERS OUT OF SERVICE, but say how many are with you. The Mountain Manager should leave radio on and continue monitoring until all patrols are out of service.
+#    (End of patrol, in the Parking Area) Patrol Leader calls Grass Valley or Minden (depending on area patrolled) to put team 'out of service'.  This is generally an abbreviated version of the 'in-service' call: 'Nordic 23 and 3 additional patrollers out of service at Castle Peak trailhead.' If there is more than one patrol, DO NOT SAY ALL PATROLLERS OUT OF SERVICE, but say how many are with you. The Mountain Manager should leave radio on and continue monitoring until all patrols are out of service.
 #    (End of patrol, in the Parking Area) Patrol Leader retrieves all radios and radio pouches from team.
 #    (Equipment Shed) Mountain Manager removes batteries from radios, ensures they are dry, and inserts them in chargers (putting charged batteries in top of battery slide). Mountain Manager ensures radio bodies and pouches are dry, and then return them to their respective boxes. Any items needing repair are put in the repair bin.

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 # Hand Microphone use (for ICOM only)
 # Check-in with USFS (Minden and Grass Valley)
-# Set-up for patrolling as Patrol leader (or Mtn. Manager) and as patroller
+# Set-up for patrolling as Patrol Leader (or Mtn. Manager) and as patroller
 # Talk within patrol
 # Talk to USFS Dispatch to report incident.
@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 radios. They have a limited range (about 2 miles), and operate only in line-of-sight with each other. These radios should
 also be handled carefully, and sheltered from cold weather and moisture.
 == DAILY PROCEDURE FOR USING RADIOS ==