TO: ALL WEST VIRGINIA ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM WV SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 08.42 DATE: October 19, 2008
SUBJECT: GIVE IT A SECOND
When talking on any radio, you should always wait at least one or two seconds after keying your microphone before you start to talk. Even in today's world of lightening fast communications, you still have to give electronics a second or so to catch up with humans.
To keep from having interference problems, some radio systems use additional measures to keep their radios from receiving unwanted signals. The system is called by a variety of names such as "Private Line", "Channel Guard", "Quiet Channel", or "CTCSS". In most of the cases, they use the same methods. When the transmitter is keyed up, a low frequency, low level tone, or digital signal, is added to the transmitter's signal. These additional tones or signals are picked up by the receiving stations and turn on the speaker so the transmitting person can be heard, or they operate a relay so the received signal can be re-transmitted.
Most of the time it will take a second or so before the speaker is turned on, or the relay is operated and the re-transmitted signal is put on the air.
In either case, if you start talking as soon as you key your transmitter, the first word or two that you speak may not be heard at the receiving end. This could cause confusion if the first couple of words are important, such as call letters, unit numbers, or just a one word confirmation. To keep from having to repeat your transmission, and maybe wasting valuable time, key your microphone for about a second or two before you start talking. This will also give you time to think what you want to say. Then speak slowly and clearly.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator