the USS Alabama on a commonly guarded frequency,
Ohio’s initial call would be:
“Alabama, THIS IS Ohio, OVER.”
Upon hearing the initial call, Alabama would reply:
“Ohio, THIS IS Alabama, OVER.”
At this point, Ohio would initiate another call-up and
indicate that it has traffic to pass to Alabama.
To use the circuit more efficiently, the operator
should observe the following procedures:
Write down all messages or their substance prior
to transmission, including those that must be
delivered by the receiving operator to another
person and those that are preceded by the
proword MESSAGE.
Listen to make sure that the circuit is clear before
initiating a transmission.
Speak in a clear, natural voice and pause after
each natural phrase.
If technically practical, during the transmission
Table 2-6.—Prowords Concerning Signal Strength and
Readability
of a message, the operator should pause after
each natural phrase and momentarily interrupt
his transmission (carrier). This will allow
another station to break in if necessary.
Sometimes the operator must initiate test signals for
the adjustment of either a transmitter or a receiver. Such
signals should not exceed 10 seconds and should be
composed of spoken numerals (1, 2, 3, and so on),
followed by the call sign of the station transmitting the
signals.
SEQUENCE OF CALL SIGNS
Call signs or address groups in message headings
should be arranged alphabetically in the order in which
they are to be transmitted, whether plain or encrypted.
For this purpose, the slant sign (/) and numerals 1
through 0 are considered the 27th through the 37th
letters of the alphabet. When abbreviated call signs are
used on a net, the sequence of answering a collective
call should be the same as if full call signs were used.
This will prevent confusion when these call signs are
changed from full to abbreviated.
SIGNAL STRENGTH AND READABILITY
A station is presumed to have good signal strength
and readability unless the operator is notified otherwise.
Queries concerning signal strength and readability
should not be exchanged unless one station cannot
clearly hear another station. The proword RADIO
CHECK is the standard phrase used in a call-up that
questions signal strength and readability. For example,
let’s assume that USS Alabama initiates a call to USS
Ohio and wishes to know the status of communications
conditions. Alabama’s initial call would be:
“Ohio, THIS IS Alabama, RADIO CHECK,
OVER.”
Upon hearing this transmission satisfactorily and
determining that communications conditions are clear,
Ohio would then answer:
“Alabama, THIS IS Ohio, ROGER, OVER.”
The omission of comment on signal strength and
readability is understood by Alabama to mean that the
reception is loud and clear. If any adverse conditions
existed that were impeding Ohio’s ability to maintain
satisfactory communications, Ohio would have used
one of the phrases (considered prowords) in table 2-6.
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