Radio Etiquette and Protocol

3 main rules to follow:

- Clarity
- Simplicity
- Brevity

Language:
- Always use English while communicating over radio (to avoid mixing up the languages)
- Be as clear(pronunciation) as you can be with your sentences.
o General terms to keep in mind:
 Use Affirmative or Yes to agree (avoid Yup and Yea)
 Use Negative or No to disagree/refuse (avoid Nope and Nah)
 Use Roger or Understood or Copy for a successfully received message
 Use Say-again or Repeat for an unsuccessfully received message (in case you
did not understand)
 Use Radio-check to test signal strength
 Use Read-you-loud-and-clear to answer the Radio check
 Use Over to mark the end of you message
 Use Out to mark the end of conversation
 Use Come-in when asking the other party to acknowledge they hear you
- Be as concise and to-the-point with your sentences as possible.
- Think about what you want to say before you transmit it over the radio.
- Do not shout over the radio, speak in normal tone.

Radio Operation:
- 1st step: Make sure the radio is about 10 cm away from your mouth (do not stick it close to
your mask) when using it.
- 2nd step: Listen to ensure the line/channel is clear (make sure no one is speaking)
o If someone is speaking, DO NOT interrupt unless there is an Emergency.
- 3rd step: Press the push-to-talk button and wait for 2 seconds.
o Say the recipient name/call-sign twice
o Next say “This is” and your name/call-sign
o Then ask the recipient to “Come-in”
o Finish your message with “Over”
th
- 4 step: Wait for the recipient to reply.
- 5th step: Once the recipient has replied, follow the 3rd step again replace “Come-in” with
your message.
- 6th step: After finishing the conversation, end with “Out”.
 - Example:

Figure 1: Note: - Wilco stands for Will-comply

Emergency Calls: (ONLY WHEN ITS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE)

- In case of an emergency/urgent message, wait until you hear “Over”
- Then immediately press the push-to-talk button and say “BREAK, BREAK, BREAK, (your
name), I have an emergency message for (recipient name), Do you copy, Over”

Final Comments:

- Always have a person on the radio for each team. (on –> listening to the radio)

For more information on how to operate the radio, visit the following website:

- https://quality2wayradios.com/store/two-way-radio-etiquette

Over and Out,

Kunal Gupta.