VOIP transmition length limit

Post by **Deadfast** » 2007-11-24 15:56

Sorry if you didn't get the name of the thread, but I had no better idea how to call it.

Currently, both in PR and vBF2 there's a function preventing from VOIP misuse.
If you keep the VOIP button pressed for more than a certain time (30 secs I think), it'll just cut you off.
Maybe it's because English isn't my native language so it takes me longer to express than to native American, but I'm having problems with this.

Quite often I found myself being cut-off in the middle of giving out orders.

It's not that it takes me 1 minute to explain my squad to move to the move marker, but it happens when you are giving out more complicated orders like:
OK, we've got enemy at the move marker. I think they've got a rally point there. I want (checking squad list) Johnny and Frank to flank them from (looking at map) south while Jack tries to *CUT OFF* hit them with the light AT and the rest to stay here.

Very annoying.
I think the limit should be raised to at least 45 secs. It may be even removed completely, because I don't think someone is about to go transmitting his favorite TV show over the VOIP. And if he is, we still got the mute there.

nicoX · Post by **nicoX** » 2007-11-24 16:20

Native Americans?? Do you actually use voip for 30 sec? What do you hold in your right hand, an espresso?
Anyways just revoip, after 25 sec and you will get new 30 sec.

Post by **Deadfast** » 2007-11-24 16:23

What do I hold in my right hand ? A mouse conroling the ingame gun I'm trying to waste enemy guy with.
When you are under fire, commander shouting at you, squaddies asking what to do, etc., it's not that easy to think about releasing the button.

zangoo · Post by **zangoo** » 2007-11-24 16:51

just start talking and about every 10 sec press the button like, ok guys(press button) we are going to attack. i find it works just fine.

Post by **Ninja2dan** » 2007-11-24 17:37

Deadfast wrote:It's not that it takes me 1 minute to explain my squad to move to the move marker, but it happens when you are giving out more complicated orders like:
OK, we've got enemy at the move marker. I think they've got a rally point there. I want (checking squad list) Johnny and Frank to flank them from (looking at map) south while Jack tries to *CUT OFF* hit them with the light AT and the rest to stay here.

If you have ever listened to a real military transmission, things are kept to a minimum so that you can transmit a detailed message in a short period of time. When bullets are flying, seconds count.

One method of relaying the same information in a shorter time is as such:

(VOIP On) "Enemy on marker, possible RP." (VOIP Off) [Open map screen and review squads and enemy locations] (VOIP On) "Johnny and Frank will flank from South. Jack use Light AT. Rest standby." (VOIP Off)

The best method to shorten transmissions while retaining the same amount of information is to use abbreviations and remove some of the unnecessary words. You can see from my example that the exact same amount of information was given, yet in less than a third of the time.

In real life you would also not be issuing your squad detailed movement orders that required a map reference while dodging bullets. You would take a knee behind cover and then have enough safety to relay the message while reviewing your map. The same should be in PR, you should stop behind cover so that you can safely open your map screen and relay messages with that screen open. We don't have RTO's in PR, but if you are using the buddy-team method then your SL should always have someone near him to cover him while he uses the radio for such orders.

Even with English not being your native language, if you try to follow my suggestion and re-word your messages slightly, I think you will find your messages take much less time to relay yet retain the same amount of information.

Brummy · Post by **Brummy** » 2007-11-24 21:32

I think VOIP is hardcoded.

G.Drew · Post by **G.Drew** » 2007-11-24 21:57

brummy.uk wrote:I think VOIP is hardcoded.

i think so to

geogob · Post by **geogob** » 2007-11-24 22:06

VOIP is probably a part of the engine not accessible for modding, so a modification is unlikely.

On the other hand, you could take a few step to improve your communication efficiency and use good practices in radio communications. Here are a few suggestions:

- Think about what you want to say before starting the communication, not while you are talking.
- Use short simple sentences.
- Cut down your communications (this should help you a lot).

Basically, talking on the radio to people action is not like a theater monologue. They really don't have time to listen

Post by **fuzzhead** » 2007-11-24 23:06

my suggestion - listen to Ninja2dan and geogob

if we could change the VOIP, we would obviously make localized VOIP and squad leader to squad leader communicatiions a priority, but we cant so

Swe_Olsson · Post by **Swe_Olsson** » 2007-11-25 11:41

there's something called Teamspeak, i highly recommend getting it

Post by **Deadfast** » 2007-11-25 11:57

Swe_Olsson wrote:there's something called Teamspeak, i highly recommend getting it

Am I supposed to force every player that joins my squad on public server to get Teamspeak ?

I guess I'll just have to learn how to cut the **** out of my orders.

FoW_Strummer · Post by **FoW_Strummer** » 2007-11-25 13:50

Using TS is imo so much more superior than using VOIP. IF you can get your squad to use the TS, the round will be so much more enjoyable and a heck of lot more tactical. I have my TS on voice activate, and its very cool since I dont have to use yet another button to do something. What blows is when half the squad is using voip, and half using TS...I dont recommend it, gets very confusing. That being said, TS servers are very inexpensive.. I think I pay like $5.00 per month for a 20 person server.

STRUM

Post by **Deadfast** » 2007-11-25 14:28

I believe you - when I play with my friends ArmA we use Ventrilo (which is IMO even better than TS), but I just can't imagine that I join a public server (for example Thor's) and tell people in squad to join Teamspeak.
I bet I would spend half of round explaining where to get it and what is the IP

.

CodeC.Seven · Post by **CodeC.Seven** » 2007-11-26 05:47

Im german... And i talk to americans like i talk to germans... its quite funny and a challenge for me... On this way i can test how much i learned in the past... I had no problems yet... and im german...

Salah ad Din · Post by **Salah ad Din** » 2007-11-26 07:55

simply release the VOIP button after each sentence and then push it again. but only release it after you're really finished.

there is nothing more annoying, than having to guess what your SL was saying because he went like this:

"Squad, enemy tank to the ........*fizzle* behind the ...*brzzzl*.... H-AT move to ..... and ......Go Go *fizzle*"

That's valid for Ingame VOIP and TS of course.

AnRK · Post by **AnRK** » 2007-11-27 15:25

Is there anyway of programming some kind of relationship between PR and TS? I know it's probably a bit far fetched but it would be cool if every time you joined a server you also joined that TS server, and had channels for squads 1-9 and commander for each team that you automatically joined accordingly.

Probably not possible but something like that would be awesome.

nicoX · Post by **nicoX** » 2007-11-27 15:33

[R-DEV]fuzzhead wrote:my suggestion - listen to Ninja2dan and geogob

if we could change the VOIP, we would obviously make localized VOIP and squad leader to squad leader communicatiions a priority, but we cant so

Shouldn't everything go through the ear of the commander? Why having a commander then, nobody would pay attention to him. I think EA did a realistic thing with BF2 that is the VOIP function.

Besides Deadfast I don't think you hold your button VOIP for 30 second. Other things can cut your transmission before that. And 30 seconds that a i big time, you may loose your time perspective and think after 15 seconds you have talked for 30 seconds.

Post by **Deadfast** » 2007-11-27 16:55

OK, maybe I'm not speaking for 30 seconds, but surely I speak long enough to get cut-off.

Reddish Red · Post by **Reddish Red** » 2007-11-27 21:39

Haha, I noticed this.. at first I thought that my Mic was Breaking, then I realised.

As the others said, short Messages.. however I am one for elaborate plans (When not in combat) and sometimes getting cut off gets annoying. It gets more annoying because of my stuttering.