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Fire, police, and the military sometimes use the term "break" not to enter into a conversation, but to indicate, "Stand by, more to follow." On the C.B. folks say it to ask for an opportunity to enter the conversation or use the frequency. In recent years some hams have been calling BREAK as part of some new bad habit. But where’s all this breaking coming from?Fire, police, and the military sometimes use the term "break" on the radio to indicate, "''Stand by, more to follow.''" On the [[C.B.]] folks say it to ask for an opportunity to break-in on the conversation or use the frequency. In recent years some hams have been calling BREAK as part of some new bad habit. But where's all this breaking coming from?'''IRLP Infiltration in Proper Protocol''''''IRLP Pollution of Proper Protocol'''It's not coming from Citizen's Band as many might think. The culprit seems to be IRLP. Yes, there seems to be a trend on IRLP now in using the term "break" to indicate that the speaker is going to let the repeater drop, and then pick up and continue blathering on. This is a way to circumvent the link timeout function of the node or the linked repeater.It's not coming from Citizen's Band as many might think. The culprit seems to be [http://www.irlp.net/ IRLP]. Yes, there seems to be a trend on IRLP now in using the term "break" to indicate that the speaker is going to let the repeater drop, and then pick up and continue blathering on. This is a way to circumvent the link timeout function of the node or the linked repeater.Saying "break" as a means to let the repeater drop, and then continuing is definitely not correct protocol. It sounds very '''Citizen Band'''. With that being said, you have to consider that IRLP is by in large full of technician class operators lacking serious ham radio background. That’s not to say that all IRLP users are novices, just that the concentration of novice operators on IRLP is statistically greater than other areas of the hobby due to the very nature of the medium.Saying "break" as a means to let the repeater drop, and then continuing is definitely not correct protocol. It sounds very Citizen Band. With that being said, you have to consider that IRLP is by in large full of technician class operators lacking serious ham radio background. That’s not to say that all IRLP users are novices, just that the concentration of novice operators on IRLP is statistically greater than other areas of the hobby due to the very nature of the medium.For operators that have more to say and want to let the repeater reset, I have heard experienced operators (such as [http://www.qcwa.org/ QCWA] members) say "wait" then let it drop. This is not an ARRL defined protocol, it is simply an accepted practice that services to prevent confusion from casual conversation and an emergency. The point is to sound less like there’s a possible emergency and the frequency may be needed, or to sound less like a breaker breaker CB truck driver. If I am being particularly long winded and have more to say, I just stop in mid sentence, or at the word "and" so it is obvious I'm not done, then pick back up from there after the repeater resets.For hams that have more to say and want to let the repeater reset, I have heard experienced operators (such as [http://www.qcwa.org/ QCWA] members) say "wait" and then let it drop before continuing. This is not an ARRL defined protocol, it is simply an accepted practice that serves to prevent confusion from casual conversation and an emergency. The point is to sound less like there’s a possible emergency and the frequency may be needed, or to sound less like a breaker breaker CB truck driver. If I am being particularly long winded and have more to say, I just stop in mid sentence, or at the word "and" so it is obvious I'm not done, then pick back up from there after the repeater resets.Yet, there’s some bad info floating around due to ignorance. Rob Mavis AE6GE, for example, seems to think that it is acceptable to use amateur radio in the same fashion as police. According to the ARRL, Rob Mavis is just plain wrong, but that doesn't stop ol Rob from [http://www.k6arp.org/the-proper-use-of-break/ sharing misinformation online]. Fortunately for Rob Mavis, ignorance is a correctable condition through education.Yet, there’s some bad info floating around due to ignorance. <del>Rob Mavis AE6GE, for example, seems to think that it is acceptable to use amateur radio in the same fashion as police. According to the ARRL, Rob Mavis is just plain wrong, but that doesn't stop ol Rob from [http://www.k6arp.org/the-proper-use-of-break/ sharing misinformation online]. Fortunately for Rob Mavis, ignorance '''is''' a correctable condition.</del> ''update: the offending text has been removed from the aforementioned web site.''When is it Okay to Join a Conversation on Ham Radio? By Joseph Cotton (W3TTT). Wasn’t there a famous actor named Joseph Cotton? When is it Okay to Join a Conversation on Ham Radio? By Joseph Cotton (W3TTT). Wasn’t there a famous actor named Joseph Cotten? {{:Template:Opinion Entry}}