This guide assumes you are new to the Kings Point Disaster Radio Service (DRS). You may already be familiar with how radio communications works but when a number of participants are simultaneously online, it can become chaotic very quickly. It’s important to follow a disciplined process to ensure communications for all is as effective as possible. The following are mostly common sense thoughts.
- Be prepared
- Keep your radio charged
- Test it weekly
- Perform radio check before using
- Ensure your radio battery is charged and power is on
- Keep volume high enough to hear calls
- Make sure it’s on the right channel
- Make regular radio checks to ensure everything is working and you are still in range
- Prepare before you speak
- Decide what you are going to say and who your message is meant for
- Identify yourself before you talk – memorize call signs and use yours before speaking
- Don’t transmit sensitive or confidential information unless you are sure it is appropriate
- Speak slowly and clearly, so you can be understood
- Say ‘over’ to indicate you are finished so the other party know they can speak or reply
- Keep it simple
- Avoid long complicated sentences – be precise and to the point
- If you have multiple things to cover, speak one point then say ‘break’, wait a couple of seconds then speak the next point and again say ‘break’ – this allows the other party to speak or ask for clarification
- Don’t use abbreviations unless these are well understood by your group
- Terminate the call by saying ‘out’
- Stay on point
- The radio is for sending and receiving important messages – and not for gossip/small talk which blocks channels for other radio users
- Don’t interrupt others when they are speaking – wait patiently until they finish
- Use the Phonetic Alphabet to spell out keywords: 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
- Be patient, kind and considerate