Overview of Today OSH Requirements, tea, coffee & toilets You will not remember everything. Comms GPS More GPS Briefing and Exercise

Communications

Will only deal with VHF today

Emphasis on developing good habits

There will be a lot of radio traffic

and a bit of fun during the exercise.

ICOM buttonsP0 - Press and hold to lock/unlock

P1 – High / Low Power

P2 – Change Bank

P3 – Talkaround (Repeater Only)

Scroll up and down through channels

VHF Handsets

Two different radios, but effectively the same. Check batteries, plus spare set. Microphone and Floppy Jim aerial Turn on and adjust volume using tone Check correct channel Radio Check Set volume to “Just Enough” Turn radio down when doing sound lines

Radio Procedure

Write down message time and time sent If you're not prepared to write it, don't say it. Check channel clear Press the transmit button, wait 1sec, then call

“SAR Base, SAR Base, from Team 2” Release to listen Once Base (or other station) acknowledges,

proceed to transmit message.

Radio Procedure

Speak slowly – someone has to write it down Transmit 1 sentence at a time Long messages should be broken with “More

to follow”....Does it need to be this long? Read back grid references to confirm Write down messages received Do not transmit sensitive information Remember who may be listening...

Radio Procedure

In case of fatality, severe trauma or near death

“I have a message for the Incident Controller” Then transmit only information requested –

usually go onto cellphone, but not always. If it goes to the Coroner – your radio logs may

be requested. If it isn't written down, it didn't happen.

Radio Relay

Used if team can be heard trying to contact base but not getting through – or vice versa.

Offer to act as relay to station calling Establish contact with second station, advise. Avoid Chinese Whispers – write it down. Call “Team 3, Team 3, relay from SAR Base” Once completed, advise both stations that

relay has ended

On Arrival Back at Base

Turn radio down (preferably off) If standing down, hand to TL for signing in. Advise of any faults, damage

Emergencies

Urgent Message: “This is a Priority Message”

Over-rides general messages

Incident during SAREX / Exercise:

“This is a Genuine Message” or “No Duff”

Signifies event has occurred that is not part of training scenario

Immediate Threat to Life: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is…. “

If you hear any of these transmitted, all other communications must cease until Base advises channels are clear for use again.

Questions and Discussion

NAVSTAR

NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging We civilians call it “The GPS System” Started in 1978 Full Satellite network in place by 1994 Life of satellite 10 years Signal only 50watts

GPS 60CSx

Main Pages

NEW PROCEDUREIn order to avoid the “Spiders Web”

A new tracklog procedure has been proposed:

Tracklogs are left ON

On arrival at tasking, CLEAR tracklog.

At completion of tasking, SAVE tracklog.

At start of new Tasking, Clear tracklog

…and so on.

This separates each task clearly

The Tracklog page is now one of the Main pages

Managing Tracks

Change Format

Map Page

DON’T WORRY !

You will have GPS cheat-sheets to take

with you on the Exercise!

Couldn’t ask you to remember all this…

Golden Rules of GPS

Never trust it with your life

Carry a map and compass (except today)

Recommended to have a spare set of batteries

Practice, practice, practice!

Minute Mayhem !

When you hear an All Teams Broadcast of “Minute Mayhem”

Change GPS to Decimal Lat / Long (eg: 34° 32.213')

Your goal is then to waypoint as many locations as you can until the stop signal

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The last 3 digits correspond to a time

E.g. 174° 43.245 would be 2:45pm and so on.

Either Latitude OR Longitude marks are acceptable

Bonus points for both (eg 35° 23.334' 175° 09.334 at 3:34pm)

GPS clock is the reference for time

Marks must be named using MM1, MM2, MM3 to be valid

Tips: Plan your strategy beforehand

Each minute in time equates to ±2m distance on the ground