A lesson for members of the Sunshine Coast Search Rescue members in training (British Columbia, Canada).

1. Introduction to
GSAR Communications
J. Marshall 2008

2. Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Radio
Equipment
The “Net”
24 hr Clock/Phonetic Alphabet
Voice Procedure
Radio Logs
Emergency Signals
Mock Deployment

3. Radio Waves
p. 9-3/4
VLF KHz
LF KHz
MF KHz
HF MHz
VHF MHz
PEP
UHF GHz

4. BC SAR RESOURCE KIT RADIO FREQUENCIES
VHF RADIO
CH
We use PEP 1 & 2
Simplex vs. Duplex?
TX and RX on same freq =
SIMPLEX
TX on one freq and RX on a
second freq =
DUPLEX
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
USAGE
PEP 1
PEP2
PEP 3
PEP 4
N. SHORE RESCUE
N. SHORE RESCUE
WASHINGTON SAR
BC PARKS
NSR SEYMOUR RPTR
NSR BOWEN RPTR
CHILLIWACK SAR RPTR
HOPE SAR RPTR
KENT/HARR. SAR RPTR
C.F.V. SAR RPTR
MARINE 22A
MARINE 16
RX
TX
TONE
149.495
149.525
148.655
148.685
158.865
158.910
155.160
155.220
158.865
158.910
149.495
149.495
149.495
149.495
157.100
156.800
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
151.700
149.525
148.655
148.655
148.655
148.655
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
114.8
114.8
114.8
114.8
127.3
127.3
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
SIMPLEX
114.8
110.9
123
127.3
110.9
127.3
127.3
67
114.8
77
71.9
UHF RADIO
1
2
3
4
5
6
PEP UHF 1
PEP UHF 1 (Coquitlam)
PEP UHF 1 (Squamish)
PEP UHF 1 (N.S.R.)
PEP UHF 1
PEP UHF 2
462.9500
462.9500
462.9500
462.9500
462.9500
457.2375

5. LF Waves vs. VHF Waves
Waves can be
bounced
Radio waves
travel in a
straight line.

6. Power
• Handheld 2-5 watts
(Mobile/base radios much higher)
• Meteorological conditions, terrain,
power (watts) and antenna rig of TX +
the sensitivity/antenna of RX will
determine the range possible

7. Repeaters
p. 9-6/7
Note: GSAR teams can act as
human repeaters by relaying
messages between two stations
that cannot communicate.

8. 2. Equipment
TYPES
 BASE - fixed locations (buildings)
 Mobile - vehicles/watercraft/aircraft
 Portable - hand-held GSAR teams
Send a signal = transmitter
Receive a signal = receiver
Both = transceiver

9. Radio Parts
p. 9-4/5
• On/off (accidental discharging)
• Squelch (saving power, auto feature on some radios)
• Channel/Frequency Selector (memory, confusion
during mutual aid ops = say PEP 1 vs Channel 1, legally non-hams can’t
change frequencies outside of assigned PEP frequencies)
• PTT (key-pause-talk)
• Antenna (helical vs. telescoping + pointing, care)
• Battery (memory, spares, cold-weather ops)

10. 3. The “Net”Sunshine
Command
Remember:
1. Go through
Command
2. Be concise
3. Less is more avoid useless calls
Sunshine 06
Sunshine 12
Sunshine Who?
Sunshine 14

11. Typical
Operational
“Net”
Ce
llul
ar
Co
m
s
Penak
Talon
JRCC
Sunshine Command
Sunshine 06
Sunshine 08
Sunshine 12
Sunshine 14

12. 4a. 24 hr Clock
Say the four digits,
then say hours:
ex. “0430 hours”
z
lways “
A
”
ver “oh
ero”, ne
Say 1-9-0-0-hours, not “nineteen hundred
hours”
Say “decimal” not “point”

13. 4b. Phonetic Alphabet
•
•
•
•
•
Use only if necessary
Odd ones: Oss-cah, Vic-tah
Say “I spell…”
Say “decimal”
Practice

14. 5. Voice Procedure p. 9-9/11
V.P. is a concise and formalized version of
everyday communication. For example:
Hi guys, I’m Bob; how do you do?
Hello R.T., it’s Sue; what’s up, eh?
Command this is Sunshine 08, send sitrep, over.

15. Fatalities
• Frequencies can be monitored and
family members can overhear SAR
radios – take care…
ndi
Co
LT A
DE
tion

16. Example: affirmative/negative
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 09
this is
Sunshine
Command
Have you reached the parking lot
at the trail head?
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 09
Affirmative,
over.
Sunshine 09
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger,
out.

17. Example: confirm
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 06
this is
Sunshine
Command
Confirm the subject’s mother told
you he had a blue tarp with him,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 06
Affirmative,
over.
Sunshine 06
this is
Sunshine
Roger,
out.

18. Example: correction
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 20
this is
Sunshine
Command
Move now to GR 123758,
correction move to GR 123578,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 20
Roger, moving to GR 123578,
over.
Sunshine 20
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger,
out.

19. Example: go ahead (send)
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 02
Message,
over.
Sunshine 02
this is
Sunshine
Command
Go ahead,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 02
Roger, ……….., more to follow,
over.
Sunshine 02
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger, go ahead,
over…

20. Example: how do you read?
(or) radio check
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 11
this is
Sunshine
Command
How do you read?
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 11
I read you loud and clear,
(loud and broken)
(weak and unreadable)
over.
Sunshine 11
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger,
out.

21. Example: say again
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 11
this is
Sunshine
Command
Ensure you have the following:
GPS, spare radio battery, first aid
kit, saline and headlamp,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 11
Roger, say again, all after, first aid over.
kit,
Sunshine 11
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger, I say again after first aid
kit: saline and headlamp,
Don’t ever say “repeat” or you’ll never
sound cool like an air traffic controller.
over…

22. Example: standby (wait)
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine 09
this is
Sunshine
Command
Message to follow, (get paper to
copy?)
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 09
Standby,
(Wait,)
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 09
Go ahead,
(Send message now,)
over…
N.B.: If you want a station to wait more than 10
seconds, say “Standby, out.” Call them back
when you are ready - this keeps the net open.

23. Example: verify
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 02
Will you verify that the subject’s
jacket was found at the parking lot
by Sunshine 05,
over.
Sunshine 02
this is
Sunshine
Command
Standby,
out to you;
Sunshine 05
this is
Sunshine
Command
Confirm that it was you who found
the subject’s jacket in the parking
lot,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 05
Affirmative,
over.
Sunshine 05
this is
S. Command
Roger,
out to you;
Sunshine 02
this is
S. Command
I verify, the subject’s jacket…
over…

24. Example: radio check - multiple stations
Station Called This is
This is
Message
Over/Out
All Sunshine
call signs
this is
Sunshine
Command
Radio check,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 01
Sunshine 02
Sunshine 03
Roger,
Roger,
Roger,
over.
over.
over,
- Pause of 5 seconds -
Sunshine 05
Sunshine 06
Roger,
Roger,
over.
over.
All Sunshine
stations, except
Sunshine 04
this is
Sunshine
Command
Roger,
out to you;
Sunshine 04
this is
Sunshine
Command
Radio check,
over.
Sunshine
Command
this is
Sunshine 04
You are weak but readable,
over…

25. 6. Radio Logs
TIME
STATION I.D.
STN.
THIS IS
CALLED
SUBJECT
20:15
Command
SC 06
Found fresh bike tire tracks on trail to lake; will follow tracks.
20:17
Command
SC 12
Found white water bottle with “On the Edge” logo 200m north of
20:18
SC 12
parking lot at lake. Request info on subj’s gear.
Command Police confirm Subj may have same type of water bottle.
(Police IC left 20:20 hrs - will rtn in approx 20 mins)
20:26
Command
SC 06
Found red Brody mnt bike like Subj’s with broken front forks
at bottom of a trail ladder. Checking for signs of Subj.
20:27
SC 12
Command SM ordered SC 12 to move to SC 06’s loc to help search area
where bike found. Loc = GR 903256.
20:35
20:39
Command
Command
SC 06
SC 12
Sc 12 has arrived SC 06’s loc and is assisting in area search.
Subj located / unconscious; SC 06 starting F.A.; vitals and
loc to follow but request heavy F.A. kit with oxygen be brought.
20:40
SC 14
Command Report to Command to move heavy F.A. and oxygen to SC 06.
(SC 14 dispatched to SC 06 at GR 905257 at 20:45 hrs)

26. 7. Emergency Signals
A)
The distress signal - life or limb
•
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is
Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01,
We are at Victor’s Landing
My team has been hit by an avalanche, over.
•
Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01,
This is Sunshine Command, Sunshine
Command, Sunshine Command,
Received MAYDAY, over.
ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until agency in
command (ex. Coast Guard) clears the emergency.

27. 7. Emergency Signals cont.
B) The urgency signal – safety of ship, vehicle, plane, person
•
PANPAN, PANPAN, PANPAN, this is
Sunshine 02,
We are at the Chapman Creek Bridge
One member of our team has fallen and is injured, over.
•
Sunshine 02,
This is Sunshine Command,
Received PANPAN; I am standing by to receive details, over.
ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until emergency is
over.

28. 7. Emergency Signals cont.
C) The safety signal - safety of navigation or weather
•
SECURITY, SECURITY, SECURITY, this is Penak,
All GSAR teams should be advised that extreme westerly winds
and snow are forecasted in the search area for the next
twelve hours, over.
•
Penak,
This is Sunshine Command,
Received SECURITY, and I will confirm that all GSAR teams
understand, over.

29. 7. Emergency Signals cont.
D) the signal for accidents during mock operations and
training scenarios:
 NoDuff, NoDuff, NoDuff
This is Sunshine 08
We are at the rappel site
A member has been hit by a falling rock, over.
 Sunshine 08
this is Sunshine Command
Received No Duff,
send details, over
ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until emergency is over.

30. Confidentiality of Comms
• Remember that you must not discuss
operational correspondence outside of
your GSAR unit

31. 8. Questions
and Practice