Difference between revisions of "Chapter 05: Communications"

Revision as of 16:44, 10 March 2008

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual

Formerly Appendix I

The radio is the single most important piece of equipment carried by TBSP on patrol. Therefore, every Patrol Leader is urged to lead a review of the procedures described in this Appendix while on patrol. Use of BK and ICOM radios should ideally be reviewed with an actual radio present, which is most often the case while on patrol. You should be able to perform all the following tasks:

1. Put on Radio Pouch/Harness 2. Install and change battery 3. Turn on radio 4. Check battery strength 5. Check transmit/receive functions 6. Hand Microphone use (for ICOM only) 7. Check-in with USFS (Minden and Grass Valley) 8. Set-up for patrolling – as Patrol leader (or Mtn. Manager) and as patroller 9. Talk within patrol 10. Talk to USFS Dispatch to report incident. 11. Switch to a Tone if not being received 12. Switch channels to talk to helicopter or DSFD or TNSAR 13. Resume transmiting within patrol 14. Change battery when low 15. Sign off with USFS 16. Return to shed, and charge radio/battery and put away radio harness

We primarily use Bendix/King (BK) 14-channel radios and ICOM radios, some of which are owned by the patrol and some of which are supplied by the Forest Service. These radios cost approximately $800 each and must be handled carefully. Each model has it’s own radio pouches, which contains a Radio Card with a short reference. The Radio and Pouches should be worn inside your parka during cold weather (so the batteries function) and kept dry during wet weather. If your radio gets wet, turn it off and don't turn it on again until it is thoroughly dry (usually not until the next day).

We also use Motorola Talk-About 2-way "family channel" radios to supplement the Bendix/King radios on patrol, for training sessions, and special events. The normal channel/code setting is “8/30”, corresponding to the usual meeting time at the equipment shed. The Motorola radios cannot be used to communicate with patrollers carrying Bendix/King 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.

Call Signs

Each patrol area has its own set of call signs, with the Patrol Leader's call sign ending in 0. E.g., the Patrol Leader for Castle Peak Basic is "Nordic 10."

Nordic 1: Patrol Director
Nordic 2: Mountain Manager
Nordic 10-19: Castle Peak
Nordic 20-29: Tahoe Meadows Basic
Nordic 30-39: Martis Peak Basic
Nordic 40-49: Pole Creek Basic
Nordic 50-59: Special Assignment
Nordic 60-69: Galena Creek Basic

To initiate a radio communication, give the call sign of the person you wish to contact, followed by your call sign. In the following example, as the Patrol Leader at Castle Peak, your call sign is "Nordic 10" and you are calling "Nordic 14," another patroller at Castle Peak, on the Tahoe National Forest Local channel.

Nordic 10, using Ch 5: "Nordic 14, Nordic 10;"
Nordic 14, using Ch 5, would respond: "Nordic 14." Nordic 10 would then continue the communication.
Remember it by saying “Calling Nordic 14, this is Nordic 10.”