Radio Communications

Radio Use
Advantages:

- Quick & easy comm’s

- Facilitates co-ordination

- Range up to three miles

Radio Use
Disadvantages:
- Not always reliable
- Limited to ‘line of sight’ use
- Insecure
- Battery dependent
Radio Use
Advantages / Disadvantages:
Voice Procedure
Developed to provide

- Security

- A ccuracy

- D iscipline
Security
Radios are least secure comm’s

- Transmissions radiate in all

directions

- You can never know if anyone is

listening in or ‘intercepting’

- From up to three miles away

Security
Poor voice procedure can reveal:
- Who you are
- What you are doing
- Where you are
- Where you will be
- Future intentions
Security
Aids to security
- Callsigns
- Codewords
- Authentications
- Duress codes
Accuracy
Use of your voice
- Rhythm A steadier natural rhythm
- Speed Slightly slower
- Volume Normal, relative to the

environment you are in

- Pitch Slightly higher
Accuracy
Aids to Accuracy
- The phonetic
alphabet:

- Prowords

- Codewords
Discipline
Tx’s kept to a minimum so that:

- Others can use the net as needed

- To conserve battery life

- Minimise Tx intelligence value

Discipline
Tx’s kept to a minimum so that:
- Other users of the net know what
to expect, what is being said and

by whom
- Callsigns can respond in the
correct order to group
transmissions
Discipline
General points:
- Maintain a constant listening
watch and listen to all Tx’s
- Calls are answered in the correct
order and without delay
- Listen before making a Tx to
ensure the net is clear of traffic
Discipline
General points:
- Use the PTT button correctly
- Do not violate radio silence
- Do not compromise information
by speaking it in plain English

- Do not make needless Tx’s

Security, Accuracy & Discipline
Accuracy and discipline aid ComSy
and support operational effectiveness

Communication
security is vital
to operational
security
Prowords
Used to simplify the radio
communication process.
- Hello To get the net listening
- Over End of my Tx, a reply is expected
- Wait I will come back to you shortly
- Out End of my Tx, no reply is
expected or required

- Out to you This is the end of my Tx to you;

a Tx to another callsign follows
Prowords
- Roger Received and understood
- Priority Requests priority use of the
net to send important traffic
- Say Again Repeat your last Tx
- Say again all after * Repeat what was
said after * point
- Say again all before * Repeat what was
said before * point
- I spell I will spell phonetically
Prowords
- Figures I will say the numbers
- Read Back Repeat to me the information I
just sent
- Wrong My preceding statement was
incorrect
- Cancel Disregard this transmission
- Nothing Heard I have heard nothing from
you
Callsigns
Identifiers assigned to users of a
radio net.
- Keeps net users anonymous

- Provides an alphanumeric order

for callsigns to respond against
- Identifies who Tx’s are coming
from and who they are intented for
Callsigns
Made up of a number / letter combination:
1B (one bravo) 2B (two bravo)
B1 (bravo one) B2 (bravo two)

Callsigns are always said phonetically.

Suffixes can be used to denominate

roles within the team:
B1D (bravo one delta) to identify a driver
Callsigns
Callsigns can be assigned according
to the CPO’s role

D1 (delta one) - driver

B1 (bravo one) - bodyguard

Alternately they may be allocated to

an individual irrespective of the role.
Callsigns
Some standard callsigns are:
- 0 (zero) Controlling station
- 0a (zero alpha) Net 2i/c
- Sunray Refers to a 1i/c
- Sunray Minor Refers to a 2i/c
The suffix ‘a’ (alpha) usually reserved
to denote a secondary or 2i/c status.
- 0a (zero alpha) Net 2i/c
Codewords
Codewords are used to protect
anything we may transmit that has
intelligence value, for example:
- People - Routes
- Locations - Responses
- Timings - Duress
- Intentions - Situations
Radio Checks
Used to check radios are operating
correctly at the following times:

- Start of the shift

- Not hearing expected calls

- Receiving no response from a

callsign you are calling
Radio Checks
A successful radio check

You: Hello zero, this is bravo one,

radio check, over

Zero: Ok, over

You: Roger, out

Radio Checks
If not successful:
You: Hello zero, this is bravo one,
radio check, Over
- No reply -

Pause then repeat the call. If still no reply:

You: Nothing heard, out to you, hello

any callsign, radio check, over
Radio Checks
If successful to the next callsign:
B2: Bravo two, ok over

You: Roger bravo two, I have no

comm's with zero, confirm, over
B2: Roger, out to you, hello zero this

is bravo two, radio check, over

If B2 raises comm’s with zero, you may be
in a blind spot to zero. Recheck later.
Radio Checks
If no replies at all come to your Tx’s,
check the following:
- Your radio is turned on
- The battery is connected properly
- Frequency / channel is set correctly
- Inspect the radio for obvious damage
Authentication
Done to confirm a callsign is who
they claim and not under duress.
Codes can be used once only.
Authenticator code: TEAM
C1: Hello delta two, authenticate,
tango, echo, over
D2: I authenticate, alpha, mike, over
Callsign D2 is confirmed as genuine
Authentication
If under duress, the response is reversed:
Authenticator code: TEAM
Duress code: TEMA
C1: Hello delta two, authenticate,
tango, echo, over
D2: I authenticate, mike, alpha, over

Callsign D2 can no longer be trusted, a

compromised net procedure initiated
Questions?