Monday, 4 April 2011

Communication: Two Way Radio's

We just got some two way radio's - they are pretty cool. 

Binatone 150 (Twin Pack) Web Special Offer

The main reason is for when we got to visit our ponies in the hills as there is no mobile reception and sometimes we might need to speak to base without returning i.e. if a foal is born or a pony injured or missing etc. 

Now that we have them we have found some new uses for them i.e. From upstairs to downstairs so we don't have to shout - guess our neighbours will be pleased he he as we tend to shout a lot because we were used to living on a farm so we tend to speak real loud - hysterical - because  now we live in a semi-detached house and all our neighbours are real close (too close for comfort) and at any one stage you wil have 6 pairs of binoculars trained on your windows and everyone gets to hear, see what you are doing which is wierd BTW.

We are also learning about Two Way Radios and the 'walkietalkiespeak' like copy, do you read me, handles (Nicknames) and over and out.  Another important thing to realise is that anyone else who is also on Two Way Radio's and using the same channel can hear exactly what you are saying so thats the reason to use your own codes for VIP things and confidential matters and not to use your real names and place names etc.

So we have lots oto learn and its kind of fun!

Here is some TWR Speak that needs to be learnt so one can speak on a two way radio:

Affirmative — Yes


 
Negative — No

 
Reading you Loud and clear — I understand what you say
 
Over — I have finished talking and I am listening for your reply. Short for "Over to you."

 
Out — I have finished talking to you and do not expect a reply.

 
Clear — I have finished talking to you and will be shutting my radio off.

 
Roger — Information received/understood.

 
Copy — I understand what you just said (after receiving information).

 
Wilco — Will comply (after receiving new directions).

 
Go ahead or Send your traffic — Send your transmission.

 
Say again — Please repeat your last message (Repeat is not used as it is a specific command when calling for artillery fire)

 
Break — Signals a pause during a long transmission to open the channel for other transmissions, especially for allowing any potential emergency traffic to get through.

 
Break-Break — Signals to all listeners on the frequency, the message to follow is priority. Almost always reserved for emergency traffic or in NATO forces, an urgent 9 line or Frag-O.

 
Standby or Wait one — Pause for the next transmission. This usually entails staying off the air until the operator returns after a short wait.

 
Callsign-Actual — Sometimes an individual (generally a superior) may have a person monitor the network for them. Saying "actual" after their callsign asserts you wish to speak to the specific person the callsign is attached to.

 
Sécurité — Maritime safety call. Repeated three times. Has priority over routine calls.

 
Pan-pan — Maritime/aviation urgency call. Repeated three times. Has priority over safety calls.

 
Mayday — Maritime/aviation distress call. Repeated three times and at beginning of every following transmission relating to the current distress situation. Has priority over urgency and safety calls.

 


To learn more about Two way radios and walkie talkies, here are some links to visit:

http://www.twoway-radio.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-way_radio







Some interesting info is:

  • Many radios offered for sale on the internet are North American models which are highly illegal when used in the UK, these frequencies are monitored by Ofcom who will impose heavy fines and confiscate equipment.
  • All unlicensed radios sold in the UK, come under the PMR446 banner which is recognised in most European countries. This type of equipment is not permitted for usage outside of Europe.
  • The range of radios is entirely dependant on where they are used and whether there are any obstructions like hills, buildings etc between the radios. All radios are capable of working over several miles providing there is good line of sight but the range will be reduced by any obstructions. Some manufacturers do quote approximate ranges of 2, 3 or even 6Km but this is just a marketing ploy and these distances refer to ideal operating conditions and should be regarded as only a guide and cannot be guaranteed. All unlicensed radios are set at EXACTLY the same output power by law so you would expect to see no difference in performance between a 3km or 6km quoted radio.

  • A channel number is just a shorthand notation for a frequency. Eg. its easier to remember "Channel 1" than to remember "26.965 MHz" (CB Channel 1) or "462.5625 MHz" (FRS/GMRS channel 1), or "156.05 MHz" (Marine channel 1).
  • It is necessary to identify which radio service when specifying a frequency by its channel number.
  • Organizations, such as electric power utilities or police departments, may have several assigned frequencies in use with arbitrarily assigned channel numbers. For example, one police department's "Channel 1" might be known to another department as "Channel 3" or may not even be available. Public service agencies have an interest in maintaining some common frequencies for inter-area and/or inter-service coordination in emergencies.
  • Radio frequencies are allocated by each country to different two-way services, by international agreements. Some examples of two-way services are: Citizen's Band, FRS, GMRS, MURS, and BRS.
  • Amateur radio operators nearly always use frequencies rather than channel numbers, since there is no regulatory or operating requirement for fixed channels in this context. Even amateur radio equipment will have "memory" features to allow rapidly setting the transmitter and receiver to favorite frequencies.
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Citizen Band (CB) Radio 10 Codes




The following is a list of CB radio "10 codes". Ten codes are an abbreviated way of sending messages, some of which are very common among those that use CB radios frequently or professionally. If you're new to the CB world, take a look at the list below to get familiar with some codes you may hear.



As you can imagine, some are more popular than others. I don't recommend that you memorize the list below, just use it as a reference if you hear something that you're not sure about. The list of 10 codes below was taken from the manual of a Cobra CB Radio.



10 Code Description 10 Code Description

10-1 Receiving Poorly 10-34 Trouble at this Station

10-2 Receiving Well 10-35 Confidential Information

10-3 Stop Transmitting 10-36 Correct Time is

10-4 Ok, Message Received 10-37 Wrecker Needed at

10-5 Relay Message 10-38 Ambulance Needed

10-6 Busy, Stand by 10-39 Message Delivered

10-7 Out of Service, Leaving 10-41 Turn to Channel

10-8 In Service, Subject to Call 10-42 Traffic Accident at

10-9 Repeat Message 10-43 Traffic Tie-Up at

10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing by 10-44 Have a Message for

10-11 Talking too Rapidly 10-45 All Units Within Range, Please Report

10-12 Visitors Present 10-50 Break Channel

10-13 Advise Weather/Roads 10-60 What is Next Message Number?

10-16 Make Pick-Up at 10-62 Unable to Copy. Use Phone.

10-17 Urgent Business 10-63 Net Directed to

10-18 Anything for Us? 10-64 Net Clear

10-19 Return to Base 10-65 Awaiting Your Next Message/Assignment

10-20 My Location is 10-67 All Units Comply

10-21 Call by Phone 10-70 Fire at

10-22 Report in Person to 10-71 Proceed. Transmission in Sequence.

10-23 Stand by 10-77 Negative Contact

10-24 Completed Last Assignment. 10-81 Reserve Hotel Room for

10-25 Can You Contact? 10-82 Reserve Room for

10-26 Disregard Last Info. 10-85 My Address is

10-27 Moving to Channel. 10-91 Talk Closer to Microphone.

10-28 Identify Your Station. 10-93 Check my Frequency on This Channel.

10-29 Time is Up for Contact 10-94 Give me a Long Count.

10-30 Does not Conform to FCC Rules 10-99 Mission Completed. All Units Secure.

10-33 Emergency Traffic 10-200 Police Needed at

10-100 Nature Calls
 
 
Read more about CB's (United States) etc
http://www.banoggle.com/

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