SBCoFD Communications Manual Flashcards
Where are all of the radio licenses located
Communications Services Division
How often are the radio licenses renewed
every five years
What are radio communications limited to
public safety, protection of life and property and communications essential to department activities
Communications that will not be tolerated
unnecessary, unidentified, superfluous, malicious, obscene, indecent, or profane
What kind of radio system do we have
wide area, 8 site, 6 channel simulcast radio system
What does simulcast mean
it can transmit from all 8 sites simultaneously on the same frequency
what is the repeated mode
message is transmitted on one frequency to the base radio, then re transmitted on another frequency
What are the six channels
Channel 1, Command 2-6
which channels provide for the greatest range of communications
repeated
what do you do when you come across a “dead” radio signal area
report it to the communications committee
Which channel is the dispatch channel
Channel 1
Which channels are used for vegetation fires and where
Battalion 1 is Channel 2
Battalion 2 is Channel 3
What are channels 4-6 used for
all multi company responses or when requested by an IC for an escalating incident
When are messages transmitted and received on the same frequency and do not go through the repeater site
when direct mode is being used
If you are on a repeated channel and cannot hit the repeater in steep terrain, how can you use the channel to communicate with people in close proximity to you
use direct mode
what is the encoder
located at control, and is an audible sequential tone generator
what is the decoder
built into base stations and responds only to its designated code
What is the only channel that decoders and pagers can activate on
Channel 1
Who does repair problems get reported to
Logistics
How is re-chargeable battery replacement handled
the same way a routine communications repair is handled - through the BC or logistics
after hours emergency repair calls must be what
reported to the BC and Control
is it OK to use comedy, chaos or disorder
no
how long should transmissions take
the minimum practical time, longer than 15 seconds should be said in intervals with a 3 second break in between
what do you always do before transmitting on a channel
monitor the channel to make sure it is clear
what is the normal transmission rate
40 - 60 words per minute
what does emotion do to you voice
distort your voice and make it unintelligible
how far away from your mouth should the microphone be
1-2 inches
what voice level should you use
normal conversational voice level
what should you do after you key the mic
wait a second to allow the repeaters to open up
who forbids profanity, superfluous or extraneous transmissions
the FCC
how do you answer a radio call
with only your unit ID (Engine 51)
what do you use when further identification of the alphabet is needed
the phonetic alphabet
Where do you point the antenna when talking normally
skyward
where do you never point the antenna when talking to an aircraft
towards the aircraft
avoid using a portable radio where
in a vehicle, it greatly reduces the range
Does a lapel mic weaken the radio signal when the radio is worn on your belt
yes, your body blocks the signal
When are you allowed to use portable radios on an aircraft
with the pilots permission
how many watts of power is a portable
5 watts
how many watts of power is a mobile
40 watts
what do you need to do to the radio before jump starting your vehicle
remove the primary radio fuse
Handheld radio types used
Motorola APX P-25
Bendix King GPH5102X-CMD
mobile radio type used
Kenwood TK-790
Responding
when going code 3
Working Fire
indicates the first alarm assignment will be committed
Contained
indicates the fire is no longer spreading
Under Control
indicates the incident is completely overhauled mopped up or mitigated
In Route
when going code 2
Nothing Showing
indicates there is nothing visible to indicate a fire exists
Support Services BC #
530
Prevention BC #
520
Operatiosn BC’s
Battalion 1A - 510 Battalion 1B - 512 Battalion 1C - 514 Battalion 2A - 511 Battalion 2B - 513 Battalion 2C - 515
Air and WIldland BC #
540
Are there ever two companies with the same designation
no, the next unit out of the station puts a 2 in front of the number (Engine 251 when engine 51 is in service anywhere)
What has priority over any business or routine traffic
emergency traffic
When is a command channel assigned
on all multi-company incidents or upon request from the IC
tac channels are used solely by who
units assigned to mitigate the incident
what responses stay on channel 1
single resource response
when can 2 incidents be run on one command channel
when all 5 command channels are utilized
how can you reduce radio traffic
by using face to face or cell phone whenever possible
which cahnnel does control place in highest priority for radio traffic
channel 1
when responding mutual aid what is the order of transmission on which channel
first go responding on channel 1 then switch to the mutual aid channel. when arriving on scene, advise control on channel 1 if you are committed or available
what is the function of expanded dispatch
to provide communications and a central resource ordering point in support of emergency incidents
how many people staff expanded
minimum of two and one must be a company officer
on a vegetation fire, when does expanded open
when the fire exceeds the first alarm assignment
how to say available
Control, Medic Engine 51 available
how to say delayed available
Control, Medic Engine 51 delayed available
how to say out of district/in district
Control, Medic Engine 51 available district 21
Control, Medic Engine 51 available district 51
how to say covering another district
Control, Medic Engine 51 available covering district 21
how to say out of service
Control, Medic Engine 51 out of service
what do medical responses require on the radio
only unit status
what is the Alpha side of the building
always the main entrance or front unless specifically changed by the first in officer
why is life or structures threatened important in the report on conditions of a wildland fire
because incidents state wide are prioritized for resource needs based on the critical needs
How do you acknowledge your response
first on the MDC then verbally
does control monitor the incident channel once units are on scene
no, to contact control, you must be on channel 1
who can respond other units not encoded on a call
responding chief officers and company officers
when do you acknowledge your response to an incident
once dressed and ready to respond
once the first in unit acknowledges their response, what happens next
dispatch uses the check back system to confirm other resources responding
can the first in officer give out assignment prior to arrival on scene
yes, if he knows what assignments are needed
first in officer arrives on scene, no assignments given, or staging instruction?
incoming units should stage at a logical location (primary staging)
When does control monitor the incident channel
only until all dispatched resources are on scene
first in officer duties once arriving on scene
size-up, report on conditions, take command, name the incident, direct responding units
who can cancel all or some of the responding units
dispatcher, BC, or first due company officer
where do cancelled units acknowledge there cancellation
channel 1
do you have to state which incident your available from when going available
no, control is aware
when is expanded dispatched opened
second alarm or greater
if imagetrend is down who do you contact to get your times
duty officer or unit history on the MDC
who runs and operates the ECC
county sheriffs
who do we contract with to provide dispatch
sheriffs and the program is tritech
are the MDC’s supported by IT
no
who is the technical support for the MDC’s
program manager and a private vendor
MDC daily
crew change
MDC weekly
check for and install updates
MDC monthly
power on and charge reserve units and leave on overnight of the 1st tuesday
when do MDC automatically get updates`
wednesdays at 0200
which terms are required over the air
in service out of district, out of service, in quarters when covering another district
what is you remove the MDC from its dock
in possession at all times, trouble ticket started, notify supervisor if unit is out of service
MDC trouble shoot proceedures
restart, connect to internet, check net motion, check for updates, contact duty officer
can you fix calibration of MDC
only for a week, a trouble ticket will need to be started
how often do you check back with somebody that you place on hold
every 30 seconds
who is the telephone coordinator for the fire department and primary contact person for problems or questions
logistics captain
what does ROSS stand for
Resource Ordering Status System
should you say please and thank you on the radio
no, its implied
do you say “returning to channel 1” when leaving a command channel
no
do you say “copy that” or copy
copy
does control care which engines are combing
no, it only cares about which engines are in service and out of service
should you say your investigating
no, it is assumed
