text: Team Operations
  COMMUNICATIONS
  4-245. Probably the most important consideration in planning urban communications is type of antenna
  placement.
  Subsurface Surveillance Site
  4-246. A team can split into surveillance and hide sites, with the hide site located outside of the urban
  area. If so, team members at the hide site should be able to use their HF, UHF TACSAT, and LOS
  systems normally. However, when the surveillance site operates subsurface, they need an antenna for
  LOS communications with the hide site. Depending on the situation, the team members at the
  surveillance site might be able to use the whip antenna that is normally issued with their inter team radio.
  When the sites are split, the surveillance site can use any one of several methods to establish LOS
  communications with the hide site.
  4-247. Sometimes, the team will have to use remote equipment to communicate with the hide site.
  Before the mission, they should try to obtain some field-expedient materials.
  4-248. If the team is configured in a combined surveillance and hide site, and the entire element is in a
  subsurface environment, then the team must remote the long-range antenna system to the surface area.
  4-249. To make contact with the COB or AOB, the RTO might be able to attach the HF antenna wire
  to some nearby metallic object that protrudes above the surface such as a light, a fence, or a storm drain
  gate. The RTO must remember to place the antenna system towards the receiving station. If using UHF
  TACSAT, the antenna must be placed so that no obstructions stand between it and the satellite.
  4-250. Operating from a subsurface situation can be highly risky, because the enemy may be able to
  detect the antenna.
  4-251. Communications are easier to achieve from an elevated position such as a building or other
  structure. In most cases, depending on distance, the surveillance team can use the whip antennas organic
  to their radio system.
  4-252. If a structure obstructs the LOS view between the two sites (surveillance and hide), then the
  RTO can make a closed-loop antenna. He fastens Claymore wire to an interior wall in a loop from the
  socket of the radio's whip antenna to the ground for the radio. He must remember to cut the antenna to at
  least one full wave-length of the frequency he is using. This is an excellent antenna to use during urban
  area missions.
  4-253. VHF antennas are much shorter than HF antennas. In fact, the antennas used for HF
  communications can also be used for VHF, except that they must be scaled down for higher frequencies.
  However, constructing and placing them is much the same as it is for the LOS.
  4-254. Other items that can be used for HF communications include—.
  • Existing antennas on the structure.
  • Existing electrical wiring (team has to test for conductivity).
  • Metal plumbing pipes.
  • Ceiling grids.
  • Metal clothes lines.
  • Metal building frames (if power to the building is off, otherwise damage to the radio could
  occur).