Miscommunication on Frequency

Miscommunication occurs when a message is not transmitted, received or understood as intended.  In two-way radio communication errors in transmission may result from issues such as poor signal quality, due to inclement weather or faulty equipment. There are however several additional factors that can cause unclear transmission`s or misunderstanding on frequency and these need to be identified.  

Absent-mindedness is a form of miscommunication which users can make occasionally. This can be due to a momentarily state of being inattentive or distracted. While being pre-occupied with thoughts the user may not be fully engaged in their current task.

Callsign confusion is a vexation throughout the world.   This may be since standard callsigns do not exist between States. Operators transferring between States for work or volunteering purposes can thus easily mix up the unique identifiers used to identify other stations, due to them still becoming familiar with callsigns for that environment.

Language skills also diminish as tension rises during emergency situations.  Tasks take priority which means that operators may have to concentrate in order to deliver slow, clear speech, especially those for whom English is not their first language.  Distraction as a result of an emergency may unfortunately cause slips with communications.

 Poor fitting headsets cause many miscommunications problems because the microphones tend to drop away from the mouth.  Microphone clipping occurs when a user fails to ensure that the microphone switch is activated prior to speaking or deselects it prior to finishing speaking.

Ambient/background noise causes message distortion and may be due to equipment noise, environmental noise (atmospheric static), substandard headsets or poor microphone techniques. Errors with numbers are ubiquitous, whether it be with callsigns, levels, heading, speeds, tracks, winds, latitudes and longitudes, and so on.  This may lead to an incorrect understanding or readback of pertinent parts of an instruction that does not guarantee that the readback message has been accurately received.  Too often, confirmation is given of an incorrect readback.                

Miscommunication can unfortunately lead to numerous errors which, combined with Human Factors associated to that situation at the time, can lead to the occurrence of multiple unsafe situations. It is important that all business operators ensure that their users of a two-way radio are made aware of these additional factors that also promote the concept of maintaining a professional image on frequency.