White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide May 30, 2005 Introduction: This guide is designed to assist radio users in understanding the White Mountain National Forest’s radio system, which utilizes Bendix King hand-held and Midland mobile radios. The mission of the White Mountain National Forest Radio Communication System is to contribute to employee and public safety by minimizing situations that contribute to injuries; to aid in fire prevention, detection and suppression; to assist in responding to other local, state and national emergencies, where directed and appropriate, and to increase effectiveness and minimize cost of resource management activities. IMPORTANT! If you are going into the field be sure you take a BK hand-held! The White Mountain National Forest’s radio system just went under a transition of replacing all radios and equipment in 2004. If you don’t have a radio in your vehicle, or if you are working in a area and unfamiliar with the radio system, ask someone who is familiar with the area that you are going and know what repeater will work for you when going into the field. Remember: THINK SAFETY FIRST!

Forest Radio System: The primary objective of the radio system is to provide communication access to field going employees. The White Mountain National Forest Radio System has 10 (ten) repeater sites. Use the geographical diagram to view site locations of the repeater locations on the White Mountain. Communication Repeaters are set on 10 (ten) mountain peaks to enhance coverage for base stations, mobiles, and hand-helds. Repeaters receive transmissions from the field on a frequency and then re-transmit the voice message to base stations on another frequency. Repeaters are accessed by a specific tone code transmitted by radios whenever the radio is keyed on the respective repeater channel. The repeater will stay keyed up for ½ second after the user has released PTT (press to talk) button. When the repeater unkeys, the user hears an audible noise burst called squelch tail. Squelch tail is useful in determining whether a repeater is online or within range of your radio. The tone and frequency together act as a unique identifier for each repeater. It is important to be aware of repeater locations so that the nearest and most accessible site can be selected.

1

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide

Components and Functions of a Bendix King (BK Radio):

Antenna

Transmit Indicator

Squelch Code Guard On/Off Volume

Channel Selector

Soft Switches A= Hi/Lo Power B= Scan C= Priority

Priority Busy Channel Low Battery Indicator

Antenna Accessory Speaker

Audio Mount

Microphone

PTT Push To Talk

LCD Display

Keyboard 2

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide 1. On-Off/Volume: Turn the On-Off/volume Knob clockwise to power the radio. Continue turning the knob clockwise to increase the volume. 2. CG/SQ Squelch: The squelch control on a FM radio quiets background noise when there is no signal to receive. It should be adjusted to the point where the noise just quiets. If the control is turned beyond this point, it will reduce the sensitivity of the radio. The Bendix King radio uses an adjustable switch for setting and adjusting squelch. The locked position represents a preset squelch level just above background noise. You can also use the squelch control to unsquelch the radio for test purposes or to set volume level. 3. Channel Selector: Selects the channel you want to transmit on. (Channels 1-16 on GPH, and 1-14 on EPH). The channels are identified in the LCD display as alphanumeric labels, or as channel numbers in radios without alphanumeric displays and correspond to repeater channels. To obtain a list of programmed channels and frequencies, contact your Radio Shop. 4. Channel Busy/Low Battery Indicator: This indicator will illuminate red when transmitting a voice message over the radio and when receiving a signal on the priority channel. The light should illuminate solid red when transmitting. If the light blinks once or twice and then goes out or if the light flickers, it means the battery could be low. 5. Switch A – Hi/Lo Transmit Power: This switch allows you to either use full power (HI) or reduced power (LO). Using LO power conserves energy and preserves the battery. LO power should be used when in close proximity of repeaters or Districts with base stations. The radio is in HI power when the switch is pushed towards you and in LO power when the switch is pushed away from you. 6. Switch B – Scan: allows users to monitor frequencies from a preset scan list, including the currently selected channel. When a signal is detected, scanning stops and the voice message is received. The received channel is shown on the right side of the LCD display. Once the signal ends, the radio resumes scanning. If you wish to respond to a call received on a scanned channel, you will have to change the currently selected channel to the channel you received the call on. All Transmissions in scan mode will occur on the channel selected (see Channel Selector Knob). The radio is in scan mode when the switch is pushed away from you. To turn off Scan function, push the switch towards you. To determine what channels are being scanned, simply turn the Channel Selector Knob to each channel. If the channel is on the scan list, the word “SCAN” will appear on the top portion of the LCD Display. To add a channel to the scan list, select the channel with the Channel selector Knob and press ENT. To remove a channel from the scan list, press the CLR key. After a short beep, the word “SCAN” should disappear. When adding or deleting a channel from the scan list, both the Scan and Priority Switches should be turned off (pushed down toward the user).

3

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide 7. Switch C - Priority: Priority Scan enables the radio to receive on any channel while monitoring for a message on the designated priority channel. 8. Push-To-Talk Button (PTT): Pressing this button activates the transmit mode (talk mode). Press in and hold the PTT button throughout the entire transmission. When operating with distant remote repeaters there is a helpful tip. To insure your complete voice message is heard, press the PTT button and wait for a second or two before beginning a transmission and continue to hold in the button for a few seconds after completing the voice message. This allows time for the signal to access or pass through multiple hops and key-up repeaters properly. Talk directly into the front of the radio, in a normal voice while holding the radio vertically. Keep transmissions short and to the point. 8. Speaker: Radio signals are picked up and transmitted over the speaker. The On-Off/Volume switch allows users to adjust the volume of their radio.

4

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide TO SELECT DESIRED CHANNEL GROUP: 1. REMOVE FRONT COVER 2. There are eight channel groups in model #s GPH102- M and GPH102-S. There is only one group selection in model # GPH102-A. You’ll find these model numbers on the back of your radio. 3. Press and hold in the # button will display the Group label. With a GPH102-M or S you just press # and hold for 2-3 secs. It will display the group label number that you press.

Standard Channel Group1 on the White Mountain GROUP 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Ground Mt. Washington Middle Sister Wildcat Mossilaukee/Milan Loon/Royce Mt. Tecumseh Pleasant Mtn. Hitchcock Common/Ground N.E. Compact NH Fire Flight Following open Me. Weather NH Weather

Note: Always familiarize yourself with your radio especially before you take it to the field. TO SELECT THE GROUP YOU WANT: A. Push the # button B. Push the desired group number 1-8. C. Press ENT for your selection to be selected. D. Turn the channel select switch to the desired channel and operate normally.

5

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide

OTHER RADIO INFORMATION BATTERIES: 4 NICKEL CADMIUM TYPES 1. LAA 105 BENDIX KING (800mAH) 8-hour battery. 2. LAA 125 BENDIX KING (1200mAH) 12-hour battery. 3. DOUBLE (AA) PACK –9 “AA” alkaline batteries. (Not rechargeable). Sometimes referred to as clamshells. 4. GENERIC BATTERIES – similar capacities as above. CHARGERS: The Forest uses several models of radio battery chargers. The more commonly used ones are identified below: 1. BK DUAL RATE: Charging batteries in approximately 3 hours. (2 LED lights, red & green) 2. BK SINGLE RATE: Charge batteries in approximately, 16-17 hours, LAA 300, 305 may take up to 24 hours with this charger (one red LED). 3. ADVANCED TEC CONDITIONING CHARGERS: (single & 4 bank units) Rapid charge batteries in under 3 hours, then switches to maintenance mode. Conditions and maintains peak charge on battery. Batteries can be left in charger indefinitely. Blinking RED or RED & Green alternating= bad contact or defective battery, Steady Green = rapid charge & conditioning, Blinking Green = Ready for use. BATTERY LIFE Battery life for hand held radios depends on how many minutes the radio is used in the transmit mode. A typical radio using a standard capacity (LAA 105, 800,AH) battery is operated on a 5-90 duty cycle for an 8-hour day (5% transmit time or 24 minutes, 5% receive time or 24 minutes, 90% standby time or 7 hours & 12 minutes). To maximize battery life, minimize transmit time. (Example) 5% of an 8 hours day is 24 minutes of transmit time. If the radio transmits for only 12 minutes, the battery lasts 16 to 20 hours. If the radio transmits for 30 minutes, the battery lasts 4 hours. Keep radio transmissions brief. Battery life can be affected by weather conditions, NiCads are particularly affected by the cold. Lower temperatures will affect the life of your battery. Make sure you have a fully charged battery when you go to the field. Batteries will self discharge over time. A battery can self discharge by up to 10% in a day and up to 30% in as little as 10-12 days. If your battery has been sitting around on the shelf for a while charge it before going to the field. ANTENNAS: Four Main Types 1. Standard 6 inch 2. ¼ wave 17 inches 3. Telescoping ½ wave – must be fully extended. 4. Tree Antennas – ½ wave wire with loading coil strung in a tree and connects to hand-held via short coax cable. NOTE: DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN ANY ANTENNA – “FINGER TIGHT ONLY” DO NOT use antenna from other radio makes, damage may occur. DO NOT pick up a radio by antenna. 6

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide GENERAL PRECAUTIONS: 1. These radios are not waterproof they are water – resistant. Protect them with a waterproof radio bag or plastic bag (if you can not keep them covered during extended periods in the rain). 2. If a radio gets dropped in water – immediately turn the radio off and remove the battery. Get the radio to a radio shop ASAP. RADIO BASIC OPERATING PROCEDURES The following procedures should be used when operating FS VHF radios on the White Mountain National Forest. These procedures will help users get the best performance out of the FS radio system. Communication range for VHF radios is largely dependent on having a line-of sight path between your antenna and the antenna of the nearest mountaintop repeater or base station. RADIO CHECKS When you are issued a radio you should visually inspect the radio for damage and verify transmit and receive operations. Before departing to the field make a test call to dispatch or to another radio. This test will help ensure you are on the correct and useable repeater channel, have the volume/squelch set properly, and have a working radio. . SCHEDULED CALLS Helicopter – every 15 minutes Fixed Wing – every 30 minutes Ground to Air Communications –is treated differently in each of the areas. Depending on the air to ground operations activity, ground crews should obtain advance briefing from local dispatch centers as to radio contact procedures with aircraft. Ground /Common Net Channel -This channel is recommended for ground-to-ground transmissions. Try to keep heavy ground traffic on this channel and conserve battery power of mountain top repeaters. Ground/Common net communications is limited to a direct line of sight path between field users. POOR OR LOST COMMUNICATIONS If you are having trouble with weak signal, try some of these tips: • Hold the radio over your head (antenna is higher), use a speaker mic • Climb to a location that is higher, or that has fewer obstructions between you and the station you are talking too. • Move the radio around the immediate area. It is common for a spot just a few feet away to work much better (or sometimes worse). Once you find a spot try to remain there until transmissions are finished. • Unsquelch the radio receiver (static noise heard) to improve reception of weak or broken transmissions. • Know surrounding repeater locations in relation to your field location. Try them periodically to find one, which might be better, face the repeater when possible.

7

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide •

Ask any other field user that hears you to relay your call to dispatch or back to your office. Know where you are and what alternate repeaters or districts may work for you.

•

Always carry spare batteries, if communication is weak or nonexistent try a known fresh battery. If you have been carrying a battery around for weeks without charging it, it is not a fresh battery. When using AA packs carry spare AA’s.

When and if radio communications start to become weak or scratchy, keep your office informed. Check your handheld transmit output power by watching the LED light on the top of your radio. It should remain a steady red light when the radio is keyed with the PTT (Push to Talk) button is pressed. If it flickers or comes on and then goes out after a brief time, swap-out your battery with a spare. Try another radio if your crew has one. Remember: you will continue to receive longer than you will able to transmit. If you are moving into an area where reliable repeater coverage is questionable, advise your office of the potential of lost communications. If communications are lost and if possible, move and change elevation. This may reestablish communications. Remember: THINK SAFETY FIRST!

.

8

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide

Push to Talk Bar

Monitor Button

Channel Display

Scan Button

Power/Volume Knob

Channel/Menu Knob

9

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide MIDLAND MOBILE RADIO OPERATORS GUIDE 1. Power/Volume Knob: Press and hold for 2 to 3 seconds to turn power on. Press and hold again for 2 to 3 seconds for power off. By turning the knob clockwise this will increase the volume you can receive. 2. Channel/Menu Knob: Rotate either left or right to scroll through the channels for selection. To activate the menu mode, press and hold for 1 to 2 seconds. This will allow you to access the Channel Display. The Squelch Setting (SQL) should be set around 525. To set the setting for squelch turn knob left or right to change squelch setting. 3. Push –to-Talk Bar (located on hand microphone): To transmit to talk, hold microphone close to your mouth, press bar on microphone and begin to talk. To hear a replay or when you have finished speaking release the talk bar. Keep messages short and to the point using clear language? Do not use slang or the 10 code as a way of communicating.

10

White Mountain National Forest Radio User Guide

11