Network Voice Procedures

01Nov 2009 as issued by CIW681

Download the Network Voice Procedures as a PDF

1. INTRODUCTION

Voice Procedures are required for the following reasons:

This pamphlet is provided as a quick reference only and operators shall refer to ACP125 CanSup1 as their Radiotelephone Procedure authority.
Radio communication is subject to interference, which can cause messages to be misunderstood.
Operation over long distances can lead to weak signals, which can also cause messages to be misunderstood.
If two people send at once, neither station will be heard properly.
Improper operation while under stress or during emergencies can lead to fatal errors.
The basic requirements are accuracy and circuit\network discipline.

2. ACCURACY

Speaking Correctly

Hold the microphone between 1 and 6 cm from the mouth. Ask for a report back to establish the correct distance for your mike.
When speaking, keep a natural rhythm, dividing the message into sensible phrases.
Speak slightly slower than normal conversation.
Volume as for normal conversation. Shouting will cause over-modulation and distortion, and speaking softly will under-modulate the transmitter, causing weak and unintelligible signals.
Raise the pitch of voice slightly.

Aids to Economy

Prowords - words or phrases used to convey the exact meaning, e.g.

OVER My transmission is ended and I expect a reply.
OUT My transmission is ended and I do not expect a reply.
I SAY AGAIN Used by sender when making repetitions for emphasis.
ROGER Message received and will be acted upon as necessary.

Figures must be pronounced as follows:

1 WUN
2 TOO
3 THUH-REE
4 FO-WER
5 FIFE
6 SIX
7 SE-VEN
8 ATE
9 NINER
0 ZERO

Figures are normally sent digit by digit, preceded by the proword ‘FIGURES’.

Letters must be pronounced as follows:

Under certain situations it may be necessary to enhance understanding by spelling out a word. This is preceded by the proword ‘I SPELL.’ The ICAO phonetic alphabet is the internationally acceptable form for use in radiotelephony.

A ALPHA
B BRAVO
C CHARLIE
D DELTA
E ECHO
F FOXTROT
G GOLF
H HOTEL
I INDIA
J JULIET (JU-LIETT)
K KILO (KEELO)
L LIMA (LEEMA)
M MIKE
N NOVEMBER
O OSCAR
P PAPA (PAHPAH)
Q QUEBEC (KWIBECK)
R ROMEO (ROHMEO)
S SIERRA
T TANGO
U UNIFORM
V VICTOR
W WHISKEY
X X-RAY
Y YANKEE
Z ZULU

Prowords applicable

I SPELL Used when spelling out a word or letter group.
FIGURES Used before groups of figures sent digit by digit, except in the case of call signs, grid references and time checks.
GRID Used before any grid reference.
TIME CHECK Request for a time check.

Examples "Please send a vehicle with a winch. OVER" could be sent as "Please send a vehicle with a winch. I SPELL - WHISKEY, INDIA, NOVEMBER, CHARLIE, HOTEL. OVER"
"235 kilometers" - "FIGURES TWO THREE FIVE kilometers"
"My position is GRID TWO EIGHT ONE SIX SIX NINE. OVER"

3. DISCIPLINE

Only one station can speak at a time.
Listen before speaking to ensure that the frequency is clear.
Don’t cut in on another transmission. Allow for other transmissions when only one of the stations in conversation on frequency may be heard by you.
Pause after pressing the PTT (press to transmit) switch to prevent your first words not being transmitted properly.
Pause at the end of a transmission before releasing the PTT.
Ensure that the transceiver returns to a state of receive after transmissions.

General:

Identify yourself at the beginning of each transmission.
Keep all communications as short as possible.
No swearing, blasphemy, unofficial conversations, etc.
Be careful of what you say on the air – anyone can hear you.
Be considerate of other operators.

4. THE MESSAGE

Prowords used during initial contact:

THIS IS Indicate the identity of the calling station
RADIO CHECK Used by a station when calling for a report of how it is being heard by other stations
ALL STATIONS A call to all stations on net.
EXEMPT (call signs) Stations excluded from a ‘all stations’ call
UNKNOWN STATION The identity of the station calling or replying to this station is unknown.

The proword OVER must be used to indicate the end of a transmission.
The proword OUT indicates termination of a conversation.

Prowords used during and at the end of the conversation:

OVER My transmission is over and I expect you to reply on this subject.
SEND You have permission to transmit your message.
ROGER Message received and will be acted upon as necessary.
NOTHING HEARD Indication that no signals have been heard from a particular station.
OUT My transmission has ended and I do not expect a reply.
WAIT OUT I am not ready to receive, please stand-by.

5. SIGNAL STRENGTH REPORTS

You may be asked, or you may ask for a signal strength report, especially when establishing communications. The following prowords are applicable:

RADIO CHECK Used by station when asking for a report of how it is being heard.
ROGER Indicates that station is being heard loud and clear.
GOOD AND READABLE Communications satisfactory for working.
DISTORTED Incoming signal is distorted.
WITH INTERFERENCE Having trouble reading due to interference.
INTERMITTENT Indicates intermittent reception.
WEAK Communication is workable but with difficulty.
UNREADABLE Impossible for communications.
FADING Communications may fail due to loss of your signal.

6. CORRECTIONS AND REPETITIONS

The following prowords are applicable:

CORRECTION An error has been made in this transmission, or the message specified.
CORRECT You are correct.
DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION This transmission was made in error.
ALL AFTER or ALL BEFORE Used with references to a words or phrases when requesting or giving repetitions or corrections.
WORD AFTER I refer to the word following ........
WORD BEFORE I refer to the word that precedes ........
READ BACK Order to a station to repeat back a message exactly as received.
SAY AGAIN Request for repetition of all or part of a message.
I SAY AGAIN Used by a sender when making repetitions for emphasis.

RELAY PROCEDURE

The following prowords are applicable:

RELAY TO Transmit this message to all addresses or the address designation immediately following.
RELAY FROM Used by relaying station to indicate the originating station of the message.
RELAY THROUGH Instruction to a station to relay through another.

8. MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS

The following prowords are applicable:

ASSUME CONTROL Ordering a substation to assume control of the net.
DO NOT ANSWER Stations called are not to answer this message or otherwise to transmit in connection with this transmission. When this proword is used, the transmission should be ended with the proword OUT.
FETCH Used to indicate to whom the caller wishes to speak.
SILENCE X3 Cease transmitting immediately (and until instructed to resume).
SILENCE LIFTED Resume normal transmissions. Silence can only be lifted by the station imposing it. (Normally the net control station, or by a higher authority)
SPEAK SLOWER Reduce speed of transmission.
WAIT A pause of a few seconds follows. Other stations must not interrupt.
WAIT OUT I have finished for the time being (or cannot at present accept the message offered) and will call you later. Other stations may transmit if necessary