Radio protocol
Introduction
Everyone wants a radio - they're exciting and cool. They're also expensive and we tend to lose one an event, costing a thousand pounds a year to replace. The more people who have radios, the harder it is to keep track of them, and the harder it is to use them with more people on each channel. For these reasons it is important to limit the number of radios we use and to ensure that everyone uses proper radio protocol.
Allocation
Radios are allocated to crew in advance of the event - do not take a radio unless it has your name on it.
Radio allocation is done through the departments - if you believe that you need a radio then speak to your department head. It is the responsibility of the department heads to ensure that they have enough radio users in their department.
Radio Protocol & Use
When you want to speak to someone on a radio, press the speak button, wait half-a-second (it takes a moment to engage) and then say your name clearly and ask for the person or department you want to talk to.
The ref channels have high levels of use - do not hold a conversation with another radio user on the channel for calling for refs. Find the person you wish to talk to and then go to an adjacent ref channel.
In particular, please do not swear over an open radio channel, as this is illegal. I appreciate nobody ever gets done for it, but swearing and playing games on the radio risks getting us into trouble and is a pain in the ass for those people who are trying to work.
Emergencies
Any emergency at an event should be reported by radio to the relevant head of department. If your radio channel is being used to convey emergency information then you do not use that radio channel for any other reason. Keep the channel clear so that the crew who are responding to the emergency can use it.
Radio Channels
1: GOD/site 2: Ref contact 3: Ref conversation 4: Skirmish 5: Skirmish 6: Skirmish 7: Plot contact 8: Plot conversation 9: Egregore contact 10: Egregore conversation 11: Civil service 15: First aid/night