It’s been suggested that Essex Ham produces a guide to help with addressing some of the more common Dos and Don’ts. Help us to collate a list by adding your suggestions below…
Repeaters
Timeouts: Typically a repeater has a “timeout”. If you exceed the timeout, you’ll be cut off and people won’t be able to hear you. Find out how long your local repeater’s timeout is, and try not to exceed it. The GB3DA repeater has a timeout of 2 minutes
Calling: You don’t call CQ on a repeater. Typically, you say “This is {callsign} listening through {repeater name}”, for example… “This is M6QQQ listening through GB3DA for any contacts”
If no-one responds after a few calls, take a break for a few minutes, in case others want to put out a call on the repeater.
| Hints – Joining a Net: If you’re on a net, expect to have to wait your turn. Also, be respectful of others and keep your turn short if the net is busy. Repeatedly taking a “k” (resetting the timeout to get another few minutes) can be annoying for others waiting patiently for their go. Butting in out of sequence, or ‘breaking’ in when it’s not your turn can be seen on some nets as rude and disruptive. The key is to listen before joining, to get a feel for a net’s etiquette and style. |
For more on using repeaters, see our Using Amateur Radio Repeaters Guide
2m and 70cm Calling Channel
The 2m FM voice calling channel is 145.500MHz and the 70cm FM voice calling channel is 433.500MHz. Here’s how to use them:
- Tune to the calling channel, and listen to make sure it’s not in use
- Call CQ, making sure you give your callsign clearly and concisely
- Leave a decent length pause for people to respond, before calling CQ again
- If no-one responds after a few calls, take a break for a few minutes, in case others want to put out a call.
- When you’ve made contact, move away from the calling channel, so that others can use it. This involves finding a free frequency and checking it’s not in use
For more, and examples, see our video and sample script – On-Air QSO example
SSB calling? The frequencies are 144.300MHz and 432.200MHz. These are labelled in the band plan as “SSB Centre of Activity”
Band Plans
Please use the band plans and make sure you only transmit where you should be transmitting. The band plans are there to divide up each band fairly, and so people know where to operate voice, Morse, data without conflicting.
It’s worth printing out a copy of the appropriate band plan from here: RSGB Band Plan
Calling CQ
- First, find a frequency – Check the band plan to make sure you’re calling in the right part of the band
- Listen to make sure the frequency isn’t in use
- Call CQ, making sure you give your callsign clearly and concisely.
- On HF, you’ll need to call CQ several times continuiously to allow people to find you, tune in to your signal and catchyour callsign. You’ll often need to give your callsign using the phonetic alphabet.
- Leave a decent pause for people to respond, before calling CQ again
Member Tips:
- Do label your antenna cables (Submitted by Mitchell 2E0EMO via Twitter)
- Make sure not to put the pl259 thread on the wrong way (Submitted by Mitchell 2E0EMO via Twitter)
Other Handy Pages:
Suggestions?
Any more suggestions? Please add them as a comment below, and we’ll update the main article
Having just passed my foundation licence it would be nice to know what the simplex channel numbers and frequencies are. I used to use CB radio and this had forty channels.
When I have called CQ on the calling frequency and made a contact, how do I tell my contact where to go for a chat. Do I just pick a frequency and give them that frequency or are there recognized frequencies which have been given numbers to make life easier??
Hi Peter,
For this, you’d need to look at the band plan for whatever band you’re looking to use. Assuming you’re asking about 2m, then the calling frequency is 145.500MHz, and adjacent frequencies can be used as per the band plan – see the following video for more on this – https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/just-passed-foundation/
Pete
Greg M7GEG
One of the operating points that isn’t clearly covered in detail for me is the handback protocol
im using 2m and 70cm at present
most old hands do it smoothly without thinking but clarification would be useful
This is how i think it should be from listening but i haven’t seen it written anywhere
Callsign theirs , Callsign yours , What your doing “returning” or “back to you”
Point is its always theirs then yours not other way round
or if not just your callsign and what your doing which i find i do for fear of mixing it up.
for me that’s the hardest part to do smoothly and without mixing up the way round it all goes
If I’ve got it wrong please say . Nobody gets upset on 2m but i feel that’s the bit I’m struggling with to do smoothly
Loads of videos about on CQ and repeaters but the handover isnt covered that much
Regard Greg M7GEG