Communicating with HF

How to use the Emergency Call Facility

• Tune to the appropriate frequency, and then transmit the Emergency call by pushing and holding the Emergency Call button on the radio for at least 20 seconds.
• An RFDS operator will respond within a minute if our equipment has detected the call.
• If you do not get a response, select another frequency and try again.
• Once you get a response, there is no need for further activations of the Emergency Call button.

Operating Techniques

• Tune your radio to a frequency in accordance with the guidelines below.
• Listen before transmitting, and transmit only if the radio circuit is clear.  There may be others talking to the RFDS.
• When transmitting speak up, without shouting, and speak clearly.
• When involved in a medical, search and rescue, or any other emergency communication, maintain contact.
• If your first frequency choice does not work, and your radio has other RFDS frequencies available to you, start with one from a site close to you, and gradually work away until such time as contact is made.
• Once contact is made, you may be asked to change to another frequency if the current frequency does not enable good two-way communication.  If the new frequency does not provide the expected improvement, return to the previous frequency.  Our radio operator will anticipate this, as it is standard radio practice.

In some situations where it is difficult to understand what is being communicated (eg. high noise levels) it may be necessary to spell words to get the correct message across. The phonetic alphabet is used in these situations to further improve the chances.

Last Updated: 31/08/2007