HOW-TO-USE-THE-PROWORDS.pptx
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A radio check is used to check radio performance by having one station call another and ask "RADIO CHECK." The receiving station responds with their signal strength and readability, such as "LOUD AND CLEAR." If reception is unclear, terms like "WEAK" or "FADING" are used. Proper radio communication procedures include identifying stations, using prowords like "OVER" and "OUT" to end transmissions, and acknowledging messages for verification. Signal quality numbers from 1 to 5 can also be used to indicate readability.
HOW-TO-USE-THE-PROWORDS.pptx
- 2. Whenever using a radio for the first time or when there is doubt about its performance, the simplest check that can be done is what is known as a “RADIO CHECK.” Radio checks should be carried out periodically during periods of low traffic. INITIATING A RADIO CHECK The person initiating a radio check says: • The call sign of the station being called. • The words “THIS IS.” • The call sign of the station calling. • The prowords RADIO CHECK (meaning, “What is my signal strength and readability? How do you hear me?”)
- 3. The receiving station answers: • ROGER (=“I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.”) Strength of signals and readability need not be exchanged unless one station cannot clearly hear another. So, the omission of comment on signal strength and readability is understood to mean that reception is LOUD AND CLEAR. • If reception is other than LOUD AND CLEAR, it must be described with prowords for signal strength and readability, such as:
- 4. Signal Strength LOUD Your signal is strong. GOOD Your signal is plainly audible. WEAK I can hear you, but with difficulty. FADING At times your signal fades so much that continuous reception is not dependable. NOTHING HEARD I cannot hear you at all. Readability CLEAR Excellent quality. READABLE Good quality; no difficulty in reading you. DISTORTED Having problems reading you due to distortion. WITH INTERFERENCE Having trouble reading you due to interference. INTERMITTENT Having trouble reading you because your signal is intermittent. NOT READABLE I can hear that you are transmitting but cannot read you at all.
- 5. Tethers End, Tethers End, Tethers End, THIS IS Erebus, Erebus, Erebus, RADIO CHECK, OVER Erebus THIS IS Tethers End, you are loud and clear OVER Tethers End, THIS IS Erebus, Thank you, OUT Source: Learn VHF radio ProWords - Marine Education RYA Powerboat & Jetski Courses, Poole (marine-education.co.uk)
- 6. In case of some interference or just to confirm how your message was received, you may need to ask about the reception. In this case we use HOW DO YOU COPY? Or HOW COPY? To ask about general quality of the reception you may ask: HOW DO YOU READ? There are two ways of responding to such questions. - You may simply answer COPY LOUD AND CLEAR (=LIMA CHARLIE) or - You may give the answerer the notion of the signal quality by giving the note from 1 to 5. e.g.: COPY 3 out of 5 The meaning of numbers used in assessment over the radio: 1 = Bad (unreadable); 2 = Poor (readable now and then); 3 = Fair (readable but with difficulty); 4 = Good (readable); 5 = Excellent (perfectly readable).
- 7. When communication reception is satisfactory, message parts may be transmitted only once. When communication is difficult, call signs should be transmitted twice. (Phrases, words, or groups may be transmitted twice after use of the proword WORDS TWICE. Reception may be verified by use of the proword READ BACK. When you finish transmitting your message clearly end with OVER (=Your message is finished) and release the PTT button so the other person can start transmitting. At the end of the conversation say the words OUT or OVER AND OUT (=All conversation is finished, the channel is clear for others to use) to signal the end of the conversation.
- 8. Begin radio contact by saying call signs digit- by-digit. Figures in the text of a message may be spoken as in normal speech, but when conditions are difficult or when misunderstanding is likely or dangerous, figures should be spoken digit-by-digit, preceded by the proword FIGURES. This proword warns that figures follow immediately, to help distinguish them from other similarly pronounced words.
- 9. When the message is unclear, stations request repetitions. For this purpose, the proword SAY AGAIN may be used alone or in together with prowords that identify the portion of the message that is unclear (e.g., ALL BEFORE, ALL AFTER, FROM, TO, WORD BEFORE, WORD AFTER). In complying with requests for repetitions, the transmitting station must identify the portion that is being repeated. When you want to stress the importance of the message or simply make sure that important data get through, you say your message and then use I SAY AGAIN and repeat the message, e.g. I need five more minutes, I SAY AGAIN, five more minutes.
- 10. When an operator makes an error while transmitting a message, he/she uses the proword CORRECTION, followed by the last word or phrase correctly transmitted. Then continues transmission. If an operator discovers an error in a message after it has been received, he/she sends an abbreviated service message, identifying the message and the portion to be corrected.
- 11. To ensure that a message has been accurately received, the sending station may request that all or part of the message be read back, using the proword READ BACK and identifying the segment (e.g. READ BACK TIME, READ BACK GRID, READ BACK TEXT, etc.) Specify which stations are to read back by saying their call numbers before the proword READ BACK. Remaining stations keep silent. When call signs do not precede the proword READ BACK, all recipients have to read back. If the station reading back does so incorrectly, the sending station will call attention to the error by using the proword WRONG, followed by the correct version.
- 12. When you have received and understood the message respond with ROGER or 10-4. The proword WILCO also means “I have received your signal, understand it and will comply.” The meaning of WILCO includes that of ROGER. Either the sending or the receiving station may indicate a wish to add another transmission with the proword MORE TO FOLLOW in the message ending or receipt.
- 13. Always acknowledge. Silence is not the completion of a conversation. Only acknowledge a message when you fully understand it. If you have not understood the message, ask to repeat it with SAY AGAIN (not “repeat”). The request for acknowledgment of a message normally is included in the text of that message. If the message has been transmitted, the request for acknowledgment constitutes a new message. A prompt reply referring to the message may serve in place of acknowledgment.