ARRL Certification Program
Emergency Communications
Table of Contents

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The outline for the effort can be found at:

http://www.svvi.net/w0ipl/emcom-rd.htm

Table of Contents - Proposed Draft, Work-in-progress

  1. Foreward
  2. How to use this book
  3. The Question Pool
  4. Other ARRL Study Materials
  5. When to Use This Book (assumes there is an expiration date to the study material)
  6. Introduction
    1. The ARRL Certification for Emergency Communications
    2. If you're a Newcomer to Emergency Communications
      1. What is emergency communications and what distinguishes it from other communications.  As a student in emergency communications, what's in it for me?
      2. Describe the role that volunteer emergency communicators fit into the picture.  Describe the fact that as volunteer emergency communicators, our primary mission is to provide communications via any available means, both amateur and non-amateur methods.  Our secondary mission is to assist the served agency in capacities that are requested and that we can respond.
      3. As such, we are under the jurisdiction of the "host" served agency.  We need to how they operate during an emergency and enhance, not detract, from their operations.
      4. Information about emergencies, emergency management, Incident Command System, various Civil Defense, FEMA, Red Cross information and practices to give the reader an overview of such standing practices by these agencies.  For details, we should refer the reader to other documents, and local procedures.  (I think we're in agreement that we're a national certification program, not a local training program.)
      5. FCC rules that apply.
      6. We are measured in the number of messages passed accurately in a timely fashion.
      7. Our operations are performed via nets and net practices.  (Section further in the study guide.)
      8. Our nets are provided by equipment, modes and training.  (Section further in the study guide.)
    3. Sections for Certification examination.
  7. Emergency and Public Service Communication
    1. Emergency Communications
      1. What is Emergency Communications?
      2. What defines a communications emergency?
      3. What is the role of a volunteeer emergency communicator?
      4. The role that Amateur Radio serves
      5. Why Amateur Radio works when other methods don't
      6. Why it is important to blend amateur radio and non-amateur radio techniques.
    2. Public Service Communication
      1. What is public service communication?
      2. The role Amateur Radio serves
      3. Types of events and their unique requirements
    3. Amateur Radio and Radio Organizations associated with emergency and public service communications
      1. ARRL
        1. A.R.E.S.
        2. N.T.S.
      2. Government
        1. Civil Defense and FEMA - R.A.C.E.S.
        2. National Weather Service - Skywarn
      3. Relief Organizations
        1. American Red Cross
        2. Salvation Army - SATERN
        3. DMAT
      4. Armed Forces - M.A.R.S.
      5. Radio Clubs - primarily public service communication
      6. Citizens Band and Family Radio Service - REACT
    4. How you can get involved
      1. Membership, affiliations and relationships between these organizations
      2. ARES and RACES, how do they differ and why be a member of both.
      3. When/How do we use REACT, CB and FRS
  8. Introduction to Emergency Management
    1. Incident Command System
      1. ICS Overview
      2. ICS Command Structure
      3. ICS Position Objectives
    2. Who runs the event - PRIMARY SERVED AGENCY
    3. Established guidelines used by most agencies
      1. Incident Command System
      2. Who talks to the Media (press) - the primary served agency PIO
      3. Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and why they help Organizations to meet communication goals
    4. Specialized Served Agency Requirements
      1. Red Cross
      2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
      3. Training from Agencies that ARRL has MOUs with
      4. Agency training that does not fit into the above
  9. Federal Government standards & guidelines for Amateur Radio communication
    1. FCC Part 97 sections 1a, 101c, 111.a.2, 111.b.4, 401 and especially 403.
  10. Principles of Emergency Communication
    1. Getting the message through
      1. Using what ever mode/frequency necessary (may not be Ham Freq's)
      2. Time and accuracy is of the essence.  Use the most direct route.  Least number of relays.
    2. Communicating Discipline vs. Talking
      1. Pass messages exactly as written
      2. Listening skills
      3. Do not editorialize
      4. Don't speculate
      5. Sending techniques
        1. Brevity and Clarity
        2. Plain language and ITU phonetics, no slang
      6. Receiving techniques
    3. Your role and responsibility as a Emergency Management volunteer
      1. Personal Safety Considerations
        1. You
        2. Your Team
        3. Your Mission
        4. Workmen's Comp./Insurance
      2. On-air training
      3. Security considerations
        1. Who is the message intended for
        2. Who is listening?
        3. What you don't say
  11. Emergency Communications Practices
    1. Net Operations
      1. Purpose
        1. Types of Emergency Nets
          1. Tactical
          2. ICS nets -- Command, Operations (Traffic), Logistics (Resource)
          3. National Traffic System (NTS)
            1. What is N.T.S.?
            2. Structure
            3. Operational Information
            4. Terms of Reference
            5. Where to practice
            6. Section Leadership
        2. Nets, what they are and how they work
      2. Net Participant Guidelines and Considerations
        1. Types of Net Operations
          1. Open
          2. Controlled
        2. Overview of roles in a net
          1. NCS and backup NCS
          2. Loggers
          3. Listeners - LISTEN
          4. Liaison and Relay Stations
          5. Site communicators
          6. General communicators
          7. EOC message desk
          8. EOC message runners
        3. Net protocols.
          1. Customary; Legal
          2. Don't over identify
          3. Tactical Calls - when and how to use them
          4. Participating in a net; Leaving a net
          5. Write it (?) down
        4. Details of net roles
          1. General Net Operations and Operators
            1. Checking into the net
            2. Handling station logs
            3. Relaying for other stations
            4. Going to a backup frequency
            5. Temporarily leaving the net
            6. Being relieved by another station
            7. Initiating formal traffic
            8. Checking out of the net
          2. Net Control Station (NCS)
            1. Characteristics of a good NCS operator
            2. Learning to be an NCS
            3. NCS Hints and Kinks
            4. Handovers
            5. Coverage breaks
            6. Contingency plans
            7. Handling an irate participant
            8. Handling malicious interference
            9. Shortcut to being a good NCS - Practice Practice Practice
    2. Equipment Guidelines
      1. Power isn't everything
      2. Good antenna and location
      3. Good Receivers
      4. Equipment settings
      5. Communications Modes
        1. Simplex and line of sight
        2. Repeaters
        3. Desense, Intermod, frequency and space diversification
        4. SSB vs FM
        5. NVIS antenna and how it helps
        6. AutoPatch/Phone Patch
        7. Data Links
        8. Living with interference
      6. EMP - Consideration for Electromagnetic Pulse and recovery during operation
    3. Operating Guidelines to help you communicate
      1. Types of Message
        1. Tactical
        2. Informal
        3. ARRL Format Radiograms - Preferred
        4. Translating message formats between agencies
      2. Traffic Priority
        1. Flash/Emergency
        2. Priority
        3. Routine
      3. ARRL Format Radiograms and Emergency Communications
        1. Why standard NTS formats
        2. Overview of Radiograms
          1. Preamble
          2. Message Text
          3. Signature and why it's important
          4. Prowords/Prosigns
          5. Abbreviations
        3. Modified message form for disasters
        4. Examples
    4. Guidelines on Communications modes and technologies
      1. Modes of communication
        1. Voice (FM, SSB, Trunked Radio)
          1. SSB
          2. FM Simplex
          3. Repeaters
            1. Repeater Etiquette
        2. CW
          1. Speed isn't everything
            1. Good fist at 10wpm vs poor fist at 30wpm
            2. Receiving Techniques
            3. Filters and what works best for what
          2. Prosigns
          3. Abbreviations - when and when not to use them
        3. Digital Modes (Packet, RTTY, AMTOR, PACTOR, CLOVER, PSK31)
          1. Higher data throughput
          2. Less prone to scanner-listeners
          3. Many new operators
          4. Like CW, skill in HF digital operation comes with practice.
          5. HF digital is NOT plug & play
            1. Receiver stability, bandwidth, dynamic range and operator skill
            2. Interfacing requires special care - RF/audio lines.
            3. Each mode requires operator understanding of TNC commands and how to monitor/operate point to point or with a BBS and accepted conventions on how to turn over the link.
            4. HF net frequency specifications are unique
        4. Digital Networks
          1. APRS
          2. JNOS
          3. PacketCluster
          4. Point-to-point digital networks
            1. Controlling a digital net is more daunting than a voice net.
            2. Typing skills
            3. Know essential commands
            4. Use ARRL QN signals
        5. Visual (ATV, SSTV)
          1. Public Safety
          2. Being safe while you operate
          3. Avoiding overt evidence gathering
      2. Served-Agency Communication Systems
        1. Overview of Served Agency Systems
        2. Trunked Systems
        3. Subaudable Tones
        4. Telephone Systems
        5. Satellite Systems
  1. Personal Preparation
    1. A.R.E.S. and R.A.C.E.S.
      1. Dual Membership and it's advantages
      2. Working Together
      3. Leadership - who is in charge (if they work together it's not an issue)
        1. Minimizing bruised egos when multiple communication groups interact
        2. Minimizing "us vs them" thinking
      4. Section Leadership
      5. ARES - Mutual Aid During an Emergency (inter District, inter Section)
      6. ARES Operational Information
      7. RACES Operational Information
    2. Basic Training - an individual check list
      1. Why training is important!
        1. Small disaster
        2. Large disaster
        3. Communications failure (911 etc.)
      2. What you need to do
      3. Existing programs at the local level.
    3. Practical Experience
      1. Simulations and how they help
      2. Public Service events
      3. Real emergencies
        1. Lessons learned on past events
        2. Staging of resources
        3. Finding standard and non-standard locations
        4. Shift rotation and overwork
        5. Lack of available food/water and "facilities"
        6. Lack of replacement equipment
        7. Hazards, special operations, hospitals, etc.
        8. Everyone is "stressed out"
        9. Being cooperative and not bruising someone elses ego
    4. Emergency call outs
      1. How will I know?
      2. Setup and initial operation in an emergency
      3. Paperwork required at the site
      4. Long term operation
      5. Notification of shutdown
      6. Shutdown and cleanup
      7. Debriefing
    5. Equipment
      1. Personal Equipment Checklist
        1. Equipment
        2. Survival items
        3. Tools
        4. Public Service Items
        5. Optional Equipment
        6. HF Unique
      2. Standardized connectors
      3. Knowing your equipment BEFORE you need it
      4. Equipment maintenance
        1. Field maintenance (or why you don't fix it if it's not broken)
        2. Regular maintenance, why it's important and how much is enough
      5. Portable antennas, generators, etc
      6. Equipment Operation (CTCSS, DTMF, etc.)
    6. ARRLs Public Service Communications Manual
    7. ARRL's DOs and DON'Ts for Public Event Communication

      8.  
  2. Management Aspects
      3.  
    1. Working with Volunteers
      1. Getting rid of the "it's easier to do it myself than to train you" syndrome.
      Rough draft - Working with Volunteers
      United Kingdom (UK) Volunteer recruitment manual.
       
    2. Emergency Planning
      1. Insurance coverage (workmen's comp.)
      2. Writing Emergency Plans
      3. Briefings
      4. Helping served agencies understand our capabilities
      5. Feedback from served agencies
      6. Importance of feedback from participants
    3. Community Service Plans
      1. Insurance coverage for exercises
      2. Exercise Design
      3. Running Exercises
      4. Briefings (pointer to briefings in Emerg. planning)
      5. Debriefings and how they help
    4. Staffing
      1. General staffing instructions
      2. Recruiting new operators
      3. Emergency operations staffing
        1. Skill assessment and assignments
        2. The hazards of "walk on" operators (untrained)
        3. Helping the untrained operator be useful in an emergency
      4. Exercise staffing
    5. Operating stress
      1. When to not say anything
      2. When you live in a disaster area
      3. Dealing with stress as an emergency responder
      4. Coping with injuries near you
      5. Debriefing
       
  3. Other ARRL Programs
    1. Emergency Coordinator Manual
    2. Being an Effective EC
    3. EC Certification
Appendices:
  1. Personal Checklist
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Copyright © 2000 Ron Hashiro, editor
Updated: May 29, 2000