Delay when keying mic?

Status
Not open for further replies.

CVPI4Ever

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2004
Messages
844
Location
Ohio
At work, we experience a delay when keying up the mic. I understand it has to go to the repeater first but isnt there any way to minimize this delay? The people at work dont understand to hold the PTT button down for a couple of seconds so they keep getting cut off at the beginning of their transmissions.


I just want this delay to be minimized. Thanks!
 

SAR923

Active Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,514
Sounds like a question for your comm tech, not people on a scanner site. Without a fairly complete knowledge of your system, no can give you a good answer.
 

af5rn

Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
1,060
Location
N. Tex / S. Fla
Some high-end equipment allows you to set a "beep" that sounds for a couple of seconds after you key up, so the user knows not to talk until it stops.

If you work with semi-intelligent people, you can simply have an in-service class to explain it better to them, and basically bring it down to "count to two before you start talking." It's such a simple concept that, after a grace period, some agencies will start dishing out discipline for failure to follow proper policy. I support that. I mean, if they can't follow that procedure, what else are they screwing up?
 

CommJunkie

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
914
Location
FM19gt
af5rn said:
Some high-end equipment allows you to set a "beep" that sounds for a couple of seconds after you key up, so the user knows not to talk until it stops.

If you work with semi-intelligent people, you can simply have an in-service class to explain it better to them, and basically bring it down to "count to two before you start talking." It's such a simple concept that, after a grace period, some agencies will start dishing out discipline for failure to follow proper policy. I support that. I mean, if they can't follow that procedure, what else are they screwing up?

Good idea on paper, but the reality is, even if you beat it into someone's head 30 times, if they have never used a radio before, much less a repeated system, they are still going to cut themselves off.

I worked in a security agency for a local casino with some of the smartest people I ever met, but they couldn't use a radio worth a d**n. We would have reminder sessions constantly, but still didn't work. Finally had to turn the MDC's on, even though we didn't need them, just so people wouldn't cut themselves off anymore.
 

RodStrong

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
1,170
Location
West
CommJunkie said:
Good idea on paper, but the reality is, even if you beat it into someone's head 30 times, if they have never used a radio before, much less a repeated system, they are still going to cut themselves off.

I worked in a security agency for a local casino with some of the smartest people I ever met, but they couldn't use a radio worth a d**n. We would have reminder sessions constantly, but still didn't work. Finally had to turn the MDC's on, even though we didn't need them, just so people wouldn't cut themselves off anymore.

You are quite right. I've told people I work with "Push the button BEFORE you talk, not when you talk", dozens of times, and they just can't get it. The problem is, they can't hear how they sound on the radio, and they don't take into account that many people who are listening may also be scanning, which takes a split second more for the radio to land on the scanned channel, and get all of their transmission through. I have given up with some of the old guard, and I try to instill this early in new employees who are more willing to listen, usually. We use MDC sidetones in our cars, and even then, some people still talk too early and cut off the first part of their traffic. In many ways it's hopeless with some people. They just don't get it.
 

kb2vxa

Completely Banned for the Greater Good
Banned
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
6,100
Location
Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
"I just want this delay to be minimized."

No you don't, tampering with company owned equipment is grounds for dismissal. What you want are trained employees so teach them how to use a radio.

"I've told people I work with push the button BEFORE you talk and not when you talk dozens of times, and they just can't get it."

If they're that stupid how can they do their jobs? They're obviously not doing their jobs effectively if they fail to communicate. Think about that and take it up with management; training is their responsibility.

"Thanks!"

You're welcome and please pardon me for correcting your punctuation and grammar. (;->)
 

af5rn

Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
1,060
Location
N. Tex / S. Fla
Exactly. For those who say their employees "just can't get it", what consequences do they suffer for not getting it? If you have not yet tried disciplining those people for FAILURE to follow written procedures -- just like you would discipline them for breaking any other company policy -- then you really aren't serious about the matter after all. And if it's not that important to you, then why would you think that it would be important to those employees?

Nobody follows any policy that the company doesn't bother to enforce.
 

RodStrong

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
1,170
Location
West
af5rn said:
Exactly. For those who say their employees "just can't get it", what consequences do they suffer for not getting it? If you have not yet tried disciplining those people for FAILURE to follow written procedures -- just like you would discipline them for breaking any other company policy -- then you really aren't serious about the matter after all. And if it's not that important to you, then why would you think that it would be important to those employees?

Nobody follows any policy that the company doesn't bother to enforce.

Easy to sit in your lazy boy and armchair quarterback. The bottom line is some people don't get it. Some people will never get it, period. And "their employees" is implying the radio guy owns the company or something. Not the case in most cases. Most radio guys aren't in charge of sh*t. Anyone who is responsible for hundreds of radios and not just perfect radio nerds who hide behind their keyboards will be able to attest that some people can be told over and over again and just won't listen. In many cases there is no discipline to hand out, nor would discipline be justified. It's a matter of common sense, and some don't have it. Others are at various levels in chains of command that it's not in the radio guy's best interest to bite the hand that feeds them. Trust me, I've told plenty, and plenty just don't get it. No big deal, but it's reality. Don't blame the radio guy for simply saying the truth. If you get it, good for you. But check your ego at the door and admit that not everybody is as savy as you are. If you can't admit it, you are not qualified to even discuss the matter.
 

af5rn

Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
1,060
Location
N. Tex / S. Fla
RodStrong said:
Easy to sit in your lazy boy and armchair quarterback. <snip> Don't blame the radio guy for simply saying the truth. If you get it, good for you. But check your ego at the door and admit that not everybody is as savy as you are. If you can't admit it, you are not qualified to even discuss the matter.
Bite me, Rod. There is nothing to admit. Don't mistake my confidence ego. Having been in public safety for over three decades -- including communications, supervision, and management -- I can assure you that my qualifications are well beyond that which is necessary to intelligently discuss the matter. You know nothing of my qualifications, yet you ASSume that you are qualified to discuss them, so don't attack my personal and professional credibility and then get all high-and-mighty on us.

I was not judging the commo guy. I was simply giving him the advice he asked for. He is free to take it or leave it as is applicable to his particular situation, which you know as little about as you do me. You sure make a lot of judgemental ASSumptions for somebody so concerned with others doing so.

The simple fact is that, if people can "get it" about the other aspects of their job, then they are capable of "getting it" about this one. The problem is not their mental capabilities. The problem is motivation. It's simple Management 101. Ever been a manager, Rod? Ever taken a management course? And I don't mean that 4 hour class they gave you and your fellow trainees at Hamburger U. I mean a real, college level management educational course where they teach you about employee motivation. Apparently not, because if you had, you'd have a clue about what I am talking about.

No, the commo guy probably doesn't run the company. But neither does the fleet manager, yet the company is probably pretty strict about enforcing policies about operating and caring for the vehicles. And I bet the employees "get it" when it comes to those policies. I've witnessed even the densest cops and firemen in my career being capable of "getting it" that, if they don't wear their seatbelt, they'll be disciplined. So why would it be so difficult for them to "get it" about counting to two before talking? Simple, because management has not made it an issue. My only suggestion to here was that -- like the fleet manager -- a good comm manager can present the problem intelligently to management and attempt to convince them that it can and should be addressed as a priority. You never know until you try. But if you don't try, you are guaranteed to FAIL.

If FAILURE is your style, be my guest.
 
Last edited:

kb2vxa

Completely Banned for the Greater Good
Banned
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
6,100
Location
Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
Haven't you noticed a certain lack of response from the original poster? He probably took my advice and took it up with management in the manner I suggested. That takes the matter out of his hands and lays it right at the feet of management where it belongs.

You may know about radios but you have a lot to learn about corporate hierarchal authority and procedure in such matters. If all else fails the "2 L with them, it's not my problem now that I've washed my hands of it" attitude prevails. Chaos reigns supreme, they catch hell for screwing up and he comes out smelling like a rose knowing "I told you so."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top