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Radio CommunicationsRadio CommunicationsRadio CommunicationsRadio CommunicationsBLM

COLORADO

Basic CourseBasic Course

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

• Radio TheoryRadio Theory

• Terrain EffectsTerrain Effects

• Antenna DesignAntenna Design

• NarrowbandNarrowband

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Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

• InfrastructureInfrastructure

• Common PhrasesCommon Phrases

• Procedures for RepairProcedures for Repair

• EmergenciesEmergencies

• FamiliarizationFamiliarization

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BE SAFE!BE SAFE!

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Prepare For Your TripPrepare For Your Trip

• Follow Office Specific Check In/Out Follow Office Specific Check In/Out Procedures.Procedures.

• Visually inspect and check your equipment Visually inspect and check your equipment for proper operation before leaving for the for proper operation before leaving for the field.field.

• Do a radio check.Do a radio check.

Know Your OptionsKnow Your Options

• Know what sites cover your intended Know what sites cover your intended work/travel.work/travel.

• What is their operational status? What is their operational status?

• Alternative forms of communications. Alternative forms of communications.

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Radio TheoryRadio TheoryRadio TheoryRadio Theory

• Radio waves are generated by a rapidly Radio waves are generated by a rapidly

oscillating electric current.oscillating electric current.

• Frequency is the amount of cycles a radio Frequency is the amount of cycles a radio wave makes referenced to one second of wave makes referenced to one second of time.time.

• Wave length is the distance the wave Wave length is the distance the wave

travels to complete one cycletravels to complete one cycle..

• Radio waves are generated by a rapidly Radio waves are generated by a rapidly

oscillating electric current.oscillating electric current.

• Frequency is the amount of cycles a radio Frequency is the amount of cycles a radio wave makes referenced to one second of wave makes referenced to one second of time.time.

• Wave length is the distance the wave Wave length is the distance the wave

travels to complete one cycletravels to complete one cycle..7

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Example: One Wave Traveling at One Example: One Wave Traveling at One Cycle Per SecondCycle Per Second

Radio and Light WavesRadio and Light Waves

• Radio Waves are Electromagnetic Energy. Radio Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.

• Light Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.Light Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.

• Radio Waves are Electromagnetic Energy. Radio Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.

• Light Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.Light Waves are Electromagnetic Energy.

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• Radio waves travel in Radio waves travel in much the same way much the same way as light. as light.

• Imagine a light bulb Imagine a light bulb on top of your on top of your handheld or vehicle.handheld or vehicle.

• The energy is similarlyThe energy is similarly sent in all directions.sent in all directions.

• Radio waves travel in Radio waves travel in much the same way much the same way as light. as light.

• Imagine a light bulb Imagine a light bulb on top of your on top of your handheld or vehicle.handheld or vehicle.

• The energy is similarlyThe energy is similarly sent in all directions.sent in all directions.

Similar PropertiesSimilar PropertiesSimilar PropertiesSimilar Properties

More SimilaritiesMore Similarities

• ReflectedReflected

• AbsorbedAbsorbed

• Diffracted Diffracted

• DispersedDispersed

• ReflectedReflected

• AbsorbedAbsorbed

• Diffracted Diffracted

• DispersedDispersed

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Handhelds and Mobiles Handhelds and Mobiles Perform DifferentlyPerform Differently

• Handhelds Transmit with less power Handhelds Transmit with less power utilizing a small battery source.utilizing a small battery source.

• Mobiles utilize a gain antenna which Mobiles utilize a gain antenna which effectively doubles the transmit power and effectively doubles the transmit power and receive sensitivity. receive sensitivity.

• Handheld antennas tend to be more Handheld antennas tend to be more obstructed.obstructed.

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Batteries are CriticalBatteries are Critical

• Proper care of batteries is essential.Proper care of batteries is essential.

• Batteries are a users responsibility.Batteries are a users responsibility.

• Typically last for 8 hours before charging.Typically last for 8 hours before charging.

• Radio will not transmit effectively.Radio will not transmit effectively.

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Antenna ComparisonAntenna Comparison

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Things to RememberThings to Remember

• Height is more advantageous than power.Height is more advantageous than power.

• Know the location of the site you are trying Know the location of the site you are trying to transmit to and what objects or terrain to transmit to and what objects or terrain are in the path.are in the path.

• A small shift in position can make a big A small shift in position can make a big difference in signal quality.difference in signal quality.

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Height MattersHeight MattersHeight MattersHeight Matters

How Far Can You CommunicateHow Far Can You Communicate

• Typically BLM handhelds can Typically BLM handhelds can communicate within a few miles of each communicate within a few miles of each other.other.

• Typically a BLM vehicle radio to a BLM Typically a BLM vehicle radio to a BLM mountaintop radio can communicate about mountaintop radio can communicate about 40 miles apart.40 miles apart.

• Typically BLM mountaintop radios can Typically BLM mountaintop radios can communicate about 100 miles apart.communicate about 100 miles apart.

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NarrowbandNarrowband

• Narrowband radios are mandated for BLM use.

• Radios programmed incorrectly will sound distorted.

Base StationBase Station

• A means for dispatch to communicate to A means for dispatch to communicate to users over a large area in the field.users over a large area in the field.

• Radio is installed for optimum is installed for optimum performance. performance.

• Users may not hear both sides of Users may not hear both sides of conversation.conversation.

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Base StationBase Station

• Radio is connected to dispatch center and Radio is connected to dispatch center and remotely controlled.remotely controlled.

• Radio can be used to access repeaters.Radio can be used to access repeaters.

• Radio does not have a squelch tail.Radio does not have a squelch tail.

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Base StationBase StationBase StationBase Station

RepeaterRepeater

• They extend the coverage area. They extend the coverage area.

• Received signals are repeated.Received signals are repeated.

• Radio is installed for optimum Radio is installed for optimum performance. performance.

• Users hear both sides of conversation.Users hear both sides of conversation.

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RepeaterRepeater

• Operates on two frequencies. Operates on two frequencies.

• Squelch tail is present.Squelch tail is present.

• Radio has no physical connection to Radio has no physical connection to dispatch.dispatch.

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RepeaterRepeaterRepeaterRepeater

RepairRepair

• Open a ticket in RemedyOpen a ticket in Remedy

• Document your radio problem symptoms Document your radio problem symptoms and what you have done to determine and what you have done to determine problem.problem.

• System outage contact Dispatch OfficeSystem outage contact Dispatch Office

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User Responsibility

• Never change your antenna

• Insure you have an antenna

• Battery

• Keeping radio clean

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Is Anyone Out ThereIs Anyone Out There

• Your radio must be transmitting on the Your radio must be transmitting on the same frequency the radio you are trying to same frequency the radio you are trying to reach is receiving.reach is receiving.

• Your radio must be transmitting the same Your radio must be transmitting the same sub audible tone the radio you are trying to sub audible tone the radio you are trying to reach is listening for. reach is listening for.

• We don’t typically use receive sub audible We don’t typically use receive sub audible tones on our portables and mobiles.tones on our portables and mobiles.

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R A D I OR A D I O

• R-elaxR-elax

• A-djust Volume, Channel A-djust Volume, Channel

• D-etermine - D-etermine - What your going to say. Is it your time to What your going to say. Is it your time to talk?talk?

• I-nitiate ContactI-nitiate Contact

• O-verO-ver

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Proper UseProper Use

• Hold the radio about an inch awayHold the radio about an inch away

• Push the PTT button and wait one second Push the PTT button and wait one second before talking.before talking.

• Talk directly into the microphoneTalk directly into the microphone

• Identify who your calling and then yourselfIdentify who your calling and then yourself

• Wait for their response then proceed.Wait for their response then proceed.

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Use Concise Common TermsUse Concise Common Terms

• Affirmative Affirmative

• NegativeNegative

• Disregard Disregard

• Clear or OutClear or Out

• StandbyStandby

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EmergencyEmergency

• Try to contact any Interagency Dispatch Try to contact any Interagency Dispatch Center.Center.

• Try to contact any person listening to Try to contact any person listening to radio.radio.

• Use National Law Enforcement Use National Law Enforcement Emergency Channel, (NLEEC) to contact Emergency Channel, (NLEEC) to contact a law enforcement dispatcher.a law enforcement dispatcher.

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Banks, Zones, ChannelsBanks, Zones, Channels

• Banks contain zones or groupsBanks contain zones or groups

• Zones and Groups contain individual Zones and Groups contain individual channels channels

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We will now go over the We will now go over the radios by specific radios by specific manufacturer for the manufacturer for the types your group is using types your group is using (BK, EF Johnson, (BK, EF Johnson, Thales, etc).Thales, etc).

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BLM

COLORADO

This concludes the This concludes the RadioRadio Communications Communications Basic CourseBasic Course

Spring 2008Spring 2008

For Questions, Comments, Ideas or Errors please contact For Questions, Comments, Ideas or Errors please contact your local Telecommunications Specialist.your local Telecommunications Specialist.