Should the spotter have a radio as well?

Subject: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:23 pm

Here's a question for all you spotters and snipers: Do you think the spotter should have a (throat)mic/radio setup along with the sniper? Maybe only the spotter should have one? Maybe only the sniper should have one? What do you all think?

I personally think both should have a throat-mic and radio for best communications to each other and to the rest of their squad/platoon/team. I've also heard several different sniper/spotter teams say that only the sniper has the radio comms, and the spotter's role is to simply follow the sniper's commands. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. I like the idea of both sniper and spotter having full communications with their team, and in case they get split up, each other.
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Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:30 pm

i say both as it is just far easier to comm. and stay on the same page.
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Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:46 pm

I have to agree with stormtrupr BUT I think the argument against is a good one too

The spotter's role in the team is solely for aiding the sniper... he should be aware of the sniper's condition at all times. It is also crucial in my opinion that the two be able to communicate in a logically, effective, and QUIET manner. This may not be radios...
If the sniper/spotter team learn some basic hand signals I think the use of radios could be limited which will go a long way to helping the group stay quiet and hidden.
Even with the above described relationship between the sniper and spotter, I think it is helpful for the spotter to have a radio. This will allow him/her to keep tabs on the rest of the team.
Just my $0.02 worth

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:12 pm

I am not a sniper or a spotter, but I would say both because as mentioned already it is a VERY effective way of the sniper and spotter communicating with one another. After BF4, I would say have the captain of the team (unless its the sniper or spotter) on the main frequency with the teams commanding officer to get orders, if your team is split into 2 squads - have 2 different frequency's for both squads - this way they can communicate effectively without interruption. The sniper and spotter in my opinion should be on their own dedicated frequency... this way they communicate effectively without interruption as well. If they had their own dedicated channel, they could easily setup whatever kind of attack / defense strategy they wanted while in play. That sounds kind of confusing... here is what I am saying:

Frequency: ------- People on Frequency:
12.0 --------- Commanding officer and squad leader of team
12.1 --------- Squad 1
12.2 --------- Squad 2
12.3 --------- Sniper and Spotter

The frequency's probably wouldnt really be those, but I am just trying to show a good way for them to communicate without interuption. This past year at BF4 every single person on the field was trying to talk on one channel and it just got extremely annoying. I eventually just turned mine off.

With this setup you would have to make sure everyone knew which frequency the other team members were on incase they needed to regroup, or get reinforcements, but I think this is going to be the most effective way to play. Chances are your team would destroy just about anybody they saw due to good communication.

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:23 pm

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:29 pm

I like where my teamates are going with this:) now just to figure out the logistics and make it happen for bf5!
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stormtrupr(storm true per)- One whom through knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus, can rise up and battle through the storms of Life Victoriously.

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:09 pm

Not just BF5, we also need to work on this for Op: SF2 and several others. Very Happy

My goal is to go to atleast 6-7 larger events this year if not more.

I am sure we will come up with something that works for the team.

Private Age : 17 Joined : 09 Feb 2008 Posts : 74

I think the spotter should have a radio, but know when to use it. If the spotter somehow gets separated, a radio would be ideal so that he could find out where the sniper, or the closest squad is at.

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:21 am

yep, thanks for that sentinel... The spotter should be a silent as possible.. I think the more the spotter and sniper can speak silently the better
they should both have radios but having to rely on them is another story. The spotter should really be the sniper's right hand mand.. quite literally. There would be really no real need for him to use the radio unless in the above explained scenario

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:14 am

I think both Sniper and Spotter should have radios. but the Snipers should only be for an Emergency (Spotter get shot, Spotters radio is dysfunctional, etc). I think the team should learn how to use hand signals and indirect communication instead of using radios. this causes the team to be much quieter, and allows them to focus more on the mission than on whoever is on their signal. the spotters radio should be set on the lowest volume setting, he would need a mic of some sort, and he should be able to brief the CO of his team easily.

Private Age : 17 Joined : 09 Feb 2008 Posts : 74

In a real sniper team, the spotter job is to solely aid the sniper, in things such as measuring distance, wind speed/direction, watching a location (some teams have to watch a specific location for days, and this keeps one of them from getting eye fatigue), and ultimately if things go wrong, cover fire for themselves. After servicing a couple years with a sniper, the spotter usually goes on to lead his own sniper team.

In airsoft, a lot of these things are true about the sniper team, but some aren't. I think it depends on the players. In some cases, a sniper's spotter is an inexperienced sniper, who wants to play the role of a spotter to get a better feel, and learn from the veteran player. Most times however, the spotter is just a player who has gotten used to his role, and does a great job at it. I think these players are the ones that branch out from solely aiding the sniper.

Corporal Age : 13 Joined : 21 May 2008 Posts : 160

I think that it should depend. The spotter should only have one if it is a routine wait on the side of the road, he sees a golf cart come by one shot to the driver who is the other team leader or another important person kill him. I control a squad of snipers and I like for all spotters and snipers to have radios to keep track of them in case they split up, but most of the time I don't even send my team off with a spotter because spotters are support gunners and the less spotters the more boys or girls for soldiers we have on our team keeping the sniper hunters busy on the battle field and not hunting for us .

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Fri May 30, 2008 12:29 pm

you gotta have a spotter in most cases, its the rules. Unless your a "sniper" with a gun that doesn't shoot above 400fps, but hey, thats a whole other topic and a good one at that.

Subject: Re: Should the spotter have a radio as well? Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:32 pm

I say both because it is just as important for the spotter to communicate with the team as it is for the sniper. The sniper may get hit, and if the spotter doesn't have a radio, he is virtually just as dead. The sniper and the spotter may have to split up to keep the enemy pinned down from both flanks, and if one doesn't have a radio, they can't tell the other if they have been hit, their position compromised, if the other's position is compromised, if there is a counter-sniper, or anything else. The sniper/spotter team is the most important element of an airsoft team. If one of them can't communicate with the other or the team, then they are like a lone Green Beret, alone possibly behind enemy lines, without contact to the main force or HQ, possibly compromised and on the run. But I think that you catch my drift, right? Just because I don't play airsoft doesn't mean that I don't know how to operate a sniper/spotter team successfully. Smile

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So, see any good Sniper/Spotter teams recently?
Oh really? What gun was the sniper using?
You have to be kidding me! An M1911 with a 3-9x50 Mil-Dot Scope? KEWL!!!!!!