Use of Tactical Callsigns in ARES W5UHQ Assistant EC Licking County March 31, 2010 Updated 1 April, 2010
It is important that all ARES communications be clear and distinct regarding who is calling whom. Frequently we hear situations where considerable time is wasted in relaying messages taken up by over use of long and unnecessary FCC call signs which we as hams are accustomed to in our daily communications and yet there can be confusion as to who is communicating to whom. ARES communications typically uses an adaption of Military and Aviation communications protocol to provide for more streamlined to and from definition and still comply with FCC Part 97. This is called using tactical call signs. Tactical call signs can identify the station s location or its purpose during an event, regardless of who is operating the station. This is an important concept. The tactical call sign also allows you to contact a station without knowing the FCC call sign of the operator. It virtually eliminates confusion at shift changes or at stations with multiple operators. Tactical call signs should be used for all emergency nets and public service events if there are more than just a few participants. If one does not already exist, the NCS may assign the tactical call sign as each location is opened. Tactical call signs will usually provide some information about the location or its purpose of each station. It is often helpful if the tactical call signs have a meaning that matches the way in which the served agency identifies the location or function.
Some examples are: Net --for net control station usually at Incident who orchestrates smooth transmissions and sets communications priority. Alternate Net for alternate NCS perhaps at a home location for backup. NOVEMBER QUEBEC Using condensed FCC callsign. CHECKPOINT 1 - Identifies physical location or function.
Meeting FCC Part 97 rules regarding Amateur Radio Service: The FCC requires identification only at end of transmission sequences and every ten minutes during a single transmission. A directed net can be thought of as a series of transmissions comprising a single sequence and thus there is no need for FCC ID during the working part of the net unless a single transmission is longer than 10 minutes which is not recommended anyway. Always listen before transmitting and be as brief as possible on the initial call until you have clearance from NCS. Although not strictly required by FCC, Licking ARES also asks that you identify with your full and tactical call during periodic roll calls on the net and when your tactical call is first acknowledged by the NCS.. There is usually one right after initial roll call and every 30-60 minutes during events. If you only check in and do not participate in any traffic exchanges, this initial ID keeps you legal.
Tactical Calls and procedures to avoid: Control or phrases with control in them Unless you are assigned to shadow the Incident Commander in an ICS situation and can speak for him/her or directly to him/her, do not use the pro word or call sign Control. Get used to calling the ham NCS as Net and not Net Control to avoid any confusion with the Incident Commander who has ultimate control of the exercise or activation we are supporting. Our NCS has no role being a pseudo IC. Turkey Trot 77, Sky King 23, or even Licking ARES Unit 1 - This flavor of military tactical call does nothing to convey a sense of what your functional support role is. Avoid this type of call sign unless directly authorized by higher authority for information security reasons. Never use your Ham Call on other frequencies such as FRS, EMA, or Public Service bands. Except on informal time or training drills at the discretion of NCS, avoid using operator names during nets. It makes us look un-professional to those listening on scanners. When using a tactical call together with your required FCC Ident, use your own operator s call not a call issued to the station you are working from. This is a carry over from the days when station and operator calls were issued separately. Unless you have the direct permission of the trustee/control operator, you should identify yourself for FCC purposes together with the linkage to the tactical call being used. Avoid trouble by using some third party call. You are the one responsible for insuring that the station is operating within the limits of your license.
Example Sequences for a Readiness Net: NCS OPENS net, WITH HIS FULL FCC CALL and calls for checkins: Stations respond as: NOVEMBER QUEBEC TRAINING INFO, UNIFORM LIMA QUERRY, ALFA TANGO ALPHA,ETC while all check-in. If you have no traffic.no need to say so just ID with your suffix. At end of initial checkins (and every hour thereafter) : NCS THEN SAYS: NOVEMBER QUEBEC, PLEASE LIST YOUR TRAFFIC AND IDENTIFY. THIS IS KILO EIGHT NOVEMBER QUEBEC, HEATH, WITH TRAINING TIP. NCS THEN SAYS CONFIRM. WAIT. UNIFORM LIMA, PLEASE IDENTIFY AND LIST YOUR QUERRY THIS IS NOVEMBER EIGHT WHISKEY LIMA, GRANVILLE, INFORMAL WITH NOVEMBER QUEBEC. CONFIRM, STATION ENDING IN TANGO ALPHA, YOUR FULL CALL AND LOCATION PLEASE. THIS IS WHISKEY EIGHT ALPHA TANGO ALPHA, NEWARK NCS THEN SAYS CONFIRM NCS THEN SAYS NET STANDBYE FOR TRAINING TIP. NOVEMBER QUEBEC SEND YOUR TRAFFIC NOVEMBER QUEBEC SENDS HIS TRAFFIC AND AT END OF HIS TRANSMISSIONS, HE DOES A FULL FCC ID AND SENDS IT BACK TO NCS. NCS THEN SAYS WHISKEY LIMA CALL NOVEMBER QUEBEC WITH ONE QUERRY. WHISKEY LIMA and NOVEMBER QUEBEC COMPLETE THEIR INFORMAL EXCHANGE OF INFO. AT THE END OF QUERRY / REPLY BOTH STATIONS SHOULD ID ON THEIR LAST TRANSMISSION WITH FULL FCC CALL. NCS THEN SAYS THANK YOU THIS IS FULL CALL, NCS FOR LICKING COUNTRY ARES, IS THERE FURTHER TRAFFIC OR CHECKINS NCS SHOULD RE-IDENTIFY WITH FULL CALL RIGHT AFTER HE HAS REGAINED NCS OR DURING ANY CHANGE IN NCS STATIONS. NOTE: OTHER TACTICAL CALLS MAY BE USED IN LIEU OF SUFFIX WHEN DIRECTED BY ACTIVITY OR NCS.
TOO MANY DETAILS TO REMEMBER??? NOT REALLY: USE COMMON SENSE AND USE THE MOST ABREVIATED ID TO ESTABLISH WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU NEED TO TALK TO WHEN CHECKING IN OR DURING A CONVERSTION ON THE NET. USE YOUR FULL FCC ID WHEN ASKED TO BY NCS OR DURING YOUR FINAL TRANSMISSION DURING A SERIES OF TRANSMISSIONS ON THE NET. AVOID LONG TRANSMISSIONS WITH REPEATER KEYED. IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, ID EVERY 10 MINUTES IF YOU CAN NOT AVOID IT. WHATS NEXT? WATCH FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING TIPS FOR SPECIFIC FIXED TACTICAL CALLS WE WILL USE IN LICKING COUNTY. WATCH FOR NEW SKYWARN LICKING COUNTY MAP THAT INTEGRATES TACTICAL CALLSIGNS WITH SPECIFIC AREAS THAT OBSERVERS ARE AT.