Mounted search and rescue

["Raskin, Larry" <Lawrence.Raskin@jhuapl.edu>]

[This post appeared previously on MSAR-ASTM, cross-posted
here.  It contains 2 prior posts from MSAR-ASTM;  because
MSAR-Riders has not seen this thread, I have edited this
post to reverse the order of posts, and quote prior posts,
so that you can read each included post in sequence.  -Una]


Al Hale wrote:
>>Fellow MSAR units
>>You all have been extremely helpful . I have another  question. Do you
>>all feel it is necessary for all of your riders to have  a hand held
>>radio? Or possibly just your squad and team leaders. Of  course have the
>>usual base radio at operations base. We are having a very  hard time
>>with our communications, some hear and some do not. The team works in a
>>2 to 4 rider squad with a squad  leader, and a team leader.
>>
>>Thank you so much
>>Al Hale       Sheriff's  Posse, Jackson Co.  Mo.


Ian Vowles wrote:
>We prefer a minimum of 2 handheld radios per team - more is better.
>Radio member keeps theirs on, if 2 channels in use 2 radios kept on ,
>one on each frequency, others are OFF as backup spares etc -
>
>We have major comm issues with terrain, we use VHF 5 watt handheld and
>48" approx telescopic antennas tuned to frequency carried by each team
>for marginal areas - these make a huge difference . We upgrade standard
>"rubber ducky" antennas to high gain, tuned, flexible extended "rubber
>ducky types" again we find huge improvements over standard antenna that
>comes with radios.
>
>For carrying we find you cannot beat a chest harness or pouch to get
>radio and more importantly antenna up around or above shoulder this
>obviates the body shielding of signal that occurs if it is on a your
>belt .
>
>Our portable 50 watt base station uses a 40' telescopic pole with high
>gain base antenna that we can set up almost anywhere in few minutes .
>
>Even with all this we still have comm issues and the next step will be
>to get CAP to fly high and provide air repeater cover - this will be a
>huge improvement  !  Meanwhile we are looking at Sat phones for the odd
>team deployed into distant awkward comm terrain.
>
>Ian


Al,

Our team is currently using a mix of commercial 150MHz VHF high band 5
watt handhelds (Motorola Sabers & Standard Vertex), FRS/GMRS handhelds
and VHF/UHF Amateur radio (of the active members on TROT-SAR about half
are hams).  We also have several high power (50 watt or greater) mobiles
for base and relay operation.

For our team, each member is assigned a team radio which they keep at
home (we respond from our homes not from a central location).  These
radios are issued with a belt case, extra battery, charger, speaker
microphone, and rubber duck antenna (we also have some hi-gain antennas
and a bracket to attach the antenna to the riding helmet).  Several of
the members also have the capability to connect the portable radio to
the vehicle lighter for power and an external magnetic mount antenna.
This allows the radios to be used in the tow vehicle for convoys or
directions to the meeting location. =20

In addition to the team radio, each member has their own FRS/GMRS radio.
These are used for training as well as on searches.

For those members who are licensed amateur radio operators (hams), we
can utilize the local amateur repeaters, autopatch, IRLP (internet radio
linking project), VoIP (voice over internet protocol), Winlink (windows
internet link), Echo-link (another form or internet linking), and APRS
(amateur packet reporting system).  The amateur radios can be programmed
to receive the search frequencies and used as a backup radio.=20

Typically, each member takes their VHF radio along with the FRS/GMRS.
One member of the team is assigned the task of communications (using the
VHF 5 watt radio).  This way each team always has at least one spare VHF
radio.  The VHF radio is used to communicate with IC at base.
Communications between the members of the team is done using the
FRS/GMRS radios. =20

We have had several cases where the 5 watt VHF radios could not reach
back to base.  The normal way communication is handled in this case is
for another team in the field to relay messages.  This is where having
both amateur radio and mobile relay radios helps.

If you have a vehicle with a high power radio already installed that can
be sent to a location at the far end of a search area, that station can
be designated as Relay #1 for example.  Base can talk to Relay #1, Relay
can then communicate with the field team.

In our case, we also use amateur radio.  This allows use to use the
existing amateur radio repeaters some of which are able to cover several
hundred miles.  For example, there is a linked system here that covers
Maryland, parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.  Portable
systems (tower trailers with repeaters and generators) are used both for
voice and data packet transmissions.=20

Being a ham, my suggestion is to contact the Jackson County Office of
Emergency Preparedness.  They should be able to give you the contact
information for the Emergency Manager for your local RACES (Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service) unit.  They can help you with issues of
coverage, connections for sources of used equipment, etc.

Best of luck,  let me know if I can help.

Larry Raskin WB3DAJ
ARES/RACES Montgomery, Howard, Carroll counties in Maryland
Communications Officer TROT-SAR
Communications Advisor Maryland Search & Rescue (MSAR)
Radio Officer Project Liberty Ship S.S. John W. Brown=20