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Chapter
III
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
Through written evaluation the applicant will
identify:
3.
The function and operation of a manual relay.
In the drawing to the right, you can see an arrangement where a Groundpounder, with a Handheld, deep down in a ravine, maybe with an injured subject, can talk to another Groundpounder with a Handheld up on the ridge. That Groundpounder in turn can talk to a Radio Patrol on a distant ridge. The Radio Patrol can then talk to the Command Post down on the road. With a configuration like this communications can be maintained around just about any radio blocking obstruction. Now that we have seen the functional aspects of manual relaying, let's take a look at some operational considerations:
If asked to relay traffic it is not important whether you understand it or not --- it is only important that you receive it, transcribe it, and pass it on verbatim. If the intended recipient asks for clarification, only then should you transmit a request for it. If, for example, base relays a message from an EMT in base to a medical provider on your team of "What is the subject's TLA?" it is not your place to say "What's a TLA?" but rather "Copy, 'ask our provider "what is the subject's TLA?"'. Stand by." and then go ask. When the provider says "TLA is Blargh and Frobnicating" you don't ask "what's that mean?" you simply transmit "Base, medical provider says 'TLA is Blargh and Frobnicating.'" Of course, you may have to ask the provider how to spell "Blargh" later on, when the communicator in base thinks "Huh?" but instead properly says "Copy 'TLA is Blargh and Frobnicating.' Please spell 'blargh' and 'frobnicating' for me" while transcribing the message and relaying it to the intended recipient verbatim. |
