Basic Radio Operator Authorization Course
3/14/2016
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Basic Radio Authorization
Course
Slides Prepared by
Lt. Colonel Robert Nagel
Nevada Wing Director of Communications
775-322-8922 RNAGEL@JUNO.COM
 Prepared with Microsoft PowerPoint
 Material Current as of 10/30/01
 Slides Updated 10/30/01

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Purpose of this Course
Basic Discussion or CAP Radio Operation
 To Provide an Introduction for Using the
CAP radios
 To Encourage You to Take the Advanced
Radio Operator Authorization Course

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Is This Where You Stop?
This Course Permits You to Use CAP
Radios
 You Need the Advanced Course if You:

– Want to Own Your Own Radio Station for CAP
and get your own call sign
– Pursue the Communications Officer Specialty
Training
– Are Issued a Corporate Radio Asset
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Course Content
-- What We Will Cover -Standard Operating Procedures
 Local Operating Procedures
 Repeater Network
 There is No Test, But, Attendees are
Certified Upon the Recommendation
of the Instructor to the Wing Director
of Communications

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Standard Operating
Procedures

Standard Operating Procedures -- Basic
Familiarization and Demonstration of Do’s
and Don’t’s:
» Use of Call Signs
» Basic Prowords / Alphabet / Numerals
» Calling and Answering
» Operating the Radio
» Prohibitions
» National Communications Policies
» Local Communications
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Standard Operating Procedures
General Information
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General Information
CAP is a Federal Agency with Access to the
Federal Radio Spectrum
 CAP Must Have Appropriate Paperwork to
Communicate with Non-Federal Users
 CAP Uses Professional Communication
Techniques. Therefore No 10 Codes or Q
Signals

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CAP Radio Station Licensing
– CAP is a federal agency; its Radio Stations are
licensed by the NTIA (National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration)
– Public stations are licensed by the FCC\
– Federal agencies are not allowed to use services
allocated exclusively to the public sector for
their business
– This excludes the use of Amateur Radio and
Citizens Band for CAP business
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Use of Callsigns

In CAP We Use Tactical Callsigns for
– Aircraft Callsigns
– Mission Callsigns
– Wing Callsigns
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Aircraft Callsigns

Aircraft are “CAPFLITE”
EXAMPLE
CAPFLITE 2795
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Mission Related Callsigns
Mission Callsigns are Used at Activities
 These Callsigns Designate Specific
Functional Duties at the Activity
 If Multiple Activities are Occurring, then the
Callsign is Often Qualified with a Location

EXAMPLES
MISSION BASE
Ely MISSION BASE
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Wing Callsigns

Wing Callsigns Are Assigned to Each Wing,
Region, and to National Headquarters
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Nevada is “Silver State”
Texas is “Texas CAP”
Arkansas is “Wild Wood”
Arizona is “Red Rock”
California is “Yosemite”
New Mexico is “Ship Rock”
Southwest Region is “CAP West”
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Tactical Callsigns

Tactical Callsigns are Made Up of the Wing
Designator and a Number Assigned Each
Individual
EXAMPLE
The NV Wing Commander is Silver State 1
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Prowords

Prowords are used to shorten a message and
to enhance understandability
– This Is -- identifies transmitting station
– Over -- it is your turn to talk and I expect you
to do so
– Roger -- acknowledges reception and
understanding of last transmission
– Wilco -- similar to Roger but will also comply
with the content
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PROWORDS

Combine Prowords with other Prowords and
normal words to create transmissions
– Silver State 20, This Is Silver State 341 Over.
– Silver State 341, This Is Silver State 20 Over.
– Could you scare up three more Cadets for the flight
line Over.
– Wilco, will have them there in five minutes Over.
– Thank you, Out.
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Prowords

Avoid Sounding Stupid:
– Roger Wilco,Over and Out
– Repeat last transmission Over
– Don’t use “ten codes”, “Q signals” or other non
approved codes
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Phonetic Alphabet
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
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J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
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S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
Xray
Yankee
Zulu
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Pronouncing Numerals
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
ZERO
WUN
TOO
THU REE
FO WER
FI YIV
SIX
SEVEN
ATE
NINER
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19
44
90
136
500
1478
2100
16000
81268
WUN THU REE
WUN NINER
FO WER FO WER
NINER ZERO
WUN THU REE SIX
FI YIV ZERO ZERO
WUN FO WER SEVEN ATE
TOO WUN HUN DRED
WUN SIX THOW ZAND
ATE WUN TWO SIX ATE
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Calling and Answering
We use the system “You” this is “Me” over
 If You are Courteous and Polite You Know
the Rules Already

–
–
–
–
Listen to be Sure the Frequency is not Busy
Call Your Station
Conduct Your Business
State that You Are Through with the Frequency
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Operating the Radio
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Operating the Radio
Personnel with Basic Level ROA will be
operating CAP Radios
 These radios have similar characteristics
and controls
 Corporate Radios are channelized the same.

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Make sure that the person who loaned you the
radio explains the controls and settings
 Often, radios can operate on Non-CAP
frequencies

– You are responsible for the transmissions from your
radio
– Operating on frequencies you are not authorized to
use is a Felony. Penalties can be -» Up to 20 years in Federal Prison
» Fines up to 20,000 dollars
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Radio Controls
Microphone -- you speak into the microphone
 Push-to-talk Switch -- usually on microphone
 Power Switch -- usually coupled with volume
 Volume Control -- adjusts loudness of speaker
 Squelch -- adjusts noise threshold of receiver
 Channel -- changes the channel being used

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Microphone
You speak into the Microphone
 Don’t yell or whisper, talk at a normal
volume as if the person was standing a few
feet away
 Shouting does not increase intelligibility or
range

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Push-to-talk Switch
You push the Push-to-talk Switch when you
want the radio to transmit
 You must release the switch to listen
 Monitor the channel for a few seconds
before you transmit to ensure that you don't
interfere with other traffic prior to pushing
the PTT Switch

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Power Switch
The Power Switch controls the power to the
radio
 The Power Switch is usually coupled with
the Volume Control
 Battery powered radios should be turned off
when not being used to conserve the
batteries

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Volume Control
The Volume Control adjusts the loudness of
the speaker
 The higher the volume, the more battery
power is used
 Keep the Volume Control set to a
comfortable, but non-annoying, level

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Squelch
The Squelch adjusts the point where audio
and noise are suppressed
 Adjust the control until noise is heard and
then back off to just past the point where the
noise stops
 If using tone squelch, defeat the tone
decoder prior to adjusting the squelch

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Channel Selector
This switch selects the receive and transmit
frequencies being used
 Radios in Nevada Wing are set up with
channels 1 through 14. These are referred
to as ‘Channel 1’ through ‘Channel 14’
 Consult the person who furnished the radio
for the specific settings for the radio you are
using

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Operating Techniques
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Operating Techniques
Speak clearly and in a normal voice when
transmitting
 Hold the PTT switch in while transmitting
and release to receive
 Listen for your callsign. Other stations may
have traffic for you.
 Keep your traffic to the point

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Prohibitions
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You must not use the radio for personal
communications ... only those of the
corporation
 You must not use profanity or transmit
music on the radio
 You must observe radio silence if it is
imposed upon your station
 You must not argue on the radio

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National
Communications Policies
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National Communications
Policies
Use of Amateur Radio frequencies is
forbidden for conduct of CAP business
including SAR/DR operations
 CAP Stations operating on non-CAP
frequencies must have written authorization
from the licensed agency and an appropriate
SFAF on file

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Local Operating Procedures
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AIRCOMM
AIRCOMM is the Functional Callsign of
Aircraft Operating at High Altitude to
Perform Radio Relay
 Use of AIRCOMM Permits
Communications Over a Much Larger Area

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Nevada Repeater Network
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Nevada Repeater Network
There is a statewide network or radio
repeaters for command and control of
aircraft and ground teams
 They are strategically located on mountain
peaks to maximize their range and cover all
major metropolitan areas and search bases

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THAT’S ALL
FOLKS
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