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Communications TrainingCommunications TrainingPlusPlus

The 2011/12 VHF Narrow The 2011/12 VHF Narrow Banding ProjectBanding Project

and the County 800 MHz RCS Systemsand the County 800 MHz RCS Systems

Lt. Craig Williams, PAO, RetiredSupport 46

RACES Lincoln 45

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We will Cover Today:We will Cover Today:

A general introduction to 2-way radio communications systems

Specifics on the Very High Frequency (VHF) Communications Systems, the Narrow Banding Project, CDF, USFS and OES

The RCS 800 System

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RADIO SPECTRUM REFERS TO THE ARRAY OF CHANNELS or FREQUENCIES RADIO SPECTRUM REFERS TO THE ARRAY OF CHANNELS or FREQUENCIES AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATIONSAVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

What is Radio Spectrum?...

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ModulationModulation

In Amplitude Modulation (AM) the amplitude of the transmit signal rises and falls with your audio modulation.

In Frequency Modulation (FM) the frequency of the transmit signal changes + and – with your audio modulation.

* Signal is your audio.* AM modulation is like broadcast AM radio.* FM modulation is like our VHF and KGB 101.5.

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Deviation. Deviation. Is not a dirty old man in a rain coat.Is not a dirty old man in a rain coat.

To the right a snapshot of a modulated FM signal. #4 represents a wide band signal like FM broadcast. #1 is the old +/- 5KHz bandwidth. #0.5 represents today’s “narrow band” +/- 2.5KHz signal.

To the left is what 2 signals look like on a spectrum analyzer. With narrow banding they will eventually stick another one between these 2. and one on either side. Narrow banding keeps these 5 signals from interfering with each other.

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Topography of 2-way CommunicationsTopography of 2-way Communications Simplex, AKA direct or talk-around. – Your transmit and

receive frequencies are the same. You do not “go through” a repeater.

Example on VHF, CDF TAC 5or RCS, CNV CARS1.

Repeater. - Your transmit and receive frequencies are different and are routed through a mountain top radio system. The norm for all RCS 800 and most VHF Command and Dispatch frequencies.

Example on RCS, CFMVD10Aon VHF Monte Vista Dispatch, Tone 5

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A typical VHF Radio System. Like Cal Fire and A typical VHF Radio System. Like Cal Fire and Forest NetForest Net

One frequency per channel.

Manual control of towers from the Dispatch Center.

May go through a Repeater (green signal) or Direct (red signal)

May be “voted”. Many sites receive but only one transmits.

The ECC only hears the repeaters

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DirectDirect

No repeater is usedGenerally limited to line of sight and

your radios wattageTactical and Air to Ground are

examples of frequencies which are transmitted “direct”

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RepeatedRepeated

Mountaintop repeater sites are Mountaintop repeater sites are geographically spread out to provide geographically spread out to provide wider coveragewider coverage

They are assigned a name such as They are assigned a name such as “Hot Springs Mountain”, “Mount “Hot Springs Mountain”, “Mount Woodson” based on there geographic Woodson” based on there geographic locationlocation

Each repeater will be designed to work Each repeater will be designed to work with a specific “Frequency” and with a specific “Frequency” and specific “Tone”specific “Tone”

Portable repeaters may be utilized for Portable repeaters may be utilized for a specific incidenta specific incident

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Tower Overview, County 800 RCSTower Overview, County 800 RCS

A typical RCS “tower” in the back country has 13 channels.

1-Control Channel

11-Voice Channels (up from 4 in 2004)

Here F1 is the Control Channel and F2 is the Voice Channel

Channels (frequencies) are assigned by the system

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Typical RCS 800 SiteTypical RCS 800 Site This

represents three Agencies using a four channel 800 Site.

Sites can have up to 11 voice channels.

Unlike VHF there are many frequencies all controlled by the system.

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Why you can’t always hear a RepeaterWhy you can’t always hear a Repeater

1 micro Volt = minimum, scratchy, signal.

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Campo to Los PinosCampo to Los Pinos

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Campo to Tecate PeakCampo to Tecate Peak

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Campo to White Star. WOOPS!Campo to White Star. WOOPS!

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Tones = CTCSS, PL, Channel GuardTones = CTCSS, PL, Channel Guard

A sub-audible frequency that “rides” on your audio transmission. The Tone A sub-audible frequency that “rides” on your audio transmission. The Tone frequency arrives at the repeater, “opens” the repeater receiver allowing your frequency arrives at the repeater, “opens” the repeater receiver allowing your transmitted audio to be received and re-broadcasted out at a higher wattage transmitted audio to be received and re-broadcasted out at a higher wattage on a second frequency. Example, on a second frequency. Example, AllAll MVU Local repeaters listen on 159.225 MVU Local repeaters listen on 159.225 MHz and re-transmit on 151.190 MHz. A CTCSS Tone, say 5 ( 146.2 Hz ) MHz and re-transmit on 151.190 MHz. A CTCSS Tone, say 5 ( 146.2 Hz ) ““opensopens” the Tecate Mountain Repeater and only the Tecate Mountain ” the Tecate Mountain Repeater and only the Tecate Mountain repeater.repeater.

There are 16 standardized CTCSS tones used by fire agencies nationally.There are 16 standardized CTCSS tones used by fire agencies nationally.

Local Net’s such as “Monte Vista Local” or “Cleveland” dispatch and Local Net’s such as “Monte Vista Local” or “Cleveland” dispatch and Command Net frequencies such as “CDF Command 1” are examples of Command Net frequencies such as “CDF Command 1” are examples of repeaters that use tones.repeaters that use tones.

Now comes the 2011 Narrow Banding Project.Now comes the 2011 Narrow Banding Project.

Biggest changes:Biggest changes:

** CTCSS Tones have been added to Tactical Frequencies. CTCSS Tones have been added to Tactical Frequencies.** Tones have been added to the “Output” frequencies of some repeaters. Tones have been added to the “Output” frequencies of some repeaters.** Thus, it’s really important to understand how the use of tones effect your Thus, it’s really important to understand how the use of tones effect your ability to communicate. Read those manuals and cheat sheets.ability to communicate. Read those manuals and cheat sheets.

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Cal Fire and Forest Service Repeaters San DiegoCal Fire and Forest Service Repeaters San Diego

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MVU Local Command 1 Command 2 Command 3

TONE 1 RED MTN TONE 1 SANTIAGO-RRU TONE 1 SANTIAGO-RRU TONE 4 PINE COVE - BDF

TONE 2 WHITESTAR TONE 2 STRAWBERRY – BDU TONE 2 STRAWBERRY – BDU TONE 5 ELSINORE PEAK - RRU

TONE 3 CUYUMACA TONE 13 CUYUMACA TONE 14 LYONS TONE 6 STRAWBERRY – BDU

TONE 4 BOUCHER TONE 11 BOUCHER TONE 12 HOT SPRINGS TONE 13 MT. WOODSON

TONE 5 TECATE TONE 9 WHITE STAR TONE 13 MT. WOODSON TONE 2 LYONS PEAK

TONE 6 HOT SPRINGS

TONE 9 RED MTN

TONE 7 MT.WOODSON

CNF FOREST NET CTCSS TONES

TONE 1 SIERRA ORCO TONE 11 Black Mt. TONE 1 110.9 Hz TONE 9 100.0 Hz

TONE 2 SANTIAGO TONE 9 Lyons Pk. TONE 2 123.0 Hz TONE 10 107.2 Hz

TONE 3 ELSINORE TONE 3 131.8 Hz TONE 11 114.8 Hz

TONE 4 HIGH POINT TONE 4 136.5 Hz Tone 12 127.3 Hz

TONE 5 CUYUMACA TONE 5 146.2 Hz TONE 13 141.3 Hz

TONE 6 ORTEGA TONE 6 156.7 Hz TONE 14 151.4 Hz

TONE 7 LOS PINOS TONE 7 167.9 Hz TONE 15 162.2 Hz

TONE 8 BOUCHER TONE 8 103.5 HZ TONE 16 192.8 Hz

NOTE: Yellow print indicates San Diego County coverage

As of 9/2010

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Kenwood VHF Radios

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BK GPH-CMD Basic ControlsBK GPH-CMD Basic Controls

On/Off, VolumeOn/Off, Volume

Channel Channel SelectorSelector

SquelchSquelch

Direct/RepeaterDirect/Repeater

Priority Scan (up is on)Priority Scan (up is on)Scan (up is on)Scan (up is on)

See http://sdnorthzone.net/communications.htm

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Lets go over the handouts and Lets go over the handouts and play with some VHF radios!play with some VHF radios!

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Newest

800 Radios

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RCS 800RCS 800

ALL San Diego County 800 users, over 25,000 of them, use the same tower when they are in Campo proper. That’s Campo Fire, Cal Fire, Sheriff, CHP, USFS, Rural Bus, Public Works, CalTrans Mountain Health, and AMR, just to name the local users.

With only 11 discrete voice channels not everyone may be able talk at the same time. ( Know your 800 Beep Codes like the Busy Beep.)

Since the October 2003 fires the East (county) Loop has been upgraded. This gave us additional voice channels and the capability to fully integrate with the North, South and North East loops. A few Intelli-Repeaters in the North East county area are still limited to 3 or 4 voice channels.

There are important, common, Zones in every 800 radio. Know your Fleet Map and learn how to change to different Zones and Modes

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Typical RCS 800 Fleet MapTypical RCS 800 Fleet Map

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Lets go over the handouts and Lets go over the handouts and play with some 800 radios!play with some 800 radios!

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SummarySummary

Review the differences between 800 Trunking and VHF repeater systems.

Review your Communications Manuals. There is one in each vehicle and one in the Station.

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Where to Get MoreWhere to Get More InformationInformation

Our Communications Manuals www.craigwilliams.com/campofire.

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And, Before I Forget!And, Before I Forget! ALL our radios

employ close talk microphones to reduce unwanted background noise. This means, if you don’t hold the radio or microphone close to your mouth no one will hear you!

Especially on the new narrow banded VHF radios!