Radio Techniques

  • DO use only plain language

  • DO use standard ITU phonetics

  • DO use tactical call signs when appropriate, and identify with your FCC call sign every 10 minutes or at the end of an exchange

  • DO listen for, and follow, instructions

  • DO make only necessary transmissions; avoid read backs

  • DO be concise

  • DO follow these message passing procedures

  • DO complete all communication logs and message forms clearly, concisely, and legibly

  • DO ask for clarification when you can’t read a message, or you don’t understand something

  • DO use 24-hour local time, unless instructed otherwise

  • DO transmit only facts, or information from an approved source or authority

  • DO avoid transmitting personal, confidential, or sensitive information

    • names, phone numbers, patient information, body counts, etc.

  • DO use standard ICS position titles, facility names, and/or tactical names

  • DO pause 1 to 2 (or more!) seconds after keying up to avoid clipping

  • DO leave gaps between transmissions to allow others to break in

  • DO drop PTT when not speaking; avoid dead air and open mics

Speaking Techniques

Speed

  • After you say each word, pretend to write it down ("ghost write") before you go on to the next word
  • This slows you down to a pace that the receiver can handle

Pauses

  • Pause between groups to provide clarity and separation
  • Pauses provide clues that something different is coming
  • Pause aid in correct group copying, improving efficiency

Prowords

  • ALWAYS use proper prowords
  • Proactively use the I SPELL proword (as appropriate) to avoid repeats

Message Prioritization

  • Prioritize according to handling order, date, and time

    • Handling order: Immediate, Priority, Routine

      • Note: ARRL Precedence: Emergency, Priority, Welfare, Routine

      • Note: Red Cross DWI (Disaster Welfare Inquiry) has Welfare precedence

  • Use date to prioritize between same handling order

  • Use time to prioritize between same dates

  • Ultimately, the served agency decides the order; it’s their message

Announcing a Message

  • Step 1: Annouce quantity and handling order of messages ready to send
    • Examples:
      • "Net Control, I have 2 Priority messages for you"
      • "Net Control, I have 1 Immediate and 1 Routine message for you"
    • The receiver will prioritize versus other messages that may be waiting, then says: "go ahead" or "ready to copy"
  • Step 2: If the message is a form, announce the form type before sending
    • This lets the receiver know what's coming so they can prepare the right form
    • If the form requires a routing slip (because it doesn't contain the radio routing information fields), also include "... with routing slip"
    • Examples:
    • The receiver readies the right form (and routing slip, if needed), then says: "go ahead" or "ready to copy"
  • Step 3: Sen the message
    • See "Sending a Message ..." for details
  • Step 4: Log the message
    • Log all of your communications activity on the ICS-214 Activity Log

Sending a Message to One Station

  • Say "My message number is ..." followed by your message number (phonetically) to signal the start of transmission
  • Say field name (or number), followed by field value
    • Or use another, previously agreed-upon plan
  • Pass fields in logical chunks, according to the form
    • By row? By column? By section?
    • If the form has sections, say the section name as you enter that section
    • Shoot for sending five items at a time (depending on how complicated each field is)
      • For short text fields, send up to five fields at a time
      • For longer text fields (such as the message body in an ICS-213), send five words at a time
    • Some heavily user forms (ICS-213) have a preferred field grouping for maximum efficiency
  • Pause after each group
    • Receiver's opportunity to request fills
    • Receiver responds with "Go" or "Continue" when ready for more
  • Say "End of message" to signal form transmission complete
    • Receiver responds with "My message number is <their message number>", followed by "<their FCC call sign>"
  • Say "<your FCC call sign>" to end the process
  • Log the message

Sending a Message to Multiple Stations

  • Announce the quanity and priority of message for ...
    • "All stations, all stations, stand by for one priority message"
    • "All shelters, all shelters, stand by for one routine message"
  • (Optional) Poll for readiness of all stations
  • Select a pacing station
    • "Mountain View, will you be my pacing station?"
  • Send the message to the pacing station (see "Sending a Message to One Station)
  • Poll all other receiving stations
    • Each receiving station responds with requests for fills (if any), followed by <their message number> and <their FCC call sign>
    • Log all receiving station message numbers and call signs