Chapter 2 - Communications

Question 1

Direct communication

Answer 1

The straight line travel of radio signals between the transmitting radio and the receiving radio.

Question 2

Repeated communications

Answer 2

Used to strengthen communication signals between radios, increase distance of transmission or increase capacity on the system.

Question 3

Radio limitations

Answer 3

Distance, physical barriers, deadzones, interference, and ambient noise

Question 4

ABCs

Answer 4

Be Accurate, Brief, and Concise.

Question 5

DVRS Repeaters

Answer 5

A repeater integrated with a mobile radio control head that merges the primary tactical channel with the backup simplex channel.

Question 6

Zones

Answer 6

CFD radio system is categorized into six zones (A, B, C, D, E, and F).

Question 7

Channels

Answer 7

There are 16 channels per zone in the CFD radio system.

Question 8

Tower Sites

Answer 8

Tower sites emit frequencies and aid in the sending and receiving of duplex radio communications. There are 8 tower sites strategically located around Calgary.

Question 9

Radio Systems

Answer 9

Radio systems for the CFD consist of: mobile radios for vehicles, hand-held portable radio’s for fire crews and Digital Vehicle Repeater Systems (DVRS). Radio systems can operate in either duplex or simplex mode.

Question 10

Duplex Mode (Trunking)

Answer 10

Radio communications are transmitted on one frequency and received on another. All duplex transmissions must reach a radio tower in order to rebroadcast back to other duplex users and/or dispatch.
1. Tactical
2. Utility
3. Training
4. Airport
5. Zone (dispatch) Channel
6. Technical Rescue.
7. Mutual Aid

Question 11

Simplex Mode (Conventional)

Answer 11

Simplex transmissions are radio to radio and are sent and received on the same frequency. They are “line of sight” and have a limited transmission range local to the area around the incident and will not be heard throughout the city like on the duplex system. They can dramatically improve local site communications for incidents where the duplex system is not providing adequate coverage.
- Simplex channels are unable to reach radio towers, dispatch and duplex/tactical channels on their own. However, with DVRS in operation that can change.

Question 12

Talk groups

Answer 12

Talk groups is an addressing system where a zone is paired with a channel. If Dispatch assigns an incident Zone C, Channel 7, fire crews communicate on talk group C7; where C7 is defined as a tactical channel.
Personnel tuning in to Zone E or Zone F on channels 1-12 can communicate on talk groups E 1-12 or F 1-12; where they are defined as simplex channels.

Question 13

Dispatch Channels

Answer 13

Located within Zone B and Zone C of the radio system and use channels (B13-14 and C13-14). Used primarily for communication between Dispatch and apparatus officers.
- B13 north of Bow river
- C13 south of Bow river

Question 14

Tactical Channels

Answer 14

Located within Zone B and Zone C of the radio system and use channels (B1-B9 and C1-C9).

Question 15

Utility Channels

Answer 15

Located within Zone A of the radio system and use channels (A1-5). Typically they are for non-emergency use like inspections, hydrant testing, in station training, and community events.

Question 16

Training Channels

Answer 16

Located within Zone A of the radio system and use channels (A7-A11).

Question 17

Simplex Channels

Answer 17

Located within Zone E and Zone F of the radio system and use the same channels in correlation with tactical channels 1 – 12 (E1-E12 and F1-F12).
- Simplex channels allow crew members to communicate with each other directly through the line of sight. They are used as a backup when communication on duplex tactical channels start to deteriorate. All simplex channels will have male voice announcements to differentiate from the female voice announced on the duplex channel.
- Contact with Dispatch and EAB notification are possible, however, if a DVRS unit is present and tuned onto the corresponding assigned tactical/simplex channels. The
simplex user is capable of reaching the trunking system via the DVRS.

Question 18

Portable radios

Answer 18

Portable radios have a unique encoded 6-digit identifier, which is displayed on the main and top LED screens as well as the attached label on the front. CFD 6-digit identifiers range from 760001 to 762000.

Question 19

Portable Radio Swap

Answer 19

When a portable radio becomes damaged or inoperable, contact a District Chief for a replacement.
- Every radio swap requires updating the damaged radio and replacement radio aliases in the database. DC’s must ensure dispatch completes both.
- When a District Chief provides a replacement portable, it becomes the permanent radio for that “seat position”.

Question 20

Staffing Limits

Answer 20

There are now staffing limits on apparatus to coincide with the number of assigned portable radios. There are 5 assigned radios per engine and 3 per secondary apparatus.

Question 21

Riding Between Apparatus

Answer 21

The practice of (probationary firefighters, 3RD or 5TH firefighters) riding between 2 apparatus during a shift is no longer accepted in order to prevent misidentification in a Mayday situation.

Question 22

Once original apparatus has been repaired, the temporary unit must be swapped back out.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Radio Failure

Answer 23

Crews should move to SIMPLEX when “SITE TRUNKING” is displayed as the radio system behaviour is no longer consistent.

Question 24

Testing a Radio Signal

Answer 24

One- Bad (unreadable)
Two- Poor (readable now and then)
Three- Fair (readable, but with difficulty)-
Four- Good (readable)
Five- Excellent (perfectly readable)
IE- 5 x 5 is excellent clarity and volume; 2 x 5 is poor clarity and excellent volume.

Question 25

Portable radio

Answer 25

The CFD uses the Motorola APX 6000 XE (Model 2.5) that is a hand-held portable radio used for communications on the fire ground or CFD business.
- It is submersible to 2 metres for 2 hours.

Question 26

Remote Speaker Microphone (RSM)

Answer 26

Xtreme Temperature RSM Cable will withstand heat exposure of 500 ̊F (260 ̊C) for up to five minutes.

Question 27

EAB

Answer 27

Emergency Activation Button
- Orange button located on the top of the RSM and portable radio. Pressing either button will activate the Emergency Alert Tone. This also activates the LED light on the RSM which will flash “SOS” in Morse code. Additionally, the top and front LED screens will flash orange and the word “Emergency” displays.
- The EAB is used by a firefighter in distress or by a radio user witnessing another firefighter in distress.
- On duplex, the EAB users radio itself will not emit a tone after depressing the EAB. It will, however, flash Orange on the LED screen and the RSM strobe light will flash.
- EAB user should still depress PTT to avoid being interrupted after 10 sec hot mic expires. PTT times out after 60 seconds.

Question 28

Backlight and Bar Colour

Answer 28

Orange- Emergency alerts
Red- Critical alerts

Question 29

Battery

Answer 29

When removing a battery ensure the radio is in the off position. When charging a battery attached to the radio, turn it off to ensure a full charge.
- Portable radio batteries are to be changed out at the start of every 24-hour shift or when the radio indicates the battery is running low on capacity (double chirp).
- Crews are instructed to carry one battery and have the second battery in a charger.

Question 30

Best Practices

Answer 30

Wear radio mic on shoulder or high on chest.
Position radio mic 1-2” from the mouth and speak directly into it
Shield the RSM from background noise in high noise environments. Turn or move away.

Question 31

SCBA (Voice amplifier position)

Answer 31

• RSM turned towards Voice Amplifier at a 45-degree angle, 2-3” away.
• User may need to elevate their voice or pitch while remaining clear for best results. Do not shout.

Question 32

EAB Functions on Simplex without DVRS

Answer 32

1. Due to simplex channels not reaching the trunking system, EAB notification is not sent to dispatch or corresponding tactical channels. However, other simplex users in close proximity should receive notifications.
2. No hotmic on simplex with or without DVRS on scene
3. No channel priority (will not interrupt an ongoing transmission). On simplex, the EAB user must wait for a break in radio transmissions to send a message.
4. Unique loud audio chirp at the end of the simplex transmission, (heard by receiving radios that indicate the EAB user is on simplex).
   - When an EAB is activated; if it is not immediately acknowledged by IC, then other radio users will have to ensure IC is notified. This step is critical during an EAB activation on stand-alone simplex, no DVRS on scene. Only the simplex users within the receive range of the radio transmitting the EAB alert will receive the alert notification along with the 6-digit identifier. These users must ensure that IC receives the EAB notification and identifier information. IC can then have dispatch manually search the dispatch registered radio database to identify the EAB user seat position.

Question 33

Cancelling the Emergency Call

Answer 33

To cancel an emergency call, push and hold the EAB until a single long beep can be heard. This will indicate that the emergency has been cancelled. The intelligent lighting and the LED strobe will turn off. The display will read “Emergency Received” for several seconds until clearing from the screen.
- The portable radios have a new safety feature that prevents the radio from being accidentally turned off via the On/Off Control Knob after the EAB has been activated. To cancel an EAB, the user will no longer be able to turn the radio off to reset. The user MUST hold down the EAB until the long beep is heard. This will reset the individual radio but Dispatch will still need to reset the system. EAB cancellation is a 2-step process. IC should confirm both are completed.

Question 34

There are 3 types of critical messages.

Answer 34

1. Mayday
2. Emergency Traffic
3. Urgent Message

Question 35

If the situation is critical but radio traffic is continuous, preventing access to initiate the alert tone, activate the orange EAB on your portable radio to grab priority and
proceed with your critical message.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Guidelines For Using Radios

Answer 36

• Declare who you are calling then identify yourself. For example, state “Dispatch, this is Engine 21.”
• Acknowledge a transmission as soon as possible by saying “go ahead”. If a message cannot be taken, simply say “standby”, or by stating your call sign.
• Roger and Affirmative. Understand the difference between Roger and Affirmative, the word “roger” indicates that you have received a message, “affirmative” is to be used if an answer is yes. As an example, E2 calls you and says, “Engine 1, Engine 2, confirm you are on-scene” your answer would be “Engine 1, affirmative”. Should you hear the following “Engine 1, Engine 2, bring your tags to Command” your answer would be “Engine 1, roger”.

Question 37

Continued…

Answer 37

• Read Backs. Should you be tasked over the radio, read back the assignment, for example, “Engine 1. Operations. You will be my Vent team. Vent from Alpha to Delta”. Your answer “Roger, Engine 1 is now Vent Team and will be venting from Alpha to Delta”.
• Avoid complex codes and slang. Use plain English. Avoid words that are difficult to distinguish and hear, such as “yes” and “no”. Instead, use “affirmative” and “negative”. Don’t use slang such as, “OK”, “ten-four”, “over-and-out”, “breaker-breaker”, “oakey- dokey”, etc. Don’t replace “Roger” with “Copy”.
• Avoid saying “please” and “thank you”. Courtesy is assumed and wastes airtime.
• Remember – Non-CFD persons and media have the ability to scan all our radio frequencies (including TAC channels) so it is important to remain professional in all transmissions.

Question 38

Articulation of the Phonetic Alphabet

Answer 38

LETTER WORD PRONOUNCED
A Alpha AL FAH
B Bravo BRAH VOH
C Charlie CHAR 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 Juliett JEW LEE ETT
K Kilo KEY 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 YOU NEE FORM
V Victor VIK TAH
W Whiskey WISS KEY
X X-Ray ECKS RAY
Y Yankee YANG KEY
Z Zulu ZOO LOO

Question 39

Articulation of Numbers

Answer 39

0
ZE-RO
5
FIFE
1
WUN
6
SIX
2
TOO
7
SEV-en
3
TREE
8
AIT
4
FOW-er
9
NINE-er

Question 40

Numbers

Answer 40

“One-digit” numbers are given with the word “number” preceding the number. For example, 5 Main Street is stated: Number 5 Main Street.
* “Two-digit” numbers are preferably stated as individual numbers. For example, 14 Cedar Avenue would be one-four Cedar Avenue.
* “Three-digit” numbers are preferably stated as individual numbers. For example, 512 is five-one-two.
* “Four digits” are stated as individual numbers or in twos, but not in threes. For example, 1412 is one-four-one-two.
* “Five digits” are stated in threes and twos. For example, 12453 is one, two, four (pause) five, three.
* An exception exists for exact thousands, which are transmitted by pronouncing each digit followed by the word “thousand.”

Question 41

Digital Vehicle Repeater System (DVRS)

Answer 41

The only function of DVRS is to bridge or connect the tactical channel with the corresponding backup simplex channel.

Question 42

Tones

Answer 42

-Long Low - Pitched Tone Out of Range
-Series of Medium Pitched Tones Site Trunking
-Bonk sound Channel Not Available