Group 2 Advanced Communications Training on 12 November 2016

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, with photos by Lt Col Juan Tinnirello, Lt Hollerbach and 2nd Lt Alexei Roudnev

Captain Jordan Hayes, from Squadron 188, and Captain George Gadd, from Squadron 80, led an advanced communications class for Group 2 on 12 November 2016, held at Hayward airport (HWD).

Class participants arriving before the start of class at HWD, photo by Lt Roudnev

The primary focus of this class was HF radios, but we also spent some time discussing recent changes to the CAP communications regulations and general communications topics.

Getting set up for class (Capt Hayes, center background, and
Capt Gadd, right), photo by Lt Roudnev

Participation was from throughout most of Group 2 and included Squadrons 188 (Oakland), 10 (Palo Alto), 13 (Watsonville), 80 (San Jose - seniors), 36 (San Jose - cadets), and 44 (Concord).

Squadron 188 members that participated included:

• Lt Col Tinnirello
• Maj Maggie Wang
• Capt Hayes (instructor)
• Capt Don Eichelberger
• 1st Lt Al Chavez
• 1st Lt Hollerbach 
• 2d Lt Scott Booth
• 2d Lt Alexei Roudnev



Capt Hayes, leading the classroom
discussion, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello

• 2d Lt Tim Roberts

If you weren’t there, you missed a really great class, with excellent classroom instruction as well as show-and-tell with our HF and other radio and communications equipment.

Capt Hayes discussing HF radios with cadets and senior
members, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello

Demonstrating use of some of the portable communications
equipment, photo by Lt Hollerbach

Topics included:

• Challenges facing communicators when infrastructure breaks down
• Formal message passing
• HF radios
• Relays and repeaters
• Portable equipment
• Basics of radio wave propagation and antennas
• Sources of interference, natural and man-made
• National and regional nets
• ALE

For additional training, see the learning management system for modules on generators, repeaters, relays, multi-net operations, base operations, and other topics.

Capt Hayes demonstrating the use of an InReach,
photo by Lt Roudnev

If you’re a Mission Observer (MO) and want some additional communications training, please see upcoming announcements for a communications-intensive advanced MO training early next year.

For all of you communicators out there, please join us at Constant Watch 2017 in the spring (more info to follow).

Capt Hayes operating one of the HF radios,
photo by Lt Hollerbach

Thanks to Capts Hayes and Gadd for making this training happen and to all participants for your dedication to increasing Group 2's communications capabilities.

What is so fascinating over there, that everyone is staring off to the left? It's an HF antenna! photo by Lt Hollerbach

CAP vehicle used by ground teams, with portable communications equipment, photo by Lt Roudnev