Chapter 6
Voice procedure 1: Routine calls
It may sound like a statement of the obvious, but radiotelephony is simply a method of communicating with a fellow human being by voice. Don’t let the fact that there is a bit of electronic equipment involved blind you to that fact, or to the logical follow-up that in general you will communicate far more effectively by using plain straightforward English, with natural rhythms and intonation, than by using half-remembered jargon and distorted speech patterns.
Of course, the use of radio does involve a few constraints that are not present when you are simply chatting to friends:-
Listen, before you transmit, to make sure that you will not interfere with another call. Remember that VHF channels are a shared resource: there may be thousands of other vessels within radio range of you, all sharing one distress and calling channel and just four inter-ship channels.
Think before you speak. Plan what you are going to say and how you are going to say it.
Use the microphone correctly. If it is built into a telephone-style handset, hold it like a telephone. The more common fist mike, or a microphone built into a portable, should be held about 2-5cm from the mouth, but slightly off to one side to reduce the huffing and spitting noises that it will pick up if it is right in front of your lips.
Speak normally, or raise your voice very slightly, but don’t shout, and try to speak at a normal, flowing speed. If you have a particularly high or low-pitched voice, or a pronounced accent, try to moderate it.
Press to talk and release to listen. One of the commonest mistakes by inexperienced operators is to forget to press or release the pressel switch when required. The last word you speak before you release the PTT switch should be “over” if you expect a reply, and “out” if you don’t. “Over” means you expect a reply, and “Out” means you don’t. “Over and Out” is contradictory, and can only mean that you are confused.
Identify yourself and who you are calling, using either your callsign or your boat name. This is obvious when you first make contact, but tends to get forgotten after the initial exchange. There is never any need to repeat names or callsigns more than three times, but it is important to include them at least once, every time you press the PTT switch.
Calling another vessel
Suppose we are on Blue Tango, and want to arrange to meet the crew of Karenita in Helford this evening.
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