Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Radio procedure

["Ty Alley" <tydes@shreve.net>]

Vance,
That's exactly the information I was looking for.  Even though it will still
be a while before I can start my K-350, at least I can start practicing.
Sort of in response to Ed's comments, what would be a good comms system for
a K boat?
Thanks again Vance,
Ty
----- Original Message -----
From: <VBra676539@aol.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Radio procedure


> Ty,
>
> If you mean radio communications, the protocol is precisely the same as in
> any other boat to boat transmission. Clarity is the key--and keeping the
> chatter to a minimum (especially if you are in my neck of the woods, where
> fishermen gab on the radio like a bunch of crows).
>
> UQC comms are a different medium. The trick is to speak clearly, use small
> words rather than big ones when possible, and announce yourself. "Surface,
> surface, surface....this is DeepTy" click. Don't start talking about
things
> until the guy up top puts his coffee down and gets to the microphone. He
(or
> she) should respond to acknowledge that they have heard and are ready to
> listen. "DeepTy, this is surface. Go ahead." or some such. It is often
better
> to repeat your commo, to give them time to scribble something in the log,
as
> in: "Passing six-zero-zero feet. Repeat, six-zero-zero feet." They will
> reply: "Roger, six-zero-zero" to let you know that they have understood
your
> message. Six-zero-zero is easier to understand over the UQC than
six-hundred.
> Remember, clarity.
>
> It is common to report in 100 foot increments when ascending or descending
in
> deeper water. You will also want to announce bottom contact and
> situation/condition information (depth, viz, current, bottom condition as
> needed). When you set a course, let them know, or when you do something
else
> that will impact their tracking efforts, let them know. If you have
> pre-planned the dive carefully, then most of this will turn out to be
> confirmation of the plan .... we hope.
>
> Comm checks are typically performed with just a double click on the mike,
> which puts out a biggish pair of acoustic blips that is clearly audible.
This
> is a mission choice, maybe every ten or fifteen minutes depending on
> circumstances. This is done to stay in touch and to let people know that
all
> is well. The comm check double-click is normally initiated by the surface,
> and responded to by the submarine. You'd be surprised how annoying it is
to
> be constantly interrupted by the need to "answer" a comm check. It breaks
> your concentration something fierce. A good dive will have a couple of
> paragraphs in the top-side log and a whole string ot "Comm check--ok"
entries.
>
> When you are surfacing, always stop at some pre-determined depth to let
your
> surface support ship know where you are so they can verify that all is
clear
> and ready for you to surface. A depth of fifty feet or so is common
offshore.
> I'll release a "bubble" from the ballast (air) which is clearly visible on
> the surface and gives them location and direction for recovery. This is in
> addition to the commo telling them what you are up to prior to surfacing.
The
> belt and suspenders approach is common practice--better safe than sorry,
as
> the old saying goes.
>
> There were lots of bubbles anyway, as we always surfaced on the main
ballast
> system (in the Perry boats and Aquarius) as this allowed us to vent or
blow
> as needed to control ascent rate. The VBT was pumped electrically and was
> painfully slow. However, with a hard tank system (like the JSLs or Pisces,
or
> K-subs), we did the same using the VBTs, as they were just as quick as the
> Mains and didn't get you going too fast. Remember that the volume of air
> expands in the Mains, and very rapidly, I might add, when you are in
shallow
> water or close to the surface. You want to hold 60 - 70 feet per minute or
> thereabouts. Just follow the bubbles up and you'll be fine.
>
> You haven't lived until you come back to the light from a deep dive and
look
> up to see that silvery canopy above you with all the released bubbles from
> your tanks rising around you. It'll take your breath away. Just don't
forget
> to call those poor saps on top who didn't get to go. They'll need time to
> finish their balogna sandwiches.
>
> Best Regards,
> Vance
>