7.3 Radio Equipment Maintenance and Servicing

Purpose

To define maintenance and servicing requirements for SLSSA radios.

Overview

All radio equipment must be serviced every two years by a SLSSA endorsed service agent to ensure the integrity of equipment and lifesaving service provision.

Procedure

Radio Servicing and Preventative Maintenance

SLS services must undertake annual checks to ensure that their radios are working properly.

The following equipment checks must be undertaken:

• Radio checks on all zones and channels (relevant to the area of operation) between operational radios,
• General condition of the radio,
• Battery condition, and
• Radio identification labels are correct and match the programmed radio ID.

SLS services must arrange servicing by a SLSSA endorsed service agent at least every two years for all operational radios. During the servicing, the following equipment checks must be undertaken (at a minimum):

• Channel/frequency assignment,
• • General condition of the radio,
• Battery test, and
• Transmit power levels.

SLS services must ensure that radios are kept in an appropriate condition so that services can operate effectively.

Endorsed Service Agents

As directed by the Manager, Technologies and State Operations Centre.

Radio Test

SLS services should conduct pre-season radio tests with the State Operations Centre (SOC) before the season starts.

Testing should commence no later than one month before the start of the season to enable issues to be identified and rectified to ensure issues can be identified and rectified prior to lifesaving operations commencing.

Testing can be organised by contact the State Operations Centre by phone. See SOP 12.2 – State Operations Centre (SOC) – SURFCOM

Radio Updates

All radios must be made available to the State Operations Centre for updates and/or inspection as directed by the Manager, Technologies and State Operations Centre.