Monthly Radio Test Call

Summary

• when? Every 2nd Monday

• time? 6:30 pm (tune in about 6:25 pm ... the test begins promptly at 6:30 pm)

• where? GMRS Channel 17

• why? Make using your radio second nature.

The 2nd Monday of every month, promptly at 6:30 pm, the residents of the Butler Hill Ward/Precinct conduct a radio test using GMRS radios. A GMRS radio can be a critical item to have in an emergency situation, especially when electricity and wireless service are affected. Being able to talk to people in and around our neighborhood is critical as we assess the severity of the emergency and decide what is best for our family.

Having a radio - or any other piece of emergency gear - is useless unless we know how to use it without thinking. Participating in a monthly test helps us know where the radio is, that it is charged and ready to use, and teaches us tips and tricks about using the device as we chat with our neighbors.

Participating on the test call is simple. At about 6:25 pm on the 2nd Monday of every month, turn on your GMRS radio and tune to Channel 17, the designated Emergency Preparedness channel for the Butler Hill Precinct. The person moderating the call will begin the test promptly at 6:30 pm. When you turn on your radio, listen for a few seconds, and if you don't hear anyone talking, introduce yourself. If others are talking, wait for a pause, then join into the conversation. Test the quality of what you hear and how others hear you by moving around in your house, or going outside. Equipment such as refrigerators, kitchen appliances, TVs, and computers can negatively affect the quality of your radio signal. Also, GMRS frequencies are degraded by obstacles such as walls, hills, and trees. Find the optimal spot or spots in and around you home for the best signal.

The goal of the test call is to have multiple people participate so we all become comfortable talking and listening when many people are trying to learn and share information about what is happening. Using a GMRS radio as a walkie-talkie (2 people talking to each other) is much different from trying to communicate with a large group of people. GMRS radios are simplex, meaning only one person can talk at a time. Learning good radio etiquette and protocol can only be learned and developed in a large group where everyone needs to both listen and talk.

Some Tips

1. Read your radio's user guide.

2. Read your radio's user guide. Yes, this is number 1 and 2. You need to know what your radio is capable of, what settings can you change, and why would you want to change settings. You need to know everything about your radio so you don't need to look something up in the user guide when you really need to use the radio. Using your radio should be automatic. But, just in case, see tip 3.

3. Go to the Internet and find a PDF file of the user guide for your radio make and model. Download the guide and store it on your phone. During an emergency you don't have time to search for your user guide. Most people have their phone with them always, so having the guide on your phone could save you valuable time if you need to make a change on your radio. (By-the-way, this is good advice for other major items - like a portable generator - that have user guides. Downloading them to you phone is better than searching for a paper document.)

4. Don't store your radio in a closet, cupboard, or drawer. Make sure it is in clear view. Your kitchen is one of the best places to store your radio, maybe on the end of the countertop.

5. Develop a plan to check your radio's battery often. If your radio uses disposable batteries, have one or two sets of spares stored with your radio. If your radio uses rechargeable batteries, consider buying a spare, or invest in a power pack to charge your radio when there is no electricity.

6. Turn on the Roger Beep. (Some radios may not have a Roger Beep.) The Roger Beep is a tone the radio generates when you release the Push to Talk (PTT) button to let others know you are finished talking. This takes the place of the person talking saying "over" or "roger" when they are finished talking.

7. Learn about squelch and how to change the settings quickly and without consulting the user guide. (Some lower end radios do not have squelch setting adjustments.)

8. Involve all family members in the monthly test calls. You don't know who will be home when an emergency strikes and everyone should be able to call for help.

9. Set a reminder on your phone about the monthly call and make a goal to attend the call every month. Remember, preparedness doesn't really matter until it really matters.

10. When using your radio:

    • GMRS radio traffic is simplex meaning only one person can talk at a time. Listen for a Roger Beep or for the person talking to say “over” before you try to talk.

    • Do not keep the Push to Talk (PTT) button constantly depressed. This will block others from talking.

    • When talking, use short sentences.

    • The LED on your radio will be GREEN when you are receiving traffic and RED when you push the PTT button to talk.

    • Keep the radio in front of … and about 1 - 2 inches from … your mouth with the antenna pointed skyward. Speaking clearly into the microphone instead of directly across it can help improve audio quality. 

11. If you are using your radio outdoors, try stepping away from large metal objects or dense structures when transmitting. Even moving a few feet can sometimes improve signal strength dramatically.

12. Learn how to make the most of your radio’s built-in features. Many handheld two way radios include functions like weather alerts, scan modes, and call tones that often go unused. Scanning can be especially handy if you want to monitor multiple channels at once, while call tones are a great way to get someone’s attention without having to keep calling their name over the air. 

An important reminder that applies to all areas of preparedness, especially communications ...

• Your skills matter more than your gear.

• Your plan matters more than your gear.

• And, practice matters more than your plan. Your gear (especially your radio) is useless if you don't know how to use it.