BOOK 11 Flashcards
As a general rule, most members have developed their radio communication skills by _____________.
By listening to radio messages
Radio communications are the _______ of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s emergency operations.
Lifeline
The _____ and ________ of the building have a direct impact on the ability of a radio wave to penetrate the structure.
Size and construction type
TRUE OR FALSE: All 18, 800 MHz radio channels, MDT messages and phone calls into and from MFC are recorded on a 24-hour basis.
TRUE
All radio a are assigned a ____ digit identification number that is transmitted and recorded each time a radio is keyed.
4-digit identification number
When requesting assistance from outside agencies, allow approximately ____ before requesting ETA’s.
30 minutes
What does the term “Roger” mean?
“Roger” means that a radio message is received and understood. DO NOT roger a message that should be answered with a yes of no
What does the term “Covered” mean?
“Covered” means a stronger signal has interfered with and overpowered another signal, making the weaker signal unreadable
What does the term “Code 20” mean?
“Code 20” a widely used code which indicates that an occurrence has potential value to the news media
What is an “Alert 2”?
“Alert 2” Over land, an aircraft has, or is suspected to have an operational issue that affects normal flight operations to the extent there is a danger of an accident
What is a “Blue 2”?
“Blue 2” Over water, an aircraft has, or is suspected to have an operational issue that affects normal flight operations to the extent there is a danger of an accident
What is an “Alert 3”?
An aircraft accident has occurred on, or in the vicinity of the airport
What is a “Flue 3”?
“Blue 3” An aircraft accident has occurred in the water
LAPD dispatch is called _______.
Control
Los Angeles County Fire Dispatch is called ____.
LA
A
Alpha
B
Bravo
C
Charles
D
Delta
E
Echo
F
Foxtrot
G
Golf
H
Hotel
I
India
J
Juliett
K
Kilo
L
Lima
M
Mike
N
Nora
O
Oscar
P
Papa
Q
Quebec
R
Romeo
S
Sierra
T
Tango
U
Uniform
V
Victor
W
Whiskey
X
X-ray
Y
Yankee
Z
Zulu
MFC, METO or the backup signal office located at FS 108 can send signals how?
Either by wire, microwave or by a combination of both
Hold the microphone ________ from the mouth or, when speaking through a SCBA mask, place the microphone near the voice port on the face piece.
A couple inches from the mouth
The LAFD has ____ different communication systems. What are they?
2 different communication systems. The first is the “voice” radio system and the second is the “data” radio system
The ______ radio system is the system commonly recognized because it is the system we receive dispatches and talk from unit to unit every day.
The voice radio system
The _____ system carris our Mobile Display Terminal (MDT) communications. Because our interaction is limited, it is commonly not though of as a radio system.
The data radio system
The LAFD voice radio system operates in the ____ MHz range, and the data radio system operates in the ____ MHz range.
800 MHz range; 500 MHz range
TRUE OR FALSE: The 800 MHz frequency band used by the LAFD is a more compact and powerful wave when compared to VHF or UHF.
TRUE.
VHF: 100 MHz
UHF: 500 MHz
VHF signals tend to ______ over hills and up canyons.
“Crawl”
The 800 MHz mobile units transmit at ___ Watts.
35 Watts
LAFD portable radios transmit ___ or ___ Watts of power (depending on model).
2 or 4 Watts
There are ____ basic modes of operation for a radio system.
3 basic modes
1) Simplex
2) Duplex
3) Simulcast
In simplex, ____ frequency(is) are used.
1 frequency
In duplex, ____ frequency(is) are used.
2 frequencies
When is the “Simulcast” mode used?
The “Simulcast” mode is used when transmitting mobile to mobile in the repeat mode. With this system a mobile or portable radio, or METRO can be heard throughout the city
Portable radios has a transmit range of up to about _______ in simplex or direct mode under the best of conditions
2-3 miles
_______ rather than transmit power is the primary value of portable radios.
Portability
The UHF Radio has a _____ band on the antenna.
Blue
The VHF radio has a _____ band on the antenna
White
The 700/800 MHz radio has a ____ band on the antenna.
Red
The _______ issues guidelines and restrictions on the use of radio transmissions. If these guidelines and restrictions are not followed, the Department risks losing its assigned frequencies.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
If an incident escalates to a _________ or larger incident, a Code 20 notification is automatic, verbal notification is not required.
A greater alarm or larger
Channel ___ has been designated as the Department’s Command Channel.
Channel 11
During greater/major incidents, Channel 11 shall be monitored by _______ and ____ until such time as both agree to discontinue its use
The Incident Commander an MFC
The FCC limits transmitter power to a level that would not adequately cover the entire city even if it was flat. LAFD radio transmitters amplify signals to a maximum of ____ watts.
Maximum of 155 watts
The most basic practical antennas are __________, and have approximately equal coverage for 360 degrees around the antenna.
Omni-directional
VHF operates on what MHz range?
100
UHF operates on what MHz range?
500
As the receiver travels further from the transmitter, the signal level decreases to the point where the error correction cannot correct all errors in the signal. When this point is reached, the receiving users will hear som distortion in the signal and may hear some strange non-speech noises which are sometimes called ________.
“Evoking”
The Department has ___ radio interoperability vehicles.
2
What are radio interoperability vehicles?
The radio interoperability vehicles are a grand version of the portable repeaters with much more capability
Non-operative MDC’s represent approximately ____ of all mobile repairs.
39%
The purpose of Tactical Channels is to ________________________.
Reduce the overall radio traffic on any one channel
Does MFC normally monitor tactical channels?
No
The Department’s Radio Communication protocol is that radio communications shall be composed of ______________.
Plain commonly used English
Ventura County Fire dispatch is called _________.
Venture
US Forest Service, Angeles National Forest dispatch is called __________.
Angeles
Dispatch Center communications for any of the 11 agencies managed by Verdugo Communications center would be addressed to __________.
Verdugo
What are the 4 considerations that members should remember when making radio transmissions?
1) Think about what you are going to say
2) Ask yourself if the message is necessary
3) Keep it brief
4) When you key the mike, be prepared to speak
When transmitting on the radio, hold the press to talk button down for how long before transmitting?
Hold it down momentarily before transmitting. This keeps the first words in the message from being “clipped”
When speaking on the radio, keep the microphone CLOSE to your mouth - about ______ away
About 1 inch away
Radio messages not acknowledged should be assumed what?
Should be assumed that they were not received
Members should not use _________, exchange ___________ or offer ___________ while using the radio.
Should not use profanity, exchange pleasantries or offer personal greetings while using the radio
Once a continuing dialogue is established with the dispatcher or a Field Unit, it is not necessary to do what?
It is not necessary to continue repeating your unit identification and other obvious information each time you key the transmitter
There are ____ strategically located remote transmit/receive sites serving the LAFD voice radio system.
10
Where is the city wide voice back-up system?
Mt. Lukens
Coverage for the data radio system (MDT) is provided through ___ fixed sites.
6
The Department currently has ____ dispatch and control centers
- These are recognized as “METRO” and “Coldwater”
Radio communications are possible because of _____________.
Electromagnetic waves
TRUE OR FALSE: In general, the higher the frequency of the waves used by the radio, the shorter the antenna on the radio.
TRUE. The length of a radio antenna is related to the wave length with which the antenna is designed to operate
Currently the LAFD uses ____ different frequency bands
4 different frequency bands
1) 800 MHz
2) 700MHz
3) Ultra High Frequency (UHF / 500 MHz)
4) Very High Frequency (VHF / 100 MHz)
The LAFD is only licensed to use what radio frequency bands?
700 MHz and 800 MHz bands
The Los Angeles City repeaters for the LAFD system operate only in _____ MHz.
800 MHz
TRUE OR FALSE: When a portable radio is worn at waist level, such as with a belt clip or holster, the user’s body absorbs some of the signal transmitted or received by the radio.
TRUE
The “___” leg frequency is defined as mobile to base. The “____” leg frequency is defined as base to mobile.
“Up” leg; “Down” leg
What is a solution to improving communication between field units inside buildings or tunnels and dispatch and other on-scene units?
Bidirectional amplifiers (BDAs(
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Steady Red
Battery is in rapid charge mode
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Flashing Green
Battery is in trickle charge
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Steady Green
Battery is fully charged
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Flashing Yellow
Charger is waiting to charge (temperature of battery too hot or too low)
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Flashing Red
Battery not making proper contact
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Steady Yellow
Battery is in recondition mode
IMPRES Battery Charger Operation: Flashing Red/Green
Battery is fully charged but is nearing the end of its rated service life
TRUE OR FALSE: Portable radios are inventory items.
TRUE
