"'For ID' must be the single most misunderstood and misused term in ham radio these days."

"'For ID' is a valid term, with a valid use."

"In the middle of a conversation, one or both of the parties will say "(call sign) for ID."  To satisfy FCC regulations you need only say your call sign. 'For ID' or 'this is' is redundant."

" . . . an example of the correct usage [follows].  If you are monitoring an ongoing conversation and wish to join in, just throw in your call sign between transmissions.  You are giving your call sign not to identify yourself as much as to gain access to a conversation . . . the FCC requires a station identification every 10 minutes. If, once you have gained access to the conversation, you don't give your call sign after every transmission, you may soon reach the 10 minute limit.  At this point it is proper (and required by FCC rules) to utter your call sign and certainly appropriate to add 'for ID' because that is exactly why you are doing it!"

You can draw your own conclusion.  Jay Mabey presented both sides of the argument and supported both with factual statements.  On one hand, talking on 2 meters is supposed to be like talking to someone face-to-face.  On the other hand, isn't it fun to use "Q-signs" and other terminology from the other bands that we may or may not be licensed to use at this time?

  Thanks for reading and 73, de N8ZKA.

This page viewed  times since 6/28/02.