Specifications

Radio Speak
• Keep conversations short and to the point. Use the official language
supported by the UN in your particular country/duty station.
• Don’t shout on the radio.
• Keep the radio approximately 5cm (2 inches) from your mouth. Press the
PTT button and wait 1 second (approximately) before beginning to speak.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Use callsigns only. NO NAMES ALLOWED.
• When talking on the radio, end each of your
transmissions with the word
“OVER”. The other party then knows you
are finished and they can talk. (Refer
sidebar).
End the entire conversation with “OUT”.
This indicates the conversation is finished
and no reply needed or expected. (Refer
sidebar).
• Do NOT carry a VHF radio by the antenna.
• Private conversations are not allowed. Use
the radio to exchang information. Radios
are not to be used as a telephone for general
conversation.
• Use calling channels to call and talking
(working) channels to talk.If no contact,
DO NOT CALL each 10 seconds.DO NOT speak of
valuables/money/telephone numbers etc.
The phrase “OVER
AND OUT” is a
contradiction of
terms. If you use “over and
out”, you are asking the
other party to speak but at
the same time saying you
do not want them to reply to
your last transmission.
ALL MESSAGES ON
RADIO NETWORKS
END WITH EITHER
OVER or OUT, NEVER
THE TWO TOGETHER!
Radio Operators Training Manual Version 27/11/2007 42