Radio Operator Certificate (ROC) for members of patrolling Clubs Version 3.0
Housekeeping Course Time 1 hour Facilities Refreshments Facilities Mobile Phones Emergency Procedures Trainers/Assessors See for more help Safety Slip & Trip Hazards Electrical Safety Do not hold antenna Resources Patrol Operations Manual Two Way Radio Assessment Theory Workshop Practice under Supervision Final Assessment
Purpose of this Briefing Purpose Certify that a Member is proficiently to use a Two Way Radio Required by Dept Community Safety Required by SLSA Learning Outcomes Transmitting & Receiving procedures Patrol, Emergency & Rescue Procedures Radio Maintenance This training is a requirement for: a) Patrol Bronze Star b) Patrol Lifeguard c) IRB Driver/Crew PLEASE ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Overview Why use a Radio? Quick instant, communicate with everyone, without using a phone. Ongoing use is cheap. No need to remember numbers. Simple to use. What can you do with the radio? Quickly and simply communicate Clear and private communication Talk to one or many life savers at once Organise support very quickly and easily
Types of Transmissions (Technical) Frequency Measured in hertz (Kilo or Mega Hertz) Can be from 100 KHz to 500 MHz (or even higher or lower than this) Radio TV VHF UHF 1000 KHz / 100 MHz 120 MHz 150 MHz 400-500 MHz What is a Channel A particular frequency that is preprogrammed => simple to use. No need to learn the frequency, just select the correct channel for your area. Explanation of Channels Think of your favourite radio station? It may be 97.3 (FM) => This is actual on the frequency 97.3 MHz. Now let call this radio station the Number One radio station in Brisbane. So, if I said, tune your radio station to the Number One radio station, you would tune your radio to 97.3 MHz. This is how our radio's work. The frequency is already set up under the channels you select, so if you select channel one on a radio, its the same frequency as all our other radio's.
Types of Transmissions (Technical) Just like your car radio: To ways radio can work: AM (Amplitude Modulation) Considered inferior, Still used Commercial Radio Aircraft communication Used on old CB (27 MHz) FM (Frequency Modulation) Clearer Used on more modern equipment Type's of Transmission: Analog (Traditional) Most radio's use Analog Works well, uniform standard All brands compatible Excellent for voice communication Digital (New) Problematic, no uniform standard (all radio manufacturers have different standard) Best use is for data transmission No brand compatibility. Does give some benefits from data use. Problem with signal degradation.
Common Types of Radio Systems CB (Citizen Band) No licence required Cheap to buy Others use it VHF (Marine) Need a licence Others use it 27 MHz (CB & Marine) No licence required No security Own Private Frequencies Private & Secure Can lease from ACMC frequencies SLSA & RLSS owns Licences to use certain frequencies UHF (FM), around 485 MHz RLSS has once frequency (sublicence), for simplex use Surf Life Saving owns a number of frequency's licence and allow us to use it Allow a SLSA to operate a Radio Network (repeater)
What is a repeater How a Repeater Works Radio transmissions are generally line of sight and work a few kilometres at best To transmit longer distance, a radio in-between is needed to relay the message This systems is called a Repeater (also referred to as Network or Duplex) There is a network of repeaters on Gold & Sunshine Coast owned by SLSA On a repeater network Everyone can hear everyone else Perhaps 100 users at any one time
Types of Radio Units 1. Portable / Handheld Small units - can be used in vehicle, ATV, IRB or by beach walker (etc). Powered by rechargeable batteries. 2. Base / In Vehicle (Mobile) Operate similar to Portable, but fixed in place, may have more features. Requires power to operate. 3. Repeaters You will not see these, but will use them
How to Use a Radio Buttons ON/OFF & Volume PTT (Side) : Push to Talk Red : Alarm calls all radios : Channel UP and DOWN Often extra buttons are disabled. Please look at the radio's used in your Club and find these buttons.
How to use a Radio What to do Turn Radio on volume about ½ way (always check a radio after turning on called a radio check) Think before speaking Push Button to Speak Wait a second before speaking Speak across the microphone, shield from the wind Microphone 5-10cm from mouth Try this on your Club's radio
How to use a Radio What NOT to do Do not yell (speak normally) Never transmit when receiving a signal Do not touch Antenna, hang radio from Antenna, or bend the Antenna Would you take your mobile phone in a boat? Don't over confuse things with lots of jargon Activity to try: Hold radio at your full arms length, press transmit, and speak in a normal voice can your voice be heard clearly? Most people think speaking loud into a radio will give a better clarity of reception... is this true?
Radio's ICOM F4263 (Digital) Cost $950 Supplied by SLSQ Usually purchased without Keypad Built in GPS function Can Roam (called Voting) from Club to Club & automatically find correct repeater channel. Quite large & heavy. This radio can transmit in analog mode, however only SLSQ radio frequencies are programmed.
Radio's ICOM F60 (Analog) Cost $650 Small lightweight radio Very good & reliable unit
Radio's ICOM F4001 (Analog) Good quality radio Similar to F60 without LCD display Cost $200 (rather than $650) No Emergency function
Base or Vehicle Radio's ICOM F6023 (Analog) ICOM F6063 (Digital) No need to charge battery More reliable, better antenna More powerful The analog and digital versions of these radio's are very similar
SurfCom Communication & Control Centre Monitors & records all communication Allocates tasks to support services Communicates with Police & Ambulance (etc) PC sign's in and provides updates Can contact Jetboat / Wave Runners / Helicopter Note The protocol is if we require assistance from Support services, to request from SurfCom, not the service ANI Codes (how you are identified by SurfCom) A 5 digit tone (each tone representing a number) Automatically sent during every transmission You will not hear the tone on digital radios (but it is there) Identifies you Club and the radio used
Reporting to SurfCom Morning & Midday SurfCom will contact the PC for a Report. Beach is Open/Closed Colour Flag flying No of Members on patrol All equipment operational (or not) Beach & Water Population An IRB radio check will then be completed. After a Rescue Report rescue to SurfCom Close of Patrol As patrol is closed, advise SurfCom Beach is Closed No of Rescue's for day Beach & Water Population
What Channels Do We Use Simplex Channels 1 & 2 Also Training channels (3 and 11) Used for all Club to Club Communications Not as rigorously monitored Duplex Channel 12 (Caloundra) Channel 7 (Gold Coast) Monitors & records all communications No general chat on this channel Could be monitored by up to 100 people
Setting up a Radio Radio Bag Cost of Radio : $650 Cost of Bag : $30 Demonstration Do not overtighten Secure to harness (use duct tape if necessary) Check radio Use a Bag whenever a radio goes near water Selecting a Channel Use up/down button or Program button
Radio Language & Protocol Over Ready for you to talk back Out (Clear) I do not expect you to respond Romeo (Roger) Yes or OK Say Again Repeat what you just said Stand by Wait for a response Go / Go Ahead Proceed with transmission Call Sign Beach/Club Name & Position Bulcock IRB Bulcock Patrol Bulcock Roving What to Say Call sign of person you are calling your call sign the message over or out Beware of CB Speak
Radio Usage Radio Check When leaving Patrol Area Load & Clear Just Readable Unreadable Nothing heard Emergency Rescue, Rescue, Rescue Should clear channel for emergency Phonetics Good for rego/spelling Download from Website List in Radio Room Incident Procedures Position Place People Progress The more you use a radio, the easier it is.
What to Say 1. Call sign of person you wish to speak to 2. Your Call sign 3. The message 4. Over or Out (not both) Example Bulcock Base this is Bulcock IRB Can you give me a radio check Over Practice this now (call sign of person you wish to speak to) (your call sign) (message) (Over or Out)
Practice Activity Using a number the people in your group as different stations or Call Signs, try these scenarios: - Radio Check - Request Assistance - Beach Status Report - Calling an Ambulance - SurfCom sign-on - Responding to a request / direction
Radio Maintenance Wet radio Turn Radio Off Rinse with fresh water (short quick rinse) Dry with towel Remove Battery Air dry (our of direct sun light) Advise Club Captain / Radio Officer Charging Do NOT leave a radio turned on in a charger Storm / Lightening If lightening likely, turn base radio off (and stay away), but it is safe to use hand held radio's Other Problems See Club Captain / Radio Officer
Obtaining a Certificate ASSESSMENT Practical Use Training Channel A Perform Task shown on right (see Test paper) Theory Complete Test Paper (multichoice questions) Practical Must be able to do: Radio check with PC SurfCom Status Report or Sign on Beach Status Report Put Radio on Charge Request Ambulance Call for help Use Phonetics Set up an IRB radio Charge a Radio
End of Presentation Completion of workshop