Before transmitting, the officer should wait 1-2 seconds to ensure no other radio traffic is connecting. Which option best describes this practice?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on the channel
• D. Not sure

Answer: (A)

Listening before transmitting is a fundamental radio discipline. Waiting 1-2 seconds after you press the microphone lets you detect any ongoing transmissions on the channel, so you don’t talk over someone else or garble the message. This brief pause helps ensure the channel is clear and that the intended recipients can hear you when you start speaking. In practice, this is a standard, generally applicable habit for clear, orderly communications, which is why the statement is true.