Task ID: L-0005
(5-Apr-04)
CHOOSE A GOOD COMMUNICATIONS SITE

CONDITIONS

Given a scenario in which a team is deployed from base to a remote location.

OBJECTIVE

Determine a good location to contact base by radio.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION

Training Outline

  1. When on a sortie, the ground search and rescue team is required to maintain communications with mission base. In order to contact mission base, the team must find a good geographical location that will provide solid radio communications.
  2. The following factors should be considered in choosing a good communications site:
    1. High ground. The higher you are, the farther your signal can travel because there are fewer objects in the way.
    2. Line of Sight. You want a clear path through the air between you and the station you are trying to communicate with. Just finding a high spot will not necessarily help if there is higher ground left between you and the receiving station. Artificial structures, especially tall buildings and metal sheds/towers, can block a signal easily.
    3. Accessibility. If you are choosing a communications site based on a map study, ensure that you can actually get to it. The best communications site in the world cannot help you if you cannot drive/walk to it easily or if it is behind a locked gate.
    4. Radio Interference. Some artificial objects produce radio interference that can interfere with your radio's ability to receive. Look for and avoid radio interference generators when choosing a communications site. These include:
      1. High power lines
      2. Transformers
      3. Underground cables

Additional Information

Additional information on choosing a good communications site can be found in publications of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Newington, CT. Information on ARRL can be found at their web site: http://www.arrl.org.

Evaluation Preparation

Setup:

None.

Brief Team Leader:

Ask the team leader to name at least three factors in choosing a good communications site, and two sources of radio interference.

Evaluation

Performance measuresResults
1. Identifies two radio interference sourcesPass | Fail
2. Identifies the three of the four communications site factorsPass | Fail

Student must receive a pass on all performance measures to qualify in this task. If the individual fails any measure, show what was done wrong and how to do it correctly.


Based on CAP SQTR Reference