BASIC TALKBACK GUIDELINES
1 It is worth noting that a standard radio talkback handset (walkie-talkie) can only do one thing at a time.
It can only LISTEN (receive) or SPEAK (transmit) at the one time.
It cannot do both at the same time for many technical reasons.
There are some more advanced units that can both speak and listen at the one time, and these are usually more sophisticated handsets integrated into bigger communications systems – in a studio or Outside Broadcast truck. (Systems like Riedel BOLERO)
1B When using a walkie talkie, please always use it with a headset plugged in.
Do not use a walkie talkie handset with talkback coming out of the handset loudspeaker.
UNLESS IT IS FOR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
Listening on a headset as opposed to handset loudspeaker in the studio or on an OB is important for a few reasons.
· If talkback is on a walkie talkie loudspeaker, studio guests, others working alongside you, and members of the public may over-hear talkback conversations not intended for them.
· When checking mics to a sound gallery or an OB truck, if talkback is heard on the programme mics (spilling from a walkie talkie loudspeaker), it is not a proper check of a clean mic and circuit as the far end is hearing talkback coming back on a programme audio feed. Even more confusing if this talkback is being delayed because of remote or distant comms. We are normally checking for clean mics, not ones with talkback on them.
2 Plugging in a headset to a radio handset – IMPORTANT!
ALWAYS make sure your handset is switched OFF before plugging in the headset. If the handset is left on, some older handsets go into transmit when the headset is plugged in meaning you are transmitting constantly and everyone is hearing you. You will hear nothing on your headphones as you are transmitting.
3 WALKIE TALKIE RADIO CHECK
Once your headset is plugged into the handset, set the channel to the correct channel for your department (you can find this out from those looking after the radio handsets), switch on and turn the volume to a comfortable listening position to start off.
You can often hear a confirmation beep in the headphones on switch on or a spoken channel ident.
Once you have done this, it is normally good practice to check your radio is working by doing a radio check.
Listen first of all, to make sure the channel is not busy with urgent messages.
Press transmit and say “This is Jim on the Runners channel for a radio check…”
Someone who is free to reply will come back and say “Got you Jim for the radio check on the Runners channel…”
You have now confirmed you are good to go with listen and speak on the correct channel.
4 Please return your handsets at the end of your shift.
Despite what a lot of people think, the Magic Elves do not go around the OB site or studio at the end of the day collecting all the abandoned handsets and headsets.
When finished, please switch off the handset and return the unit back to where you collected it from so that it can go back on the battery charger and be ready for use the next day.
5 When using radio talkback, wait a ‘beat’ after pressing the speak/transmit button on the handset before speaking.
Radio systems use a ‘handshake’ to make sure the handset is talking to the correct radio system, and this handshake takes a ‘beat’ to happen at the beginning of your transmission. Failing to wait a beat will result in your first spoken word being cut off, which can often make the rest of the message meaningless.
6 Identify who you are and who you want to speak to. “Jim to Bob…”
Then wait for a reply.
Calling this way gives the person who you are calling, who may be busy doing something, time to register that someone is calling first of all and more importantly, it is a call for them. Even if they miss who is calling them, they hear their name called and can reply,
“Go for Bob..” or “ Bob (is) listening…”
7 Do not use radio jargon or radio codes. Use plain English. Unless using codes is a house style and everyone knows the agreed codes.
Not everyone knows what a 10-100 is! (especially people new to the industry). And it means different things in different work environments. Use plain language so that everyone understands.
8 Speak slowly and clearly.
Some communications channels reduce the quality of the speech, so clarity is important. Stay calm, even in stressful situations, as clear and steady communications are especially crucial in these circumstances.
9 Words and tone of voice are important.
When we talk face to face with someone, over half of the
communication is non verbal — body language, gestures, facial expressions, etc.
Speaking over comms removes this direct contact completely – leaving only words and tone of voice.
10 Do not swear or use bad or offensive language.
It is discourteous and unprofessional. Also, you never know who can hear your comms. Not just the person you are speaking to but possibly others on the same radio channel, others in the same room as the talkback loudspeaker, or guests or members of the public near to a comms loudspeaker.
11 Be mindful of what the person you are calling is doing at that given moment you call.
Are they busy? Have you just heard them on comms being asked to do something and they are probably in the middle of that? Are they in the middle of a tricky operational procedure? (Vision mix, audio mix, camera move, talent cue).
Although if your message is mission or time critical, call it in!
12 When using multiple communication channels, on your first call, identify yourself and the comms channel you are speaking on.
Then wait for a reply.
“This is Jim at the Broadcast Centre in Glasgow on the Tech 4 wire to Bob at the OB in Aberdeen..”
This gives the person at the far end an idea of who is calling and where from, and speeds up communication. Especially if they are listening to a lot of comms circuits at the one time.