Mounted search and rescue

[Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>]

IN RESPONSE TO:

 

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:40:38 -0500
From: "Irvin Lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Trouble communicating by radio or cell phone?
To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <0KXX00AZB0VV8T73@vms173011.mailsrvcs.net" ymailto="mailto:0KXX00AZB0VV8T73@vms173011.mailsrvcs.net">0KXX00AZB0VV8T73@vms173011.mailsrvcs.net>
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You do not even have to be uniform in your alphabet-- just make sure the
words you use do start with the letter you want to represent and cannot be
mistaken for another, me3aningful word.  When dealing with radiation for
instance you want to G-George, not G-Gamma.  There are about 1500 English
words in a pilot's vocabulary that are meaningful in all situations. Most
systems use plain speak and NIMS terminology (a tanker is an airplane that
drops retardant, water, seed, or some combination; a water tender is a truck
with a water tank on it). 

As our county says, Roger doesn't live here anymore.

It is more likely that you will encounter some form of distortion or noise
pickup as more analog radios are replaced with digital systems.  The
vocoders in these are not always as predictable as we like.  Reference
studies by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and others.
Irv Lichtenstein
SE PA SAR
-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 4:02 PM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [MSAR] Trouble communicating by radio or cell phone?

Ever had trouble being understood on the radio or cell phone?  Use the
international radiotelephony spelling alphabet (alfa, bravo, charlie,
delta, etc.).  The person listening end does not need to know the same
alphabet, they will understand you anyway.  Here is a clear chart that
free for you to use in your team training materials:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/FAA_Phonetic_and_Morse_Ch
art2.svg

Ride safe,

    Una Smith
    New Mexico

---------------------------------------->>>>

 

Occassionally we run into trouble with the cell phones.  They will become garbled or pick up feedback.  We often use the speaker phone so we do not have to hold the phone and so we can do other functions.  Some folks use Bluetooth.  While Roger does might not live here or there anymore, using the speaker phone you need to give space at the end of your comment so as not to walk on the other party and so we end up with the perverbial "roger" or OK, go ahead...at the end of a comment when wanting a reply.  Bluetooth is not always comfortable on horseback.  Neither is holding a phone always practical.  Never use the Blue tooth so cannot offer any comment on that.

 

When not using the speakerphone function both parties can hear each other so usually the hearing is better, but it is impractacle since you then have to hold the phone to your ear to hear and on horseback, you might not want to have to do that.  We use a holster or lanyard for our phones. It prevents dropping them as well.

 

Depending on your  phone company carrier, we have been told by the cell manufacturer that we must also disconnect the cell phone for a breif period of time DAILY to let the thing "boot"  and or update up as it were to help the system log in.  If the system is getting garbled, they recommend shutting the phone down.  Count to 30, take the battery out, count to thirty and re-install. Then turn back on.  You can do this too if your signal drops or you are getting dropped calls and if all else fails on the dropped calls, MOVE!  The disconnection/reconnect not only helps the phone to reboot, it does actually help the feedback and the wharp.  Moving  to another area may get you clear of the ground cover that blocks your signal.. but then in the mountains, that also may not work.

 

I am not totally understanding the feedback part and the whys of why we get that.  I understand feedback can be caused by speakers being to close.  I was also told that florescent lighting had something to do with it.  Perhaps someone can explain that one to me better. The speakers I get, but the lighting?

 

Interference from trees on the line of sight is a big issue as is mountainous areas.  We have been told by the techs that trees bopping on the telephone lines can and does interfere with communications not only on the house lines, but the PC line and the cells. As our technology improves, it is also becoming more sensative to certain interferences.  And of course weather.

 

People with trees under their lines would do well to have them removed to curb the interferring with the lines of communications.   If you are one such with that problem call the pros to remove those trees.  Its not only your communications you are blocking, you may just be blocking someone elses lifeline by those nusiance trees as well.  And the life you save there, may also be your own!  I do not know why they just do not enforce folks to just remove those trees and I do know in some areas the fines for letting them interfere are huge.  As it was explained to me too, that the trees do affect the cell phone usage because as they say, all things are somewhat connected.  So so much for cause and affect!

 

Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to get a clear signal, no less getting that garbled message and having to repeat numerous times the message until clear when minutes and seconds matter  Or worse yet be in a deadzone.  10-4!

        Karen