Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-1 INTRODUCTION The Preambles and Procedures shall be complied with by all members when operating in DCS/RACES radio nets. This requirement will insure uniform operating practices throughout the DCS/RACES network so that members from one area can effectively assist in any other area. PREAMBLES It shall be the responsibility of the NCS facility supervisor to select the correct preamble to be read for that facility's DCS/RACES net operations. If not informed, the individual operator(s) shall ask for the correct preamble before operating in the net(s). Preambles shall be read exactly as printed with the operator inserting the correct information when required by the blanks in the printed preamble(s). PROCEDURES Operators shall conform to the Approved Policies & Procedures throughout the DCS organization. ABBREVIATIONS, RADIO CODES, AND PHONETIC ALPHABET Operators shall comply with the following information, and shall not make any substitutions. EXAMPLES Examples of preambles and formats for various situations are given on the following six pages.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-2 ROUTINE DRILL DIC OR CITY 5 MINUTES BEFORE NET: THIS IS K6CPT STATION, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL. A NET WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THIS FREQUENCY IN FIVE MINUTES. THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS ON THIS FREQUENCY FOR THE DURATION OF A TEST DRILL TO COMMENCE AT HOURS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THIS IS K6CPT STATION MONITORING. OPENING NET: THIS IS K6CPT STATION, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, NET CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THIS NET IS ACTIVATED AT HOURS. THIS IS A DIRECTED CLOSED NET. ONLY AMATEUR STATIONS REGISTERED AS CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS MAY BE RECOGNIZED BY THIS NET CONTROL STATION. HOWEVER, AS TIME PERMITS THE NET WILL BE OPEN TO QUESTIONS FOLLOWING CHECK INS. EACH MEMBER STATION WILL USE ITS UNIT IDENTIFIER, FOLLOWED BY ITS AMATEUR CALL. PROCEDURE: 1. ANNOUNCE WHICH BANDS WILL BE ACTIVATED FOR THE NET. 2. TRANSMIT MESSAGES (EITHER COPY OR READING SPEED). 3. ROLL CALL OF MEMBER STATIONS, (LIST ANY TRAFFIC). 4. ROLL CALL OF STAFF OFFICER CHECK-INS. 5. CALL FOR LATE OR MISSED STATIONS. 6. RECEIVE LISTED TRAFFIC FROM MEMBER STATIONS. 7. CALL FOR LATE OR MISSED STATIONS. 8. OPEN NET TO QUESTIONS, (IF TIME PERMITS). 9. STATION WILL STAND BY UNTIL HOURS. OR STATION WILL NOW CALL THEIR ROLL CALL. ( used when 2 Districts or Cities share a frequency) CLOSING NET: THIS IS K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, NET CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS ON THIS FREQUENCY DURING THE TEST DRILL JUST COMPLETED IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, IS NOW CLEAR. NOTE: Control Operator must identify the control station with "K6CPT STATION,UNIT
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-3 IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL " at least every 10 minutes, and uses the Unit Identifier at other times. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIC OR CITY ACTIVATING PREAMBLE: THIS IS K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, NET CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, OPERATING AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER AUTHORITY. A CLEAR FREQUENCY IS REQUESTED FOR USE BY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS STATIONS AND CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS ASSISTING DURING THE PRESENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE (Area, District or City). THIS EMERGENCY IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL (if known). PERIODICALLY DURING OPERATIONS: EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ARE NOW IN EFFECT ON THIS FREQUENCY. ALL MEMBERS WILL USE THEIR ASSIGNED UNIT IDENTIFIERS FOLLOWED BY THEIR AMATEUR CALLS. K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, IS NOW MONITORING. CLOSING NET OPERATIONS: THIS IS K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, NET CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, OPERATING AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER AUTHORITY. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE HAVE NOW CONCLUDED IN THE (Area, District or City). THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS IN CLEARING THE FREQUENCY FOR EMERGENCY USE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. K6CPT STATION,UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, IS NOW CLEAR. NOTE: When a non-member station is heard on frequency, advise the station that K6CPT is operating under the authority of Los Angeles County Ordinance 2.68.140, and that emergency procedures are in effect on the frequency. Request a clear frequency for the duration of the emergency activity. If the breaking station has emergency traffic it is to be taken and passed to the proper agency.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-4 SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIC OR CITY ACTIVATING PREAMBLE: THIS IS (Unit Identifier & Amateur Call Sign) STATION, NET CONTROL STATION OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THIS IS A DIRECTED CLOSED NET. ONLY AMATEUR STATIONS REGISTERED AS CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS WILL BE RECOGNIZED DURING SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN THE (Area). THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL. ALL MEMBER STATIONS WILL USE THEIR ASSIGNED UNIT IDENTIFIERS FOLLOWED BY THEIR AMATEUR CALLS. THIS IS (Unit Identifier & Amateur Call Sign) STATION MONITORING. CLOSING NET OPERATIONS: THIS IS (Unit Identifier & Amateur Call Sign) STATION, NET CONTROL STATION OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. SPECIAL OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE UNITS HAVE NOW CONCLUDED IN THE (Area). THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS IN CLEARING THIS FREQUENCY FOR DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE USE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. THIS IS (Unit Identifier & Amateur Call Sign) STATION CLEAR. NOTE: When an unauthorized station is heard on the frequency; Call the station and advise that Los Angeles County DCS is conducting a directed closed net and would appreciate a clear frequency for the duration of the operation. Answer any questions following the net. If the breaking station has emergency traffic it is to be taken and passed to the proper agency.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-5 ROUTINE DRILL EOC 5 MINUTES BEFORE NET: THIS IS K6CPT STATION A, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL. A NET WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THIS FREQUENCY IN FIVE MINUTES. THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS ON THIS FREQUENCY FOR THE DURATION OF A TEST DRILL TO COMMENCE AT HOURS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THIS IS K6CPT STATION A MONITORING. OPENING NET: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THIS NET IS ACTIVATED AT HOURS. THIS IS A DIRECTED CLOSED NET. ONLY AMATEUR STATIONS REGISTERED AS CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS MAY BE RECOGNIZED BY THIS NET CONTROL STATION. HOWEVER, AS TIME PERMITS THE NET WILL BE OPEN TO QUESTIONS FOLLOWING CHECK INS. EACH MEMBER STATION WILL USE ITS UNIT IDENTIFIER, FOLLOWED BY ITS AMATEUR CALL. PROCEDURE: 1. ANNOUNCE WHICH BANDS WILL BE ACTIVATED FOR THE NET. 2. TRANSMIT MESSAGES (EITHER COPY OR READING SPEED). 3. ROLL CALL OF DISTRICT STATIONS, (LIST ANY TRAFFIC). 4. CALL FOR LATE OR MISSED DISTRICT STATIONS. 5. RECEIVE LISTED TRAFFIC FROM DISTRICT STATIONS. 6. CALL FOR CITY EOC STATIONS IN NON-ACTIVE DISTRICTS. 7 CALL FOR SUPPORT EOC (X-RAY) STATIONS. 8. CALL FOR STAFF OFFICER CHECK-INS. 9. CALL FOR ZEBRA OPERATOR CHECK-INS. 10. CALL FOR MEMBERS UNABLE TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR DICS. 11. CALL FOR MEMBERS WISHING A RADIO CHECK. 12. CALL FOR LATE OR MISSED STATIONS. 13. STATION A WILL STAND BY UNTIL HOURS. CLOSING NET: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS ON THIS FREQUENCY DURING THE TEST DRILL JUST COMPLETED IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. K6CPT STATION A, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, IS NOW CLEAR.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-6 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS EOC ACTIVATING PREAMBLE: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, OPERATING AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER AUTHORITY. A CLEAR FREQUENCY IS REQUESTED FOR USE BY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS STATIONS AND CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS ASSISTING DURING THE PRESENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE (Area, District or City). THIS EMERGENCY IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL (if known). PERIODICALLY DURING OPERATIONS: EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ARE NOW IN EFFECT ON THIS FREQUENCY. ALL MEMBERS WILL USE THEIR ASSIGNED UNIT IDENTIFIERS FOLLOWED BY THEIR AMATEUR CALLS. K6CPT STATION A, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL IS NOW MONITORING. CLOSING NET OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, OPERATING AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER AUTHORITY. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE HAVE NOW CONCLUDED IN THE (Area, District or City). THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS IN CLEARING THE FREQUENCY FOR EMERGENCY USE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. K6CPT STATION A, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, IS NOW CLEAR. NOTE: When a non-member station is heard on frequency, advise the station that K6CPT is operating under the authority of Los Angeles County Ordinance 2.68.140, and that emergency procedures are in effect on the frequency. Request a clear frequency for the duration of the emergency activity. If the breaking station has emergency traffic it is to be taken and passed to the proper agency.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-7 SPECIAL OPERATIONS EOC ACTIVATING PREAMBLE: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. THIS IS A DIRECTED CLOSED NET. ONLY AMATEUR STATIONS REGISTERED AS CIVIL DEFENSE UNITS WILL BE RECOGNIZED DURING SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN THE (Area). THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL. ALL MEMBER STATIONS WILL USE THEIR ASSIGNED UNIT IDENTIFIERS FOLLOWED BY THEIR AMATEUR CALLS. THIS IS K6CPT STATION A MONITORING. CLOSING NET OPERATIONS: COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. SPECIAL OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE UNITS HAVE NOW CONCLUDED IN THE (Area). THE COOPERATION OF ALL AMATEURS IN CLEARING THIS FREQUENCY FOR DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE USE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE FREQUENCY IS CLEAR AT HOURS. THIS IS K6CPT STATION A, UNIT IDENTIFIER AND AMATEUR CALL, CLEAR. NOTE: When an unauthorized station is heard on the frequency; Call the station and advise that Los Angeles County DCS is conducting a directed closed net and would appreciate a clear frequency for the duration of the operation. Answer any questions following the net. If the breaking station has emergency traffic it is to be taken and passed to the proper agency.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-8 PHONETIC ALPHABET To improve the exchange of information between DCS and the Government Agencies using DCS services, the following Phonetic Alphabet shall be used when operating within DCS Radio Nets. No other Phonetic Alphabets shall be used. LETTER PHONETIC WORD DISTRICT A ADAM Not Used B BOY 2 C... CHARLES... 3 D DAVID 4 E EDWARD 5 F... FRANK... 6 G GEORGE Not Used H HENRY Not Used I... IDA... Not Used J JOHN 9 K KING 22 L... LINCOLN... 11 M MARY 12 N NORA 13 O... OCEAN... Not Used P PAUL 14 Q QUEEN 15 R... ROBERT... 16 S SAM STAFF T TOM 17 U... UNION... 18 V VICTOR 24 W WILLIAM 21 X... XRAY... SUPPORT EOC Y YOUNG 20 Z ZEBRA CIC and SUPPORT EOC OPERATORS The letter of each member s Unit Identifier indicates to which District a member has been assigned. For example, Lincoln 103 would indicate assignment to District 11.
Section 5 - Preambles and Procedures Page 5-9 ABBREVIATIONS ADCO ASO CCO CLO DCCO DCO DIC DCS DOO EOB EOC LASD NCS Support EOC SEB SHB SOP SPO Assistant District Communications Officer Area Staff Officer Chief Communications Officer City Liaison Officer Deputy Chief Communications Officer District Communications Officer District Information Center (Sheriff's Station) Disaster Communications Service District Operations Officer Emergency Operations Bureau (LASD) Emergency Operating Center Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Net Control Station Support Emergency Operating Center Special Enforcement Bureau (LASD) Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau Standard Operating Procedure Special Projects Officer RADIO CODES These codes are included for reference. The use of plain English is encouraged. TEN-1 TEN-2 TEN-3 TEN-4 TEN-5 TEN-6 TEN-7 TEN-8 TEN-9 TEN-10 TEN-11 TEN-12 TEN-13 TEN-19 TEN-20 TEN-21 TEN-22 TEN-23 TEN-27 TEN-30 TEN-33 TEN-34 TEN-36 TEN-37 TEN-97 TEN-98 TEN-99 Receiving poorly Receiving well Stop transmitting OK, or Roger, or Yes Relay Busy Out of service In service Repeat Out of service, subject to call Transmitting to rapidly Officials or visitors present Advise weather & road conditions Return to your station What is your location? Call station by telephone Take no further action last information Stand by Any answer message; message nbr, or last message Does not conform to regulations I have emergency traffic I have routine traffic Correct time Identify operator on duty Arrived at scene Finished with last assignment Emergency