BASIC

TWO-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

28 December 2022
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 What is Radio?
 2-way? Why not 1-way?
❑ Which Radio Bands?
 What are types of two-way Radio?
❑ Cellphone or Radio?
❑ What are some of the Basics of two-way Radio?
❑ What is the most important skill as a Radio operator?
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WHAT IS RADIO?
 WHAT IS RADIO? 4

❑ Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves
are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz).
They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected to an antenna
which radiates the waves and received by another antenna connected to a radio receiver.
Radio is very widely used in modern technology, in radio communication, radar, radio
navigation, remote control, remote sensing and other applications.
❑ Radio waves were first identified and studied by German physicist Heinrich Hertz in 1886.
The first practical radio transmitters and receivers were developed around 1895–1896 by
Italian Guglielmo Marconi, and radio began to be used commercially around 1900. To
prevent interference between users, the emission of radio waves is regulated by law,
coordinated by an international body called the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU), which allocates frequency bands in the radio spectrum for different uses.
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WHAT IS A TWO-WAY RADIO?

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❑ The term two-way radio is a technology that allows individuals to keep in contact with
each other using radio waves. Two-way radio works by converting audio to radio waves
that are then transmitted through the air. These radio waves are received by other radios
which convert the radio waves back to audio
❑ Two-way radio systems usually use a single radio channel and operate in a half-duplex
mode: only one user on the channel can transmit at a time, so users in a user group must
take turns talking. The radio is normally in receive mode so the user can hear all other
transmissions on the channel. When the user wants to talk he presses a "push-to-talk"
button, which turns off the receiver and turns on the transmitter; when he releases the
button the receiver is activated again. Multiple channels are provided so separate user
groups can communicate in the same area without interfering with each other.
 WHAT IS TWO-WAY RADIO? 7

❑ The conversion to radio waves can be sent as an analogue signal or a digital

signal, with digital transmission being the more modern technology. With digital
radio, it is possible to send other types of data over the radio waves such as text
messages and status updates. It is even possible to encrypt data when using
digital radio to stop people using your network without your permission.
 WHAT IS TWO-WAY RADIO? 8

❑ Two-way radio works between the frequencies of 3 MHz (Megahertz) and 1000
MHz, also known as 1 GHz (Gigahertz). This range of two-way frequencies is
divided into two common categories:
▪ Very High Frequency (VHF) - Range between 30 MHz and 300 MHz
▪ Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) - Range between 300 MHz and 1 GHz
 WHAT IS TWO-WAY RADIO? 9

❑ From these ranges, most two-way radio equipment falls into the 136 - 174 MHz and 403 -
527 MHz parts of the spectrum.

Common, VHF referred to as 2-Meter band

while UHF is to 70 cm band.
 WHAT IS TWO-WAY RADIO? 10

❑ VHF frequencies are best used for outdoor operation and in rural areas. Typical
industries that use these frequencies include:
▪ Farming and agriculture
▪ Road and bridge construction
▪ Volunteer, Public Safety
▪ Paging Systems
▪ Long-haul trucking services
 WHAT IS TWO-WAY RADIO? 11

❑ On the other hand, the trade-off for ultra-high frequency for distance is in building
penetration or densely wooded areas. UHF frequencies are most used and
suitable for industries such as:
▪ Manufacturing, factories, and warehouses
▪ Hotels, hospitality, and retail stores
▪ Building construction
▪ Schools, dorms, and education facilities
▪ Healthcare, hospitals, and care homes

A quick ‘rule of thumb’ is that VHF travels furthest outdoors

whereas UHF is better for local on-site use.
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WHAT IS ITS RANGE?

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❑ The problem with this question is that there are simply so many factors which can cause
issues with radio communications signals.

These include, but not limited to:

▪ Frequency and type of modulation (signal-to-noise ratio)
▪ Transmitter power and receiver sensitivity
▪ obstructions such as buildings
▪ condition of the two-way radio battery
▪ radio propagation conditions
▪ antenna height and characteristics
▪ other conditions (weather, reflection and refraction within the atmosphere)
 WHAT IS ITS RANGE? 14

A Simple Answer: Radio to Radio (Back-to-Back)

❑ A simple answer is that portable radios are to be used for close range
communications only. Some manufacturer’s state 5km, 10km etc. The reality is
that would only be possible in ideal conditions with no obstacles and is unrealistic
in the real world.
So, the best answer is when using two-way radios in back-to-back (radio to
radio) mode, you should expect no more than a mile or so in open land and no more
than a couple of hundred meters in built up areas when outside; and no more than
probably 100m when indoors.
 WHAT IS ITS RANGE? 15

A more complex answer: Line of Sight

For High Frequency (HF) radio waves, it hits the free electrons in the ionosphere, causing them to vibrate
and re-radiate the energy back down at the same frequency, effectively bouncing the radio wave back
towards the Earth. The ionosphere contains a high proportion of free electrons which influence radio
propagation.
 WHAT IS ITS RANGE? 16

❑ A characteristic of electromagnetic radiation or acoustic wave propagation which means

waves travel in a direct path from the source to the receiver. Electromagnetic transmission
includes light emissions traveling in a straight line. The rays or waves may be diffracted,
refracted, reflected, or absorbed by the atmosphere and obstructions with material and
generally cannot travel over the horizon or behind obstacles. The approximate line-of-sight
distance to the radio horizon can be estimated from: horizon in kilometers = 3.569 times
the square root of the antenna height in meters.
❑ An engineered two-way radio system will calculate the coverage of any given base station
with an estimate of the reliability of the communication at that range. Two-way systems
operating in the VHF and UHF bands, where many land mobile systems operate, rely on
line-of-sight propagation for the reliable coverage area.
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WHY TWO-WAY RADIO?

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❑ When you want to call someone on a cell phone at a minimum you have to press a speed dial button
and wait for connection. Between the dialing and the time delay of the person on the other end
answering, some time can go by (if they answer at all)
❑ With a two-way radio you simply press a button and start talking. In an emergency, this speed could
be critical
❑ You can talk to multiple users at once
❑ There is no monthly contract with two-way radios. You never have to worry about exceeding your
allotted time like you would do with a mobile phone
❑ Some 2-way radios are built to military specification which means that they will work in wet
environment or even after they are dropped on concrete
❑ Two-way radios continue to work in natural disasters or major security incidents. Even if mobile
phones do work, the mobile phone tower can get overloaded with everyone trying to make calls so
your call may not go through

❑ Two-way radios stay on site at the end of the day so can be used by shift or night workers
❑ There may be places in some areas where cell phones don’t work. Two-way radios can
reach all areas, especially when repeaters are installed
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TYPES OF TWO-WAY RADIOS

 TYPES OF TWO-RADIOS 20

1. Stationary/Fixed Base stations

 TYPES OF TWO-RADIO 21

2. Mobile Base stations

26 April 2022 FOSTERING CAMARADERIE THRU COMMUNITY SERVICE

 TYPES OF TWO-RADIO 22

3. Handheld/Portable Radios

aka HTs or Handheld

Transceivers
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PARTS OF A TWO-WAY RADIO

PARTS OF A TWO-WAY RADIO 24

Power/ Voice volume

 PARTS OF A TWO-WAY RADIO 25

Battery latch

Channel
Selector
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❑ Getting Started
1. Make sure that your battery is charged….you won't get very far if this does
not happen.
2. Switch on the radio…this is often done with the volume control.
3. Check to see that the radio is on the correct channel otherwise no one will
hear you and vice versa.
4. Adjust the volume to a comfortable audible level.
5. Press the PTT button throughout the transmission, release to listen.
6. Take good care of your radio
 WHAT IS PHONETIC ALPHABET? 27

❑ The phonetic alphabet is also known as a word-spelling alphabet or radio

alphabet. It is a set of words used for the letters of an alphabet in oral
communication
❑ It is used to spell out words when speaking to someone not able to see the
speaker because the lack of visual cues during oral communication can cause
confusion. For example, lips are closed at the start of saying the letter "B" but
open at the beginning of the letter "D" making these otherwise similar-sounding
letters more easily discriminated when looking at the speaker. Without these
visual cues, such as during announcements of airline gate numbers "B3" and "D3"
at an airport, "B" may be confused with "D" by the listener.
 WHAT IS PHONETIC ALPHABET? 28

Military History
❑ The Allied military radio spelling alphabet was created prior to
World War I and evolved separately in the United States and the
United Kingdom. They were used separately among the individual
military services in the two countries until being merged during
World War II. The last WWII spelling alphabet continued to be used
through the Korean War, being replaced in 1956 as a result of both
countries adopting the ICAO/ITU Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet,
with the NATO members calling it the "NATO Phonetic Alphabet".
 WHAT IS PHONETIC ALPHABET? 29

ALPHA BRAVO CHARLI DELTA ECHO FOXTRO GOLF

E T

HOTEL INDIA JULIET KILO LIMA MIKE NANCY /

NOVEMBER

OSCAR PAPA QUEBEC ROMEO SIERRA TANGO UNIFORM

VICTOR WHISKE X-RAY YANKEE ZEBRA/

Y ZULU
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COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
COMMON TWO-WAY RADIO LINGO
 LISTENING
is the most important skill in radio operation. It is a skill that allows us to ensure that a
transmitting station is heard, and also allows us to avoid introducing interference.
Most of us operate a transceiver, a radio with a built-in transmitter, receiver and
transmit/receive antenna switch that is controlled by a push-to-talk switch. By nature, a
transceiver operates where you can talk or listen at any given time but cannot
simultaneously talk and listen at the same time. This means that we cannot interact as we do
with face-to-face conversation, where unencumbered interjection and interruption are
possible. This operation requires that any interjection or interruption occur in a manner that
is synchronized with the conversation.
QUESTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS?