1. Lecture 2
Radio Communications

2. Basic Communications Course
Agenda
Introduction to Radio
Radio Procedures
Radio Equipment

3. Voice Procedures
Correct radio procedures can be remembered using “SAD”.
Security
Accuracy
Discipline

4. Security
Identification of a station must be kept as secret as possible.
This is done by using what?
A unique Callsign.

5. Security
MRW 51
M- Denotes that the callsign is Military and allocated to the United Kingdom.
R- Indicates the callsign is associated with the RAF.
W- Is an indication of geographical location.
51- A serial number issued to the station by HQ Air Cadets.

6. Security
Additionally what does the M at the end of a callsign indicate?
E.g. MRW40 M1.
Mobile unit, M1,M2,M3, and so on.
When referring to a callsign it must always be given in Phonetic Alphabet:

7. Phonetic Alphabet Alpha 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

8. Security
The fact that there may be more than one listener highlights another important point.
One of the listeners may be unauthorised. Unauthorised listeners are called interceptors.
Therefore you must always assume for every transmission there are three elements:
The Sender.
The Listeners.
The Interceptors.

9. Security Never Use unauthorised codenames.
Use personal names or nicknames.
Use slang, jargon or foul language.
Transmit aircraft types, roles or weapon loads in clear speech.
Transmit details of arms or ammunition, particularly their movements.
Transmit unit locations in clear speech.

10. Security Always Use your callsign at the start of the transmission.
Use only authorised codenames and codewords.
Ask the station to authenticate if you think it may not be a genuine Station calling.

11. All can be suffixed by Major or Minor depending on appointment
Security Code Names
Sunray - OC
Pronto - Signals Rep
Seagull - Adjutant
Nutshell – Store Rep
Shelldrake - Shooting Rep
All can be suffixed by Major or Minor depending on appointment

12. Security Authentication
There are four methods of challenging a station that is using your network.
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta

13. Security Authentication ALPHA
Alpha - to reply to this is to state the station’s Squadron number.

14. Security Authentication BRAVO
Bravo - state the station’s Squadron number in reverse.

15. Security Authentication CHARLIE
Charlie - state the station’s squadron number added to the date.

16. Security Authentication DELTA
Removed for security

17. Security Authentication
Should the reply not be satisfactory all radio operations are to be stopped immediately and a report sent to the Wing Communications Officer.
DELTA should be normally used in challenging a mobile unit.

18. Security Veiled Speech
This simple method of conveying information is used when both the listener and sender are aware of the subject matter.
Meet me at the same time and place as last week.

19. Accuracy Voice messages should be clear, logical and brief.
Before transmitting listen out on the frequency to ensure that there will be no interference with a transmission from another station.

20. Accuracy
Be familiar with the operation of your microphone and DO NOT turn your head away from it whilst talking.
TRY NOT to vary the distance between the microphone and your mouth.

21. Accuracy
DO NOT touch the microphone with anything whilst transmitting, even your lips can cause severe distortion.
DO NOT talk too close to the microphone. The microphone should be about 50mm away from your mouth and you should speak across it rather than directly into it.

22. Accuracy
DO NOT hold the microphone or boom of a combined headset/microphone system.

23. Accuracy
Use a normal conversational tone, speak clearly and distinctly.
A slight pause before and after numbers will make them easier to understand.
DO NOT use hesitation sounds such as “er” or “um”.

24. Accuracy
Only press the Press To Transmit (PTT) switch when ready to speak, and ensure that you press it fully before speaking.
If you stop speaking during your message, release the PTT switch until you are ready to start speaking again - such breaks in transmission should be avoided.

25. Accuracy
DO NOT release the switch until you have finished talking, this will ensure that the message is complete, and not clipped.

26. Accuracy
Always ensure that the PTT switch has released correctly and that there is no likelihood of it being inadvertently switched on.
This would avoid the potentially dangerous and irritating situation of a “stuck” microphone blocking out all other transmissions.

27. Accuracy
R.S.V.P.
Rhythm.
Develop a natural rhythm and divide the message into sensibly sized sections.
Speed.
Use an even rate of speaking, slightly slower than normal.

28. Accuracy
Volume.
Maintain your speaking volume at a constant level. Ensure it is loud enough to be heard over background noise.
Pitch.
The voice should be slightly higher pitched than normal.

29. Accuracy
Prowords.
By using standardised words and phrases it is possible to keep voice transmissions brief and clear. Whole sentances can be replaced by easily pronouncable and widely recognisable prowords.

30. Accuracy Prowords
THIS IS Indicates the callsign of the sender is about to follow.
OVER This is the end of my present transmission to a listener - a reply or acknowledgement is required.

31. Accuracy Prowords
OUT This is the end of my transmission - no reply is expected.
WAIT OUT Your transmission has been received, a reply will follow later.

32. Accuracy Prowords
WILCO Message received, understood and I will comply with your instructions.
ROGER I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.
SAY AGAIN Request for repetition of a whole, or part of a message.

33. Accuracy Prowords
MESSAGE The transmission to follow will require to be written down.
FIGURES Used before groups of numbers sent digit by digit.
GRID Used before any encoded reference or grid reference sent in clear speech.
RADIO CHECK Report how you receive my transmission.

34. Accuracy Prowords SPEAK SLOWER Transmit at a lower speed.
BREAK I am separating the text (during a long transmission) or I have finished
transmitting to you and want the next identified station to reply.

35. Accuracy Prowords
TIME The following group is a time group or a date time group.
UNKNOWN STATION Used when calling a Station whose identity is not known.
WRONG Your last transmission was incorrect. Correct version is...

37. Discipline ALWAYS: Use correct voice procedure.
Maintain a constant listening radio watch.
Ensure the correct frequency or channel is selected and used.
Answer all your calls promptly.
Think before transmitting and make sure you know your message.
Release the transmit switch as soon as possible after you have finished speaking.

38. Discipline
NEVER:
Violate radio silence unless an emergency make it necessary.
Compromise classified information by using plain language.
Make unnecessary, over-long or unofficial transmissions.
Identify yourself or your unit by name.
Swear or lose your temper.
Disclose Air Cadet Frequencies.
Give telephone numbers or addresses.

39. Sending Messages- Establishing Contact
When a radio station first switches on it is necessary to establish if communications are satisfactory. The operator should carry out a “Radio check” to achieve this.

40. Sending Messages- Establishing Contact
A radio check is a two-way communication which reports on two aspects of the transmission, its strength and readability. The strength of a signal is divided into 5 levels or degrees, and the readability is divided into 6 grades or degrees.

41. Establishing Contact- Signal Strength
Loud (the strongest)
Good
Weak
Very weak
Fading (the weakest signal)

42. Establishing Contact- Readability
Clear
Readable
Unreadable
Distorted
Intermittent
Interference

43. Establishing Contact MRW51 This is MRW42 Radio check over.
MRW42 This is MRW51 Good Readable radio check over.
MRW51 This is MRW42 Loud Clear out.

44. Establishing Contact
Alternatively radio checks can be obtained by calling generally on the net using the two phonetic code words ALPHA CHARLIE.

45. Establishing Contact
When a radio check is preceded by Alpha Charlie, it indicates that any station may give a reply.
CHARLIE CHARLIE may be used for a group of stations. Replies to these collective callsigns are usually made in order of callsign number.

46. Establishing Contact
Alpha Charlie Alpha Charlie This is MRW42 Radio check over.
MRW42 This is MRW51 Good Readable radio check over.
MRW42 This is MRW52 Weak Distorted radio check over.
MRW51 This is MRW42 Loud Clear out.
MRW52 This is MRW42 Weak Readable out.

47. Messages
Messages sent on the radio consist of THREE distinct elements.
The Call
The Text
The Ending

48. Messages- The Call MRW51 This is MRW42 over.
MRW42 This is MRW51 send over.
This makes sure that MRW51 is ready to receive the message.

49. Messages- The Text
MRW51 This is MRW42 move to this location and report on arrival over.
The text is the part of a message which conveys the meaning or the instructions. It may take more than one transmission to pass on the entire message.

50. Messages- The Ending MRW42 This is MRW51 WILCO out.
The ending is used to signify that the message has been understood and action will be taken if necessary, and as the name implies it is the end of that message.

51. Established Communications
Once reliable communications has been established it is possible to abbreviate the callsign to make transmissions shorter.
VHF/UHF stations may omit the “MR” part of a callsign after initial contact and on each station’s last transmission the full call sign should again be given.

52. Established Communications
MRW51 M1 This is MRW 42 over.
MRG 42 This is MRW 51 Ml send over.
MRW54 M1 This is MRW42 what is you location over.
MRW 42 This is MRW 51 M1 Grid Tango Lima wun too tree fower fife six over.

53. Established Communications
MRW 51 M1 This is MRW 42 can you see the castle over.
MRW 42 This is MRW 51 M1 negative over
MRW 51 M1 This is MRW 42 roger. Move to this location and report on arrival over.
MRW 42 This is MRW 51 Ml WILCO out

54. Other Radio procedures
Map References.
How would Grid reference TQ be given?
GRID Tango Quebec Wun Too Tree Fower Fife Six.

55. Other Radio procedures
Time.
How would Time Hours be given?
Time Wun Tree Fower Zero

56. Other Radio procedures
Figures.
How would F93N be given?
Foxtrot Figures Niner Tree November

57. End of chapter 2

58. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!!