As part of the Uniformed Public Services course, we learn a lot about the Communication and Technology that is used in the public services. We learn about the types of radios that the services use and how they help them.
Why do the Uniformed Public Services use radios?
They us radios to communicate with a person/unit/aircraf/ship over a long distance, pretty much like a mobile phone or computer. They can also be used to call in an accident/ or ask for back up in a major emergency. Along with passing a message to one person, a radio can pass a message along to many people. So the radio is a clever piece of kit.
Types of Radios
P.Y.E Telecom
Now P.Y.E Telecom isn't really a radio but they do make radios. They developed the military radar in the 1930s, probably just in time for the second world war. They were the main producers of radios in world war 2, and in the end they produced all military radios.
Infantry headset 1942
This piece of kit was used by soldiers to talk to tanks crews. it is a VHF radio.
Racal
The Racal was created in 1950, they were operational form 1950 to 2000 and provided radios for britain and overseas.
Clansman
This radios was developed int the 1970s and was a general staf requirement (GSR). this was considered an advance in technology by all the Armed Forces. And was later replaced by the Bowman radio.
Radios Currently in Use
PRR (Personal Role Radio)
The personal role radio is a headset that each person in a unit carries. It is lightweight and easy to use.
Bowman
This radio replaced the clansman and is the tactical communications system that the Armed forces use today. it was delivered into service and became fully operational in 2004. it is relatively lightweight and was considered to be brought into service too early.
Airwave
The airwave is used by all uniformed public services, but is more commonly used in the police, ambulance and fire and rescue services. It was originally brought into service in 2002, but was not issued on a large scale until 2005 and wbecame national in 2009.
The Phonetic Alphabet
A - Alpha
B - Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E - Echo
F - Foxtrot
G - Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L - Lemur
M - Mike
N - November
O - Oscar
P - Papa
Q - Quebec
R - Romeo
S - Sierra
T - Tango
U - Uniform
V - Victor
W - Whiskey
X - X-ray
Y - Yankee
Z - Zulu
The Uniformed Public Services use this alhabet to relay a message and it is easier to spell things out over the radio e.g. if there has been an robbery and they need to trace a car, then the can use the phonetic alpha be to spell out the number plate, therefore making it easier to find the vehicle.
Radio Procedure
It is vitally important, that the services use radio procedure. If they didn't then messages could get mixed up. By using radio procedure there is less chance of getting the message across clearly.
Calling and Answering
When you using radio procedure you need to identify who you are and who you are talking to. The services, do this via call signs.
'Hello' - this is the first thing that is said when using the radios, it alerts the net, that you need to speak to someone.
'Callsign' - this identifies the stations that the message is intended for, and lets all other stations, carry on with what they were doing.
'This is' - this informs the satation, who the message is from.
'Callsign, of calling station' - this lets the stations know which callsigh, they are recieving the message form.
