CAP Talk

Operations => Emergency Services & Operations => Topic started by: RADIOMAN015 on August 22, 2009, 10:33:14 PM

Title: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: RADIOMAN015 on August 22, 2009, 10:33:14 PM
I've been working on segements to an upcoming squadron ES exercises, as well as taking advantage of other opportunities (e.g. cadet orientation flights) to test the communications range of our 1/2 watt IntraSquad Radios.

Here's some potential comm range experimental tests:
1.  Aircraft crew member (with earphone attachment) will monitor ONLY a particular channel & ground force will communicate to aircraft.  Aircraft will answer on one of authorized VHF channels to confirm signal acquisition.
2.  Operation within vehicles,  vehicle to vehicle comms range.
3.  Dismounted from vehicle, High hill/mountain comms to valley below.
4.  Dismounted Team to Team outside enviroments -- comms in forest, grass fields, mixed forest/fields, urban setting buildings.
5.  Inside buildings (e.g. large aircraft hangar) person to person comms.
6.  Inside buildings (different buildings), person to person comms.

I would also use VHF portables with the above experiments to validate the difference in comm range.

Now I'm wondering what others have experimented with regarding these low power portables & what your results were?   Also any other suggestions on experiements.

BTW past experience shows that at mission base these work very well as wirless intercoms to the various sections, with adquate outside range.

RM             
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: MIKE on August 22, 2009, 10:50:03 PM
IME the range on the ISRs pretty much suck.  For best results turn off the radio and yell.
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: RADIOMAN015 on August 22, 2009, 11:35:00 PM
Quote from: MIKE on August 22, 2009, 10:50:03 PM
IME the range on the ISRs pretty much suck.  For best results turn off the radio and yell.
That's why experiments are in order.  Actually Family Radio Service (FRS) portables have done pretty well range wise from higher hills.  One of our members is a avid hiker and has used those radios for about a 3 to 5 mile range (mountain to base) for his transporation to pick him up at a particular trail head location that comes out on a public roadway.

I tend to agree with you  :-[   At our last ES training exercise a 1/2 mile range seemed to be a challenge :-[  I did not check the batteries (strength) before the exercise and that may have contributed to part of the problem.

Now with the new technical standards requirements we basically lost 4 of our Vertex 150's portables (67% of our portable capability), so it is important from a comm planning standpoint to understand what these low power UHF radios are capable of doing under various communications challenges.
RM       
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: PHall on August 23, 2009, 12:46:55 AM
1 mile seems to be a realistic range for the ISR's.
Of course they weren't designed to be "long range", they are Inter-Squad radios.
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: lordmonar on August 23, 2009, 01:41:43 AM
I've used the ISRs on both ground team operations and at airshows.

The range is about 1/2 mile line of sight.  Maybe a mile with new batteries.

Using and ISR on a CAP aircraft is probably an violation of FAA rules so I would not recommend it.  If you want to monitor ground activity then sprinkle some FM radios with your ground teams.

Inside building works a little depending on what the building is made of.  We use the ISRs to do comm net training.  Place the cadets with the ISR in different rooms and pass net traffic.
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: RedFox24 on September 22, 2009, 01:21:39 AM
^^Bump

Radioman what did you find out from you testing?
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: Ricochet13 on September 22, 2009, 09:12:54 PM
Quote from: PHall on August 23, 2009, 12:46:55 AM
1 mile seems to be a realistic range for the ISR's.
Of course they weren't designed to be "long range", they are Inter-Squad radios.

Just putting emphasis on a different part of the description, but agree with PHall.
Inter-Squad Radios.  Not meant for greater distances.

Had a recent experience where ISR's couldn't communicate greater than 100 yards with the small antenna folded when being used by mission base staff.
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: pixelwonk on September 22, 2009, 09:29:50 PM
Point of order:
These are intra-squad radios, for communication within the team.

Inter-squad radios(no such thing) would involve communication between multiple teams.  Our VHF or HF radios are for this purpose.

another example:  Intramural school sports are sports played by students within the same school.

An International sports event involves participants spanning multiple countries.

</pet peeve>
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: ol'fido on September 22, 2009, 10:27:56 PM
INTER-esting and INTRA-whatever. ;D ;D >:D >:D
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: jimmydeanno on September 23, 2009, 01:26:42 AM
Quote from: tedda on September 22, 2009, 09:29:50 PM
Point of order:
These are intra-squad radios, for communication within the team.

Inter-squad radios(no such thing) would involve communication between multiple teams.  Our VHF or HF radios are for this purpose.

another example:  Intramural school sports are sports played by students within the same school.

An International sports event involves participants spanning multiple countries.

</pet peeve>

Latin is a dead language...   :P
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: Gunner C on September 23, 2009, 08:34:21 AM
As is English, apparently.
Title: Re: IntraSquad Radios Communication Range Experiments?
Post by: KyCAP on September 26, 2009, 09:54:02 PM
Quote from: jimmydeanno on September 23, 2009, 01:26:42 AM
Quote from: tedda on September 22, 2009, 09:29:50 PM
Point of order:
These are intra-squad radios, for communication within the team.

Inter-squad radios(no such thing) would involve communication between multiple teams.  Our VHF or HF radios are for this purpose.

another example:  Intramural school sports are sports played by students within the same school.

An International sports event involves participants spanning multiple countries.

</pet peeve>

Latin is a dead language...   :P

porro ago civilis aer patronus latin est non mortuus.