USING FRS/GMRS WALKIE-TALKIES
TIPS
Face towards your Control Center so your body is not blocking the signal.
Hold radio vertical and talk across, not into, the mike.
Keep calm, and keep your voice calm, even if you are not. Use clear, plain language and a
normal tone. Shouting into the microphone, even when you are in a noisy environment, only
distorts the signal.
Walkie-talkies are not like a phone. You cannot hear others when you are sending, and vice-
versa.
SENDING
Think First of what you wish to say in short, clear sentences. Think: “ WHO, WHAT, WHERE,
WHY, WHEN.”
Push PTT button (
P
ush
T
o
T
alk), count one second, and then begin talking.
State the name or unit you are trying to reach.
Identify yourself by cluster or team. Say “Over.”
Count one second and release the transmit button.
Example: “Control, this is Cluster 13, over.” Control will respond “Cluster 13, this is Control, go
ahead.”
Only after you are recognized should you send your message, starting with “Control, this is
Cluster 13………..” and ending with “Over.”
After Control acknowledges receipt of your message say “Control, Cluster 13 Out.”
Note that it is the sender who declares the message complete by saying “Out.”
TROUBLESHOOTING
Make sure you are on agreed-upon channel.
Check for low or dead battery.
Make sure volume is turned up.
NOTES
There may be dozens of radios assigned to your Response Team. Sometimes you will not receive
an immediate response to your initial call. Please respect the hectic nature of what’s going on at
the Control Team, where you may be only one of many trying to communicate.
If you have an emergency that is clearly more important than the call in progress, but only then,
you may wait for a break in traffic and transmit “
Urgent
” or “
Emergency
.” (“ Urgent” means
time-sensitive but not life-or-death; “Emergency” means minutes may count.) Wait until Control
comes back with “
Urgent traffic go ahead
.” Carry out your message as above.
Always carry extra batteries!
