EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING > Blog > Communication > Two-Way Radio Procedures Part IVB
Two-Way Radio Procedures Part IVB
Disaster Communications Plan Part IVB
Two-Way Radio Procedures
By now you should have a good idea of who you will be communicating with, what you will be communication about and how you plan to communicate.
In this, part four (b) of the disaster communications series we will review two-way radio communication procedures.
We will look at this in four parts.
Phonetic Alphabet
Numerical Pronunciations
Pro-words
Previous posts on Disaster Communication can be found here:
Part I: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-vk
Part II: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-vw
Part IIA: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-vP
Part IIIA: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-y4
Part IIIB: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-yc
Part IIIC: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-z2
Part IV: https://wp.me/p7NwNC-A1
Radio voice procedures are intended to clarify the spoken word and reduce errors in the message by the use of accepted radiotelephone procedures.
The techniques presented below are used by most countries to make communications easier, and understandable.
Voice communication procedures are designed to provide the fastest and most accurate speech transmission possible.
All messages should be preplanned brief and straightforward.
Ideally, messages should be written down even brief notes reduce the risk of error.
Messages should be constructed clearly and logically in order not to confuse the recipient.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotelephony_procedure
Two-way radio communication demands a specific set of procedures to be followed when transmitting and receiving messages.
This is not up for debate.
Why do you need to follow specific procedures when using a two-way radio?
The very broad answer is that it is the only way to guarantee clear communications, the first time. And that can be tenuous at best.
If you cannot speak correctly on a two-way radio, you will not be listened to.
Your information may be garbled and not understood.
And you will probably be told to get off the net so someone who does know what they are doing can communicate.
Becoming proficient with two-way radio procedures requires practice. Get licensed.
Basic Etiquette:
English is the international radio language. Except where you may be licensed to speak in another language.
Do not interrupt others who are communicating. Wait until the channel/frequency is clear then attempt to enter the net.
Respond only if you are certain the call is for you. If you are unsure, wait until you hear your call sign to reply.
Never transmit sensitive, confidential, financial, or tactical information.
You cannot speak and listen at the same time. Proper two-way radio communication is a turn-based process. Unlike a cell phone, both speakers cannot talk at the same time. Well, they can, but if you are both talking, no one is listening.
Basic Radio Communication Rules
Identify Yourself:
Announce the radio callsign of the station you are calling. This alerts that station, that they are being called and that they should listen to determine who is calling.
Next, say “THIS IS”. Announce your call sign so the called station knows who is calling them. This is extremely important in cases where multiple stations may be using the net.
Use radio callsigns. Don’t use first names, last names or nicknames.
Callsigns are alphanumeric designators that identify a specific individual or group.
Amateur Radio and GMRS licensees are assigned callsigns by the FCC.
Example: W1R1 is calling K6B2.
WHISKY WUN ROMEO ALPHA WUN this is KILO SIX BRAVO TOO over.
Speak Clearly:
Pronounce your words, speak slower, do not shout.
Mispronounced words, rapid speech tempo, and shouting can cause your message to be unintelligible on the receiving end.
Keep it Simple:
Keep your message simple enough for five-year-old to understand.
Prepare the message.
If you have a message to send it’s probably important.
Write it down.
Keep it Brief:
Be precise and to the point.
Remember, a two-way radio is for sending and receiving important messages and/or remarks of a personal nature. Some call that chit-chat. Or Rag-Chewing
Transmissions that contain obscene or indecent words or language are prohibited.
Security:
Do not transmit anything on the radio you do not want others to hear.
Anyone tuned into the frequency you are using can hear what you are saying.
Licensing:
Amateur Radio and GMRS bands require licensing by the FCC to operate on.
Do your homework.
Push-To-Talk (PTT):
Two-way radios have a feature called push-to-talk (PTT). It is a button on the handset or side of the radio. You need to push it down before you start speaking, and hold it down until you are done talking.
Why is this you ask?
Modern two-way-radios are known as transceivers.
The transceiver does two things.
- It transmits the signal out. What you are saying.
- It receives the signal in. What you are hearing.
Push and hold down the transmit button for at least a second before speaking. This will ensure the beginning of your communication will be transmitted and received. Speaking as soon as you press the PTT can chop off the first syllable or word making your message hard to understand.
Once you’re done speaking and transferring control over to the person you are talking to with the proword “OVER”, you let go of your push to talk button so you can hear the reply.
You cannot hear anything when you are transmitting, and you cannot transmit if you do not hold the PTT button down.
Phonetic Alphabet
There are 26 codewords in the NATO phonetic alphabet. These are assigned to the 26 letters of the English alphabet in alphabetical order.
“Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu”
Messages can be distorted because of background noise, poor broadcast signal or language barriers. The use of the phonetic alphabet enables critical messages to be more likely understood by spelling out complicated or confusing words.
Example: the word RADIO will be spelled out as, ROMEO, ALPHA, DELTA, INDIA, OSCAR.
See FM 24-18 chapter five “Radio Operating Techniques” for additional information on the phonetic alphabet.FM 24-18
Numerical Pronunciations
Numerical Pro words have the same function as the phonetic alphabet. They allow strings of numbers to be transmitted without confusion.
- ZE RO
- WUN
- TOO
- TREE
- FOW ER
- FIFE
- SIX
- SEV EN
- AIT
- NIN ER
Example: the number 2381 will be spoken as, TOO, TREE, AIT, WUN.
The number 277.59 will be spoken as TOO, SEV EN, SEV EN, DECIBEL, FIFE, NIN ER.
Do not use conventional speech constructs such as two thousand three hundred and eighty-one. Or two hundred and seventy-seven point fifty-nine, they can be misunderstood.
See FM 24-18 chapter five “Radio Operating Techniques” for additional information on Numerical Pronunciations. FM 24-18
Prowords
To keep voice communications clear and short, radio operators use procedure words (PROWORDS) in place of long sentences.
Prowords are used at points in the conversation to shorten complex sentences, identify actions to be taken and reduce the chances of errors in the message.
One of my pet peeves is the term: Over and Out. Often used at the end of a radio transmission.
There is no such Proword as Over and Out. Yes, we hear it all the time in movies and television shows. Most recently we heard the Samurai in TWD say those same improper words at the beginning of the show.
Don’t use ‘over and out’ because it means that you are passing control and terminating the call at the same time which is not possible.
See FM 24-18 chapter five “Radio Operating Techniques” for additional information on Prowords.FM 24-18
Summary:
There are accepted procedures that allow clear concise two-way radio communications. Failure to use them may cause your important message to be garbled, unintelligible and not listened to.
Radio communications is a turn-based event. Be patient.
The use of Pro-Words, Numerical Pronunciation and the Phonetic Alphabet allow clear communication lessening the need to repeat oneself.
Be clear, simple, brief, and secure.
Avoid passing personally identifiable information (PII) over the air.
Get your GMRS and Amateur radio licenses.
Till next time
“Be Safe”
KN4ZTW
WREE365