Simplex Communication
Edit on GitHubSimplex operation, the mode the beacon uses: one frequency, one direction at a time, and the rules that keep simplex usable.
Simplex Communication
The beacon is a simplex device: it transmits on a frequency and receivers listen on the same one, never at the same time. This page is what simplex means and how to operate it.
Simplex versus duplex
| Mode | Frequencies | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Simplex | One | One way at a time |
| Duplex (repeater) | Two (input and output) | Simultaneous |
The beacon’s design is pure simplex: it transmits its bursts on its channel, and any receiver on that channel hears them (see Receiver Compatibility).
The simplex rules
- One at a time: in simplex, only one station transmits at a moment. The beacon respects this by bursting briefly and waiting (see Firmware TX Scheduler).
- Listen before you speak: the universal habit (see Radio Etiquette Basics).
- The tail: wait a second after the other station stops; radio squelch tails are real.
The beacon’s simplex behavior
The beacon never listens and transmits simultaneously, and it has no collision avoidance: it transmits on schedule, briefly, and repeats. In a shared simplex channel this is the correct strategy for a device that cannot hear (the one-way design documented in Rescue Communication Basics).
The group simplex net
For a group, simplex on one channel is the simplest coordination: everyone hears everything, and the Group Communication Plan staggers the beacons so the bursts do not collide.
Related pages
- Radio Etiquette Basics for the habits
- Two Way Build for the voice pairing
- Receiver Compatibility for who hears