Radio Procedures

1
Radio Procedures
Sumner County Emergency Communications
Updated March 2013
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SCEC Basic Radio Operations for Responders,
Updated December 2012
3
Radio Training
While not required, it is beneficial to complete
the Basic Radio Technology and Basic Radio
Ops training classes prior to completing this
class. This class should not be a substitute for
the actual reading and study of the Communication
Guideline.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Purpose
Efficient radio communications are critical to
the prompt and accurate response of emergency
field units and their operations at emergency
incidents. It is most vital in ensuring the
safety of responders in the performance of their
duties. It is important that all Radio Operators
(as defined) follow and adhere to common radio
practices to ensure that communications are
successful. Interim SOG Radio System Usage,
effective 6/1/2013 replaces SOG Section 2-1
issued in 2004.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Operators
Law Enforcement Officers Firefighters Medical
Technicians (EMR, EMT, and Paramedics) EMA
Personnel Public Safety Dispatchers
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
All radio operators should adhere to FCC
Rules. If FCC Rules are violated, agencies and
operators can be heavily fined, face criminal
penalties,and have radio licenses
revoked. While there are numerous rules, those
most common are listed here.
FCC Federal Communications Commission
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Listen before transmitting. This prevents
causing interference withothers who may already
be broadcasting orin the middle of a
conversation. Exception Interrupt to transmit
the report of a critical emergency involving
lifesafety.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Do not transmit false calls or false
distresssignals. This may place other rescuers
in dangerwho are responding to assist you.
Criminal charges could also be placedagainst
you.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Avoid unnecessary radio communications that could
interfere with emergency communications. The
radio is a tool that may be needed for an
emergency at any time. Commun-ications that can
be performed via telephone or other means should
not be broadcast by radio. The radio is not a
telephone.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Refrain from transmitting obscene language over
the air. Not only an FCC Regulation, but
remember there are citizens listening on
scanners.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Restrict communications to the most practical
transmission time. Messages should be limited to
no more than 30 seconds without a break. This
allows the opportunity for someone with emergency
traffic to begin transmitting.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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FCC Rules
Personal business should not be conducted over
public safety radio frequencies.

• Examples
• Placing a lunch order over the radio
• Asking another radio operator tomake a personal
  phone call for you
• Using public safety radios for hunting or
  sporting events

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance

• Inspect radios frequently to ensure they are free
  of defects and connections are tight.
• Coax cables should be free of wear and
  connections should be tight.
• Insulation on electrical wiring should be intact.
  
• Electrical connections should be free of
  corrosion.
• Antennas should be securely mounted.

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance
This is an example of how a portable radio
antenna should NOT look. While radio equipment
and accessories are expensive, lives depend on
them. Funds should be budgeted to allow for the
proper purchase and professional installation of
radio equipment, and funds budgeted for
replacement when needed.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance
Radios should be checked at the beginning of each
shift to ensure they are working
properly. Walkie-Talkie batteries should be
replaced every 18 months.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance
Use the microphone properly to ensure adequate
communications. Check the manufacturers
recommendations for proper placement and
use. When using lapel microphones, remember it
is the radio that transmits and not the
microphone. Position yourself so the portable
radio and antenna are able to reach the tower.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance

• Limit background noises that can interfere with
  communications.
• Wind
• FM Radios
• Train horns
• Highway traffic
• Etc

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance
Pause after pressing the PTT button to allow
access to the trunking system and to allow
repeaters to open. This prevents front-end
clipping, or cutting off the first one or two
words of your transmission.
PTT Push to Talk button
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Terminology
Use only commonly accepted terminology. Unfamiliar
terms or jargon can confuse the situation and
lead to a breakdown in communications and
potential threat to safety. Most ten codes are
obsolete and can be different from location to
location. Time must be dedicated to training
operators on ten-codes, time that can be better
spent on other essential training.
http//www.dhs.gov/emergency-communications-guidan
ce-documents-and-publications
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Talk groups
Do not confuse LTR Zones with the channel banks
that are installed in your radio.

• Zone 1 talk groups end with the digit 1.
• Patrol 1
• Patrol 1 South
• Investigations 1
• Fire/EMS 1
• TAC 1 and TAC 11
• Admin 1
• EMA 1
• Training 1
• Common 1

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Talk groups

• Zone 2 talk groups end with the digit 2.
• Patrol 2
• Patrol 2 South
• Investigations 2
• Fire/EMS 2
• TAC 2 and TAC 12
• Admin 2
• EMA 2
• Training 2
• Common 2

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Talk groups

• Zone 3 talk groups end with the digit 3.
• TAC 3 and TAC 13
• Training 3
• Common 3

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Talk groups
Patrol 1 South and Patrol 2 South actually
transmit on the Caldwell PD frequency which is
bridged to the trunking system,
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Talk groups
Patrol units working west of Drury Rd and south
of 90th Street South should switch to Patrol 1
South (or Patrol 2 South as warranted). Caldwell
units leaving the designated area should switch
to Patrol 1 (or Patrol 2 as warranted).
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Direct
Any radio channel with the suffix D (as
indicated by the LCD screen on the radio)
indicates the channel is direct, or a
talkaround channel, and bypasses the repeater.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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National Mutual Aid Channels

• National Mutual Aid Channels, as stipulated by
  the Kansas Mutual Aid Reference Guide, include
  the following
• 800MHz 8CALL90 and 8TAC92
• UHF UCALL40 and UTAC 42

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Trunking Ops
The trunking system receives and analyzes data
received from mobile and portable radios. If the
radio is programmed and authorized correctly, the
trunking system activates and begins to
operate. When keying up on the trunking system,
an access beep will be heard indicating the
system has been accessed. Field units should
wait until the access beep is heard before
transmitting to prevent front-end clipping.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Trunking Ops
If radios are not within range of the trunking
system, operators will not hear an access beep,
and the transmit light on the radio will begin
flashing. Units not in range of the trunking
system (or a bridge to the trunking system)
should switch to the appropriate conventional
channel or wait until they are in range.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Trunking Ops
In the event all trunking repeaters are busy,
operators will receive a busy tone. Units
should wait until the trunking system is
available, or switch to the appropriate
conventional channel to transmit.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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LTR Trunking Ops
If units cannot access the trunking system using
a handheld radio, the operator should try moving
their position a few feet which may allow
access. If access cannot be gained, units should
use their mobile radio, or switch to the
appropriate conventional channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Channel Monitoring
Because of the number of available talk groups
and conventional channels, dispatchers will only
monitor the following

• Patrol 1
• Patrol 2
• Fire/EMS 1
• Fire/EMS 2
• EMA 1
• TAC 1

• Ops 1
• Ops 2
• Ops 3
• Ops 4
• Ops 5

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
All Patrol units will operate on Patrol 1.

• Exceptions
• Caldwell PD operates on Patrol 1 South
• Field units patrolling or responding to areas
  west of Drury Rd and south of 90th St South
  should switch to Patrol 1 South
• When leaving the designated geographical area for
  Patrol 1 South, Caldwell units should switch to
  Patrol 1.
• Courthouse Security Officers should operate on
  Courthouse Link. This is a bridge between a
  Courthouse radio and the trunking system.
• When WPD units are at their station, they should
  use Courthouse Link for portable radios.
  (Structural barriers prevent Courthouse Security
  and WPD from transmitting outside of their
  buildings).

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
Communications between detectives/investigators
should be conducted on Investigation 1. When
calling dispatch, investigators should use Patrol
1.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
Administration 1 is available for administrative
communications with and between Chiefs, the
Sheriff, Undersheriff, Chief Deputy,
etc. Example 100 to 102meet me on Admin
1. When calling dispatch, administrators should
use Patrol 1.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations

• Communications between agencies or non-dispatch
  related communications between units can be
  conducted on Common 1.
• Example
• 50 to 60meet me on Common 1.
• Wellington 200 to County 901meet me on Common
  1.

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
Field units communicating or attempting
communications with Harper, Kingman, or Cowley
County units should use the appropriate
conventional radio channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
Field units conducting traffic control should ask
dispatch for the assignment of a tactical talk
group or Ops channel. This keeps the primary
dispatch channels clear of unnecessary traffic
for dispatching calls and communications with
active field units.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations

• TAC channels should also be used for incidents
  requiring lengthy scene times. Examples include
• Manhunts
• Barricaded Subjects
• SWAT Ops
• Etc

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
When emergency traffic is issued on a channel
or talk group, all other law enforcement units
should refrain from using the radio. Dispatchers
will not assign an alternate channel. In the
event a field unit finds it necessary to
communicate with dispatch, Patrol 2 or TAC 1
should be used.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations

• Emergency traffic is issued on
• Vehicle and foot chases
• At the request of a law enforcement field unit
• At the discretion of the Dispatch Supervisor
• Only law enforcement field units have the
  authority to release emergency traffic.

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations

• ATL/BOLOs are broadcast if they have originated
  within Kansas Division 5 and in conjunction with
  the following guidelines
• Stolen vehicles must be taken within the last
  four hours
• Runaways must be thought to still be in the area
• Check welfare ATL/BOLOs must be enroute to
  Sumner County
• Officer safety ATL/BOLOs

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations

• Officer Safety ATL/BOLOs are issued if the
  suspect is armed and dangerous and the message
  originated in
• Kansas
• Nebraska
• Iowa
• Missouri
• Arkansas
• Oklahoma
• Colorado

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Law Enforcement Operations
Hard copies of ATL/BOLOs are faxed to each
agency. These should be posted so additional
shifts can review them at shift change.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops

• Fire/EMS Units should operate on Fire/EMS 1.
• Exceptions
• Wellington Fire/EMS operate on WFD
• Caldwell Fire and Caldwell EMS operate on
  Ops4
• Oxford EMR should operate on WFD when responding
  with WFD/EMS. Oxford EMR should operate on
  Fire/EMS 1 when responding with Winfield EMS.
• When transporting patients out of Ops4 range,
  Caldwell EMS should switch to Fire/EMS1.
• Out of county units should operate on the
  appropriate Ops Channel.

EMR Emergency Medical Responders
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Administration 1 is available for administrative
communications with and between Chiefs, the
Sheriff, Undersheriff, Chief Deputy,
etc. Example 100 to 102meet me on Admin
1. When calling dispatch, administrators should
use Patrol 1.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Multi-Agency Responses When multiple agencies
operating on different channels respond to the
same incident, all units should be routed to a
single channel/talk group. The channel of choice
is first based on communication capabilities.
Example Fire Dist 9, Belle Plaine EMS, and Udall
EMR are all responding to a
motor-vehicle-accident. Since Udall does
not have LTR capabilities, all units should
be assigned to Ops5.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Multi-Agency Responses Example Norwich
EMS/Argonia EMS, and Argonia Fire are all
responding to a motor-vehicle-accident. Since
Norwich EMS does not have access to the trunking
system, all units should be routed to Ops3.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Multi-Agency Responses If communication
capabilities are similar, then the channel of
choice should be based on the primary agencies
operating channel. Example Wellington Fire and
Fire Dist 8 are responding to a structure
fire in Wellingtons response area. Since
Wellington is the primary agency, Fire Dist 8
should be routed to WFD channel. Example
Wellington Fire and Fire Dist 8 are responding
to a structure fire in Fire Dist 8s response
area. Since Dist 8 is the primary
agency, WFD should be routed to Fire/EMS 1
channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Multi-Agency Responses If communication
capabilities are similar, then the channel of
choice should be based on the primary agencies
operating channel. Example Wellington Fire and
Fire Dist 8 are responding to a structure
fire in Wellingtons response area. Since
Wellington is the primary agency, Fire Dist 8
should be routed to WFD channel. Example
Wellington Fire and Fire Dist 8 are responding
to a structure fire in Fire Dist 8s response
area. Since Dist 8 is the primary
agency, WFD should be routed to Fire/EMS 1
channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Multi-Agency Responses If communication
capabilities are similar, then the channel of
choice should be then be based on the proximity
to radio systems. Example South Haven Fire and
Caldwell EMS are responding to a
motor-vehicle-accident in SHFD response area.
Since Caldwell EMS is out of range of Ops 4, all
units should be routed to Fire/EMS 1.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
Scene Operations Fire/EMS Units working on an
incident requiring a lengthy scene time (e.g.
structure fire, wildland fire, train derailment,
etc), should consider use of a TAC channel/talk
group. The IC should request assignment of a
channel from dispatch. Assignment of TAC
Channels is based on agency capabilities and
proximity to trunking system/conventional towers.
Incident Commanders must remember the channels
monitored by dispatch, and continue to request
additional resources or conduct traffic with
dispatch on a primary dispatch channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Fire/EMS Ops
LZ Operations Landing Zone operations should
be Conducted on the appropriate Ops Channel for
the area of the Incident.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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EMA Ops
Routine day-to-day communications between EMA and
dispatch should be conducted on EMA1. EMA
Operations for weather events should be
conducted on EMA1 except for Caldwell units
which should operate on Ops4. Field units
reporting weather conditions should report
directly to the EOC (when activated) on EMA1 or
Ops4. EMA responses to support fire or EMS
events should be conducted on the operational
channel of the primary law enforcement, fire, or
EMS agency.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Training Channels
Agencies conducting training can request the use
of a Training Channel from dispatch. This
eliminates unnecessary radio traffic from
dispatch or operational channels.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Failure of the LTR Trunking System
With the exception of the Zone 1 Repeater, all
other repeaters can fail without the LTR System
suffering any effects. If the Zone 1 Repeater
fails, all Zone 1 Talk Groups will fail to
operate. In this situation, all units and
agencies operating on a Zone 1 Talk Group should
be routed to a Zone 2 Talk Group.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Failure of the LTR Trunking System
Patrol units should be routed to Patrol
2. Fire/EMS/EMA units should be routed to
Fire/EMS 2. If Zone 2 channels become busy,
units can be further routed to a Zone 3 Talk
Group.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Failure of the LTR Trunking System
General Broadcasts, as well as Countywide All
Call Pages should be effected to notify all
agencies and units of the Zone 1 failure.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Alert Tones

• Aside from alert tones used for paging Wellington
  Fire/EMS, Alert Tone 1 is used for the following
  purposes
• Gaining the attention of a field unit that is not
  responding to radio traffic
• Evacuation notices from structure fires or haz
  mat incidents
• Responder down or in trouble
• At the discretion of the dispatch supervisor.

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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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General Radio Broadcasts
General radio broadcasts, to alert units to Lost
Children, Walkaways, or severe weather may be
broadcast as directed by other SOGs. Broadcasts
should be made on the All Call Talk Group.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio Maintenance
Whenever any channel or talk group is taken down
for maintenance, a General Broadcast should be
made on the All Call Talk Group as well as
sending a Countywide All Call Page. Once radio
maintenance has been completed, the same
procedure should be used to route agencies and
units back to the repaired channel.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Radio System Access
Any unit may use any channel to contact dispatch
as the need arises. When it comes to Public
Safety, there are no proprietary talk groups or
conventional channels reserved for a particular
discipline are agency.
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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Questions?
If you have questions about the material
providing in this training class, contact your
immediate Supervisor for clarification or for
routing to the 9-1-1 Offices.
Take This Class Again
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SCEC Radio Procedures, Updated March 2013
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