Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2015 22:03:19 GMT
When you first tune into any device that transmits HF you can get a bit put off by the protocols the amateurs use, it does become second nature quite quickly though.
So, here is a basic guide to transmitting on the HF bands and what you should do so you are not thought of as a troll.
For a general CQ call (a CQ call is an invitation for any other station to return to you and make a contact on air frequency with you)
1) switch to the band you wish to transmit on.
2) tune to a part of that band which seems free from usage, then LISTEN.
If no audio is heard then you MUST call out to see if the frequency is in use (I will use the pretend call sign of ##123 for this thread)
3) after listening you call out with your call sign '##123 is this frequency in use', then wait about 5 seconds. If nothing is heard repeat '##123 is this frequency in use. If nothing is heard after another 5 seconds you can then move onto calling CQ, if a station comes back and says the frequency IS in use then go find another and repeat steps(1) through (3)
The general CQ call
After you are sure the frequency is not in use you need to call CQ
4) Begin like this, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ this is ##123 calling CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ. Repeat CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, this is ##123 calling CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ. And now wait for about 5 seconds and listen for a station to come back to you. If no station comes back to you then repeat number 4 again and again until a station responds. Remember to leave about 5 seconds space for them to come back ater your last set of CQs.
If a station comes back it will be something like this,
##123 this is ??ABC, do you copy me. They may use 'QSL' instead of 'do you copy me'
5) It is important to give the stations call sign first that you are replying to first and then your own, so the contact (QSO) should then go something like this,
??ABC this is ##123, thank you for coming back to me. The other station then knows that it is his/her station that was successful in getting into your station. After thanking him for coming back to your station you can end the initial first over with 'QSL, which in this case will be understood by the other station as 'how do you receive me'. The other station will usually respond with a report on your signal quality and strength.
6) The other station gives you a signal report based on the indicator scale on the radio's front. ##123, this is ??ABC in New York America, your signal report is 4 & 6 QSL (or OVER etc)
A signal report for voice transmission is made up of two numbers. First the clarity of the signal from 1 to 5. 1 is a bad audio signal where most of the words are lost amid static or signal having almost totally faded, 5 is a super fine audio transmission whereby every word of the over was heard without any static or fading leading to missing words. The signal strength is given from 1 to 9 and is indicated by the meter on the front of the radio. a 1 is a very, very weak signal where the needle on the signal meter hardly moves, this signal will be mostly static. A 9 is a very, very good signal which has the power meter needle swinging into the right of the display. At a 9 the signal should be a very good signal which has almost no problems for the receiving station. So in this example a 4 & 6 report is a very acceptable and pleasing signal.
7) You should have been watching your own radios power/signal meter when the other station is talking to you, this way you can give the other station his report on your next transmission. It should go something like this,
??ABC this is ##123 in London, thank you for your signal report. I am receiving you 5 & 9, I say 5 & 9. and the first name here is Brian (then give your name phonetically) Bravo, Romeo, India, Alpha, November. finishing with OVER or QSL
(NOTE) It is a required by licence authorities that a station should identify itself when first speaking on a frequency, and when changing to a new frequency for a QSO with another station, or at intervals not greater than 15 minutes. In practice most amateurs will give their call sign as often as is practical.
8)The other station will reply with his/her name and also give it phonetically but remember the other station may or may not give a call sign on every over he addresses to you. The other station will speak on a number of topic such as the weather, the equipment he is using, his hobbies or a multitude of things. At the end of the over he will say this is ??ABC handing back to ##123, or QSL, or just OVER, it's your return to speak again.
9) You return to the conversation with something like ??ABC this is ##123, all received. Yes, I am also interested in etc, etc but also I have an interest in etc, etc. The QSO can then go on to chat on many subjects and then it will come the time to end the QSO. Both sides of the QSO will be polite and thank each other for the contacts but remember that in this example it was YOU that called the general CQ call so you MUST remember to thank the other station.
10) The signing with the other station
??ABC-##123 returning. Well it's been a pleasure talking to you today, thank you for coming back to my CQ call and I hope to work you another time. I send you 73s (73 is radio speak for best wishes) and return it to you for any finals, QSL.
11) the other station should come back to you with something like,
##123-??ABC, no problem my friend, it was a pleasure. 73s to you and I will listen out for you in future on the bands. ??ABC clearing with ##123 and going back to monitoring.
And there you have a basic CQ call and conversation (QSO)
Remember to always put the other stations call sign before your own !
You can then begin the whole process again.
Bri
So, here is a basic guide to transmitting on the HF bands and what you should do so you are not thought of as a troll.
For a general CQ call (a CQ call is an invitation for any other station to return to you and make a contact on air frequency with you)
1) switch to the band you wish to transmit on.
2) tune to a part of that band which seems free from usage, then LISTEN.
If no audio is heard then you MUST call out to see if the frequency is in use (I will use the pretend call sign of ##123 for this thread)
3) after listening you call out with your call sign '##123 is this frequency in use', then wait about 5 seconds. If nothing is heard repeat '##123 is this frequency in use. If nothing is heard after another 5 seconds you can then move onto calling CQ, if a station comes back and says the frequency IS in use then go find another and repeat steps(1) through (3)
The general CQ call
After you are sure the frequency is not in use you need to call CQ
4) Begin like this, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ this is ##123 calling CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ. Repeat CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, this is ##123 calling CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ. And now wait for about 5 seconds and listen for a station to come back to you. If no station comes back to you then repeat number 4 again and again until a station responds. Remember to leave about 5 seconds space for them to come back ater your last set of CQs.
If a station comes back it will be something like this,
##123 this is ??ABC, do you copy me. They may use 'QSL' instead of 'do you copy me'
5) It is important to give the stations call sign first that you are replying to first and then your own, so the contact (QSO) should then go something like this,
??ABC this is ##123, thank you for coming back to me. The other station then knows that it is his/her station that was successful in getting into your station. After thanking him for coming back to your station you can end the initial first over with 'QSL, which in this case will be understood by the other station as 'how do you receive me'. The other station will usually respond with a report on your signal quality and strength.
6) The other station gives you a signal report based on the indicator scale on the radio's front. ##123, this is ??ABC in New York America, your signal report is 4 & 6 QSL (or OVER etc)
A signal report for voice transmission is made up of two numbers. First the clarity of the signal from 1 to 5. 1 is a bad audio signal where most of the words are lost amid static or signal having almost totally faded, 5 is a super fine audio transmission whereby every word of the over was heard without any static or fading leading to missing words. The signal strength is given from 1 to 9 and is indicated by the meter on the front of the radio. a 1 is a very, very weak signal where the needle on the signal meter hardly moves, this signal will be mostly static. A 9 is a very, very good signal which has the power meter needle swinging into the right of the display. At a 9 the signal should be a very good signal which has almost no problems for the receiving station. So in this example a 4 & 6 report is a very acceptable and pleasing signal.
7) You should have been watching your own radios power/signal meter when the other station is talking to you, this way you can give the other station his report on your next transmission. It should go something like this,
??ABC this is ##123 in London, thank you for your signal report. I am receiving you 5 & 9, I say 5 & 9. and the first name here is Brian (then give your name phonetically) Bravo, Romeo, India, Alpha, November. finishing with OVER or QSL
(NOTE) It is a required by licence authorities that a station should identify itself when first speaking on a frequency, and when changing to a new frequency for a QSO with another station, or at intervals not greater than 15 minutes. In practice most amateurs will give their call sign as often as is practical.
8)The other station will reply with his/her name and also give it phonetically but remember the other station may or may not give a call sign on every over he addresses to you. The other station will speak on a number of topic such as the weather, the equipment he is using, his hobbies or a multitude of things. At the end of the over he will say this is ??ABC handing back to ##123, or QSL, or just OVER, it's your return to speak again.
9) You return to the conversation with something like ??ABC this is ##123, all received. Yes, I am also interested in etc, etc but also I have an interest in etc, etc. The QSO can then go on to chat on many subjects and then it will come the time to end the QSO. Both sides of the QSO will be polite and thank each other for the contacts but remember that in this example it was YOU that called the general CQ call so you MUST remember to thank the other station.
10) The signing with the other station
??ABC-##123 returning. Well it's been a pleasure talking to you today, thank you for coming back to my CQ call and I hope to work you another time. I send you 73s (73 is radio speak for best wishes) and return it to you for any finals, QSL.
11) the other station should come back to you with something like,
##123-??ABC, no problem my friend, it was a pleasure. 73s to you and I will listen out for you in future on the bands. ??ABC clearing with ##123 and going back to monitoring.
And there you have a basic CQ call and conversation (QSO)
Remember to always put the other stations call sign before your own !
You can then begin the whole process again.
Bri