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(4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable transmission standards, either color or monochrome, of §73.682(a) of the FCC Rules when all or part of the communications are transmitted in the same image emission ((4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable transmission standards, either color or monochrome, of §73.682(a) of the FCC Rules when all or part of the communications are transmitted in the same image emissionThis section explains how often and when you must give your call sign. Many hams are confused by some of the wording in this regulation. For instance, some operators believe they must say their call sign at the end of every transmission. Another misinterpretation is the operator that feels he must say his call sign every ten minutes even though he has not spoken during that time, such as when monitoring a frequency or listening to a net on a repeater. This section explains how often and when you must give your call sign. Many hams are confused by some of the wording in this regulation. For instance, some operators believe they must say their call sign at the end of every transmission. Another misinterpretation is when the operator that feels he must say his call sign every ten minutes even though he has not spoken during that time, such as when monitoring a frequency or listening to a net on a repeater. Q: Do I have to say my call sign at the end of each transmission?'''Q: Do I have to say my call sign at the end of each transmission?''''''Q: Do I have to say my call sign every ten minutes on a repeater I am monitoring?'''A: No. If you are just listening then you do not have to identify your station. Operators wanting to make their availability to chat known to other repeater listeners will state their call sign in conjunction with the term "monitoring." You are required to state your call sign if you are going to transmit, within 10 minutes of the first transmission. Subsequently while you listen and wait for a response you do not have to continue to identify your station every ten minutes since you are no longer transmitting. However, you increase the probability of a contact if you continue to identify your station on the repeater from time to time, and every ten minutes would not be excessive.If all you've done is key up the repeater and announce your call sign and indicate that you're monitoring, you've satisfied both the requirement to ID every ten minutes and ID at the end of your communication if specifically no one responds to you so that the sum of your communication was simply you announcing your presence on the repeater.'''Q: I was talking and was pulled away from my radio due to circumstances, am I in trouble because I didn't give my call sign at the end of my last transmission?'''A: You're probably fine. Whether you received an important phone call or a family member needed you urgently, and you were unable to stay at your amateur radio to finish an ongoing conversation, you might recall that you did not not get the opportunity to conclude with your call sign on your last transmission. It was not your intent to circumvent FCC regulation. When you know you're making your final transmission in a communication you need only end it with your call sign and not specifically say that your station is clear. However, you don't always know when the transmission you make will be your last! There is no known FCC punitive action ever taken against an operator that did not conclude their final transmission with their call sign when it was accidental, in that the operator did not realize it would be the final transmission. If an operator knowingly fails to conclude with the call sign on a repeat or regular basis then the operator risks action against the license. Do your best but don't sweat it when you miss concluding with your call sign. Be vigilant in saying it every ten minutes during the conversation and you'll be fine.'''Q: How worried should I be about concluding a communication with my call sign?'''A: Not extremely worried. People don't always get to know when their last transmission will be their final transmission in a communication. Life is very dynamic and so is radio. Conditions might change. You might not be able to make further contact with another station. You might be on a repeater and another ham moves in and talks over you. You just don't always get to know when your last chance to talk will be. You could ID at the end of each transmission to play it extra safe, and some hams do this. It's just not necessary. It's your intent that will be the deciding factor when such an oversight is observed. When conveying 73 and good bye then be sure to include your call sign. If you're going to stick around and monitor, then don't worry about it. A communication is somewhat ambiguously defined in legal terms and a ham might consider occasional statements made throughout the afternoon all part of the same communication. It is only definitive when you clearly state that you're departing and one common method is to state, "This is A0NEW and I will be clear on your final." This method is not only FCC compliant, but clear and polite.'''Q: Do I have to clear my station?'''A: No. You have to give your call sign when concluding with your final transmission when it is known to you that the transmission will be the final transmission in a communication, as explained already. You do not have to announce that your station is "clear." You can be curt about it and just say your call sign and nothing more, forever! It isn't necessarily friendly however it is not a violation either. Just make sure you ID when you're supposed to.[[Category:ham Radio]]