Tip 39: Don’t Talk Until You Hear The Beep

  • With digital radios, the number one common mistake we see when it comes to event radio use is someone talking before they hear the beep. This leads to half or the majority of your sentence being cut off. For the best results, wait until after the beep to begin speaking and keep sentences as short as possible.

Tip 40: Hold The Radio Upright

  • When it comes to event communications, most staff and volunteers only use radios once or twice a year. It’s very normal for them to not be able to use a radio confidently, which is one reason we recommend training them prior to the event.

  • One common issue we see with inexperienced radio users is that they aren’t exactly sure how to hold the radio.

  • If you hold it upright with the top of the antenna facing the ceiling or sky or whatever happens to be above you, it helps transmit information a lot better. 

Tip 41: Only Hold The PTT Button When You Need To Speak

  • One mistake we often see during events is the push to talk (PTT) button being hit accidentally. Normally, once or twice is not a big deal, but holding the PTT button down frequently or for prolonged periods of time can tie up communications on that channel.

  • To help avoid this, we recommend wearing the radio on your hip, particularly on your waistband or belt loop.

Tip 42: Clarity Is Key - Keep Conversations Brief And To The Point

  • Since only one person can talk on a channel at a time, it’s important for conversations to be kept short and to the point, especially during an event. The more precise you can be in your communications, the easier it will be for you to be understood.

Tip 43: Don’t Transmit Sensitive Info

  • It’s important to remember that any information you talk about over the radio is going to be heard by not only your event staff, but potentially those around them. Unless all of your staff are wearing an audio accessory like a surveillance kit, information will be broadcasted through the radio and potentially heard by those around them. With all that in mind, it’s best to not transmit personal or sensitive information.