Information and communication technology for Tour Guides/Resources

TWO WAY OR HAND HELD RADIOS

What is a two way radio? Two way radios are communication devices that can transmit and receive information and are especially designed for use in remote locations.

What could it be used for in a tourism context?

Some examples: • Vehicle drivers communicating to a base station or between each other • Guides communicating with each other in the field, especially if you are travelling as two parties • Department of Conservation huts and base stations to get weather forecasts or to report any incidents • Boat operators between boats or boat to base • Aircraft operators between aircrafts or aircraft to base • Communicating with DOC, Police, Ambulance staff during incidents

So you can see they are excellent communication devices with many different roles in the tourism industry

How do you operate a two way radio system?

Today's two-way mobile radio equipment is nearly as simple to use as a household telephone. Some mobile phones these days have a push to talk function, the same as a two way radio.

Here are some hints for their use: 1. Messages should always be kept short and to the point. 2. When you use the two-way radios, remember that you should pronounce your words clearly and slowly, speak in a normal tone of voice, and keep your mouth within a reasonable distance from the microphone.

• If you speak too loudly or too close to the microphone, your voice could become distorted and hard to understand. • If it is imperative that if you use a radio for a long transmission, you should break it up into shorter intervals. This allows the receiving station to verify that the message has been received, as well as allowing other operators into the system that may have important messages to transmit. 3. Remember to choose your words carefully. Use words that can be understood correctly the first time, thereby avoiding repetition. Here are some examples:

Poor Choice	Preferred Wait	Stand by Can't	Unable Send	Forward or Dispatch Get	Obtain No	Negative Yes	Affirmative

4. Knowing the phonetic alphabet is also very useful when using radio communications, so if you have to spell a word there is no confusion:

These words are universally used: A - Alpha	N - November B - Bravo	O - Oscar C - Charlie	P - Peter D - Delta	Q - Quebec E - Echo	R - Romeo F - Foxtrot	S - Sierra G - Golf	T - Tango H - Hotel	U - Uniform I - India	V - Victor J - Juliet	W - Whiskey K - Kilo	Y - Yankee L Lima		X X-ray M Mike		Z Zulu

5. Do not use slang. Do not use obscenities. All messages should be impersonal. Other people monitor the radio frequencies, so it is imperative that appropriate language be used at all times.

6. When operating the radio, remember to hold down the push-to-talk button BEFORE you begin to talk, otherwise some of your message may not get through.

7. You may have a call sign, that is a number or an abbreviation which indicates who is the caller. For example, you maybe AP1 to AP2 or Base to Guide

8. Use of two-way radios should follow a strict protocol so that all parties know when a transmission is ended.

Call protocol is: •	To call another unit:		Say “Base to guide” •	To acknowledge a call:		Say “Base this is guide Go ahead." •	To end each transmission: 	Convey your message, then say “Over." •	To acknowledge message:	       Say “Copy” and confirm back message •	To terminate a call:		Say “Guide Clear." •	To acknowledge a termination:	Say “Base Clear."

Find out more about two way radios and other technical equipment which can be very useful when working as guide: http://www.taitworld.com/main/index.cfm/1,75,0,46,html/Products this website of Christchurch company Tait Radio Communications, has information on two way radios and products available.

http://www.2wayradio.co.nz/index.html this website has information on two way radios for sale and rent as well as accessories for sale.

http://www.gps.gov/applications/recreation/index.html a global positioning systems website

http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

Emergency Personal Locator Beacons (EPIRBS) www.mapworld.co.nz/beacons.html