Radio Communications

H.E.A.R. Repeater Locations

1

2 1 – G. Jerai
2 – Bukit Bendera
3
3 – G. Hijau / Bukit Larut
4 – G. Brinchang (Cameron H)
4 5 – G. Ulu Kali (Genting H)
6 - G. Ledang

5 7 – Gunung Pulai

7
 Very High Frequency (VHF)
 Frekuensi yang dikhaskan dari MCMC
 Dua frekuensi “Duplex” untuk kegunaan repeater
 PENMEC 1
 PENMEC 2

 Empat frekuensi “Simplex” untuk point-to-point

 PENMEC 5 hingga PENMEC 8

 Frekuensi VHF boleh mencapai jarak sehingga 10 km radius

dengan point-to-point dengan kuasa 30 W
 Dengan adanya repeater, jarak melebihi 100 km boleh
dicapai
 Kuasa penembusan yang lemah
Frequency Bandwidth Name Uses
30 – 300 kHz Low freq Navigation, beacons
300k – 3 MHz Med freq AM radio, cordless phone, ATC
3 – 30 MHz High freq (HF) Army, Navy, Maritime, Amateur
30 – 300 MHz Very High Freq (VHF) FM Radio, TV Channels, PEARL
300 – 3000 Mhz Ultra High Freq (UHF) TV Channels, Cellular phones
PEARL
 How to call
Basic Call signs
Call Message Structure
Radio Etiquette
When to call
Common Codes in use
Routine checks
Scenarios
 Using your radio set
 This is not a hand-phone
 Open channel communications
 Must identify clearly both callers
 Only one person can talk at the same
time
 Wait for your turn
 Pass-over when you finish by saying “Over”
 Limited time per message
 No need for unnecessary pleasantries
 Weak signals and interference
 Speak slowly and clearly
 Inform Readability (Q) and Signal Strength
(bar)
 Procedure – Using your radio set
 Listen first to make sure that no one else is
talking (for at least 2 seconds)
 Press down the PTT (push-to-talk) button and
keep it depressed
 Wait for the “beep” sound
 Start your message
 At the end of your message, say “Over” and
release the PTT button
 Good Radio Habits

 Wait to see if someone else in talking

 Talk slowly and clearly
 Do not use unnecessary codes or short-
forms
 Use proper international codes
 Plan your message, if possible
 Keep your conversations short
 Basic Call Signs (PEARL network)

Base Ambulance
 Penang Base  Penang 1, 2, 3, 4
 Seberang Base  Seberang 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 BM Base  BM 1, 2, 3, 4
 Bakap Base  Bakap 1, 2, 3
 Balik Pulau Base  Balik Pulau 1, 2, 3
 Kepala Batas Base  Kepala Batas
 St John Base  St John 1, 2
 Red Crescent Base
 991 - ??
 Site Control
 Call Message Structure

 All messages should start by calling the

CALL-SIGN of intended receiver twice
 This should be followed by the CALL-SIGN of
caller once
 At the start of each message component, the
sequence of call-signs [receiver – caller]
should be delivered followed by the message
 All message components should end with
“Over”
 The end of the conversation should end with
the initial caller saying “Over and Out”
 Common use phrases

 Over / Over and Out

 Indicate end of message so that other person can
start
 Release PTT button
 Normal etiquette “Out” is said by the initial caller
 Roger / Copy
 Means “I understand”
 Copy usually followed by repeating the information
 Standby
 Please wait for a while
 Base / Controller commands

 Report in
 Report in if you hear this message with information
on location, direction, function, information and
requirements
 [Seberang 3, Seberang 3. Seberang Base. Report
in.]
 [Seberang Base, Seberang 3. Kami di Penang
Bridge, menuju ke Penang Hospital. Pesakit MVA
Head Injury ETA 15 minit]
 Radio Silence
 Keep quiet (ie do not transmit unless specifically
asked to by PENMEC Control) for one minute
 [All units, All units. This is PENMEC Control. Radio
silence One Minute]
 Common use phrases

 Location / Lokasi
 State location [road, landmark] and direction
headed
 [Penang 2, Penang 2, Penang Base. Apa lokasi
anda]
 [Penang Base, Penang 2. Kami di Green Lane
perjalanan ke Bayan Baru]
 Signal
 State location and ask for signal readability
 [Penang Base, Penang Base, Penang 2. Kami di
Kebun Bunga. Apa signal kami]
 [Penang 2, Penang Base. Signal clear Q4]
 Multiple receivers – Call to respond
 Call for multiple receivers can be made from
bases or controllers / chiefs, by calling to
respond
 Examples (1)
 [All BM units, All BM units, this is BM Base.]
 [BM Base, BM Base, this is BM Dua on the
Penang Bridge on the way to Penang Hospital]
 [BM Base, BM Base, ini BM Tiga hampir sampai
balik ke BM Base]
 Examples (2)
 [All units, all units, this is PENMEC Control.
Please switch to PENMEC 5]
 [PENMEC Control, PENMEC Control, this is
Seberang Two. Roger switching to PENMEC 5]
 Emergency Calls

 Mayday, Mayday
 International Distress Call
 Given when in distress (risk of personal injury) or
significant threat of harm
 Give location and threat
 [Mayday, Mayday. Penang 3 terbabas. Penang 3
terbabas]
 All units who receive this signal are obliged to
respond
 Interrupting a conversation

 It is considered rude to interrupt a

conversation; so interruptions will only be
allowed in emergencies
 Please announce “Breaker, breaker” to signal
you are in an emergency and would like to
interrupt the conversation
 Please allow all emergency interruptions to
proceed especially if controller / chief
interrupts
 Daily TIME and RADIO Check

 Every morning, PENMEC Control will initiate the TIME

and RADIO check
 Objective: Synchronize TIME
Check RADIO signal
 This will be daily routine check for all bases (govt and
NGO)
 [All Bases, All Bases. This is PENMEC Control. Time
Check is 0835 hours. How do you receive]
 [PENMEC Control. Seberang Base. Time 0835. Signal
clear Q5]
 [PENMEC Control. Balik Pulau Base. Time 0835. Signal
clear Q4]
 Readability (Q) and Signal Strength

Readability (Q) Signal Strength

(bar)
Q5 Jelas, tanpa interference (noise) 5 bar
Q4 Jelas, sedikit interference 4 bar
3 bar
Q3 Jelas, interference berterusan
2 bar
Q2 Tidak jelas, tidak diterima 1 bar

Q1 Bunyi interference sahaja

 PENMEC Control

 Overall controller of the PEARL Network

 Assume function only during daily TIME and
RADIO check
 Main function during disasters and multi-
agency activation
 Based from the Crisis Operations Centre,
Hospital Pulau Pinang
 Main Controller during Emergency
Operations in Disasters
 Site Control

 Mobile Base unit set up for the purpose of

controlling communications at the site of
disaster or medical team operations
 Will coordinate function with PENMEC
Control from the site of incident
 [All St John units. All St John units. This is
Site Control. Please switch to PENMEC 8]
 [Site Control. St John 1. Copy. Switching to
PENMEC 8 now]
 [Site Control. St John 1. On PENMEC 8 now]
 When to communicate
 Ambulance Units
1. When you leave the hospital for a call
2. When you have arrived at the patient
3. When you’ve almost reached hospital with a critical case
4. When you need help / directions from the call centre
5. When arrive at receiving hospital / departing for home

 Base Units
1. Daily TIME and RADIO Check with PENMEC Control
2. Inform receiving base about in-coming critical case
3. Find out report about ambulance units
4. Request units to switch channels
 Communication Scenarios

 Normal ambulance function – emergency call

 Normal ambulance function – inter-hospital
referral
 Ambulance unable to find location
 Need for medical direction
 Medical standby
 Mass casualty incident