Radio Tech 2018

This page provides technical information about the Firefly radio setup. If you're just using a radio, you probably don't need it.

Firefly Radio Channels 2018

See this sheet for the latest version of the 2018 radio channels. This version is current as of 2018-06-29:

Channel	BF-888 Channel	MD-390 Channel	UV-82HP/UV5R	Rcv	Xmt (if different)	Tech	Isolation Rcv	Description
MURS1			0	151.82		VHF Analog	None
Safety1	1	1	1	464.5	469.5	UHF Analog	127.3	Primary Ranger channel. Repeater-enabled.
TAC1ICS	2	2	2	469.55		UHF Analog	114.8	For use when ICS is activated.
Sanctuary	3	3	3	456.8		UHF Analog	100
Board	4	4	4	451.8125		UHF Analog	88.5
DPW	5	5	5	456.8125		UHF Analog	94.8
LNT	6	6	6	456.8		UHF Analog	203.5
GGGP		7		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 1
GTFO		8		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 2
Accessibility		9		451.8		UHF DMR	Group Call 3
WAKE			7	151.505		VHF Analog	123
TAC2			8	151.625		VHF Analog	114.8
TAC3			9	151.7		VHF Analog	100
WX W VT			10	162.5	---	VHF AnalogWide	None
WX E VT			11	162.475	---	VHF AnalogWide	None
WX W NH			12	162.525	---	VHF AnalogWide	None

Problems with Signed-Out Radios

If a Ranger/Core member is having a problem with a radio while on shift, they should:

• Check with their partner to troubleshoot radio for functionality or lack of power:
  • Is the battery low?
  • Is the volume turned down?
  • Is it on the wrong channel?
  • Is the mic in securely?
  • Antenna held upwards?
  • Too close to body?
  • Baofeng UV5Rs: Is it in frequency mode instead of channel mode?
    • Unlock & push the VFO/MR button
• Use partner’s working radio to report problem, and stop by Ranger HQ to obtain a new radio/fresh battery depending on the nature of the problem

Troubleshooting problems with returned radios

• Try these things in order; try an extra turning off & on again between steps:
  • 1 Turn off & on again;
  • 2 Turn off, replace batteries, turn on again;
  • 3 Turn off, remove microphone, turn on again;
  • 4 Turn off, replace antenna, turn on again;
  • 5 Check channel is set to the correct station and locked correctly
• If none of those work: mark any equipment still having problems with red tape and put aside for a Radio tech. Note down what the observed problem is in the Echelon log!

Charge Radio batteries & Routine Radio Maintenance

• Wipe off radios & equipment with sanitizing wipes between users
• Put radios on charging station
• Charged radios in radio queue (i.e., hanging shoe holder.)
• Charged radios/batteries go in green bin, batteries needing charging are in red bin
• Switch out based on indicator lights on chargers (red is charging, green is charged)
• Baofeng UV5R-V2+: Extended batteries work better in the UV5R V2+s than the UV5Rs. Don’t give out the extended batteries (~2” longer than normal batteries) unless specifically requested or if there are no more charged batteries left. Since there are only a few of them, we try to save them for Khaki/OOD and others with long shifts.

Prepare & Queue Radios for Shifts

Use the hanging Radio Queue (hanging shoe holder) to queue up radios for oncoming shifts.

Different Types of Radios for Different Cores

• **Baofeng BF888s**: ALL (note: can only use UHF, can’t do MURS)
• **Baofeng 5-series** (UV-5R+, UV-5Rv2, etc.): Khaki (can do MURS1)
• **TYT MD-390**: Digital radios. For use by GGGP, GTFO, and Accessibility.
• THEME CAMPS: If a theme camp requests a radio, give them one with just MURS1 programmed

Channels for Different Cores

All Rangers, Medical, Sanctuary, FAST and Event Lead: SAFETY1 (Ch1)

Khaki: Use a UV5R radio labeled “Khaki” (with A as SAFETY1, B as MURS1 (dual scan mode?)

Board-on-Call: BOARD (Ch 4)

DPW & Sound: DPW & Sound (Ch 5)

Gate Greeter Parking Gnomes Security: GGGP (DMR radios only)

Theme camps: MURS1 only (give out a UV5R with MURS1 only)

Shift change schedules

Shift changes for cores that will most likely come to HQ:

• Ranger shift change schedule: Every 4 hours (2:00, 6:00, 10:00)
  • Ranger Supervisor change: OOD (noon), Khaki (midnight, 8am, 5pm)
• Medical shift change schedule:
  • Medical Supervisor change:
• Sanctuary shift change schedule:
  • Sanctuary Supervisor change:
• FAST shift change schedule:
  • FAST supervisor change:
• Board on Call:

Shift changes for cores likely to call in a switch (encourage to come by to get a new battery at least; they definitely should call in the change to say who is on shift):

• Gate
• Greeters
• Parking
• Security
• Gnomes
• Sometimes Medical, FAST & Sanctuary later in the event

You may find the need to dispatch a new radio/battery to Gate, Security, or Parking (they’re unlikely to come to the ranger station in person). Note down the change, send a Gnome with the new radio/battery, and make sure you get the old radio/battery back.

Radio Docs

Firefly Radio Basics

Firefly Radio for everyone 2014

Radio Reference Card 2016-print version

Burning man radio training:

Video: https://vimeo.com/101945669

Document: http://tinyurl.com/ArtOfRadio

Baofeng UV5Rs Operation & Maintenance Tips