ICUT Part 1

Why is radio an important tool for CAP?

• It keeps drivers awake during long drives to mission base.

• It allows us to listen to news broadcasts.

• It still works when commercial communications systems fail

What does “simplex” communications mean?

• The radios were purchased from The Simplex Radio Corporation

• One radio talks directly to another

• It uses a “simple” frequency with no sub-audible tone

What does CAP use duplex communication for?

• You can talk and hear without releasing the Push-to-talk button.

• You can talk to two stations at the same time on different channels.

• Repeaters receive one frequency and automatically send the signal back out on another frequency.

When would you use the HF radio?

• To talk to someone hundreds of miles away, or even across the country

• If the IC has to talk to an aircraft in another town

• When you want to listen to the latest foreign news

When would you use the VHF-FM radio?

• If a forward operating base is too far away for HF communications.

• To talk to someone close, when you are “line-of-sight”, either direct or through repeaters.

• When you are too close to use ISR radios.

We talk about CAP using VHF radios…and pilots also use VHF radios in the airplanes. Are they the same?

• No, but they can interoperate

• Yes, they are the same

• No, they are different

Why do we use letters to designate channels and NOT talk about the actual frequencies?

• Using letters instead of the frequencies is more professional and is expected

• To help keep our communications secure

• To confuse scanner radios

What organization assigns CAP’s radio frequencies?

• The Air Force

• The Army Spectrum Management Office

• The FCC