US Army Military Affiliate Radio System
AAT3BF Response System
Deployment and Safety Procedures

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Objective

The objective of these notes are to ensure the swift and safe deployment of communications systems at an emergency site. While not all of these steps or considerations may apply to a given situation, they are set forth to stimulate thought and ensure that all actions take are safe.

Prior to Departure

1. Obtain the following information from the individual requesting the system:
   • Agency requesting assistance, point of contact, telephone number(s)
   • Destination address; obtain any information regarding recommended routes, point of contact on-site, telephone number(s) or radio frequency/callsign for contact
   • Have on-site security personnel been notified of our identity, mission, ETA?
   • What are the logistical arrangements? fuel, water, food, shelter, power
   • What types of connectivity are required?
   • Is there sufficient real estate on-site for the antenna field?
2. Notify Eastern Area Coordinator of request if it did not originate from HQ 9th Army Signal Command.
3. Print or obtain maps for route and destination. Plan at least one alternate route, if available.
4. Prepare vehicles:
   • Personal web gear w/3-days food, clothing, comfort gear into tow vehicle
   • Fill four 5-gallon water containers and canteens in web gear
   • Fill four 5-gallon gasoline cans (if needed) and both generator tanks with fuel
   • Top off fuel and fluids in tow vehicle and check tire pressure and lights
   • Check spare parts and filters kit for tow vehicle and generator sets
   • Turn off charger in commo trailer and open all AC and DC circuit breakers
   • Disconnect shoreline power and LAN connection

Arrival - Site Recon

1. Notify on-site POC of arrival
2. Establish comms with Eastern Area Coordinator and/or Requesting Agency POC and notify of arrival
3. Obtain information from POC or staff:
   • Determine communications requirements - agencies, nets, frequencies, time and modes
   • Are landline comms available?
   • Determine logistical arrangements - fuel, water, food, shelter, power, sleep
   • Determine security, fire protection and emergency medical procedures
   • Check potential for NBC issues - warning SOP, evac routes
   • Is customer TOC within 250 ft of the proposed ECU installation site? (length of CX4566 cable!)
   • Mark location of ECU, antennas, genset(s) and fuel storage. Ensure that cables on-hand are sufficient for proposed layout and that interactions between radios (esp. HF) are minimized. Ensure minimum of twice the mast height clearance from power lines is available.
   • Mark off (with tape or flags) hazardous areas such as antenna fields, fueling point and above-ground cable route
4. Conduct tailgate safety briefing with installation team prior to starting work.

ECU Setup

1. Ground ECU
   • Install Surface Mount Grounding System around perimeter of ECU; tie into single-point grounding plate in generator compartment
   • Install red flags around grounding cable if it is a tripping hazard
2. Install primary power feed
   • If shoreline power is available:
     • Check voltage, current capacity (at least 30 amps/117VAC 1-Ø), hot/neutral orientation
     • If parameters are correct, connect to shoreline connection in generator compartment using 30-amp RV plug with appropriate adapter (L14-30 or wire ends)
     • Energize power connection from source
     • Open cupboard in ECU operating position #3, exposing circuit breaker panels and metering box
     • Check voltage and frequency on AC multimeter in metering box
     • If correct (117 VAC ± 10% at 58-62 Hz), close appropriate circuit breakers
       • 12 VDC charger
       • UPS for computer equipment
       • Heater/Air conditioner (if needed)
       • Other breakers as needed
   • If power must be obtained from generator set (Kawasaki GE5000):
     • Remove generator from ECU compartment and install it 20-25 feet from ECU, if possible
     • Protect power cable from ECU to generator with flags or cones
     • Drive grounding rod, if possible, and connect to grounding lug on get set
     • Connect ECU power cable to generator
     • Setup fueling point with NO SMOKING placards
     • Setup noise shelter around genset(s)
     • Check generator oil level, top-off if needed
     • Check fuel level
     • Check generator output circuit breaker set to OFF position and voltage set to 120VAC
     • Generator electrical start-up procedure:
       • Set choke lever to the AUTO position
       • Turn fuel valve ON
       • Set Idle Control Switch to OFF
       • Turn choke lever to MANUAL position
       • Turn engine switch to START position until engine starts, then release it
       • CAUTION: DO NOT operate the electrical starter for more than FIVE SECONDS. Wait 15 seconds between each operation of the engine start switch.
       • Slowly turn choke switch to AUTO position
       • Check AC voltage (120 VAC) switch and close circuit breaker.
     • Generator manual (recoil) start-up procedure:
       • Set choke lever to the MANUAL position
       • Turn fuel valve ON
       • Set Idle Control Switch to OFF
       • Turn engine switch to ON position
       • Pull recoil starter rope slowly to engage starter, then give a short, quick pull.
       • After the engine starts, allow the rope to slowly retract into the recoil starter.
       • Slowly turn the choke to the AUTO position
       • Check AC voltage switch (120 VAC) and close circuit breaker.
   • If power is to be obtained from an external power source using provided adapters, ensure that voltage and hot/neutral orientation are correct BEFORE closing ECU circuit breakers.
   • Check voltage and frequency of AC source in the ECU using the AC Multimeter mounted in the power cabinet. If voltage shows 117 VAC ± 10 volts and frequency shows 57-63 Hz. DO NOT close circuit breakers if power characteristics are outside these ranges!
   • Set Air conditioner / heater switch to OFF position
   • Close DC circuit breaker for 12 volt Charger
   • Close DC disconnect switch and battery circuit breaker; DC bus is now hot
   • Set AC Multimeter to the CURRENT position. Monitor current draw as each of the AC load circuit breakers are closed. Give current draws time to stabilize as each load is connected. Do not exceed 30 amperes total draw.
     • Close AC MAIN breaker
     • Close Uninterruptible Power Supply AC breaker (check status)
     • Close 12 Volt Battery Charger AC breaker (check status on DC Multimeter)
     • Close AC convenience outlets breaker
     • Close Air conditioner/heater breaker (if needed), set HVAC selector to heat/cool position as needed
   • DC Circuit Breaker panel
     • Close circuit breaker for ECU lighting
     • Close circuit breakers for other DC loads, as needed
3. Install HF and VHF external antennas as needed
   • AN/GRA-4 antenna mast
   • AS-2259 NVIS HF antenna
   • USAF Tactical Antennas Handbook
   • USMC Antenna Handbook
4. Perform RF exposure calculations and document. Install warning signs as needed.
5. Boot Mobile Internet subsystem and Linux email/file/print server.
6. Boot three desktop PCs.
7. Establish communications with Eastern Area Gateway or 9th ASC and send station availability report, copy to on-scene POC. Establish communications with nets, as appropriate. Ensure that an HF ALE radio is operational scanning SHARES and Army MARS ALE networks.