Two-Way Radio Basics Skills Your Team Members Should Know
Using two way radios for rent is a great way to minimize the lag with the communication of your team, especially if the personnel are going to be in different locations. During events, construction jobs, and other similar situations, a two-way radio is the best tool that any staff can have to make sure that they are coordinated with everyone else.
There are common misconceptions with two way radios such as everyone having to participate in the same line. This is not the case. Another misconception is the traffic being affected by the amount of listeners. To dispel these misconceptions and help with the usage of two-way radios, below are the most basic skills your team members should know.
Practice Two-Way Radio Etiquette
Basic two-way radio etiquette won’t be confusing even for someone who has never used a handheld device to communicate before. Before using the two-way radio to speak, your personnel should already have a concrete idea of what they want to convey. Two-way radios can be a bit tricky to get used to when someone is too used to being talkative on a phone. However, there are limits to two-way radios that should be recognized, such as the traffic not being sufficient for concurrent transmission for the most part.
Proper two-way radio etiquette includes the following:
Stating the who, where, and what in that particular order
This allows everyone listening to have sufficient context. The who will inform them of who you are and what your responsibilities could be. The where will inform them of where you’re speaking from and the idea that they have of that location will fill in the blanks in their mind. The what is what you need to state concisely.
Avoid talking over each other by using over and out
Over and out are two words that should be used by anyone who will transmit over a two-way radio. Over should be used to clarify that you are finished transmitting your message and you’re awaiting a response. Over and out, together, will convey that you will be occupied with something else and may not be able to transmit or listen to further transmissions.
Know Where to Use the Two-Way Radio
Two-way radios are certainly powerful and more accessible compared to what could be assumed as more feature-packed counterparts in smartphones. However, they still have their limitations even when using radio transmissions. Your team members need to be aware of the radio’s antenna and its limitations.
For example, using poor radiation pattern could reduce the radius of the team’s radio reception. Making sure that everyone is transmitting at an optimal position should be done even before deploying the two-way radios to everybody.
Other elements such as thick concrete walls could affect the range of the radio, especially when transmitting. Using radio cases that can be strapped on the shoulder will make the two way radios for rent receive better while being protected from common damaging elements like water and debris.
At Tidewater Communications, we have two way radios for rent. Contact us today and let us help you pick the best digital two-way radios that will meet your needs.
