One of the most over looked items in the events I have been two is communication.

First off, this means a way to communicate. I think every person should invest in some form of outdoor GSM radio. I think this is the cheapest and most common hand held radio and allows communication across different brands of radio. Headsets are nice, but the real player is the radio itself.

Second, the flow of communication is key. When I run my team, the only folks allowed to talk on our net is the team captain and squad leaders. Each other is there just to listen, or talk when they take over as squad lead. The team captain needs to constantly flow information to his team as it becomes available and direct squads to perform. Squad leads need to be able to listen and offer constuctive feedback, no useless banter or comments like "that's stupid". Sometimes there is more goining on in the event than you understand.

Third is intelligence. In the events last year, Adam and Shadowfox were laughing at some point since it seemed like I was always one step ahead of the other team. I use some of my players to position in places where they can observe and report enemy movements. At one point, I had a player within 20 feet of the enemy base listening to their mission plans and relaying it to me so I could intercept them. May seem unfair, but think about it, we do it in real life.

So this year, if you want to make your day fun and full of combat, bring a radio and be ready to listen ot lead. And remember that if you are not in charge, listen to the guy who is.

Jim

this is great stuff! cant stress enough that if you dont need to talk, dont.

Always remember "The radio will not operate in the O F F position." Sorry old military joke.

Radios are alway a plus. Suggestion: Try to have to same model or make radio for each member of your team. Some models have privacy channals and scan features that other cheaper models do not have.

This could make a large difference on your communications and intel leaks.

Have someone on your team as a comms. specialist. His roll is to be proficent with the make or model radios your team uses and is able to change or preset all radio channels before the game or be able to change up channels if you believe your net is comprimised. This will save a lot of time and hassle. He should also have spare radios on hand in case 1 or 2 go down.

He should also be responsable with coming up with some kind of short term fields lingo (Brevity) that all can understand. IE "Tango"= Target, "Contact"= Enemy personel.

Stick with simple callsigns on the field instead of trying to rememeber each players callsign. this will save time with your messages. IE. "Pappa 1. to Pappa 6." "Pappa 6. here." "Pappa 6. you have 4 contacts moving on your 2 o'clock" "Pappa 6. Roger." "Pappa 6. to Pappa 1. 4 tangos down." "Pappa 1. roger, good job."

You can really have fun with this. After all thats MIlsim.

Thanks Jim this will really help us this year and since i actually have a radio now... and i remember when you had mangy near our base lol

comms are good i have run into a time when all comms were down and we had to send a runner to OPCOM it sucked but as we were the recce unit we had the intel and needed to communicate it. there have been games that i have played where my team has not fired a shot but completed all of our goals and they were all intel gathering. intel is key. and i hope to have more recon missions in future games

where would you get a heavy duty raido that would link up to others

(Copy and Pasting from another forum, all credit to Spl. Durkee)

I'm writting this in response to some recent mil-sim events I've attended...where radio etiquette was...non existant.
Hope this helps you get on the air and be a more confident radio operator.

General Operation of "Push-Talk" Radio
-Push the “transmit” button. Wait 2 seconds before speaking.
-Announce your Squad #, then the Squad # of who you wish to transmit to.
-Give your info and get off the air.
(Note: If the radio features an automatic "OVER" beep, do not say "over")
-Wait for the full reply to be transmitted, signaled by an "over" or "over-beep", before transmitting again.
-When finished with all conversation, say “no further”


General Guide to Radio Preparation
1. Have a functioning radio and be sure of it's operational capabilities.
2. Ensure your batteries are charged/new, and your PTT mic and earpieces are functioning.
3. Estabilish useable channels prior to engagement and establish rules for "listening in" on OPFOR radio channels.
4. If using an amatuer HAM radio, be sure to notify repeater owners of mil-sim use at least one week prior.


Radio Etiquette
-When communicating via radio, remember the phrase: “Silence is golden”.
-Keep unnecessary radio traffic off of the air. Always think before you break the radio channel, “Is this traffic going to be beneficial?".
-Always communicate as if someone else is listening. If possible, do not give locations other than map coordinates.
-Do not shout, holler, or scream over the radio. Always speak in a clear, concise, professional tone of voice.
-Always inform the other Squads/Squad Leaders of your movement. If your moving to assist, be sure it is needed.
-NEVER use swear words or phrases that could be offensive. Not only are the inproper etiquette, it is ILLEGAL.


Commonly Used Jargon (Military/AARL)
QSL = Understood (Yes).
QSL? = Do you understand?
411 = SITREP requested (SITREP- Situational report).
Bogey Dope = Request info on OPFOR.
"Pull the plug" = Commence radio silence.
QTH = What is your position (location)?
Commit = Cleared for operation.
Cleared hot (or "Hot) = Cleared to continue objective with minimal engagement.
No Factor = Not a threat
Tango Charlie = Time check (Courtesy of Jarhead999 76 65)
Oscar Mike = On the move (Courtesy of Jarhead999 76 65)

92 Code
Mainly for use with when operating Morse Code. Can be used during voice transmissions, however.
1 = Wait a moment
2 = Important Business
3 = What time is it?
4 = Where shall I go ahead?
5 = Have you business for me?
6 = I am ready
7 = Are you ready?
8 = Close your key; circuit is busy
9 = Close your key for priority business (Wire chief, dispatcher, etc)
10 = Keep this circuit closed
12 = Do you understand?
13 = I understand
14 = What is the weather?
15 = For you and other to copy
17 = Lightning here
18 = What is the trouble?
19 = Form 19 train order
21 = Stop for a meal
22 = Wire test
23 = All copy
24 = Repeat this back
25 = Busy on another wire
26 = Put on ground wire
27 = Priority, very important
28 = Do you get my writing?
29 = Private, deliver in sealed envelope
30 = No more (end)
31 = Form 31 train order
32 = I understand that I am to ...
33 = Car report (Also, answer is paid for)
34 = Message for all officers
35 = You may use my signal to answer this
37 = Diversion (Also, inform all interested)
39 = Important, with priority on thru wire (Also, sleep-car report)
44 = Answer promptly by wire
73 = Best regards
88 = Love and kisses
91 = Superintendent's signal
92 = Deliver promptly
93 = Vice President and General Manager's signals
95 = President's signal
134 = Who is at the key?

Phonetic Alphabet
A Alpha
B Bravo
C Charlie
D Delta
E Echo
F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliett
K Kilo
L Lima
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

Voice Procedure:
"Hello" = Alerts the radio net that someone is about to call someone else.
"This Is (insert callsign)" = Identifies who is calling.
"Over" = Pro Word, meaning that a transmission has finished, and that a response is expected.
"Out" = Pro Word, meaning that a transmission has finished, and that a response is NOT expected.
NOTE: The Pro Words Over and Out are NEVER to be used together, i.e. "Over and out". The two Pro Words are mutually exclusive.
"Send"= I am ready to receive your message.
"Say Again = Means that you didn't hear the message, and, obviously, you want the sender to repeat the message.
"Roger" = Means several things. These include, but are not limited to, "I understand", "Received, understood, and I will do as you say", and so on. Use common sense!
"Execute" = Normally used with a code word, this means that a pre-planned set of actions (orders) are to be performed.
"Out to you" = This means that you have finished talking to the first call sign, and are about to call another call sign.

Fire Control Orders:
Remember GRIT
Group...Example: Fireteam
Range...Example: 100 feet
Indication...Example: One o'clock, sniper in the first floor farmhouse window
Type...Example: Rapid Fire

Types of fire
-Deliberate Fire: Careful, aimed shots each time.
-Rapid: Single shot, but very quick fire.
-Bursts: Short three-to five round automatic burst fire.
-Automatic: or more commonly called Rock 'n' roll!


Direction Indication
Firstly, you need to know the 'clock ray' method of indicating direction. The clock ray method of giving directions is based, unsurprisingly, on the face of an analogue clock. The point of origin is always "12 o'clock", and directions are given relative to this. For instance "eleven o'clock", "Four o'clock", and so on. Giving a field signal over a radio is simple, if you think about it. Where you would normally point, you give a clock position. Where you would normally signal distances, you say the distance.



Report of Signal Strength
5 = LOUD Your signal is very strong.
4 = GOOD Your signal strength is good.
3 = WEAK Your signal strength is weak.
2 = VERY WEAK Your signal strength is very weak.
1 = FADING Your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied upon.

Report of Readability
5 = CLEAR Excellent quality.
4 = READABLE Quality is satisfactory.
3 = UNREADABLE The quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot read you.
2 = DISTORTED Having trouble reading you because your signal is distorted.
1 = WITH INTERFERENCE Trouble reading due to interference.

Zane's additions: Quote:
If you do use 2 way radios please don't talk DIRECTLY into the thing...no one can hear you. Also make sure that if your not licensed you stay of the HAM channals as some of the 2 ways do have some HAM channals build in, your going to scare the crap out of someone if you do use the HAM challals for mill sim.


So, in summary, you can send virtually any kind of message over the radio, but you need to THINK about what, and how, you're sending, before pressing that PTT button.
I hope that this short series has been of assistance to you, and that your Airsoft games become a lot more tactical and enjoyable due to this.
Enjoy yourselves, and remember: It's Only A Game!

Im sure I'll keep adding to this as I remember other stuff...feel free to add also.

[Last edited on March 29, 2010]