RIC-22 - General Radiotelephone Operating Procedures

4. Radio Operating Procedures

4.1 Speech Transmission Techniques

The efficient use of radio depends to a large extent on the method of speaking and on the articulation of the operator. As the distinctive sounds of consonants are liable to become blurred in the transmission of speech and as words of similar length containing the same vowel sounds are apt to sound alike, special care is necessary to ensure proper pronunciation.

When using radio, the operator should speak all words plainly and clearly to prevent words from running together. Avoid any tendency to shout, to accent syllables, or to speak too rapidly. The following points should be kept in mind when using radio:

Speed: Keep the rate of speech constant, neither too fast nor too slow. Remember that the operator receiving your message may have to write it down.

Rhythm: Preserve the rhythm of ordinary conversation and word pronunciation. Also avoid the introduction of unnecessary sounds such as "er" and "um" between words.

4.2 Time and Date

The twenty-four hour clock system should be used to express time during radiocommunications. Time should be expressed and transmitted by means of four figures, the first two denoting the hour past midnight and the last two the minutes past the hour.

Examples:

Time is usually referenced to one standard time zone, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (often referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or zulu time (Z)) to avoid confusion between different time zones. When operations are conducted solely in one time zone, standard or local time may be used.

Where the date, as well as the time of day, is required, a six-figure group should be used. The first two figures indicate the day of the month and the following four figures indicate the time.

Examples:

Noon (EST) of the 16th day of the month is expressed as ........ 161200 E

2:45 a.m. (PST) of the 24th day of the month is expressed as ....240245 P

4.3 ITU Phonetic Alphabet

The phonetic alphabet adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is used to avoid confusion when transmitting difficult or unusual words. This internationally recognized alphabet should be learned so that it is readily available whenever isolated letters or groups of letters are pronounced separately, or when communication is difficult. Call signs should also be spelled phonetically.

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) phonetic alphabet is:

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) phonetic alphabet

Letter	Word	Pronounced as
A	Alfa	AL FAH
B	Bravo	BRAH VOH
C	Charlie	CHAR LEE or SHAR LEE
D	Delta	DELL TAH
E	Echo	ECK OH
F	Foxtrot	FOKS TROT
G	Golf	GOLF
H	Hotel	HOH TELL
I	India	IN DEE AH
J	Juliett	JEW LEE ETT
K	Kilo	KEY LOH
L	Lima	LEE MAH
M	Mike	MIKE
N	November	NO VEM BER
O	Oscar	OSS CAH
P	Papa	PAH PAH
Q	Quebec	KEH BECK
R	Romeo	ROW ME OH
S	Sierra	SEE AIR RAH
T	Tango	TANG GO
U	Uniform	YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE FORM
V	Victor	VIK TAH
W	Whiskey	WISS KEY
X	X-ray	ECKS RAY
Y	Yankee	YANG KEY
Z	Zulu	ZOO LOO

Note: The syllables to be emphasized are in bold.

Numbers are pronounced as follows:

0 - ZE-RO
1 - WUN
2 - TOO
3 - TREE
4 - FOW-er
5 - FIFE
6 - SIX
7 - SEV-en
8 - AIT
9 - NIN-er

Decimal - DAY-SEE-MAL
Hundred - HUN-dred
Thousand - TOU-SAND

---

4.4 Transmission of Numbers

All numbers except whole thousands should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately. Whole thousands should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the number of thousands followed by the word "thousand".

Examples:

10 becomes - one zero
75 becomes - seven five
100 becomes - one zero zero
5,800 becomes - five eight zero zero
11,000 becomes - one one thousand
68,009 becomes - six eight zero zero nine

Numbers containing a decimal point shall be transmitted as above, with the decimal point indicated by the word "decimal".

Example: 121.5 becomes - one two one decimal five

Monetary denominations, when transmitted with groups of digits, should be transmitted in the sequence in which they are written.

Examples:

$17.25 becomes - dollars one seven decimal two five
.75 becomes - decimal seven five

Time should be expressed using the twenty-four hour clock system and should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit. Unless operations are conducted solely within the same time zone, the time should be reported in UTC with the last digit followed by the word "zulu".

Examples:

0920 Z Zero nine two zero zulu
09 Nine minutes past the hour

4.5 Procedural Words and Phrases

While it is not practical to set down precise phraseology for all radiotelephone procedures, slang expressions such as "OK", "REPEAT", "TEN-FOUR", "OVER AND OUT", "BREAKER BREAKER", "COME IN PLEASE", etc., should not be used. Appendix A contains a list of words and phrases that should be used where applicable.

4.6 Call Signs

A distinctive call sign, consisting of a group of letters and numbers, is assigned to base stations by Industry Canada for identification purposes and should be used at least when initial contact is being established and again when the radiocommunication is concluded. When two or more users share a common frequency, it is essential that correct identification be used at all times to ensure positive identification of the users. For mobile stations and hand-held units, a readily recognizable identifier such as fleet car or truck number should be used or, in the case of railroad operations, train number or unit identification.

Examples:

4.7 Radiotelephone Calling Procedures

Before transmitting, the operator of every station shall listen to the desired radiocommunication channel for a period long enough to satisfy themselves that their transmission will not cause harmful interference to communications already in progress. If such interference seems likely, the operator should wait for the first break in the transmission. A station having distress, urgency or safety communications to transmit is entitled to interrupt, at any time, a transmission of lower priority that is in progress.

The identifier of the station being called is ALWAYS spoken first, followed by the words "THIS IS" and your own station identifier.

4.8 Single Station Call

When an operator wishes to establish communication with a specific station, the following items shall be transmitted in the order indicated:

1. Call sign of the station called (not more than three times).
2. The words "THIS IS".
3. Call sign of the station calling (not more than three times).
4. Invitation to reply.

Examples: FREIGHTWAY TWO FIVE ZERO
THIS IS
FREIGHTWAY MONTREAL
XMT FIVE NINE
OVER

VYD FIVE SEVEN LA RONGE
THIS IS
VXX ONE TWO FIVE PRINCE ALBERT
OVER

---

4.9 Multiple Station Call

If more than one station is to be called simultaneously, the call signs of the desired stations may be transmitted in any convenient sequence followed by the words "THIS IS" and the originating station's call sign. As a general rule, operators replying to a multiple station call should answer in the order in which they have been called.

Examples: RED LINE CABS FIVE TWO, ONE ZERO, THREE SIX
THIS IS
XOV FOUR EIGHT TWO
OVER

XLR TWO NINE, XLR THREE ZERO, XMN THREE EIGHT
THIS IS
XOV FOUR EIGHT TWO
OVER

4.10 All Station General Call

When an operator wishes to establish communication with any station within range or in a certain area, the call should be made to "ALL STATIONS" as follows:

1. All stations (not more than three times).
2. The words "THIS IS".
3. Call sign of the station calling (not more than three times).
4. Invitation to reply.

Examples: ALL STATIONS
THIS IS
XJB SIX TWO
OVER

ALL STATIONS (or ALL ONTARIO FORESTRY STATIONS)
THIS IS
XLN ONE EIGHT TWO
OVER

When station operators wish to send information to all stations within range and do not require an acknowledgement or a reply, they proceed as indicated above, but instead end the transmission with the word "OUT".

4.11 Replying

Operators hearing a call directed to their station shall reply as soon as possible and advise the calling station to proceed with the message with the words "GO AHEAD", or not to proceed with the message with the words "STAND BY", followed by the anticipated number of minutes of delay.

Examples: FREIGHTWAY MONTREAL XMT FIVE NINE
THIS IS
FREIGHTWAY TWO FIVE ZERO
GO AHEAD

VXX ONE FOUR NINE
THIS IS
VYD TWO FIVE ZERO
STAND BY TWO MINUTES

When station operators hear a call but are uncertain that the call is intended for their station, they should not reply until the call has been repeated and understood. When station operators hear a call but are not sure of the identity of the calling station, they should reply immediately using the words "STATION CALLING", the called station's identification, and the words "SAY AGAIN" and "OVER".

4.12 Failure of Communications

When contact with a base station fails on a selected frequency, the mobile operator should try to establish contact on another frequency (if available) appropriate to the area in which it is operating.

When normal communications from a base station to a mobile cannot be established, the base station should try to relay the message via any other station which may be able to establish communications.

---

4.13 Corrections and Repetitions

When an error has been made in transmission, the word "CORRECTION" should be spoken, followed by the last correct word or phrase and then by the corrected version of the transmission.

Examples: PICK UP AT TWO SEVEN CORRECTION TWO EIGHT

FRANKLIN STREET

If the receiving station requires the repetition of an entire message, the operator should use the words "SAY AGAIN". If repetition of only a portion of a message is required, the receiving station should use the following:

1. SAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE .... (first word satisfactorily received),
2. SAY AGAIN .... (word before missing portion) to .... (word after missing portion), or
3. SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER .... (last word satisfactorily received).

Requests for repetition of specific items of a message should be made using the words "SAY AGAIN" followed by the identification of the portion of the message desired.

Examples: SAY AGAIN NAME OF STREET
SAY AGAIN HOUSE NUMBER

4.14 Message Handling Procedures

When transmitting a message, the radio station operator should:

1. plan the content of the message before transmitting;
2. listen briefly before transmitting to avoid interference with other transmissions.
3. deliver the radio message clearly and concisely using standard phraseology whenever practical;

The message handling format generally consists of four parts:

1. the call indicating the addressee and the originator;
2. the addressee reply;
3. the message;
4. the acknowledgement or ending

Examples:

Call-up:

XOV FOUR ONE NINE YELLOWKNIFE
THIS IS
XOV SIX ONE EIGHT
OVER

Reply:

XOV SIX ONE EIGHT
THIS IS
XOV FOUR ONE NINE
GO AHEAD
OVER

Message:

XOV FOUR ONE NINE YELLOWKNIFE
THIS IS
XOV SIX ONE EIGHT
WE WILL HAVE FOUR PASSENGERS ON TONIGHT'S FLIGHT
AND A BAG OF MAIL
OVER

Acknowledgement:

XOV SIX ONE EIGHT
THIS IS
XOV FOUR ONE NINE
ROGER

4.15 Signal (or Radio) Checks

When your radio station requires a signal (or radio) check, follow this procedure:

1. Call another station and request a signal check.
2. The signal check consists of "SIGNAL (or RADIO) CHECK 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. HOW DO YOU READ ME? OVER."
3. Your station identification (call sign) should also be transmitted during such test transmissions.
4. Signal checks should not last more than 10 seconds.
5. When replying or receiving a reply to a signal check, the following readability scale should be used:
   1. Bad (unreadable)
   2. Poor (readable now and then)
   3. Fair (readable but with difficulty)
   4. Good (readable)
   5. Excellent (perfectly readable)

Examples:

CYM ONE FOUR
THIS IS
CYT SIX FOUR NINE
REQUEST SIGNAL CHECK

CYT SIX FOUR NINE
THIS IS
CYM ONE FOUR
READING YOU STRENGTH FIVE
OVER