Operations at Fire Stations: Difference between revisions

| style="background:#72452d; color:white; text-align: center; border:2px solid white;"| '''<big>BEECN Guidelines [[Main_Page#SECTION 800: Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication_Nodes (BEECN)|↱]]</big>'''

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[[Operations at Fire Stations#Orange Go-Kits|The]] BEECN system is a ''hierarchical'' network of communication nodes, with the objective of passing radio messages between neighborhoods and the EOC. The foundation of the network is the 50 BEECN UHF handheld radios transmitting from every area of Portland. Each BEECN has a primary relay point, which is the [[Operations at Fire Stations#Orange Go-Kits|VHF Orange Go-Kit]] at the nearest fire station. Radio messages are then relayed from the fire station up to the EOC. Radio messages also come ''from'' the EOC ''to'' the BEECNs.

#The ARO checks in with the Multnomah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Resource Net Controller on the Multnomah County Secondary Repeater MC-2, which is stored in memory channel 2 of VHF radio'''.''' Checking in with the Resource Net, the ARO gives his or her FCC call sign and waits for acknowledgement from the net control operator. Once recognized, the ARO may be asked to provide additional information such as:

#*Name

#*Location

#*Available equipment, including communications and transportation resources

#*Other information deemed necessary by the ARO or requested by net control

#If no contact is possible on the Multnomah County ARES Resource Net via the MC-2 repeater, AROs should attempt to make a simplex contact with the Resource Net using the output frequency of the MC-2 repeater: 147.280 MHz, which can be accomplished using MC-12 stored in memory channel 12.

#After checking in with the Resource Net Controller (or attempting to check in) the ARO should switch over to the BEECN simplex frequency: 144.410 MHz, which should be stored in memory channel 20.<ref>If changing to channel 20 causes PNTC13 to appear on the radio's display, the channel is programmed with the BEECN simplex frequency. If PNTC13 doesn't appear, the ARO can use the radio's VFO mode to select 144.410 MHz. On Icom transceivers VFO mode is accessed by pressing the [V/MHz] key to select VFO mode when the transceiver is not already in VFO mode. The [V/MHz] key is the right-most key below the display. Hint: If a small M is displayed to the right of the frequency, the transceiver is in Memory mode rather than VFO mode.

Once the transceiver is in VFO mode, rotate the tuning knob on the right to select 144.410. If the initial frequency is a long way from 144.410, you can save time by briefly telling the transceiver to change frequency 1 MHz at a time by tapping the [V/MHz] key. The display should change to show fewer digits. After the first three digits show “144”, tap the [V/MHz] again to return to the normal VFO tuning mode.</ref> The ARO will use 144.410 MHz to check in with the BEECN Tactical Net Controller sited at the ECC and provide any requested information.

#The operator of the UHF handheld is responsible for regularly checking in with the BEECNs on their channel. This includes BEECNs on the channel not normally associated with the fire station (e.g. a BEECN whose operators cannot reach their Primary Relay and need assistance from their Backup Relay).

=== Channel Assignments ===

For channel assignments, please go to:<br/>

[[Media:MCARES 2023 Frequency Template for BEECN VHF Radios.pdf|'''Channel Assignments Used in BEECN VHF Radios''']]

=== Amateur Radio Script for Fire Station ARO to Net Control ===

===OPERATIONS SCRIPT 1: Resource Net Control to Fire Stations===

===OPERATIONS SCRIPT 2: Tactical Net Control to Fire Stations===

# Use the CLOSING NET scripts in the BEECN scripts.

== APPENDIX: Fire Station BEECN Channel Guide ==