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Operating Basics

Now you got your license and your first radio, and are ready to broadcast. Slow down, there my friend....  One of the first thing you want to do is listen, not only to make sure the frequency is clear for you to talk on, but also to see how others initiate a call. This is a great learning tool. And since each mode and band have slightly different approaches, it’s a good idea to listen to a few contacts before you make your first.     Depending on your license and/or equipment you’ll now have to chose how and where you want to begin operating. If you got a small mobile or HT, you may use a local repeater, if you have a higher class license, you could use hf.                                                                                                                                    We will do a run down of some of the basic operating procedures.

The first and foremost rule in making any contact is to listen first. make sure the frequency is clear and available for your use. If in doubt ask “Is this frequency in use? This is [call sign]”. Wait a little bit, and if still unsure ask a again. Remember that despite the fact that there is thousands of possible frequencies you could use (depending on your license), they are shared amongst everyone, and it’s first come first serve.    Secondly make sure to use your call sign, frequently. In the US, you must give your call sign every 10 minutes. This is for station identification, just like your favorite music station does, so must you. And make sure to end your conversations with your call sign, this is the law.                                                               Lastly if you don’t make a contact, don’t give up. Try later on in the day, or try another frequency. Sooner then later, you’ll hear a voice welcoming you.

For those that may be nervous about getting on the air. Don’t worry! We all were first timers once. So we know what it’s like. Your bond to make a mistake here and there, even those that have been on the air for years still do. Take a couple breaths and give it a try. You’ll be surprised at how big a welcome you’ll get and the help, when they know your new to the hobby.                                                                                And also your call sign can tell use if your new or not. After all, new call signs are given systematically. (KD0JZI versus KE0ZIT, ZIT is newer)

You will also notice a big difference between ham radio and CBers. CBers use 10 codes (like 10-4 good buddy) and slang terms. Hams do not!!! We do though, have some abbreviations for some common used phrases and words that we use during CW

Now that we have those simple rules down, let’s talk about those first contacts.

Using a Repeater                                                                                                                       Usually this is the best starting point in ham radio operations.                                                             Most Hams start out on the bottom of the totem pole, at the lowest possible class of license. For them the most common mode of operating is on a repeater. You may have a small mobile station with only 25w or even a HT, but when you combine these with a repeater, you can talk for miles and miles, and even use some to connect with other repeaters around the world.                                                                             Before you make that first call, make sure your radio is tuned to the right frequency of the repeater, has the correct offset and the approbate CTCSS if necessary programed into it. This may seem obvious, but sometimes a simple mistake in forgetting to do this, will cause you not to get that QSO.                       Now is time to make that first call.

1. Listen to make sure no one else is on the frequency. If it’s clear, key up your mic, wait a couple seconds before you talk. (this allows the repeater time to respond, and open up it’s frequency so others can hear you, also do this not only during the first time but  with each time you start to talk on a repeater). Now in a smooth soothing tone say “[Call sign], monitoring (or listening)” Release your mic button.                                                                                                                                                            Sometimes that’s all it takes. If after a few seconds you get no response, call again.                                  Usually after 2 times and you get no response, say “No response, [call sign] clear”                                   Calling CQ is not usually necessary on repeaters, though nothing is wrong with that. We’ll discuss CQ in a bit.

2. You get a response, similar to “[call sign] this is KD0JZI, Matthew. Go ahead”                                On occasion you may get, “ Station calling this is KD0JZI. Go ahead” In this case the station who heard you, may not have gotten your full call sign, or only heard part of your call. In the next step give them your call once more.

3. Now you guys can start to talk about anything.  Usually the first thing to do is introduce yourself. Give them your name, location and a signal report.                                                  Remember after talking for 10 minutes to give your call sign “KD0JZI, this is, [call sign} back to you.”                                                                                                                                The use of “over” and “ back to you” is a courtesy. This lets the other know your done talking and they can start.

4. At the end of your conversation you can simply say goodbye or 73. You would close like this “KD0JZI, this is [call sign], clear and monitoring. 73 my friend” This means you will stay on the frequency and monitor it for any other contacts.                                                                                                     Or you may just say “KD0JZI, 73 [call sign] clear (or QRT)” This means you are shutting down your radio.                                                                                                                                                       Also you can throw in this at the end” catch you down the log” This signifies you are looking forward to chatting with them again. And don’t forget to give that call sign of yours.

Responding to a Call                                                                                                             Responding to a call over the repeater is easy. You just play the opposite role of the person above. Example, “KD0JZI, this is [call sign] [name] Good morning, go ahead”

Simplex                                                                                                                                          Calling a station directly without the aid of a repeater is known as simplex. This is no different to how truckers make calls over the CB. All you need to know is the frequency. No need to add an offset or CTCSS like a repeater. Now depending on the radio and antenna, you may have to tune the antenna, prior to the call. Again I stress make sure the frequency is clear and you mention your call sign like any other call.

CQ CQ CQ                                                                                                                                   Calling CQ out on the radio simply means “calling any station”, and is used primarily on HF. Depending on the frequencies and band conditions you may receive a strong signal or weak one in reply, so listen carefully.

1. Look for a clear frequency. and if you find one call, “ CQ CQ CQ this is [call sign], CQ CQ CQ [call sign] calling CQ CQ CQ [call sign using phonetics] Or is your calling across the pond you can use “CQ DX CQ DX CQ DX [callsign]............” This signifies your tyring to make an international call. It’s also a good idea to call CQ at last 3 times like in the example. This gives anyone listening time to get to the radio, or make out your call sign if they have trouble hearing it the first time.

2. Now you wait for a response. If you don’t get one, try step one again. Otherwise you may hear “[call sign using phonetics] this is DX1VT, Delta X-ray One Victor Tango, go ahead”

3 You’d respond by saying, “ DX1VT this is [call sign], name here is [name], QTH is [place your calling from].our signal is [RST].

You just had your first HF contact, and can now talk as much as you want with them. When finished you’d sign off like any other call.

Responding to a CQ                                                                                                         Now you hear the familiar “ CQ CQ CQ........” First tune within the range of frequencies that you are permitted to operate and find a station calling CQ. Now you just take on the opposite role of the above. Now there is one difference, you may note after you made the call, that other stations are calling and your station is not readily recognized. You can wait and try again, or move to another frequency.

CW Contacts                                                                                                                              Making and receiving CW contacts are the same as making and receiving voice contacts. the only difference is you use morse code instead. The process of exchanging information is about the same, but you’ll notice that CW uses lots of abbreviations.

Other Contacts                                                                                                                               Now lets say you know the station your trying to contact. To start this call you’d proceed something like, “ KD0JZI, KD0JZI, this is [your call sign] calling. Do you copy Matt?” and wait for a reply. You may also here something similar if another station is trying to call you specifically. A rule of thumb with this, is to say the call sign of the station your calling, before your own.

 RST Explained                                                                                                                               RST stands for Readability, Signal Strength and Tone. On CW all three codes are used for a report such as 599 which means perfectly readable, extremely strong, and perfect tone. On phone only the first two codes are used or. A report might be 55 meaning perfectly readable, fairly good signals. In operation the signal strength is often taken from a reading on the S-meter.

The RST System

Readability

 

1--Unreadable
2--Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable.
3--Readable with considerable difficulty.
4--Readable with practically no difficulty.
5--Perfectly readable.
 

Signal Strength

 

1--Faint signals, barely perceptible.
2--Very weak signals.
3--Weak signals.
4--Fair signals.
5--Fairly good signals.
6--Good signals.
7--Moderately strong signals.
8--Strong signals.
9--Extremely strong signals.

Tone

 

1--Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad.
2--Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad.
3--Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered.
4--Rough note, some trace of filtering.
5--Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated.
6--Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation.
7--Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation.
8--Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation.
9--Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind.

 

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