KITCHENER FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATING PROCEDURE

Subject: WEEKLY RADIO CHECKS Page: 1 of 2 Prepared By: D. BEKE Date Prepared: 1-25-2010 No: COM - 104 Approved By:

Date Revised: 2014-04-16 Section: COMMUNICATIONS

1. PURPOSE:

1.1. This procedure will outline steps to conduct weekly tests of apparatus radios and portables. These tests will also update the

location of radios for the inventory.

2. DEFINITIONS:

2.1 None

3. RESPONSIBILITY:

3.1 It is the responsibility of Communicators to initiate radio checks, record the results and forward all of the results. 3.2 It is the responsibility of Suppression Crews to conduct radio checks as requested on the appropriate talk group. 3.3 It is the responsibility of the Station Officer to ensure faulty portable radios are replaced and returned for repair or service. 3.4 It is the responsibility of the Platoon Chief to ensure the procedures are followed and faulty radios are returned. 3.5 It is the responsibility of the Communications Officer to oversee the inventory records, repair of faulty radios and the

investigation of any recurring problems that may be identified by the process.

4. PROCEDURE:

4.1 The tests shall be initiated by Communications every Saturday morning. This can be done at the same time as procedure

COM-103 for checking the red emergency telephones. 4.2 The checks will proceed as follows:

4.2.1 Communication will announce via PA or back up radios that the radio checks are about to begin, in station order and

request that all crews be ready to respond to the call. 4.2.2 Communications will call each vehicle on KIT-DISP to perform the radio check. 4.2.3 A firefighter will respond on KIT-DISP advising of how the transmission rates according to the standard scale of 1

through 5, with 5 being “loud and clear” as laid out in Section 2.3.1 of Procedure SUP-608. 4.2.4 Communication will respond, advising the firefighter how the transmission rates according to the same standard

scale. 4.2.5 The communicator shall then request the crew to call in for a radio check on each portable assigned to that vehicle.

Portable radio checks will be performed on KIT-GRD2. As the firefighter(s) check each portable, they will report which position the radio is located on the truck using the alias in their transmission. 4.2.6 Communications will respond to each radio check rating the transmission according to the standard scale. 4.2.7 Communicators shall confirm the Alias appearing on the Maestro screen is the one assigned to that location. Any

discrepancies shall be noted for inventory. 4.2.8 Firefighters will test the two (2) emergency buttons (one located on the base and the other on the microphone) on

each portable (see below for procedure) and advise communications on KIT-GRD2 that the apparatus has functioning emergency buttons. As an example – “P2-all emergency buttons functional”.

i) To test the emergency (man down) alarm buttons on the portable radios without requiring the assistance

of communications during the Saturday morning radio checks or at any time you want to test the emergency button ii) Place the portable radio on SIMPLEX. iii) Depress the red emergency button on the base portion of the portable – if you hear a beep, it is

functioning. If you hear nothing, it is not – please report to Communications. iv) Depress the red emergency button on the microphone of the portable – if you hear a beep, it is

functioning. If you hear nothing, it is not – please report results to Communications.

4.2.9 Firefighters shall ensure any radio not functioning adequately is replaced. 4.2.10 Communicators shall record the results of the radio checks by noting inventory discrepancies, any radios where

transmission was inadequate and emergency button status.

KITCHENER FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATING PROCEDURE

Subject: WEEKLY RADIO CHECKS Page: 2 of 2 Prepared By: D. BEKE Date Prepared: 1-25-2010 No: COM - 104 Approved By:

Date Revised: 2014-04-16 Section: COMMUNICATIONS

4.2.11 Communicators shall also conduct radio checks of the spare portable radios and the portable radios assigned to

Communications and WRAPP-C. 4.2.12 The results of the radio checks shall be forwarded to the Communications Officer and the Deputy Chief of

Communications via email with carbon copies being sent to the Platoon Chief on duty and the Deputy Chief of Operations, as well as the Communication Operator responsible for the radio assignment. 4.2.13 The Communications Officer shall review the results to ensure transmission problems resulting from location are

noted and investigated further. 4.3 Radio checks and results shall be noted in the station log by the Officer.

5. REFERENCES:

5.1 Procedure SUP-608 Command – Radio Procedures

6. EXPLANATORY:

6.1 Truck radio checks are initiated by Communications and can remain on the KIT-DISP channel without interfering in emergency

calls. 6.2 Portable radio checks are initiated by firefighters and will be conducted on KIT-GRD2 to avoid interference with emergency calls.