PSD Radio Communications and Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'talk-around' or 'direct' mode on a portable radio?
- To allow units to communicate directly with each other without going through a repeater (Correct answer)
- To encrypt all transmissions automatically
- To extend the radio's battery life during low-traffic periods
- To connect the radio to the CAD system wirelessly
Correct answer: To allow units to communicate directly with each other without going through a repeater
Talk-around (direct) mode allows portable radios to communicate unit-to-unit, bypassing the repeater infrastructure.
Question 2: Which NATO phonetic alphabet letter corresponds to the letter 'K'?
- Kestrel
- Kilo (Correct answer)
- King
- Kodak
Correct answer: Kilo
In the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet, 'K' is represented by 'Kilo'.
Question 3: A dispatcher receives a garbled transmission during which only the words 'officer down' are audible. The first action should be to:
- Wait for the officer to re-transmit before taking any action
- Immediately begin emergency response protocols and attempt to locate the unit (Correct answer)
- Request all units to stay off the air and wait 5 minutes
- Document the partial transmission and continue normal dispatching
Correct answer: Immediately begin emergency response protocols and attempt to locate the unit
Any partial transmission suggesting an officer-down situation warrants immediate emergency response while clarification is sought.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'interoperability' in public safety radio communications?
- The ability of dispatchers to work multiple CAD screens simultaneously
- The ability of different agencies' radio systems to communicate with each other (Correct answer)
- Encrypting transmissions so only authorized agencies can hear them
- Switching from digital to analog mode automatically
Correct answer: The ability of different agencies' radio systems to communicate with each other
Interoperability means different agencies using different systems can still communicate during multi-agency incidents.
Question 5: During a high-priority incident, a non-emergency unit begins transmitting routine traffic. The dispatcher should:
- Allow the transmission to complete before addressing the emergency
- Interrupt and instruct the unit to stand by while emergency traffic is handled (Correct answer)
- Disconnect the non-emergency unit's radio remotely
- Record the non-emergency call and respond after the incident
Correct answer: Interrupt and instruct the unit to stand by while emergency traffic is handled
Emergency traffic always takes priority; dispatchers must interrupt routine transmissions to protect the emergency channel.
Question 6: What is the significance of a 'dead spot' in radio communications?
- A time of day when radio traffic is prohibited
- A geographic area where radio signals cannot reliably reach due to terrain or infrastructure gaps (Correct answer)
- A channel reserved exclusively for administrative use
- A battery condition indicating the radio needs charging
Correct answer: A geographic area where radio signals cannot reliably reach due to terrain or infrastructure gaps
Dead spots are geographic areas where terrain, buildings, or repeater placement prevents reliable radio coverage.
Question 7: The correct way to transmit a unit number such as '44' over the radio to avoid confusion is:
- Say 'double four' only
- Say 'four four' — each digit spoken separately (Correct answer)
- Say 'forty-four' as a single number
- Spell out the digits: 'four-dash-four'
Correct answer: Say 'four four' — each digit spoken separately
APCO and standard radio procedure requires speaking each digit separately to prevent misunderstanding.
PSD Radio Communications and Procedures 3
What is the purpose of a 'talk-around' or 'direct' mode on a portable radio?