Radio Communication Procedures
R.1. Introduction
The following is an overview of radio communication procedures that, when followed, will minimize radio time, make radio time more effective, and reduce misinterpretation of radio messages. The UNDAC team should always follow these procedures. It is important that all users of the radio net practice strict radio discipline at all times.
R.1.1. Preparing the set for operation
. Make sure that there is a power source, that it is sufficient and ensure correct connection to the radio set.
. Check the antenna and all cable connections ensuring tight and correct connection to all components.
. Connect the audio accessories, and check the proper operation of function switches.
R.1.2. Transmitting
. Decide on message before transmitting, ensuring it will be clear and brief.
. Make sure no one else is speaking before transmitting.
. Remember to divide your message into sensible phrases, make pauses and maintain a natural rhythm to your speech.
. Avoid excessive calling and unofficial transmissions.
. When ready to transmit, push the transmission key and wait a second before speaking. When finishing transmitting wait before releasing the key.
. Use standard pronunciation. Emphasize vowels. Avoid extremes of high pitch, speak in a moderately strong voice, and do not shout.
. Keep a distance of about 5 cm between the microphone and your lips. Shield your microphone from background noises.
. Remember: think, push, speak - not the other way around.
R.2. Procedures and tools
R.2.1. Phonetic alphabet and numbering
Phonetic Alphabet
| Letter | Pronunciation |
| A | ALPHA |
| B | BRAVO |
| C | CHARLIE |
| D | DELTA |
| E | ECHO |
| F | FOXTROT |
| G | GOLF |
| H | HOTEL |
| I | INDIA |
| J | JULIET |
| K | KILO |
| L | LIMA |
| M | MIKE |
| N | NOVEMBER |
| O | OSCAR |
| P | PAPA |
| Q | QUEBEC |
| R | ROMEO |
| S | SIERRA |
| T | TANGO |
| U | UNIFORM |
| V | VICTOR |
| W | WHISKY |
| X | X-RAY |
| Y | YANKEE |
| Z | ZULU |
Numbering
| Digit | Pronunciation |
| 0 | ZERO |
| 1 | WUN |
| 2 | TOO |
| 3 | THUH-REE |
| 4 | FO-WER |
| 5 | FI-YIV |
| 6 | SIX |
| 7 | SEVEN |
| 8 | ATE |
| 9 | NINER |
In general, numbers are transmitted digit by digit except that exact multiples of hundreds and thousands are spoken as such. Some examples of pronunciation of numbers may be seen below:
12 - TWELVE
44 - FO-WER FO-WER
90 - NINER ZERO
136 - WUN THU-REE SIX
500 - FI-YIV HUNDRED
7000 - SEVEN THOUSAND
16,000 - WUN SIX THOUSAND
1478 - WUN FO-WER SEVEN ATE
19A - WUN NINER ALPHA
R.2.2 Procedure words
The following is a list of the most common procedure words (pro-words) to be used and their meanings.
| Pro-word | Meaning |
| ACKNOWLEDGE | Confirm that you have received my message and will comply. |
| AFFIRMATIVE - NEGATIVE | Yes/Correct - No/Incorrect. |
| ALL AFTER or ALL BEFORE | Everything that you (I) transmitted after… (Keyword).Everything that you (I) transmitted before… (Keyword). |
| CORRECT (THAT IS CORRECT) | What you have transmitted is correct. |
| CORRECTION | An error has been made in this transmission. It will continue with the last word (group) correctly transmitted.An error has been made in this transmission. Correct version is… That which follows is a correct version in answer to your request for verification. |
| WRONG | Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is… |
| DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION - OUT | This transmission is an error. Disregard it. This pro-word shall not be used to cancel any message that has already been completely transmitted and for which receipt or acknowledgement has been received. |
| DO NOT ANSWER - OUT | Station(s) called are not to answer this call, acknowledge this message, or otherwise to transmit in connection with this transmission. |
| Pro-word | Meaning |
| SILENCE - SILENCE - SILENCE | Cease all transmissions on this net immediately. Will be maintained until lifted. |
| SILENCE LIFTED | Silence is lifted. The net is free for traffic. |
| END OF MESSAGE - OVER (OUT) | This concludes the message just transmitted (and the message instructions pertaining to a formal message). |
| END OF TEXT | The textual part of a formal message ends. Stand by for the message instructions immediately following. |
| FETCH | I wish to speak on the radio to that person. |
| SPEAKING | Requested person is now using the radio himself. |
| FIGURES | Numerals or numbers will follow.(This pro-word is not used with the call signs, time definitions, grid references, bearings, distances, etc., especially in fixed-form reports.) |
| FROM | This is…The originator of this formal message is indicated by the address designation immediately following. |
| TO | The addressees whose designations will immediately follow are to take action on this formal message. |
| OVER | This is the end of my turn of transmitting. A message is expected. Go ahead. |
| THROUGH ME | I am in contact with the station you are calling; I can act as a relay station. |
| MESSAGE PASSED TO | Your message has been passed to… |
| ROGER | I have received your last transmission satisfactorily. |
| ROGER SO FAR? | Have you received this part of my message satisfactorily? |
| WILCO | I have received your message, understand it, and will comply. (To be used only by the addressee.) ROGER and WILCO are never used together. |
| UNKNOWN STATION | The identity of the station calling or with whom I am attempting to establish communication is unknown. |
| VERIFY | Verify entire message (or portions indicated) with the originator and send correct version. To be used only at discretion of or by the addressee to which the questioned message was directed. |
| Pro-word | Meaning |
| I VERIFY | That which follows has been verified at your request and is repeated. To be used only as a reply to VERIFY. |
| WAIT (WAIT-WAIT) | I must pause for a few seconds. |
| WAIT - OUT | I must pause longer than some seconds and will call you again when ready. |
| WORD AFTER | The word of the message to which I have reference is that which follows… |
| WORD BEFORE | The word of the message to which I have reference is that which proceeds… |
| WORDS TWICE | Communication is difficult. Transmit each phrase (group) twice. This pro-word can be used as an order, request or as information. |
| OUT | This is the end of my transmission to you. No answer or acknowledgement is expected. |
| OUT TO YOU | Do not answer, I have nothing more for you. I shall now call another station on the net. |
| READ BACK | Repeat the entire following transmission back to me exactly as received. |
| I READ BACK | The following is my reply to your request to read back. |
| SAY AGAIN | Repeat all of your last transmission.Followed by ALL AFTER, ALL BEFORE, WORD AFTER, WORD BEFORE etc. means: Repeat… (portion indicated). |
| I SAY AGAIN | I am repeating my transmission or portion indicated. |
| SEND | Go ahead with your transmission. |
| SEND YOUR MESSAGE | Go ahead, transmit; I am ready to copy. |
| SPEAK SLOWER | Reduce the speed of your transmission. |
| I SPELL | I shall spell the next word, group or equivalent phonetically. (Not used when transmitting coded groups only.) |
| RELAY TO | Transmit the following message to all addressees or to the address designation immediately following. |
| RELAY THROUGH… | Send this message by way of call-sign… |
Example of radio conversation
1. ALPHA, THIS IS CHARLIE - MESSAGE, OVER
2. THIS IS ALPHA - SEND, OVER
3. THIS IS CHARLIE - WATCH FOR FALLEN ROCKS ON ROAD BIRKET - I SPELL - BRAVO, INDIA, ROMEO, KILO, ECHO, TANGO - BIRKET, OVER
4. THIS IS ALPHA - WILCO, OUT.
Example of formal message
Formal messages should be transmitted in the following order:
Preliminary call.
1. Pro-word MESSAGE FOLLOWS (SEND YOUR MESSAGE).
2. Abbreviated call with relay and transmission instructions, if any, e.g., READ BACK, RELAY ON, etc.
3. Message handling order = precedence (normally one of the following: FLASH, OPERATIONAL, IMMEDIATE, PRIORITY, or ROUTINE).
4. Date and time group, e.g., 140630z AUG, which is 14 August, 1430 [2 PM] GMT.
5. Pro-word FROM followed by originator call sign.
6. Pro-word TO followed by action addressee call sign.
7. Pro-word INFO followed by info addressee call sign.
8. Pro-word TEXT BEGINS.
9. Security classification (normally one of the following: UNCLASSIFIED, RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL, or SECRET/UN).
10. The originator and the number of the message.
11. The actual text.
12. Pro-word END OF TEXT if final instructions are to follow, otherwise END OF MESSAGE.
13.Pro-word OUT if no answer is required, otherwise OVER.
R.2.3 Report of reception
The following phrases are for use when initiating and answering queries concerning signal strength and readability.
RADIO CHECK What is my signal strength and readability; how do you read me?
YOU ARE
(I READ YOU) Your signal strength and readability is as follows…
Report on signal strength
LOUD Your signal is strong.
GOOD Your signal is good.
WEAK I can only hear you with difficulty.
VERY WEAK I can only hear you with great difficulty.
NOTHING HEARD I cannot hear you at all.
Report on readability
CLEAR Excellent quality.
READABLE Good quality, no difficulties reading you.
DISTORTED I have trouble reading you.
WITH INTERFERENCE I have trouble reading you due to interference.
NOT READABLE I can hear that you transmit but cannot read you at all.
Example of radio check
ALPHA, THIS IS CHARLIE - RADIO CHECK, OVER
THIS IS ALPHA - YOU ARE LOUD AND READABLE, OVER
THIS IS CHARLIE - YOU ARE LOUD AND READABLE AS WELL, OUT.
R.3. Standard UN call signs
The UN has developed a system for the allocation of call signs that is applicable worldwide. It requires minimum administration, is easy to use, and uniquely defines stations and users. The system is applicable for both UN agencies and NGOs.
The UN radio room, that is responsible for setting up and operating the network, issues the call signs. A call sign consists of two letters and one to three digits indicating network location, agency, and position within agency.
The first letter indicates the location of the network. The first letter of the location name is usually designated. If this letter is already in use by another network within the country, the last letter is used. This continues until an available letter is found in the location name. For example, the network operating in Pakistan would use Mike for Multan, Delta for Muzaffarabad, and November for Manshera.
The second letter indicates the agency.
| Letter | UN organization | Function |
| Alpha: | FAO | Agriculture |
| Bravo: | World Bank/IMF | Bank |
| Charlie: | UNICEF | Children |
| Delta: | UNDP | Development |
| Echo: | UNESCO | Education |
| Foxtrot: | WFP | Food |
| Golf: | ||
| Hotel: | WHO | Health |
| India | ||
| Juliet: | ||
| Kilo: | ||
| Lima: | UNJLC | |
| Mike: | IOM | Migration |
| November: | UNFPA | |
| Letter | UN organization | Function |
| Oscar: | OCHA/UNDAC | |
| Papa: | UNOPS | Projects |
| Quebec: | UNDPKO | |
| Romeo: | UNHCR | Refugees |
| Sierra: | UNDSS | Security |
| Tango: | UNHABITAT | |
| Uniform: | UN Secretariat | Offices of Special Representatives, Envoys, etc. |
| Victor: | ||
| Whisky: | ||
| X-ray: | Reserved for NGO’s | |
| Yankee: | Reserved for NGO’s | |
| Zulu: | Reserved for NGO’s |
For example. OCHA staff working in Muzaffarabad would use Delta-Oscar as the two first letters of their call sign.
The first digit of the call sign indicates the position within the agency.
| Digit | Department |
| 1 | Management and miscellaneous senior staff |
| 2 | Finance / Administration |
| 3 | Logistics |
| 4 | Program |
| 5 | Staff security / guards |
| 6 | Agency specific |
| 7 | Drivers |
| 8 | Technical support staff, e.g. Telecom, IT, etc. |
| 9 | Visitors / Agency specific |
The last one or two digits indicate the different individuals in the department.
For example. UNDAC Team Leader in Muzaffarabad Delta-Oscar-1, deputy Delta-Oscar-11.
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