RADIO PROCEDURES

1
RADIO PROCEDURES

• Lake County Nov 2004

2
Radio Procedures

• 10 78
• (For Your Information)

FYI
3
Radio Procedures

• Overview
• Call Signs
• Brevity Codes
• Basic Radio Usage
• Hints and Tips

4
Radio Procedures
WEATHER SPOTTING

• R
• E
• A
• S
• O
• N
• S

5
Radio Procedures
GATHERING INFORMATION

• R
• E
• A
• S
• O
• N
• S

6
Radio Procedures
GETTING HELP

• R
• E
• A
• S
• O
• N
• S

7
Radio Procedures

• PART 1
• CALL SIGNS

8
Radio Procedures

• Typically, in South Dakota, there are 3 types of
  call signs

State Agency Unit HP
175 County Agency 43
9 County Agency Unit 43 9A
9
Radio Procedures

• County Identifiers
• 43 LAKE .
• 6 Brookings
• 1 Minnehaha
• Followed by

10
Radio Procedures
AGENCY IDENTIFIER 1 Sheriff
43-1 2 Police
43-2a (PD1) 5 GFP
43-5 6 DOT
43-6 7 Tribal / Special Unit
65-7 9 Ambulance 43-9
Dispatch can be many different identifiers such
as 51-1, 52-1, Metro, etc. In Lake County they
are identified as 43-2.
11
Radio Procedures

• Unit Identifier

43 9 A 43 Lake County
9 Ambulance A Unit
Identifier (2nd Vhl)
12
Radio Procedures

• With the changes in technologies and with a
  better understanding of the difficulties that can
  occur, call signs are slowly changing to easier
  identify people and organization.
• 43F1 Madison Fire Car One
• 43Rescue Search Rescue
• 43F2 Rescue Chester Rescue
• Calls signs like RESCUE 1 should be avoided since
  it could mean several agencies.

13
Radio Procedures

• PART 2
• BASICS

14
Radio Procedures

• Rule 1

LISTEN FOR A CLEAR CHANNEL!
(Typically, in South Dakota a base station will
give the time as a clear channel indicator)
10-4 . 43-1B . 2145
15
Radio Procedures

• Rule 2

Broadcast the CALL SIGN of the Unit or agency you
are calling, followed by your call sign.
43-2 . 43-1B or 43-2 this is 43-1H
16
Radio Procedures

• Rule 2 - Continued

Lake County Dispatch (43-2) has 1 operator that
monitors 12 analog and digital channels and may
be handling other traffic or 9-1-1 calls when you
call in. - - - - - - - - - - -
In Lake County alone there are OVER 115 Digital
Radios and OVER 135 Analog Radios that have been
recorded. In theory all of these radio could be
broadcasting at the same time.
17
Radio Procedures

• Rule 3

Get the attention of the unit or station you are
calling
(Alert if necessary)
43-2 . REACT 7 . Tornado spotted
18
Radio Procedures

• Rule 4

Make sure they are ready to copy your traffic
(Wait for Go Ahead)
NEVER give a blind broadcast! Your broadcast
means nothing if nobody is listening
19
Radio Procedures

• Rule 5

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY

• Keep the traffic as short as possible
• 30 seconds of broadcast is considered excessive
• Take a break as needed

20
Radio Procedures
TAKE A BREAK
A break during a long transmission allows
higher priority traffic to broadcast. It also
gives you a moment to collect your thoughts.
Before you continue your transmission listen for
other traffic. If none is heard continue where
you left off.
21
Radio Procedures
BREAK Continued
43-2 the storm is moving southwest and is
approaching Lake Herman. Give the Park a call
and let them know whats coming their way BREAK
(listen for other traffic, if none continue)
also advise State DOT of debris on the main
highway and alert county highway of the same
22
Radio Procedures

• Rule 6

WAIT FOR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
(Listen for 10-4 or Echo of your traffic
10-4 REACT 7 copy advise Lake Herman, DOT and
County Highway 1915
23
Radio Procedures

• PART 3
• BREVITY CODES

24
Radio Procedures
BREVITY CODES
ICS Guidance Recommends the use of PLAIN
LANGUAGE for all radio traffic. However, to
better understand your scanner you should have
knowledge of brevity codes and their meanings.
25
Radio Procedures
State 10 Code / Signal Code Cards Are available
in LEOPs
Some local jurisdictions supplement the State
codes with their own codes. - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Check with the local primary dispatch center for
guidance and information about local codes. - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Codes and Signals used in adjoining states and
counties may be different.
26
Radio Procedures
10 Codes YOU should know.
10 9 Repeat your traffic (Say Again)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10 33 Emergency Traffic Only!
Stay off your radio unless you have an emergency!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10 50 Caution!
This applies to a person, situation, or HAZMAT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
27
Radio Procedures
Signal Code Cards
Signal Codes announces a response situation,
usually HOT!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Injury Accident (Signal 1) Accident
no Injury (Signal 2) Fire
(Signal 11) Dead Body
(Signal 16) Suicide
(Signal 20) (Others are used but infrequently)
28
Radio Procedures

• PART 4
• HINTS and TIPS

29
Radio Procedures
SPELLING
Use phonetic alphabet A Adam B Boy
C Charlie, etc.
NUMBERS
Broadcast as individual digits
1368 Adams Court would be ONE THREE SIX EIGHT
ADAMS COURT
30
Radio Procedures
Watch your language (10-30) - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Dont shout - - - - - - - - - - -
Dont step on other traffic - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Avoid food, chew, gum - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
Never leave microphone open - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
Turn down scanner or commercial radio - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - -
31
Summary
We use our radios or scanner for many
reasons Staying informed Requesting response
Damage reports Weather spotting Getting help.
To better understand and use a radio / scanner
know County Identifiers Agency
Identifiers Unit Identifiers
32
Summary
LISTEN FOR A CLEAR CHANNEL Time of Day Clear
channel indicator - - - - - - - - - - -
GET THEIR ATTENTION Their call sign followed by
yours. Alert if necessary. - - - - - - - - - - -
ARE THEY READY TO COPY? Have they given Go
ahead? - - - - - - - - - - -
33
Summary
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY Engage brain
before mouth - - - - - - - - - - -
TAKE A BREAK Keep it short. (30 Seconds is
excessive) - - - - - - - - - - -
WAIT FOR AN AKNOWLEDGEMENT Make sure your traffic
was heard and understood - - - - - - - - - - -
34
Summary
BRIEVITY CODES - - - - - - - - - - -
ICS Use Plain English There are many local
codes Codes vary by state Signal Codes
Usually means a response
35
Summary
USE PHONETIC ALPHABET A Adam B Boy
C Charlie, etc
GIVE NUMBERS INDIVIUALLY One hundred and twenty
three is given as ONE TWO THREE
36
Summary
DONT

• Offend
• Shout
• Mumble
• Chew
• Forget to turn down your radio/scanner
• Leave your microphone open

ANY QUESTIONS???