TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.37 DATE: September 13, 2009
SUBJECT: TACTICAL CALLS AND THE USE OF.
Question: Are tactical calls legal?
Answer: YES! The FCC only requires the identification of your station, by your call sign, at the end of your transmission or every 10 minutes of transmission.
The use of tactical calls during events such as marathons, walks, runs, and even emergencies have proven to be successful. It helps keep the traffic to a minimum and eliminates the operators need to remember who was at a certain location. Only remembering the locations - example; mile markers, chase vehicle, water stop number, race control, etc is needed.
If call signs are used at each location, a list will need to be compiled which lists all the call signs and what location they are at. If the person moves or reports to another location then the lists will be in error.
When using the tactical calls, you never need to remember who is at any particular location. Still, the use of such calls remains difficult for a few who find it laborious to deviate from normal radio procedures. This is one situation that requires user experience.
The thing we should force thru our mind is to only identify with our FCC issued call sign when completing our transmission. Do not call other stations using their call or yours. Use the tactical calls set forth before the event, give your report, and then clear by saying your call only.
By identifying, with your call only, at the end of your communication, informs the station called and those needing to call, that you have completed your message and the frequency is clear.
Tactical calls are easy, LEGAL, and simplify our operations by allowing us to remember locations and specifics only, and direct our calls accordingly. Changes in operators at any location or vehicle does not change our calls. This allows us to concentrate on what we are there for and not "What call is at what location?”
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator