CAP Talk

Operations => Emergency Services & Operations => Topic started by: jheaney1108 on July 30, 2007, 08:38:54 PM

Title: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: jheaney1108 on July 30, 2007, 08:38:54 PM
who here has a commms call sign cause im the ncoic of communications in my squadron
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: drcomm on July 30, 2007, 08:51:07 PM
Not sure exactly what you are asking for.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: wacapgh on July 30, 2007, 11:49:26 PM
CAP Callsigns are generally assigned by your Wing Communications Director or designee (Licencing Officer, Group Communications Officers, etc).
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: JC004 on July 31, 2007, 12:07:40 AM
Quote from: wacapgh on July 30, 2007, 11:49:26 PM
CAP Callsigns are generally assigned by your Wing Communications Director or designee (Licencing Officer, Group Communications Officers, etc).

But I didn't like mine, so I changed the numbers around.   >:D
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: CASH172 on July 31, 2007, 12:22:37 AM
There is a list of call signs that wings, regions, and national uses through NTC  somewhere.  It won't give exact call signs but just the stuff like which wing uses a specific sign.  I'd like to give an example but it's a little against OPSEC. 
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: JC004 on July 31, 2007, 12:24:26 AM
Quote from: CASH172 on July 31, 2007, 12:22:37 AM
There is a list of call signs that wings, regions, and national uses through E-services somewhere.  It won't give exact call signs but just the stuff like which wing uses a specific sign.  I'd like to give an example but it's a little against OPSEC. 

My favorite call sign is [BEEEEEEEEP - OPSEC].  Grrr.  The alternate one that NHQ uses.   >:D
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
If I read your request right, you are new in the comms world and are looking for others on common ground....right or wrong?

My whole family has callsigns because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) and families are considered to share equipment. I'm not so sure about the opsec part because you can look our callsigns up on the FL Wing website, but in the interest of not getting into a head-butting contest I won't mention it here. Let's just say that my family has 5 almost consecutive callsigns in our series

We're also all hams too and the calls are:
AI4KK:Gene (that's me)
KI4JOL:Bonnie (my wife)
KI4JTA:C/MSgt Stefan Floyd (18)
KI4NGO:C/MSgt Joshua Floyd (15)
KI4WET:C/SMSgt Tony Davidson (16)
C/Amn Chris Davidson(12) is still working on his ham license and ACUT
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: BlackKnight on July 31, 2007, 02:43:49 PM
I think what he's asking for is where to find the cross-reference of tactical or duty-position call signs that used to be standardized.  For example, the old 3-number codes following the wing call sign were based on group, squadron number, and duty position.  You didn't necessarily have a "personalized" call sign unless comm was your specialty. The average user assumed the appropriate call sign based on their tactical duty position during the comm session. 

Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: BillB on July 31, 2007, 03:15:07 PM
Hey does that mean I can be HeadCAP 01 ??
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: arajca on July 31, 2007, 03:43:25 PM
Quote from: BlackKnight on July 31, 2007, 02:43:49 PM
I think what he's asking for is where to find the cross-reference of tactical or duty-position call signs that used to be standardized.  For example, the old 3-number codes following the wing call sign were based on group, squadron number, and duty position.  You didn't necessarily have a "personalized" call sign unless comm was your specialty. The average user assumed the appropriate call sign based on their tactical duty position during the comm session. 
That may have been your wing's system, but it is/was not the same everywhere.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: BlackKnight on July 31, 2007, 05:21:58 PM
There is reference to such a tactical call sign system in CAPR 100-1 Volume III (E), Section 2-3.  The details of how to apply it for echelons below wing staff are omitted. But the concept is presented and could be easily adapted.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: SarDragon on July 31, 2007, 10:11:19 PM
Quote from: BlackKnight on July 31, 2007, 05:21:58 PM
There is reference to such a tactical call sign system in CAPR 100-1 Volume III (E), Section 2-3.  The details of how to apply it for echelons below wing staff are omitted. But the concept is presented and could be easily adapted.

CAPR 100-1 Volume III (E) has been superceded by CAPR 100-3 as of 3 Nov 2006.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: JC004 on August 01, 2007, 12:16:23 AM
Quote from: BillB on July 31, 2007, 03:15:07 PM
Hey does that mean I can be HeadCAP 01 ??

MINE!
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: shorning on August 01, 2007, 02:55:05 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we can blow a simple question out of proportion... :-\
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: BlackKnight on August 01, 2007, 03:34:23 AM
Quote from: SarDragon on July 31, 2007, 10:11:19 PM
[CAPR 100-1 Volume III (E) has been superceded by CAPR 100-3 as of 3 Nov 2006.

Okay, be that way.   :) 
The same info can be found in the current version of CAPR 100-1 Vol 1, Section 7-15.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: Pylon on August 01, 2007, 04:11:41 AM
Quote from: jheaney1108 on July 30, 2007, 08:38:54 PM
who here has a commms call sign cause im the ncoic of communications in my squadron

I have a HAM callsign.  NY Wing never issued me a call sign, even though I've had my ROP-A for years, applied for one back in the day when having a personal, CAP-capable radio could qualify you for a call-sign, and even though I held positions in squadron and Group staff.

Know what I used?   I used "Hey, Comm Guy!  Where's the XXXXXX at?"   ;)
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: JC004 on August 01, 2007, 02:34:40 PM
Quote from: Pylon on August 01, 2007, 04:11:41 AM
...ROP-A for years...

ROA-A   :P  ::sigh:: old-timers...
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: JC004 on August 03, 2007, 04:49:45 AM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

well currently the call sign is assigned to the radio...
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: Galahad on August 03, 2007, 03:29:02 PM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

Precisely!  This is apparently another one of those deals where unpublished 'policy' is introducing chaos.  It caught my unit completely flat-footed. We're still training based on existing regulations in this regard because no revisions have been published.  It appears that someone unilaterally decided to change call-sign and licensing policy but they apparently did it back-door without membership peer review and didn't bother to update the regs.  It's like dealing with the IRS.  You're wrong because they say so.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: RogueLeader on August 03, 2007, 06:54:13 PM
Quote from: JC004 on August 03, 2007, 04:49:45 AM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

well currently the call sign is assigned to the radio...

It depends, we have vehicles with designated callsigns- they have radios in them, but I too have- or will shortly- my own callsign, but I do not have an assigned radio.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: SarDragon on August 03, 2007, 10:29:11 PM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

Why do you need a call sign if you don't have a radio?
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: Stonewall on August 03, 2007, 10:34:18 PM
Quote from: SarDragon on August 03, 2007, 10:29:11 PM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

Why do you need a call sign if you don't have a radio?

In some cases, a GTL may not have his/her own radio, so when they show up to mission base they'll have to be issued one.  I realize that in many situations they'll assign a team call sign, but if its a CAP-only mission, especially a training mission, what call sign would they use?

In NATCAP wing, back in the day, if you were a GTL you'd get a call sign.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: arajca on August 03, 2007, 10:59:58 PM
Quote from: Stonewall on August 03, 2007, 10:34:18 PM
snip
I realize that in many situations they'll assign a team call sign, but if its a CAP-only mission, especially a training mission, what call sign would they use?
How about the one assigned when they are actually assigned to a GT in accordance with the comm plan. If you don't have a comm plan, start jumping on the CUL. In practice, I usually see the GT using the call sign of the vehicle they are in.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: SarDragon on August 03, 2007, 11:07:57 PM
Quote from: Stonewall on August 03, 2007, 10:34:18 PM
Quote from: SarDragon on August 03, 2007, 10:29:11 PM
Quote from: Camas on August 03, 2007, 04:39:30 AM
Quote from: floridacyclist on July 31, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

Why do you need a call sign if you don't have a radio?

In some cases, a GTL may not have his/her own radio, so when they show up to mission base they'll have to be issued one.  I realize that in many situations they'll assign a team call sign, but if its a CAP-only mission, especially a training mission, what call sign would they use?

In NATCAP wing, back in the day, if you were a GTL you'd get a call sign.

In that situation, assign a call sign from a free block. The need for a call sign comes with possession of a radio, period.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: floridacyclist on August 04, 2007, 01:52:58 AM
Quote from: Stonewall on August 03, 2007, 10:34:18 PM
In some cases, a GTL may not have his/her own radio, so when they show up to mission base they'll have to be issued one.  I realize that in many situations they'll assign a team call sign, but if its a CAP-only mission, especially a training mission, what call sign would they use?
We always assign functional callsigns regardless of whether someone has a callsign or not; it just makes good comm sense. When things are busy, folks want to have to refer to a cheat sheet to figure out who is on what team....just call them by team number....Uniform-1, Golf-2 etc etc. I could care less who asnwers the radio as long as I get the team I need.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: Ricochet13 on August 04, 2007, 07:04:41 PM
Quote from: JC004 link=topic=2506.msg46043#msg46043 date=
Quote from: Camas link=topic=2506.msg46042#msg46042 date=
Quote from: floridacyclist link=topic=2506.msg45576#msg45576 date=
- - - -  because you have to have a radio assigned (or owned) - - - -

Maybe I've missed something but do you have to have a radio?  I've seen nothing in CAPM 100-1 Vol 1.

well currently the call sign is assigned to the radio...

That may vary from wing to wing.  I have a call sign independent of any communications equipment.
Title: Re: COMMS CALLSIGNS???
Post by: tvh2k on August 07, 2007, 07:26:11 PM
I'm pretty sure in NYWG you need ACUT + a radio to get a callsign.

Also, if you're out shopping for a radio, make sure it's narrowband!  My VX150 has served me well but after next January it won't meet NTIA specs. (EDIT: seems that's been a requirement for new member purchases since 31 Dec 04.  Mine was just grandfathered in until 2008.  oops)