Radio Training

1. Radio Training OPERATIONS SUPPORT

2. Introductions • Supervising Park Ranger Chris Lorenzi, assigned to OC Parks Operations Support. • Tell us your name and where you work? Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

3. Expectations • What do you expect to get out of this training? Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

4. Other Trainings • OC Parks Radio training directly ties into other OC Parks trainings such as; • Wildland Fire Training • California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System • Civil Citation Program Training • Maintenance Operations Training • FEMA NIMS Trainings • Title 22 First Aid/CPR Training Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

5. Communications and OC Parks • OC Parks is part of the County of Orange’s communications network known as the 800 MHz Countywide Coordinated Communications System (CCCS) which is managed by Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Communications Division. • Each agency has a unique CCCS identifier known as a “Station”, OC Parks is known as Station 92. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

6. Communications and OC Parks • OC Parks currently uses West Cities Police Communications (WEST-COMM) as our Station 92 dispatch services. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

7. Communications and OC Parks • OC Parks contributes to what is known as Backbone Sharing costs within the CCCS. • Backbone sharing is a countywide program that helps fund each agencies share of use within the CCCS including; system maintenance, upgrades, hardware and software updates, tracking and system service. • Backbone sharing for OC Parks is approximately $250,000 annually. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

8. Communications and OC Parks • OC Parks along will all other agencies who are part of the CCCS are currently in the process of completing the Program 25 (P25) upgrades as mandated by the FCC. • Presently we are exchanging our old radios for new P25 compliant Motorola APX radios at a cost of $1.6 million. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

9. Radio Hardware“Pacset” Portable Radios, Mobile (mounted in a vehicle) RadiosNomenclature dio Training Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

10. Microphone Display • Radio Functions Motorola XTS 5000 On/Off Volume Talkgroup/Channel Selector Knob Volume Tone (purple) Emergency Button Light Button PTT Button Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

11. Radio Functions Motorola APX 4000 Talkgroup/Channel Selector Knob Status Indicator Light Emergency Button (orange) On/Off Volume Knob Bluetooth Connection (blue dot) Volume Tone (purple) Microphone PTT Button Light Button Accessory Jack Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger Zone/Select Button Display • RADIO TRAINING

12. Microphone Antenna Display • Radio Functions Motorola APX 4000 On/Off Volume Volume Tone (purple) PTT Button Light Button Battery Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

13. Radio Accessories Motorola APX 4000 Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

14. Microphone • Radio Functions Motorola APX 4500 Talkgroup/Channel Selector Knob On/Off Emergency Button (orange) Status Indicator Lights Display Dim Button Volume/Channel Select Knob**** Microphone Jack Home Button Zone Display Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger Select • RADIO TRAINING

15. Accessory Jack Battery Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

16. Proper Use of Radio Channels Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

17. Radio Operations for Emergency Situations All emergency traffic is conducted on Sliver-1. Contact dispatch request the appropriate agency to respond. Know your exact location and best way to access it. Communicate the situation to the dispatcher. In the event of a death or fire at your facility always notify your supervisor/Ranger and or PDM immediately (and any event that could have press coverage). Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger RADIO TRAINING

18. Silver-1 • Two-way communications between Park Rangers and Station 92 Dispatchers • Status Changes (10-8, 10-7, 10-98, 10-6, etc.) • Requests for information • Sig Alert Announcements (made by Control-1) • Dispatching of “calls for service” • “Hailing” channel for other personnel Radio Training OC CCC Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

19. Silver-2 • Common channel typically used by OC Parks Maintenance Staff • Alternate “Unit-to-Unit” channel (not monitored by Station-92) • If Maintenance worker or GK needs to contact Station 92, use Silver-1 • Maintenance personnel should monitor Silver-1 in the event that the facility is absent of a supervisor Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

20. Silver-3 • Common channel used by OC Parks field personnel – “unit-to-unit” (can be monitored/recorded by Station-92) • Can be utilized for: • Holidays • Special events • Search and Rescue Operations • Non-emergency incidents • Etc. Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

21. Silver-TA • Short Range Communications (less than one mile) • Talk-around channel (does not go through repeater system) • Similar to a “walkie-talkie” • Great for traffic control, inter-park communications, etc. Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

22. Proper Radio Procedure Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

23. Common Mistakes • Not giving the name of your facility or location when making a request for outside assistance • Not supplying enough initial information…don’t turn the radio exchange into a fact-finding mission • Offering superfluous or unnecessary information • Using Silver-1 for extended communications • Using unnecessary terms like, “By”, “Over”, “Clear” etc. Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

24. Radio Coverage (what will effect performance of radio?): • Heavy concrete & steel buildings • Underground areas • Location (topography) • Techniques of user (using a radio holder, etc.) • Pacset (portable radio) vs. mobile (unit) radio • Weather conditions (wind noise) • Out-of-range - Radio will emit out-of-range tone. “Out-of-range” will appear in radio display • Moving a short distance may restore communications • May have to select a talkgroup on another simulcast cell • to communicate Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

25. Radio Protocols Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

26. Radio Protocols • The radio is your lifeline…do not be afraid to use it, and be comfortable and confident when you do. • Remain professional at all times. • Use of the radio is governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is not for personal use. • When calling another person or station on the radio, give their radio call sign first, followed by your call sign… “Station 92, Unit 92-110” • Wait for a response for a few seconds, and repeat if necessary. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

27. If you need to contact another user… • Call the users radio call sign you need to speak to • Then tell who’s calling (your call sign) (their call sign and yours should be in one transmission) • Wait until the other user answers back with their ID number • Briefly tell user what your calling about • EXAMPLE: 92-110….92-157 • (Wait for user to respond with their unit number) • 92-110 • (You) Can you meet me at shelter #2? • (92-113) 10-4 Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

28. Radio Protocols • If your call if for an emergency, do not hesitate to say, “Station 92, I have an emergency”. • What is an emergency? Medical aids, fires, crimes in progressor disasters. Be prepared to give an exact location, and what is wrong. • Think before talking on the radio. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

29. Radio Protocols • When you push the transmit button, all sounds and conversation can be heard on other radios (be careful what you say) • The Push-to-talk button is not the “push-to-think” button • Remember “Accuracy”, “Brevity” and “Clarity” • Talking on the radio is called “radio traffic”, so if the dispatcher says, “Do you have traffic?”, it means do you have something to say on the radio. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

30. Radio Protocols • Avoid using slang, profanity and humor • Do not transmit on the radio without identifying yourself with your call sign • Do not use radio codes you are not sure of…talk in plain English • If the dispatcher uses a code you do not know, do not hesitate to say, “I am not familiar with that Code or terminology, can you advise in plain English.” Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

31. Radio Protocols • If another person is talking on the radio, wait until they are finished • Listen to the radio for an appropriate period of time before transmitting • Avoid using terms like, “Over”, “Over and out”, “Roger”, “Wilco”, “Copy that”, “That’s a Big 10-4”, “Please”, “Thank-you”, etc. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

32. Radio Protocols • Be discrete when describing certain activities or requests…you have an audience. • Think about what you want to say, before you say it. • If you get confused, release the transmit button, recompose you thoughts, and try again. • If the dispatcher tells you to stand-by, wait for the dispatcher to re-contact you for your traffic. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

33. Radio Protocols • If you hear of a “Emergency Activation”, compare your radio IUID on your radio with the number advised by the dispatcher. If your radio is the culprit, reset the button before transmitting (providing there is no actual emergency). • If you need to contact Station 92 regarding a lengthy request, do so via telephone. • Station 92 understands that OC Parks personnel are not law enforcement officers, and are not expected to use “official codes”, and sometimes they forget. Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger • RADIO TRAINING

34. West Cities Police Communications • West Comm’s police-only, official non-public phone line directly into their dispatch center…you will be speaking with a dispatcher… • (562) 594-7241 • The number is on every Radio Call Sign Assignment Sheet Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

35. IUID • I ndividual Unique IDentification • Every radio, portable and mobile, has a specific 6 digit IUID number,it is transmitted every time the radio is turned “on”, or whenever the push-to-talk (transmitter) button is pushed. • Emergency assistance • Inventory control • Backbone sharing • Deactivation of lost/stolen radios Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

36. Activation of the Emergency Button Radio Training OC CCC Orientation • The ORANGE button at the top of the radio • Immediately sends out IUID to Dispatch • All radios display “EMERGENCY” • Sending unit controls all transmissions even if someone else is transmitting • If you hear of a “Emergency Activation”, compare your radio IUID on your radio with the number advised by the dispatcher. If your radio is the culprit, reset the button before transmitting (providing there is no actual emergency). Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

37. Accidental Activation of the Emergency Button Radio Training OC CCC Orientation • Whenthe ORANGEemergency button is pushed it must be reset by the user… • When discovered: depress the emergency button ASAP for 5 seconds seconds until a steady tone is heard and the display no longer reads EMERGENCY and 1-SILVER-1 has returned to the display. • Contact Station-92 and advise them the emergency activation was accidental and you have reset it. • DO NOT talk on the radio until you reset the button! Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

38. Most Importantly…. • Safety and welfare is Priority #1 • Your radio is a vital communications link that can help keep you and others safe. • Think about what you want to say on the radio, relax, and do the best you can! Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

39. Skills Review • Radio Function and Nomenclature • Radio on/off • Volume • Radio Operations in emergency situations • Channel Selection (Silver 1, 2, 3, TA) • Common mistakes • Radio Protocols • IUID Number (Individual Unique Identification) • Activation of Emergency Button • Accidental Activation of Emergency Button • Clearing an Emergency Activation • Radio status tones (out-of-range, low battery, talk-inhibit/channel busy, Emergency Activation, Emergency Alert tone) Radio Training OC CCC Orientation Kevin McKeown Supervising Park Ranger OPERATIONS SUPPORT

40. Thank you! OPERATIONS SUPPORT