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So you've got your Tech license and you're new to [[Ham Radio]]. Here's some tips to working repeaters, simplex, and general practice.So you've got your amateur radio license and you're new to [[Ham Radio]]. You're probably feeling a little intimidated about making contacts. You should feel comfortable operating and keep in mind that most hams will be patient and offer friendly suggestions to help you get going once you're on the air. However, you should invest some time into learning the basics before making that first contact. A few minutes of reading will pay off in miles of experience. Here's some tips to working repeaters, simplex, and general practice.It is more useful to say, "A0NEW, Monitoring 147.000." (replace A0NEW with your call sign and 147.000 with the repeater frequency or repeater name." Now any hams that are scanning through repeaters know where you are. It's not required but increases the probability of a response. Furthermore, experienced hams sometimes drop the "monitoring" and simply state their call sign and what repeater they are on.It is more useful to say, "A0NEW, Monitoring 147.000." (replace A0NEW with your call sign and 147.000 with the frequency or repeater name." Now any hams that are scanning through repeaters know where you are. It's not required but increases the probability of a response. As another example, when on the simplex calling frequency I usually say "on 52 simplex." Furthermore, experienced hams sometimes drop the "monitoring" and simply state their call sign and what repeater they are on. If they are mobile they might even include the fact by saying, "A0NEW on 147, mobile."Seeking a contact on a local repeater is not like seeking a contact on simplex or SSB. If you are seeking someone to chat with and you've provided your call sign as advised under the section "Monitoring a Repeater" then simply wait patiently for someone to respond. Please do not "hammer" the repeater by repeating your call sign continuously, give it ten or twenty minutes before announcing your presence again.To attempt to enter an active QSO (other hams talking) by saying "BREAK." It is obnoxious and makes you sound ignorant. Simply announce your call sign between their transmissions. You do not say "break" as a means to enter the conversation. For example, two hams or talking and you want to add to the conversation, you wait for a pause when no one is transmitting and say, "A0NEW" (use your call sign) and then wait to be acknowledged. If you're acknowledged then you've been invited into the conversation. To attempt to enter an active QSO (other hams talking) by saying "BREAK" is a mistake. It is obnoxious and makes you sound as though you come from a radio group other than hams. Simply announce your call sign between their transmissions. You do not say "break" as a means to enter the conversation. For example, two hams are conversing and you want to add to the conversation, you standby for a pause when no one is transmitting and say, "A0NEW" (use your call sign) and then patiently wait to be acknowledged. If you're acknowledged then you've been invited into the conversation. The ARRL originally reserved the [[Use of Break in Amateur Radio]] to be spoken as a double break, as in "break break" and only for an emergency. Since then the ARRL has decided that since "break" has no universal standard meaning Internationally they would prefer the term was never used in any context in amateur radio. Just don't say "break" or "breaker breaker good buddy."The ARRL originally reserved the [[Use of Break in Amateur Radio]] to be spoken in the double break, as "break break" and only for an emergency. Since then the ARRL has decided that "break" really has no universal standard meaning. Internationally the term is even more ambiguous. The ARRL now prefers the term was never used in any context in amateur radio. Just don't say "break" or "breaker breaker good buddy."Our handy talkies have a PPT or Press to Talk button. Some hams forget to Release to Listen. You'll known em when you come across them, they key down and start talking meanwhile you go to the restroom, then pour yourself a cup of coffee, return and they're still blathering on. Three minutes is a very long transmission on a repeater. Try to keep it pithy and let the next operator have a turn.Our handy talkies have a PTT or Press to Talk button. Some hams forget to Release to Listen. You'll known em when you hear em, they key down and start talking meanwhile you go to the restroom, then pour yourself a cup of coffee, return and they're still blathering on. Three minutes is a very long transmission on a repeater. Try to keep it pithy and let the next operator have a turn. Try not to be repetitive or redundant.Especially when there's more than one person in a QSO (conversation) you want to say the call sign of the next person in turn to speak at the end of your transmission. For example, "... and that's the weather today, over to A0NEW." This prevents incidents of "doubling" which occurs when two or more ham operators start to transmit at the same time not aware of the other.Especially when there's more than two people in a QSO (conversation) you want to say the call sign of the next person in turn to speak at the end of your transmission. It is far more useful to say "over to A0NEW" than it would be to say only "over." For example, "... and that's the weather today, over to A0NEW." This prevents incidents of "doubling" which occurs when two or more ham operators start to transmit at the same time not aware of the other. It's good to know who goes next!Yes many veteran operators believe they are clever when they attach a phrase like "''for license preservation''" to their identification. For example, "''AØNEW for license preservation''" which is no more necessary than saying "AØNEW for ID." The first is neither clever nor good operator practice. The second is simply unnecessary since it is quite apparent to other operators why you are stating your call sign. Do you believe that other operators are confused why you are saying your call sign therefore you must explain that the call sign is your identification? Just state your call sign!Yes some veteran operators believe they are clever when they attach a phrase like "''for license preservation''" to their identification. For example, "''AØLID for license preservation''" which is no more necessary than saying "AØLID for ID." The first is neither clever nor good operator practice. The second is simply unnecessary since it is quite apparent to other operators why you are stating your call sign. Do you believe that other operators are confused as to why you are saying your call sign therefore you must explain that the call sign is your identification? Just state your call sign!Political conversation is a good examples because there is no FCC regulation which prohibits the topic from being discussed in amateur radio. There are hams that would prefer not to talk politics on a repeater, however, it is not regulated by the FCC. However it may be disallowed as part of rules which govern that specific repeater made and enforced by the person or party responsible for the repeater. Political conversation is a good example because there is no FCC regulation which prohibits the topic from being discussed in amateur radio. There are hams that would prefer not to talk politics on a repeater, however, it is not regulated by the FCC. Yet it may be disallowed as part of rules which govern that specific repeater made and enforced by the person or party responsible for the repeater. Alternatively, no club, organization, or individual owns a frequency if that frequency is not reserved for a specific use in a specific area by the local coordinator. Although you cannot cause interference, exceed the scope of your license, or practice modes outside of the band plan, you are otherwise not bound by any specific club or individual regulation when using a frequency such as a simplex frequency. If you want to talk politics on 146.52 simplex no local club or coordinator has the authority to say otherwise.Alternatively, no club, organization, or individual owns a frequency if that frequency is not reserved for a specific use in a specific area by the local coordinator. Although you cannot cause interference, exceed the scope of your license, or practice modes outside of the band plan, you are otherwise not bound by any specific club or individual regulation when using a frequency such as a simplex frequency. If you want to talk politics on 146.52 simplex no local club nor coordinator has the authority to say otherwise.Some operators use a acronym as a way to phonetically convey their call sign. This is allowed if used in conjunction with the operator clearly stating the call sign letters. Saying, "A-zero-nice-evening-walk A0NEW monitoring" or "A0NEW A-zero-nice-evening-walk monitoring" is perfectly acceptable and might help others to remember the call sign, however, if offering only the acronym, "A-zero-nice-evening-walk monitoring" the operator would technically be in violation. Two points on this technique, the first being that it is not necessarily uncommon but might annoy one listeners, and the second being the instance of FCC actions against operators using only the acronym identification is minuscule if not nonexistent.Some operators use an acronym as a way to memorably convey their call sign. This is allowed if used in conjunction with the operator clearly stating the call sign characters. Saying, "A0NEW A-zero-nice-evening-walk, monitoring" is perfectly acceptable and might help others to remember the call sign, however, if offering only the acronym, "A-zero-nice-evening-walk monitoring" the operator would technically be in violation. Two points on this technique, the first being that it is not necessarily uncommon but might annoy some listeners, and the second being the instance of FCC actions against operators using only the acronym identification is minuscule if not nonexistent.That new Baofeng handy talky can be set to make a loud and distinctive BEEP at the end of each transmission, which is designed to let the person you are talking to know you're done. Well, it is just not necessary in an FM communication, on a repeater, or in amateur radio at any time for any reason. There's no rule against it, but you'll likely catch a lot of colorful comments if you continue to use your roger beep. In some events it is even redundant because many repeaters have a "courtesy tone" which generates an audible indicator when your transmission into the repeater concludes. Is that somewhat hypocritical that a courtesy tone is acceptable and a roger beep is not? I'm not sure, maybe you can start a survey.That new Baofeng handy talky can be set to make a loud and distinctive BEEP at the end of each transmission, which is designed to let the person to whom you are talking with know you're done. Well, it is just not necessary in an FM communication, on a repeater, or in amateur radio at any time for any reason. There's no rule against it, but you'll likely catch a lot of colorful comments if you continue to use your roger beep. In some events it is even redundant because many repeaters have a "courtesy tone" which generates an audible indicator when your transmission into the repeater concludes. Is that somewhat hypocritical that a courtesy tone is acceptable and a roger beep is not? I'm not sure, maybe you can start a survey.Typically the ARRL recommends using [[Ham Radio Q Codes]] in modes other than FM. The use of Q codes on a repeater or in FM simplex is really not necessary since the purpose of Q codes is to aide in conversation under noisy or less than ideal conditions. However, certain Q codes are widely recognized and are an abbreviated way to convey a longer message such that you will often hear operators use a very common Q code even on a repeater. For example, you might hear an operator say "I'm at the QTH" rather than saying "I am at my house or place of residence." No reasonable ham is going to be critical of their casual use on a repeater in regards to the most common examples.Typically the ARRL recommends using [[Ham Radio Q Codes]] in modes other than FM. The use of Q codes on a repeater or in FM simplex is really not necessary since the purpose of Q codes is to aide in conversation under noisy or less than ideal conditions. However, certain Q codes are widely recognized and are an abbreviated way to convey a longer message such that you will often hear operators use a very common Q code even on a repeater. For example, you might hear an operator say "I'm at the QTH" rather than saying "I am at my house or place of residence." No reasonable ham is going to be critical of their casual use on a repeater in regards to the most common examples. Just don't get carried away with them when operating FM voice. == Clearing Your Station and Operating Opinion ==Some ham operators believe that it is required by [[Part 97]] of the FCC rules for operators to clear their station when finished speaking on a repeater, frequency, or during a net. Although it is not a bad idea to clear your station, as a courtesy to other operators, it is not required and there is no known subpart to [[Part 97]] regarding clearing your station. You need to provide only your callsign or the callsign of the control operator. A station is not "left open" if the operator doesn't clear. Interrupting other hams or a net just to blurt out "clear!" might even be rude under certain circumstances. Some operators aren't really "clear" because they might spend the rest of the day monitoring. As long as the ham is not transmitting it is not required to clear nor id every ten minutes, despite some ham's misunderstanding of FCC rules. Again, you don't have to ID at regular intervals if you're just listening (monitoring) - only if you're transmitting. It is easy to be bullied by older hams using made-up rules so consider reading [[Part 97]] yourself because it pertains specifically to the amateur radio operator. There is FCC regulation, ARRL suggested practice, local guidelines, and the rest is all operator opinion. In short, you do have to ID if you're talking, you do not have to use the term "clear" if you're done, but you certainly may if you wish. == Summary ==If you follow these suggested tips then you'll operate like a veteran ham. Furthermore, you'll be setting a good example for other new hams that you will most certainly meet and come to enjoy conversing. Not all new operators take the time to read guides like this before getting on the air, and there are [http://www.arrl.org/get-on-the-air many good guides] like this one. You're already way ahead in the game. The reality of things today is that many hams disagree on what is correct procedure. The FCC is the final authority so you'll want to pay closest attention to what they require. The ARRL puts forth guidelines that stress an orderly operating practice with good ham etiquette which both aide in communications especially during an emergency. You'll most certainly hear long time hams with sloppy operating procedure, often referred to as "lids." Please don't consider it normal and try not to emulate sloppy operators. Although some clubs are more relaxed than others, the better you operate the more rewards you'll get out of this hobby. Your success in amateur radio and your ultimate enjoyment of this hobby will have a lot to do with how you operate as well as your other unique qualities that add to the growing ham community. Have fun and set a good example because we want you with us in amateur radio![[Category:article]][[Category:Amateur Radio Articles]]