IS0951 DHS Component Radio Interoperability Training Welcome to

IS-0951 DHS Component Radio Interoperability Training

Welcome to IS-0951 DHS Component Radio Interoperability Training. This training is based on information contained in the DHS Joint Wireless Program Communications Interoperability Policy #TB-15 -001. 0. The training establishes a common plan for interoperability and radio programming across DHS agencies.

Course Objectives: • Explain the capabilities of land mobile radios and radio systems • Determine which interoperability channels are programmed into DHS radios • Locate interoperability channels on portable and mobile radios • Identify when and how to use interoperability channels in an operational environment

Units: • 1: Radio basics • 2: Interoperability

Unit 1 objectives: • Explain common terminology relating to radio equipment and systems. • Identify which radio frequency bands DHS agencies utilize and how this relates to interoperability with other agencies. • Explain common radio system functions and how they impact ability to communicate effectively.

Unit 1 objectives: • Explain basic radio functions and operation in order to increase proficiency when using portable and mobile radio equipment. • Identify how and when to use or update encryption capabilities with DHS land mobile radio equipment.

Importance of the radio: Users should be as proficient with their radio as they are with their other critical life-safety equipment. Radios are a critical communications lifeline during times when help is needed. Personnel should contact their agency’s designated communications technical personnel to obtain agency-specific radio information.

Terminology: • Encryption – Methodology that encodes a voice or data message to protect its content from unauthorized reception. • (In the) Clear – Unencrypted radio transmissions that can be heard by all persons who can monitor the frequency, including those with radio scanners and smartphone apps.

Terminology: • Hailing Channel (aka Calling Channel) – Channels designated for the purpose of making initial contact when approaching or arriving at an event. May or may not be monitored by dispatchers or other personnel. • Keyloader – Device which physically connects to a radio to allow the manual downloading of encryption keys.

Terminology: • Over-the-Air-Rekeying (OTAR) – Method to transmit encryption keys over the radio system. Encryption keys are received by the radio, and (normally) automatically updated. • Push-To-Talk (PTT) – Refers to the microphone button which is pushed to transmit and released to receive transmissions.

Terminology: • Soft Key – Buttons on a radio controlling various functions programmed into the radio. Often found directly adjacent to the display denoting the button’s function. • Strapped – Encryption is permanently attached to a channel and is always on, cannot be controlled by the user.

Why use radios? When used properly, radios are a life-safety tool that provide the following: • Effective interoperable communications among agencies when managing unplanned events, or day-to-day operations • Ease of use, especially during times of distress. (Select the correct channel and use the push-to-talk button to broadcast a message) • Durability and ruggedness that exceeds other non public safety grade communications devices • Reliable means of communications without competition from the general public when cellular networks become congested

Real World Application – Boston Marathon:

Real World Application – Boston Marathon: Explosive device detonates during a large-scale planned event in an urban area causing chaos and multiple casualties • Cellular network overloaded • Public safety agencies overwhelmed

Real World Application – Boston Marathon: If a radio operator is on the scene with a radio, they should be able to immediately accomplish the following: • Broadcast or receive critical information such as suspect location/descriptions to users across all federal, state, and local agencies • Request medical/EMS response • Provide information on potential secondary devices, area closures, etc.

Radio Types: • Handheld • Mobile • Dispatch

Bands as used in public service: • HF (3 -30 MHz) • VHF Low (30 -50 MHz) • VHF High (148 -174 MHz) • UHF (406 -420 MHz & 450 -512 MHz) • 700 (758 -805 MHz) • 800 (806 -824 MHz & 851 -869 MHz)

Types of radio systems used in public service: • Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies

Types of radio systems used in public service: • Trunked When operating on a trunked radio system, users will hear a “talk permit tone” after keying the mic, and must pause briefly before speaking

Types of radio systems used in public service: • Analog Gradual deterioration with increasing static or noise as a user moves out of range

Types of radio systems used in public service: • Digital Very sharp drop-off when a user moves out of range User may hear some digital sounds like “blips and bleeps”, then other user will suddenly disappear

Types of radio systems used in public service:

Types of radio systems used in public service: • Simplex vs repeater In public service comms, simplex operations are considered “off net”. Used sometimes for local tactical operations, but not like in amateur radio. • Channel names often identify: DHSNET & DHS-RPT are repeater channels DHSTAC & DHS-SIM are simplex channels

Coverage range: As amateur radio operators, we will have a better handle on a radio’s coverage than most public officers, except where they have learned the limits by experience.

Public radio functions: • Zone selector: Channel grouping • Channel selector • PTT • Home button • Orange (emergency call) button

Zone selector: 1. Press the Soft Button under “ZONE. ” 2. If “ZONE” doesn’t appear on the radio display screen, press the right or left arrows until it does. 3. Press the arrows to toggle through the zones until the desired zone is identified. 4. Press the HOME button or the SEL soft button to select the desired zone. Video: https: //emilms. fema. gov/IS 0951/curriculum/1. html Slide 19, 20

Encryption: • Public service radios may encrypt voice traffic. Amateur radios may not. • Data files containing encryption must be transmitted only on public service frequencies. This includes password protected Office files. • Data files compressed with ZIP, 7 z, or RAR not otherwise encrypted may be sent over amateur radio frequencies.

Encryption: • Using amateur radio as a general internet patch is also not allowed, because most internet traffic is now encrypted.

Encryption: • Encryption encodes a voice or data message to protect its content from unauthorized reception • Using encryption does not decrease range or coverage area • Radios use “encryption keys” which are loaded by attaching a device called a “Keyloader” to the radio, or through “Over the Air Rekeying” (OTAR) • Sensitive, but unclassified information, may be transmitted over encrypted channels

Encryption: • To participate in an encrypted conversation, all radios must use the same encryption key • When encryption is required, interoperability with other agencies requires coordination to ensure commonality and to prevent any sensitive radio communications from being transmitted in the “clear”

Encryption: • ◯ = Clear ∅ = Encrypted • ∅ - Icon will appear on radio display when turned on • The icon will flash when receiving an encrypted transmission • In some cases, users must use a switch to turn encryption on and off. In other cases, encryption is permanently attached (“strapped”) to a channel and cannot be controlled by the user.

Encryption:

Encryption:

Encryption:

Knowledge Check (True or False): 1. Mobile radios transmit with greater power and may offer greater coverage compared to portable radios. 2. To communicate directly from one radio user to another (without additional equipment), both radios must be on a channel using the same frequency.

Knowledge Check (True or False): 1. Mobile radios transmit with greater power and may offer greater coverage compared to portable radios. [True] 2. To communicate directly from one radio user to another (without additional equipment), both radios must be on a channel using the same frequency. [True]

Knowledge Check (True or False): 3. A simplex channel has greater range than a repeater channel. 4. If you are not in range of a repeater, you should attempt to use a Simplex Channel.

Knowledge Check (True or False): 3. A simplex channel has greater range than a repeater channel. [False] 4. If you are not in range of a repeater, you should attempt to use a Simplex Channel. [True]

Part 1 Summary • Explain common terminology relating to radio equipment and systems. • Identify which radio frequency bands DHS agencies utilize and how this relates to interoperability with other agencies.

Part 1 Summary • Explain common radio system functions and how they impact ability to communicate effectively. • Explain basic radio functions and operation in order to increase proficiency when using portable and mobile radio equipment. • Identify how and when to use or update encryption capabilities with DHS land mobile radio equipment.

Unit 2 objectives: • Explain the concept of communications interoperability • Identify the DHS common interoperability channels programmed into mobile or portable radio equipment • Navigate to and locate the DHS common interoperability channels programmed into mobile or portable radio equipment

Unit 2 objectives: • Identify the different types of interoperability channels programmed into mobile or portable radio equipment • Differentiate between repeater and simplex channels • Apply the steps necessary to establish radio communications during planned or unplanned events

Operability: The ability to establish and sustain communications in support of day-to-day mission operations.

Interoperability: The ability to communicate among jurisdictions, disciplines, and levels of government, using a variety of frequency bands, as needed and as authorized.

Interoperability: Interoperability is not the ability for everyone to talk to everyone else. Think about our shared 60 m allocation with MARS. That’s what interop is about.

National Interoperability Field Operations Guide: www. publicsafetytools. info Federal Incident Response (IR) Zones IO-3 and 4 Federal Law Enforecement (LE) Zones IO-5 and 6 Non-Fed VTAC Zone IO-7, UTAC Zone IO-8 Non-Fed 700 MHz, 800 MHz DOJ 25 Cities Project

Obstacles to Interoperability: • Lack of awareness or familiarity with interoperability channels programmed in radios • Only certain people are familiar with the appropriate process to establish interoperability • Communications personnel not involved in planning process

Obstacles to Interoperability: • Failure to select the most effective interoperability solution to support the operational requirements of an event or incident • Lack of on-going radio training, followed by limited opportunity to practice using interoperability channels on a regular basis

Communications Support: • Part of NIMS/ICS • Falls under Logistics • Supervised by Communications Unit Leader (COML).

Legal Support: • In accordance with DHS Communications Interoperability Directive 034 -02, radios across all DHS components will be programmed with a common standard interoperability template. • Interoperability channels will be programmed into specific “Interoperability Zones” in radios, separate from other agency-specific channels.

VHF (agencies): Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) United States Coast Guard (USCG) United States Secret Service (USSS)

VHF (agencies): • If you have a VHF radio, you should know how to find the DHS common interoperability channels: DHSNET and DHSTAC • Once your radio is reprogrammed with the new DHS common template, the 16 interoperability channels in Zone IO 1 will appear as shown in the table in the following screen.

VHF (agencies): • If the radio has not yet been reprogrammed with the new DHS template, then the common channels may be in other existing zones within your radio.

Zone IO-1: • DHS Common repeater and simplex channels (DHSNET & DHSTAC) are used for interoperability among DHS components • IR (Incident Response) Channels: Interoperability among all federal agencies, and may also be accessed by state and local agencies

Zone IO-1: • LE (Law Enforcement) Channels: Interoperability among all federal law enforcement agencies, and may also be accessed by state and local law enforcement • https: //emilms. fema. gov/IS 0951/groups/170. html

UHF (agencies): Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Protective Service (FPS)

UHF (agencies): • If you have a UHF radio, you should know how to find the DHS common interoperability channels: DHS-RPT and DHS-SIM • Once your radio is reprogrammed with the new DHS common template, the 16 interoperability channels in Zone IO 2 will appear as shown in the table in the following screen.

Zone IO-2: • https: //emilms. fema. gov/IS 0951/groups/180. html

Alternate Forms of Communication: • When radios are not available, or cannot be used reliably to establish interoperability, agencies should consider alternative methods of communications, such as: • Assigning a representative to an incident facility (e. g. , Command Post, Coordination Center, etc. ) • Combining or grouping personnel from different agencies with a designated means of communications

Selecting the Correct Channel: There are several things to consider when selecting the appropriate interoperability channel (mostly common sense for hams): • Know which interoperability channels are programmed into the radio and how to locate them • Use of interoperability channels should be part of a pre-established or coordinated plan

Selecting the Correct Channel: • An operator should be given instructions regarding which zone and channel to use • When using “repeater” channels, an operator must be in range of an active repeater, otherwise NO ONE will hear you

Selecting the Correct Channel: • Simplex channels may be used for short distance, off-network communications, as long as you are in range of other users on the same channel.

Radio Communications Workflow: 1. Use the channel designated for the incident or event. 2. Use the channel you last had reliable communication. 3. Use encryption first, then without. 1. If VHF, use the DHSTAC channel. 2. If UHF, use the DHS-SIM channel.

Radio Communications Workflow: 4. Try the calling channels. 1. VHF: Channel IR 5 2. UHF: Channel IR 15 5. Try communications via any other means necessary. 6. If radio communications are unsuccessful, report to the nearest command post location or equivalent.

Knowledge Check (True or False): 1. Interoperability means everyone is able to talk to everyone else.

Knowledge Check (True or False): 1. Interoperability means everyone is able to talk to everyone else. [False]

Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice): 2. The DHS Common Simplex channel is _____ for VHF and _____ for UHF. A. B. C. D. DHSTAC, DHS-SIM Multi-talk 1, Multi-talk 2 VHF Interagency 1, UHF Interagency 2 V-op 1, U-op 2

Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice): 2. The DHS Common Simplex channel is _____ for VHF and _____ for UHF. [A] A. B. C. D. DHSTAC, DHS-SIM Multi-talk 1, Multi-talk 2 VHF Interagency 1, UHF Interagency 2 V-op 1, U-op 2

Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice): 3. When responding to an incident or preplanned event, you should first…. ? A. Use the appropriate DHS common channel to determine if there have been any changes. B. Use the channel designated for the event; then the last channel where you had reliable communications. C. Telephone the command center to report in. D. Use the appropriate DHS Calling Channel.

Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice): 4. When all attempts to use radio communications to report in at an incident/event have failed, you should. A. Phone your supervisor B. Report to your assigned area and wait to be contacted C. Report to the command post or its equivalent D. Continue to attempt to make radio contact until you receive a response

Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice): 4. When all attempts to use radio communications to report in at an incident/event have failed, you should. [C] A. Phone your supervisor B. Report to your assigned area and wait to be contacted C. Report to the command post or its equivalent D. Continue to attempt to make radio contact until you receive a response

Course Summary • Seek opportunities to maintain skill level and proficiency with radio equipment. • Participate in exercises with other federal, state, local, etc. agencies • Include designated communications technical personnel as early as possible in the planning process for all classes of operations.

To receive credit for IS-0951: • You need a Student ID. Register at https: //cdp. dhs. gov/femasid • Answer at least 75% of the questions correctly: • http: //training. fema. gov/IS/examnotice. aspx? eid=IS 951