Handheld Radios: The facts

[AJ]

Well i have done some serious thinking about the use of handheld walkie talkies/radios in games of Lasertag/skirmish and here are some things that kept entering my thoughts:

- They can be the driving force behind many a good victory. Why? Because the more intelligence a clan or group of players working together have, the better chance of winning (generally) accompanies this intelligence.

- They can be a nusiance when they run out of batteries, if it rains, if they fall out of your pocket or off ur belt, or if the rest of ur clan forgets to tell u about the new frequency in a second mission etc.

- More often then not the other team will tune in and steal information and find out where u are and what u are planning on doing.

To counter these things here is a quick guide.

1. Always check batteries before a mission.
2. If it looks like it will rain or if forecasted makesure you prepare to waterproof your radio (unless it is a waterproof model, if you have one of these let me know)
3. Get a decent wrap around earpeice from an electronics resseler like Dicksmiths (AUS) as this type doesn't easily fall out of your ear like the walkman style earphones do.
4. When purchasing choose a model with secure channels (can't remember what it is called but it is that thing were u can access 20 extra sub channels from the main channel. Reason being this makes it possible to hold much more private conversations during the game as these subchannels can't be picked up by a channel scan, at least this is the case on Uniden radios.
5. On the day, makesure you change to a different channel after each mission. This confuses enemy players that think they know your channel. Security of information is very important so ussualy clan leaders/group leaders should be in charge of informing the players in the team of the channel discreetly.
6. During the game it is important all players have a callsign so you can communicate with ease and privacy over the radio. If you want even teach your team a basic radio chat protocol.

This information isn't professional it is just coming from experience. Please add to, take away from or comment on this at will :)

Cheers.

[Colin]

Originally posted by AJ

4. When purchasing choose a model with secure channels (can't remember what it is called but it is that thing were u can access 20 extra sub channels from the main channel. Reason being this makes it possible to hold much more private conversations during the game as these subchannels can't be picked up by a channel scan, at least this is the case on Uniden radios.

Cheers. [/B]

I don't think these channels are secure in that sense. I have 20 subchannels on my radio, but if I don't activate the sub channel mode on the radio, then I pick up anyone on that channel, no matter what their sub channel is. This is a hand-held uniden. Dunno what model. Its called selective-calling I think, and its used if you want to share a channel with people, but be able to divide the channel into groups...

As for securing your radio. I've got a harness now, so I have my radio sitting on my shoulder where I can easily access the volume control. Its kept in a pouch so its protect to some degree...

As for securing channels - I'm yet to work out a way to avoid the enemy listening in. The best way so far is to use the channel sparingly, keep the messages short so that if they enemy are scanning it won't catch you as easy. Mind you, my radio only takes bout 5-10 secs to do a scan across all channels, so messages have to be shorter than this. If you can be really bothered, you can set radios up to constantly transmit, so that during a scan it will pause on these channels the radios are using. Again - this is very easily counter-acted by dropping these channels from the scan...


As for radios being useful - I just did a 4Hr night mission, and I missed having a radio as none of the other players on my team did... Became very hard to report on recon and to identify yourself when meeting up with your main force. Usually I work in a 2 man team during day games, and use a radio to co-ordinate attacks. Its very handy to be able to issues orders quickly to a team mate to attack or attract fire.

[Pooh Bear]

When HAW plays, we expect the other teams to be listening to our conversations on the radio. And in many cases they have been. So feed them some simple BS that will work in your favour.

We often have points on the field that have a code word. eg. the enemy flag may be called the "front gate". So you could say clearly on the radio that you have a visual on the front gate, and the enemy would be none the wiser, but your whole team would know what you are on about.

The radio is the best tool that you can have in the field. If it is used correctly, and not relied upon. It is a tool, and should be used as such.

[Dangerous]

We play our Clan games at night.

The season is 11 weeks long, and everyone scores points to position themselves on a ladder.

Our two fields we have at the same location are only 100 metres by 50 metres each.

Neither of these are by any standards, open.

Each session will be at least one game, and anything up to 4 games, but the total session time will not be more than one hour.

We allow radios in clan games. We specifically disallow one clan from listening or scanning another teams channel. In clan games.

If we have cheating of any sort, the referee can (and will) give an official warning. You get one free. The next one in that game will mean the clan loses one game point. A third warning means the clan will lose a ladder point. We will also remove a clan from the competition if needs be.

What I am saying is that we have rules in place to stop the kind of behaviour we do not want. If you abuse the priviledges, then we will take them away, or disallow them.

Luckily, due to the field sizes, we can do this.

PS Our Elite sessions and Super Sessions are not played only on these fields, as Colin will agree. depending upon the session type we will allow or disallow radios, and introduce or relax certain rules.

[AJ]

Originally posted by Dangerous
We play our Clan games at night.

The season is 11 weeks long, and everyone scores points to position themselves on a ladder.

Our two fields we have at the same location are only 100 metres by 50 metres each.

Neither of these are by any standards, open.

Each session will be at least one game, and anything up to 4 games, but the total session time
will not be more than one hour.

We allow radios in clan games. We specifically disallow one clan from listening or scanning another teams channel. In clan games.

If we have cheating of any sort, the referee can (and will) give an official warning. You get one free. The next one in that game will mean the clan loses one game point. A third warning means the clan will lose a ladder point. We will also remove a clan from the competition if needs be.

What I am saying is that we have rules in place to stop the kind of behaviour we do not want. If you abuse the priviledges, then we will take them away, or disallow them.

Luckily, due to the field sizes, we can do this.

PS Our Elite sessions and Super Sessions are not played only on these fields, as Colin will agree. depending upon the session type we will allow or disallow radios, and introduce or relax certain rules.

I Think that classifying the use of a radio to spy on an ememy as cheating is not fair simply because it is just like in a real war etc, the other side spies on its' enemy and so on.

[Rommel]

How are you going to monitor the use of radios?

[Dangerous]

I think you guys missed the point.


Our two fields we have at the same location are only 100 metres by 50 metres each.

And...


PS Our Elite sessions and Super Sessions are not played only on these fields, as Colin will agree. depending upon the session type we will allow or disallow radios, and introduce or relax certain rules.

So, what I am saying is simple. Clans games don't allow it, other sessions may allow it.

And as for monitoring... not required. Just like anything else, if you are not abiding by the rules, then why are you playing it. Obviously not for the game, but more for the feeling of winning.

Don't forget that the games we play are really nothing like the ones you have played. I am convinced of this.

[AJ]

This is possibly true dangerous, so i won't persue the subject of ur fields radio regulations :)

Anyone have anything to add to this article? Or should i publish it.

[Colin]

Originally posted by Dangerous

PS Our Elite sessions and Super Sessions are not played only on these fields, as Colin will agree. depending upon the session type we will allow or disallow radios, and introduce or relax certain rules.

I soooo missed having a radio that night...

I hate walking straight to the enemy instead of radioing in to the team and finding their location...

Oh well, I get to work on my radio comms during a game tomorrow with a couple of other guys that have bought some...

[AJ]

Originally posted by Colin
I soooo missed having a radio that night...

I hate walking straight to the enemy instead of radioing in to the team and finding their location...

Oh well, I get to work on my radio comms during a game tomorrow with a couple of other guys that have bought some...

This sounds boring and repetitve but i too have had simmilar experiences where my radio has died and it has left me with making some tough risk taking desicions.

[Rommel]

Originally posted by Dangerous
And as for monitoring... not required. Just like anything else, if you are not abiding by the rules, then why are you playing it. Obviously not for the game, but more for the feeling of winning.

I agree with you.

[Dangerous]

Originally posted by Colin
I soooo missed having a radio that night...


You aren't alone Colin. In our clan of 5, we each have a radio. makes it a lot easier. Ithink its essential to have a radio.

But, when you are playing like we did with a bunch of guys that don't have comms, it becomes real hard.

If we did have comms, when you and Rabbit disappeared for an hour and found the North Korean base, you could have radioed to us how you got there, and we could have finished the game really quickly.

Then again, the Predator's may have found us on the way, ruining all of our plans.

By the way, what did you think of the scenario?

[Colin]

Originally posted by Dangerous


If we did have comms, when you and Rabbit disappeared for an hour and found the North Korean base, you could have radioed to us how you got there, and we could have finished the game really quickly.

Then again, the Predator's may have found us on the way, ruining all of our plans.

By the way, what did you think of the scenario?


HAHAHAHA, that game could've changed sooo much when we found their base....

The game plan was good, and I liked the scenario. The respawn situation I didn't like as we got pinned down too easily, and the other team could just walk away... As you said, theres still some more tuning to be done, and as I understood it that night you said you were going to change the respawn situation anyway.


I'm still trying to work out a scenario myself which just isn't go to enemy base, take this, return to your base etc... Most missions are pretty much the same basics with a few changes thrown in to make it slightly dynamic. Thats why on the night I asked about the enemy attacking our base - I thought that might have been thrown in and we would not be informed about it until it started happening... I guess more people would have increased our opportunities of more detailed missions. Also next time (if I'm still invited) I might be able to drag a couple of guys from my field to check it out...

[Dangerous]

Originally posted by Colin
Also next time (if I'm still invited) I might be able to drag a couple of guys from my field to check it out...

The next elite session is June 4. Another Friday night just as before. Starts at 6:30 this time.

Anyone you want to bring is most welcome. At this point I don't know the location we will be playing, but I have a couple of ideas :D

Cost will be $40 minus Generals Card discount.

[AJ]

Please try to stay on topic, thanks.