This document provides an overview of basic radio training for emergency services personnel in Columbus County. It covers introduction to radios including types, bands, and best practices. It also reviews radio etiquette with common terminology. Finally, it provides instructions for operating the main portable radio models used, including the Motorola XTS 2500, EF Johnson 51SL, and Kenwood TK-2212L.

1. Columbus County
Emergency Services
Basic Radio Training

2. Sign-in
 Click on the link below and complete
the sign-in sheet to get credit for
completing the training.
 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5JLZCVL

3. AGENDA
 Introduction to Radio’s
 Radio Etiquette
 Overview and Use of Motorola XTS
2500
 Overview and Use of EF Johnson 51SL
ES
 Overview and Use of Kenwood 2212L
VHF Portable Radios

4. Introduction to Radios
 Types of radios
 Portable
 Mobile
 Base station
 Types of bands
 VHF – Fire/EMS/Local Government
 UHF – Law Enforcement
 800 mhz - State

5. Introduction to Radios
 Issues
 Using a portable in a building, car, etc.
 Using a portable when a mobile is
available
 Users standing too close to each other
 Using a lapel microphone while sitting with
the radio one the belt
 Improper holding of a radio

6. Introduction to Radios
 Radio basics
 Be careful what you say
 Avoid “walking” on others, make sure the
channel is clear
 Think before you speak, is it really
important
 Not everyone needs a radio
 Not everyone that has a radio has to talk
on it

7. Introduction to Radios
 Radio Test
 Turn on radio.
 Speak into radio

Radio check
 Anyone who has heard the radio test can
answer
 Check good

8. Introduction to Radios
 Proper use
 Press and hold the transmit button for a
brief moment
 Hold the radio with the antenna pointed up
 Speak directly and clearly while holding the
mic 2-3 inches from your mouth
 Begin your transmission
 Be brief and to the point, keep the channel
open for others

9. Introduction to Radios
 Proper use
 Use the name/call sign for the person/unit
you are trying to contact and identify your
self. Example: “You this is Me”.
 Release the transmit button and wait for
acknowledgement.
 Proper acknowledgement “This is Kim, go
ahead”

10. Radio Etiquette
 Radio Terminology
 Location = Where are you
 Acknowledge = Confirm that you
understand my message
 Affirmative = Yes, confirm
 Check/Copy that = Understood
 Correction = I made a mistake. Correct
version is...

11. Radio Etiquette
 Radio Terminology
 Do you read/Copy = Called you once or
more, reply please
 Go ahead = Listening, proceed with your
message
 Negative = No
 Out = My message ended, no reply
expected
 Over = Message completed, reply
expected

12. Radio Etiquette
 Radio Terminology
 Read back = Repeat this message back to me
 Roger = Yes, confirm
 Say again = Repeat last message
 Stand-by = Busy, please pause for a moment
 That is correct = Yes, confirm
 Wilco = Message understood, will comply
 Words twice = Send every phrase twice

13. Motorola XTS 2500
 8 hr battery life
 Encryption capable
 700-800 mhz
 1-3 W power in 700-800
mhz
 Up to 870 channels
 Consists of:
 Radio
 Antenna
 Battery
 Belt Clip

14. Motorola XTS 2500

15. Motorola XTS 2500
 How to select a Zone
 Zone is a group of 16
channels
 Radio has 7 zones
programmed
 From the main screen
press the button directly
under zone
 Use the right directional
arrow to select the zone
you want
 Press the “House” button
to make your selection

16. Motorola XTS 2500
 Use the select knob
located on the top
center of the radio and
select which of the 16
channels you wish to
talk on
 Channel will be
displayed on the screen
 The smaller knob is
used to adjust the
volume

17. Motorola XTS 2500
 Other Buttons
 Top Purple

Identifies the tower
you are talking off
and the signal
strength.

Large textured button
is the transmit button

Side button #1 is
unprogrammed
 Side button #2 is not
used

18. EF Johnson 51SL
 12 hour battery life
 Encryption capable
 1-3 W power
 700-800 mhz
 Emergency Services
Radios
 Immersion rated 1 meter
for 30 minutes
 Intrinsically safe
 Public Health and
Sheriff radios – Lithium
Ion battery

19. EF Johnson 51SL
 Select a zone
 Use the up and down
arrows to select a
zone
 Once selected
release and the radio
will set on that zone

20. EF Johnson 51SL
 Select a channel
using the large
center knob
 The channel will be
shown on the front
display
 The smaller knob is
used to adjust the
volume

21. EF Johnson 51SL
 Option Button 1
 Option Button 2
 Option Button 3
 Push to Talk (PTT)
is the large textured
button at the bottom

22. EF Johnson 51SL
 Menu Use
 F2 gets you into the
menu option and
works as a select
button
 F1 exits the menu
 Up and Down arrows
scroll through the
options

23. EF Johnson 51SL
 Menu Options
 Contrast
 Audio Mute
 Radio Info
 Scan Edit
 Scan Select
 Site Search
 Surv mode
 Keyprs Vol

24. Kenwood TK-2212L
 5W VHF Portable
 128 Zones
 128 Channels
 Scramble capable
 We have the
equipment to be
able to program in
the field

25. Kenwood TK-2212L
 Use the C button to
select a Zone
 Once a zone is selected
use the large center
knob to select the
channel
 The channel will be
shown on the display
 Use the small knob to
adjust the volume

26. Kenwood TK-2212L
 S button puts the
radio in scan mode
 A button adds or
removes channels
from scan list
 B button is for the
backlight
 C button is for zone
selection

27. Kenwood TK-2212L
 The top button is the
Push to Talk (PTT)
 The middle button is for
monitor
 The bottom button is for
key lock which allows
the radio to transmit and
for volume to be
adjusted but locks the
other features

28. Review
 Radio use
 Proper vs improper
 Radio test
 Transmit
 Radio Etiquette
 Motorola XTS 2500
 EF Johnson 51SL
 Kenwood TK-2212