# Presentation: 317637

## CAP Communications Orientation Class

**Voice of Command**

- Developed by:
- LTC Bruce Bream
- Ohio Wing/Eagle Squadron
- February 2006

- Note:
- This presentation does NOT contain any For Official Use Only (FOUO) information.

## Basic Communications Course Overview

- Operators and Radio Stations
- Call Signs
- Radio Communications Systems
- Equipment Familiarization
- Use of Repeaters
- Radiotelephone Operating Procedures
- Timekeeping and Date-Time Groups
- Prowords
- Phonetic Alphabet
- Radio Nets
- Message Forms
- Distress and Emergency Communications
- Radio Communication Practice

**Basic Communications Course Overview**

## CAP Radio Operator Licensing

**Communications Orientation**
- 2-3 Hour Class on:
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Local Operating Procedures
- Entitles CAP member to operate a CAP Radio
- Issued a Radio Operator Authorization (**ROA**) by Ohio Wing

_**TWO Levels of Operator Licensing:**_

_**The regulation for all CAP Communications is CAPR 100-1**_

**Advanced Communications User Training**
- 4-5 Hour Class
- Pass the Advanced Communications User Test, CAPF 119
- Entitles CAP member to be assigned a call sign for their radio
- Required as part of the Communications Specialty Track

## CAP Radio Station Licensing

**CAP Radio Station Licensing**

**CAP is a considered a **_**federal agency**_** for radio licensing**
**Federal agencies are **_**not allowed**_** to use services allocated exclusively to the public sector for their business**
**Amateur Radio and Citizens Band **_**cannot**_** be used for CAP business**
**Family Radio Service (FRS)**
**On ES missions: limited to communication with victims **_**to expedite a rescue**_
**May be used for **_**all non-ES**_** mission activities on a non-interference basis**

**National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)**

- Licenses _Federal_ agencies
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- Civil Air Patrol
- FEMA, NASA, EPA, USPS, Etc.

## Types of Stations & Tactical Call Signs

**GROUND & MOBILE**

**AIRMOBILE**

**Columbus 104**

**CAPFLIGHT ****34****21**

**Columbus 401**

_**Ohio Wing Call Sign Examples**_

- First two digits are Wing number

_**Ground & Mobile Reserved Call signs**_
- Last digit assigned to command staff:
**..1**	Commander	(C 10**1**)
**..2**	Deputy	(C 30**2**)
**..3**	Chief of Staff	(C 100**3**)
**..4**	Communications	(C **4**)
**..5****	**Chaplain	(C 70**5**)

_**Airmobile Call Signs**_
- CAP Corporate Aircraft are always **CAPFLIGHT **except,
**CAPFLIGHT RESCUE** used only during _actual_ missions
- Member-owned aircraft
- Use assigned CAPFLIGHT for reimbursable missions
- Otherwise, use tail number

## CAP Communications Systems

**CAP Communications Systems**

**CAP Frequencies**
**HF** - Long-range (50-1000+ miles)

- Voice is the primary means of communication

**FAA Aeronautical Frequencies**

**ISR (Intra Squad Radios)**
- Short range (2-3 miles)
- Similar to FRS radios

**Satellite Digital Imaging System (SDIS)**
- Used for digital imaging
- Data relayed through satellite

- Uses FAA frequencies
- Communicate with all radio equipped aircraft

**VHF** - Short-range (5-50 miles)

- Range determined by time of day, frequency, and sunspot cycle

- Range determined by “radio horizon”

- HF Static

**Capabilities**

- HF SSB

- _[Sounds](file:///RadioSounds.ppt)_

##  Voice Operating Modes

**F2**

** ****Voice Operating Modes**

**SIMPLEX**

**REPEATER**

**Single** Frequency - _One_ Station at a Time

**R**

**T**

**Input**

**Output**

**Two** Frequencies - _One_ Station at a Time

- Your radio switches  to Frequency 2 when you press the PTT switch

**F1**

**F1**

## Repeater Operational Advantage

**Repeater Operational Advantage**

- Input

- Output

- Repeaters increase the range of mobile
- stations due to the high profile location
- typically covering a 20-50 mile radius

## Inside the Repeater

- Sub-audible Tone

**Inside the Repeater**

- Input Channel
- Voice

- +  Sub-audible Tone

**Receiver**

**Tone Decoder**

**Transmitter**

**“****Mike Button”**

**Voice**

- Output Channel
- Voice

**PTT**

- Repeater retransmits if it hears one of two sub-audible tones:
- 1) Universal Access Tone or
- 2) Repeater site specific tone

**Tone Decoder** “listens” for either the universal or site specific tone on the incoming signal

**Tone Decoder** “presses” the Push To Talk (PTT) button to turn on the repeater’s transmitter

- Radio must be set to the correct
-  1) transmit channel, and
-  2) sub-audible tone
-  to use the desired repeater

## Ohio Wing Voice RepeatersOperating on CAP VHF-FM

- Repeater Locations:
- Cambridge
- Carey
- Cincinnati
- Columbus
- Dayton
- Jackson
- Lafayette
- Lancaster
- Lima
- New Philadelphia
- Thompson
- Wauseon

- If you are not sure which repeater to select:
- Use the Universal Access Tone

## Primary mode of operation should be simplex
Repeaters can be used if simplex not possible
Selectively use a repeater through use of its assigned sub-audible access tone
Use of universal tone is prohibited since this will bring up multiple repeaters
The key is to limit use to a single repeater

**Primary mode of operation should be simplex**
**Repeaters can be used if simplex not possible**
**Selectively use a repeater through use of its assigned sub-audible access tone**
**Use of universal tone is prohibited since this will bring up multiple repeaters**
**The key is to limit use to a single repeater**

**Airmobile use of Repeaters**

## FAA Aeronautical SAR Stations

- Air-Ground Communications on FAA aircraft frequencies
- Aeronautical Search And Rescue (SAR) ground stations operate on two Aircraft Frequencies:
- 122.9 MHz - **TRAINING** Only
- 123.1 MHz - **ACTUAL** Missions Only
- Ground Station Call Signs assigned by geographical location
- “THIS IS Lost Nation Base OVER”

**ELTs - Training & Actual**

- 121.775 MHz	Training transmitters
- 121.5 MHz	Actual ELTs

## Basic Radio Station Operation Summary

**Power (On/Off)**
- Usually part of Volume control
- Battery powered radios should be turned off when not being used to conserve the batteries
**Volume**
- Set to easily hear stations but not annoyingly loud
- On portable radios the higher the volume, the more battery power is used and the sooner the battery runs out
**Squelch**
- Adjusts the point where audio and noise (hiss) are suppressed (quiet)
- Adjust until noise is heard and then back off to just past the point where the noise stops
- Some newer radios do not have a squelch knob
**Channel Selector**
- Selects both receive and transmit frequencies
- Unless it is a corporate radio, there is no  assurance that the frequencies are set the same on the channel selector.  Know the frequencies in use and how your radio is set up or programmed
- Consult the person who furnished the radio for the specific settings for the radio
**Microphone**
- Speak into the microphone using a normal speech level
- Don’t yell or whisper;  Shouting does not increase intelligibility or range
**Push to Talk (PTT) Switch**
- Press the PTT when talking; Release PTT to listen
- Monitor the channel for a few seconds before you transmit to ensure that you don’t interfere with other traffic prior to pushing the PTT

## Basic Radio Station Components

- V

- S

- C

- 1

**Power**
**Supply**

**Basic Radio Station Components**

**Power Sources**
- 120VAC Power Supply
- 12VDC
- Generator
- Batteries

**Radio Transceiver**
- Designed for a single or multiple frequency band and modes
- CAP VHF-FM
- CAP HF-SSB
- FAA VHF-AM

**Antenna**
- Frequency sets relative size
- VHF-FM
- Magnetic Mount
- Fixed vertical
- HF-SSB
- 50 foot Dipole
- Fixed vertical
- Bumper mount vertical

**Antenna Coax**
- Special cable that connects radio to antenna

- 120 VAC
- Outlet

**Ground**
- Required for Electrical Safety

## Radios you will see in CAP

**Radios you will see in CAP**

**CAP VHF-FM**

**FAA Aircraft VHF-AM**

**E.F. Johnson 5112 portable**

**E.F. Johnson 5317 “Stealth” mobile**

**Tait 2020II**

**Neutec SM-1645**

**NAT NPX-138**

**Motorola Micom-2**

**CAP HF-SSB**

**ICOM A-22**

**Tait T196**

## Tait T2000IICAP VHF-FM

**Tait T2000II**CAP VHF-FM

**Direct channel number entry possible with keypad and enter key**

_**Note**_**:**
**These Tait 2020 radios are factory-modified for CAP**
**A standard Tait 2020 purchased on your own from other than CAPMart will not be  NTIA compliant**

**Up / Down buttons change the channel**

## E.F. Johnson 5317 “Stealth” CAP VHF-FM

**Channel / Group Knob**
**Toggles its function each time you **_**press**_** it in**
**Turn to select channels or groups**
**There are 16 memory groups with 10 channels per group**
**Groups and channels are labeled with text names**

## E.F. Johnson 5112 Portable CAP VHF-FM

**E.F. Johnson 5112 Portable**** **CAP VHF-FM

**On-Off-Volume**
**and Squelch**

**Channel Selector**

**Microphone**

**PTT**

## Neutec SM-1645 CAP VHF-FM

**Neutec SM-1645**** **CAP VHF-FM

**Pressing the PRI button gets to a second bank of 16 channels - It is **_**NOT**_** a priority button**

**The display only shows a number, so you must have a list or card of how it is programmed**

**Selects one of 16 numbered channels**

**It is important to note whether the PRI light is on or off**

- Check channel card attached to top of radio

## NAT NPX-138 Radio Operation CAP VHF-FM

**NAT NPX-138 Radio Operation**** **CAP VHF-FM

**Controls:**
- MN	Main Volume & On/Off - (Channel activity light to right of MN knob)
- GD	Guard Channel Volume (Leave CCW)
- SCAN/NORM/GDTX	Leave in **NORM**
- GD1/GD2	Guard Channel Select **GD1**=Repeater (Ch 1) **GD2**=Air/Ground (Ch 4)
- DISP	**ID**=Channel Name, **RX**=Receive frequency, **TX**=Transmit Frequency
- CHAN	**+/-** Step up/down through programmed channels
- BRIGHT	**+/-** Change display brightness
- EDIT	Don’t move this switch!
- SQ	Push to open squelch to check volume and weak signals
**Operation:**
- Powers up with other radios as shown above
- Turn on (if necessary), Set Channel, Adjust Volume, Check Squelch, Set Audio Panel

**Features:**
- FAA accepted for aircraft use
- 100 pre-programmed channels
- Same channels in all aircraft
- Operates from 138-174 MHz
- “Guard” channel monitor
- Use with CAP as well as Coast Guard, State Highway Patrol, and local Police

## Motorola MICOM-2CAP HF SSB Radio

**Motorola MICOM-2**CAP HF SSB Radio

**Channels are switched via the up/down buttons**
**Function button toggles between various displays including the frequency and the channel number**

## Intra Squad Radio (ISR)

- Designed for ground team use and large functions like encampments and schools
- Not issued to individuals - issued in deployable packages
- Won’t talk with CAP VHF-FM radio system
- NHQ furnished radios and cases, but no batteries
- Cost of ni-cad battery and charger almost equal to cost of radio itself
- Ni-cads available run 10 hours before needing recharge
- Alkaline AA batteries last 30 hours max before requiring replacement
- Commanders, and ES Officers should plan for readily available batteries
- Incident Commanders and Mission Coordinators should anticipate battery expenses for actual and practice missions
- ISR battery costs are reimbursable on CAPF108 if mission/SAREX is reimbursed (with receipts, complete forms, *etc.*)
- Project Officers for encampments and training activities should anticipate and plan for battery costs
- Flight-line supervisor should use VHF-FM (Ch4) to marshal pilots in aircraft
- ISR frequencies are shared with other DOD agencies

**Intra Squad Radio (ISR)**

## Zulu Time is Standard Time

**Zulu Time is Standard Time**

**Known as ****Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) based on an accurate atomic clock**
- Similar to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - based on mean earth rotation

**Zulu time is the same, no matter what time zone you are in**

**Standard Time Zones:**
**EST****	****Eastern****	****+5 = Z**
**CST****	****Central****	****+6 = Z**
**MST****	****Mountain****	****+7 = Z**
**PST****	****Pacific****	****+8 = Z**

- 1 hour less for Daylight Saving Time
**EDT +4 = Z**

**WWV Time Broadcast**

## Slide 24

## Date-Time Group

**16  0218Z  APR  01**

**Date**

**Time**

**Month**

**Year**

**Date **_**and**_** Time in ZULU**

**ZULU - Means that time is UTC**
** ****(Coordinated Universal Time)**

**Z = EST + 5 hours      Z = EDT + 4 hours**

- A DTG specifies one minute in a century

- Don’t forget to account for change in day, month or year

## Date-Time Group Practice

- Practice making a DTG for the following times/events:
- Right Now
- July 7, 1997  3:07 am
- Apollo 11 Moon Landing, 7/20/1969, 4:17 EDT
- April 15, 2001  9:18 pm
- ELT Heard:  Feb 28, 2005  7:21 pm
- What local date/time is  010459Z JAN 05?

## PROWORDS

**THIS IS****	****	****Preface to your call sign**
**ROGER****	****	****Last transmission received OK**
**OVER****	****	****I’m done, go ahead**
**OUT****	****	****I’m done, bye**
**WAIT****	****	****I will be back in a few seconds**
**SAY AGAIN****	****Say that again**
**CORRECTION****	****Oops!  I really meant to say**
**WILCO****	****	****ROGER **_**and**_** I will comply**
**AFFIRMATIVE****	****Yes**

**Special words used for**
** **_**Clarity**_** and **_**Brevity**_** in communications**
**Most commonly used prowords:**

## Phonetic Alphabet & Numbers

**A****	****Alpha****	****(**_**Al**_** fah)**
**B****	****Bravo****	****(**_**Brah**_** voh)**
**C****	****Charlie****	****(**_**Cha**_**r lee)**
**D****	****Delta****	****(**_**Dell**_** tah)**
**E****	****Echo****	****(**_**Eck**_**-oh)**
**F****	****Foxtrot****	****(**_**Foks**_** trot)**
**G****	****Golf****	****(Golf)**
**H****	****Hotel****	****(Hoh **_**tell**_**)**
**I****	****India****	****(**_**In**_** dee ah)**
**J****	****Juliet****	****(Ju lee **_**ett**_**)**
**K****	****Kilo****	****(**_**Kee**_** loh)**
**L****	****Lima****	****(**_**Lee**_** mah)**
**M****	****Mike****	****(Mike)**

**N****	****November****	****(No **_**vem**_** ber)**
**O****	****Oscar****	****(**_**Oss**_** cah)**
**P****	****Papa****	****(Pah **_**pah**_**)**
**Q****	****Quebec****	****(Keh **_**beck**_**)**
**R****	****Romeo****	****(**_**Row**_** me oh)**
**S****	****Sierra****	****(See **_**air**_** rah)**
**T****	****Tango****	****(**_**Tang**_** go)**
**U****	****Uniform****	****(**_**U**_** nee form)**
**V****	****Victor****	****(**_**Vik**_** tah)**
**W****	****Whiskey****	****(**_**Wiss**_** kee)**
**X****	****X-Ray****	****(**_**Ecks**_** **_**ray**_**)**
**Y****	****Yankee****	****(**_**Yang**_** kee)**
**Z****	****Zulu****	****(**_**Zoo**_** loo)**

**Pronunciation**
_**of Numbers**_
**1****	****Wun**
**2****	****Too**
**3****	****Tree**
**4****	****Fo-wer**
**5****	****Fife**
**6****	****Six**
**7****	****Seven**
**8****	****Ate**
**Niner**
**0****	****Zero**

## Contacting Another Station

**To Establish Contact**
**“****Columbus 40    **_**THIS IS**_** CAPFLIGHT 3421    **_**OVER**_**”**
**Response from the Ground Station**
**“****CAPFLIGHT 3421    **_**THIS IS**_** Columbus 40    **_**OVER**_**”**
**No need to use call signs until communications are complete**
**Say “OVER” before releasing PTT on mike**
**On Closing the Contact**
**“... ****CAPFLIGHT 3421   **_**OUT**_**”**

- Always end a transmission with OVER _or_ OUT  -  NOT BOTH!
- Do not use “Roger Wilco” instead of  Wilco.  “Roger Wilco” means “Last transmission received OK last transmission received OK and I will comply.”

## Radio Net Operation

**Net Control Station (NCS)**
**Maintains net discipline by controlling who is talking**
**Must be contacted **_**first**_** for permission to contact another station:**
*   “**Columbus 10  THIS IS Columbus 404  with a Priority message for  Columbus 710  OVER”*
**Sample Net Check-in (C10 is the NCS):**
*“**Columbus 10,   THIS IS Columbus 404 with no traffic,   OVER”*
**Acknowledging readiness to receive traffic:**
- 	*"THIS IS Columbus 710,   GO AHEAD with your traffic   OVER"*
**Acknowledging receipt of a message:**
**	***"THIS IS Columbus 710,   ROGER your message   OUT"*

**A Formal Net controls flow of traffic on a **_**single**_** radio channel**

## All transmissions must receive permission from the Net Control Station (NCS)

**Radio Nets - Contacting another Station**

**C 401**

**C 10**
**NCS**

**C 404**

**1st**

**2nd**

**3rd**

**“****Columbus 401,**
**Contact Columbus 404 with your traffic, OUT”**

**“****Columbus 10,**
**THIS IS Columbus 401 with traffic for Columbus 404 OVER”**

**“****Columbus 404,**
**THIS IS Columbus 401, OVER”**

## I SPELL / FIGURES / INITIALS

**Use “I SPELL” for pronounceable words**
- Example:**  LODI**
**“****I SPELL LODI   LIMA OSCAR DELTA INDIA   LODI”**
**Use “FIGURE(S)” AND “INITIAL(S)” for non-words**
- Example:**  N516F**
**“****INITIAL NOVEMBER   FIGURES FIVE ONE SIX   INTIAL FOXTROT”**

**CORRECTIONS**

**Use proword “****CORRECTION****”**
**Example:**
**“... ****Turn right at next corner ... CORRECTION  Turn left at next corner...”**

## SENDING NUMBERS

**Prowords: “FIGURES”, “DECIMAL”, “TIME”, “INITIALS”**

- Digit-by-Digit Not
- “Seven Fifty”

**750****	****“FIGURES SEVEN FIVE ZERO”**

- Niner
- Not Nine

**849****	****“FIGURES EIGHT FOUR NINER”**

- Decimal
- Point

**14.5****	****“FIGURES ONE FOUR DECIMAL FIVE”**

- Z Time

**1635Z****	****“TIME ONE SIX THREE FIVE ZULU”**

- Initial And
- Figures

**E21****	****“INITIAL ECHO FIGURES TWO ONE”**

- One Figure
- and Initial

**3-A****	****“FIGURE THREE DASH INITIAL ALPHA”**

## CAP RADIO MESSAGE FORMAT (CAPF 105)

_**Message Heading**_
**Precedence (Urgency)**
**Date-Time Group (DTG)**
**From (Originator)**
**To (Addressee)**
**Info (Other Addressees)**

_**Message Text**_
**When read, separate from heading **_**and**_** end by the proword “BREAK”**

_**Receipt Block**_
**FROM or TO Call Sign**
**DTG received or sent**
**Initials of radio operator**

## PRIORITY (P)
Used For Messages Where “Routine” Isn’t Fast Enough
Processed Ahead Of Routine Messages, not to exceed 6 hours

ROUTINE (R)
Most Used; Delivered In Order Received, no later than beginning of next duty day

**Used For Messages Where “Routine” Isn’t Fast Enough**
**Processed Ahead Of Routine Messages, not to exceed 6 hours**
**ROUTINE (R)**
**Most Used; Delivered In Order Received, no later than beginning of next duty day**

**Message Precedence**

**	****Other Precedence you may hear but not used by CAP. Both are handled before Priority or Routine Traffic.**
**FLASH**
**Highest Priority**
**Handled as fast as possible, ahead of All other messages**
**IMMEDIATE (O)**
**Messages related to situations gravely affecting the security of the Nation**
**Requires immediate delivery not to exceed 60 minutes**

## Distress and Emergency Signals

**MAYDAY****	****	**Distress
**PAN****	****	****	**Urgency
**SECURITE****	****	**Safety

**Operator Responsibility**
**#1****	****LISTEN**
**#2****	****Be Prepared to Assist**
**	****Do NOT Transmit**
**	****unless your services are needed**
**	****or contact is requested**

- }

**Supercedes all**
**Priority or**
**Routine Traffic**

## PROHIBITED Operating Practices

- Violation of Radio Silence
- Personal Conversation
- Use of given names or nicknames in place of call sign
- Excessive tuning and testing
- Profane, indecent, or obscene language
- Interruption of scheduled net activities in progress
- Transmitting in a Net without permission of NCS
- Leaving a directed net without the permission of the NCS, except in emergency situations or equipment failure
- _Other discouraged practices_
- Use of 10 codes or Amateur Radio Q Signals
- Transmitting radio frequency info over the air (FOUO)
- Use of Amateur Radio or Citizens Band frequencies for CAP business

## Always listen before transmitting
Listen for your callsign;  Other stations may have traffic for you
Speak clearly and slowly
Annunciate your words
Speak clearly and in a normal voice when transmitting
Remain calm no matter what happens -- “Don’t Panic”
THINK --  “Use Your Head”
Read the message as written
If you don’t understand it, ask the Originator
ONLY the Originator can change the message
Keep your traffic short and succinct

**Listen for your callsign;  Other stations may have traffic for you**
**Speak clearly and slowly**
**Annunciate your words**
**Speak clearly and in a normal voice when transmitting**
**Remain calm no matter what happens -- “Don’t Panic”**
**THINK --  “Use Your Head”**
**Read the message as written**
**If you don’t understand it, ask the Originator**
**ONLY the Originator can change the message**
**Keep your traffic short and succinct**

**Good Radio Operator Habits**

## Radio Signal Reports

**Signal Strength**
- LOUD 	Your signal is very strong
- GOOD 	Your signal strength is good
- WEAK 	Your signal strength is weak
- VERY WEAK	Your signal strength is very weak
- FADING	At times your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied on
**Readability**
- CLEAR 	The quality of your transmission is excellent
- READABLE 	The quality of your transmission is satisfactory
- UNREADABLE 	The quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot understand you
- DISTORTED 	Having trouble understanding you because your signal is distorted
- WITH INTERFERENCE 	Having trouble understanding you due to interference
- INTERMITTENT 	Having trouble understanding you because your signal is intermittent
**Example: ***“Loud and Clear, Over”*

- Reports such as:
- “Four By Four”
- “Five By Five”
- “20 Over S9”
- will **NOT** be used

## Radio Operation Practice Messages

**Mission sortie assignment**
**Mission status report**
**Radio signal report**
**Ground Team position report**
**Takeoff / Landing time and airport report**
**Reporting a clue or find**
**Passing information or directions**
**Request relay to regain communications**

- "I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is exactly the same, except that there is no cat.“
- Attributed to Albert Einstein