© All rights reserved. Confidential and property of Mercy Malaysia. No part of this material shall be reproduced, copied or published in any form by any

© All rights reserved.Confidential and property of Mercy Malaysia. No part of this material shall be reproduced, copied or published in any form by any means, nor should the materials be disclosed to third parties without the consent of Mercy Malaysia

Procedure for Radio

Communication



Objectives

• Learn how radio works• Dispel myths about radio comms• Be able to communicate effectively

using radios, by knowing the phonetic alphabet & “pro-words”

• Learn security aspects of radio comms• Learn radio protocol while traveling


Why is Radio Comms Important?

• It has saved lives of humanitarian workers before

• It may save your life one day


Fact or Fiction?

• just like using handphones

• radio comm is secure (other people cannot hear you)

• you can hear the other side clearly

• many calls are ongoing at any point in time

• both sides can talk at the same time (duplex)


The Radio


Portable Radios

• Also Known As Handheld Radios or Walkie–Talkies

• Uses rechargeable batteries

• With High Cap NiMh battery, GP328 has only 12 hours standby time

GP328 GP360 GP380


Motorola GP328

Channel Selector

On/Off/ Volume

Belt Clip

Charger Connection

Speaker


Push to Talk ButtonComputer Port

Programmable Buttons

Motorola GP328


16 Channel Selector

On/Off/ Volume LED Indicator

Antenna Mount

Buzzer

Motorola GP328


Charger


With Handset Battery Only

Charger


Before anything…always ….

1. Always ensure the battery is charged

2. Check antenna is attached


Vehicle - mounted radio unit

• “Mobile” Unit• 40w Power• Needs Antenna• Can be used in base

camp with DC-AC electricity adaptor


How far away…

100 kmsBASE/Repeater

40W, base ant

40 kmsMOBILE

40W, car ant.

15 kmsHANDHELD

5W, car ant

3 kmsHANDHELD

5W, 20 cm ant

BASE/Repeater

40W, base antMOBILE

40W, car ant

HANDHELD

5W, car ant

HANDHELD

5W, 20 cm ant

5 kms

10 kms

20 kms

15 kms

30 kms 60 kms

Note: This is for open rural areas, assume 50% for dense urban areas

15 kms

5 kms 10 kms 20 kms

30 kms

60 kms


Phonetic Alphabet

A B C D E F G H I Alpha

Bravo

Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India

J K L M N O P Q R Juliet Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo

S T U V W X Y Z Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu


Numeral

0 - zero 1 - wun 2 - too 3 - three4 - fo-wer5 - fi-yiv6 - six 7 - seven8 - ate9 - niner

12 - wun too 90 - niner zero 136 - wun three six16000 - wun six thousand 19A - wun niner alfa


Call Sign

• Consist of one or two figures or a combination of digits and letters.

• In a net, call signs are fixed and do not change.• Establish link between two or more stations on

a radio net e.g. Bravo 1, Bravo 2, Bravo 3 (3 teams).

• Figures that are being used as call signs are to be mentioned digit by digit and letter by letter.

• Quite often, letters of phonetic alphabet are adopted as call signs, e.g. Romeo this is Juliet (stands for “Razi, this is Joyah”)


Diagrammatic Radio Net

Mike Bravo

1

Mike Bravo

2

Mike Bravo

3

Mike Bravo

4

MERCYBASE CAMP


The 4 Principles

• Clarity

• Brevity

• Security

• Simplicity


Radio Conversation

A. Mike-Charlie Zero, Mike-Charlie Zero this is Mike Charlie One do you READ me OVER

B. Mike Charlie Zero, READING you LOUD and CLEAR OVER


Radio Conversation

A: Bravo Charlie 2, Bravo Charlie 2, this is Bravo Charlie 1 what is your estimated arriving time – OVER.

B: Bravo Charlie 2, estimated arrival is 1300 HOURS – OVER.

A: Bravo Charlie 1, ROGER – OUT.


Procedure Words (Prowords) PRO WORD MEANING

Acknowledge Confirm that you have received my message and will comply

Correct Yes

Negative No/Incorrect

WILCO I have received your message, understand it and will comply.


All after Everything that you transmitted after ….

All before Everything that you transmitted before ..

Correction The correct version is ….

Wrong Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is ……


I spell I shall spell the next word, group or equivalent phonetically.

Figures Numerals or numbers will follow.

Over • I have finished my turn• A response is expected• Go ahead, transmit

Out • I have finished my transmission

• No reply is expected• Over and Out are NEVER used

together


Out to you I have nothing more for you, do not reply, I shall now call another station on the net.

Roger I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.

I Say Again I am repeating my transmission or portion indicated.

Say again Repeat all of your last transmission

Followed by ALL AFTER, ALL BEFORE, WORD AFTER, etc


Break – Break – Break!

All station will immediately cease transmission on hearing the Pro Word. The station BREAK-ing has urgent life-saving message. Only to be used in EXTREME emergency.

Wait

(Wait wait)

I must pause for a few seconds.

Wait - Out I must pause for more than a few seconds, and will call you again when ready.


Basic RulesDiscipline listen before transmitting

Brevity be brief and straight to the point

Rhythm use short complete phrases that make sense

Speed not too fast, not too slow

Volume don’t shout

Preparation plan what to say


Transmitting

• Check that network is free (no else transmitting at the same time!)

• Identify yourself

• Speak clearly, be brief, but precise

• Avoid excessive calling and unofficial voice procedure

• If your message is long, divide it into sensible phrases


• Assign call signs for users and locations as actual names

• Locations are not recommended to be disclosed over the radio

• Only ENGLISH can be used on UN networks

Transmitting


• Hold the transmission button about half a second before speaking as the first ward may not be transmitted.

• Hold the microphone at about 5cm from lips while speaking. Shield the microphone from background noises.

Transmitting


• Users may choose to switch to another channel for conversation.

• Bear in mind the conversation may still be heard by others.

Transmitting


Radio Check

• with the base office when you are reaching your destination

• may be carried out more often if you are not sure of the coverage as you travel

• in tight security situation, after leaving the base office, reaching the destination and also on the way back.


LOUD Your signal is strong

GOOD Your signal is good

WEAK I can hear you but with difficulty

VERY WEAK I can hear you but with great difficulty

NOTHING HEARD

I cannot hear you at all

Signal Strength


Readability

CLEAR Excellent quality

READABLE Good quality, no difficulty in reading you

DISTORTED I have problems reading you

WITH INTERFEARANCE

I have problems reading you due to interference

NOT READABLE I can hear that you are transmitting but cannot read you at all


One-to-one Radio Check

E.g.:• Delta Two this is Delta One (team

leader) - Radio Check - Over• Delta Two - Loud and clear - Over• Delta One - Loud and clear – Out

(team leader to complete radio check by 0700hrs everyday with HQ staff)


Network Radio Check

E.g. :

• All station this is Delta One (team leader) - Radio Check - Over

• Delta Two - Loud and Clear - Over

• Delta Three - Loud and Clear - Over

• All station. This is Delta One - Loud and Clear - Out


Radio Transmission Security

• Not a secure means of communication

- can be listened to by practically

EVERYONE!

• No military information

• In any situation, when hearing an “EMERGENCY” or “SECURITY” call, stop transmitting immediately and listen.


Radio Security

• Remember, radio channels are open – ANYONE can listen in

• Use code words when transmitting :

– Location

– Events

– Arrivals / Departures

– Routes


Calling station and Replying

Don’t give information to calls from any unknown station.

E.g. :– “Hotel-Mike-One, do you copy?

Over.”– “Unknown station, this is Hotel Mike

One - identify yourself – over….”


Protocol While Traveling

• Check security situation with UNDSS & local contacts

• Recheck morning of departure• Establish route to destination & back• Draft schedule and try to stick to

timetable• Contact base camp at scheduled

intervals & after passing major landmarks & upon arrival


Pro-Words - EMERGENCY• Break! Break!

Break!

• Emergency! Emergency! Emergency!


“Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! Hotel-Kilo, Hotel-Kilo, Hotel-Kilo, this is Hotel-Mike, Hotel-Mike. Do you copy ? Over!.”

• Any Station hearing an “EMERGENCY” call, should immediately stop transmitting and listen.

Emergency Call for help


Remember

• Your handset must be ON to work!

• Don’t forget to charge your batteries

• Your radio can be your “best friend” in an emergency - don’t lose it!

• After end of activities/mission, handover to the person in charged

• Keep a logbook (log in / log out)

• Ensure safety of radio


Questions & Answers


Practical Exercises

Radio Familiarization Session

Documents

© All rights reserved. Confidential and property of Mercy Malaysia. No part of this material shall be reproduced, copied or published in any form by any