To break in with Emergency or Piority Traffic:

As soon as there is a pause in the traffic, say:

- "BREAK" if Priority or
- "BREAK-BREAK" if Emergency.
BV Comms will acknowledge and tell you to go ahead.
Note: Pausing is critical during routine transmission.

If you cannot reach someone, perform these steps:

1. Ensure that your radio is on the right channel #.

2. Ensure there is a small "0" near the channel #. (PL=0.)
3. Move away from vehicles and power lines.
4. Keep your antenna vertical.
5. Test your ability to transmit to a radio 10 feet away.
6. On your assigned channel, say: "BV Comms Relay this is ______,
request you connect me to ________, over." Tell BV Comms your
location.

Avoid the biggest radio mistakes:

1. Slow down. Do not talk faster than you can write.

2. Pause between items to allow emergency traffic to break in.
3. Ensure your volume is turned up.
4. Depress transmit, pause, talk. Radio transmitters take a second to
engage.
5. Do not talk directly into the radio. Hold it to the side of your face
or you will sound garbled.
6. Always carry spare batteries.
7. Set your PL Code ("sub-channel") to 0.
8. If there are other radios around, use a headset.
9. Don't go channel surfing. BV Comms and your Supervisor know to
come to you on your assigned channel.

BV+CERT+Message+Template_v6.xlsx 3/15/11 12:16 PM