What should you do if two operators begin talking over the same line at once?

• A. Pause, listen to determine priority, then speak in turn; avoid simultaneous transmission.
• B. Continue speaking loudly to assert priority.
• C. Switch to a backup line.
• D. Ignore and wait for one operator to stop.

Answer: (A)

When two operators speak on the same line, you must prevent two voices from transmitting at once to keep the message clear. The proper action is to pause briefly, listen to determine who has priority, then speak in turn. This creates a clean, one-at-a-time transmission, which is essential on sound-powered lines where there’s no means to separate overlapping signals.

Raising your voice or continuing loudly just garbles the message, switching to a backup line isn’t addressing the immediate collision, and ignoring the overlap delays communication. Taking turns ensures the correct priority is respected and the information gets through reliably.