How to Call- And Answer- A CQ

eHam.net Home | FAQ | Log In Help | Please Subscribe Welcome Anonymous Become a member or Login

Call Search

New to Ham Radio?My Profile

CommunityArticlesForumsNewsReviewsFriends RememberedStraysSurvey Question

OperatingContestingDX Cluster SpotsPropagation

ResourcesCalendarClassifiedsHam ExamsHam LinksList ArchivesNews ArticlesProduct ReviewsQSL Managers

Site InfoeHam Help (FAQ)Support the siteThe eHam TeamAdvertising InfoVision StatementAbout eHam.net

[Articles Home] [Add Article]

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ

Steve Katz (WB2WIK) on April 13, 2004View comments about this article!

HOW TO CALL CQ

...or even answer one!

Steve Katz, WB2WIK/6

It seems impossible, but it's very true that most new hams don't know how to call CQ. And a lot don'tknow how to answer one, either!

We're all to blame for that. There just isn't as much “CQing” as there used to be, except during contests.One reason might be that we're mostly using transceivers with VFO control - as silly as that sounds.Here's the explanation: Back in the good old days (for me), we used mostly crystal controlledtransmitters with separate, tunable receivers. The odds of having a crystal on exactly the samefrequency as someone else who was on the band, and within range, at the same time was pretty slim.So, it was common to call CQ, then tune around, looking for answers.

Well, today, we needn't tune around looking for answers, any answers will be right there on the samefrequency we're on. Experienced operators know it's easy to break into an ongoing QSO, if you knowhow and when it's appropriate to do so. I make a lot of my contacts like that: Just overhear aninteresting conversation, wait for a pause, insert my callsign, and join the group. But many newbies, aswell as some old-timers, are too shy to do this, or maybe just not very good at it. And it is frowned on bymost to break into a conversation when you've absolutely nothing to add to it.

So, I only break in when I do think I have something of value to add. It's also acceptable to break into anon-emergency contact (which is about 99.9% of all QSOs) to simply ask for a report, like, “Hey guys,Steve in L.A. here, with a new antenna. How's the signal?” Nobody with a heart can begrudge anotherham a signal report when he's using a new antenna. Ditto goes for a new rig, microphone, or a newalmost anything.

Still, tuning the bands reveals a lack of CQs, especially on “phone.” On CW, the common way to garnera contact is still by calling CQ, and it's very common. But on phone, it can seem like everyone alreadyknows each other, everyone's already in a conversation, and nobody's calling CQ. So, how do youmake a contact?

Simple. When you don't hear any CQs, call one! Problem is, if you don't hear many good, experiencedoperators calling CQ, how do you know to do it right? This obviously is a problem, since most newbiescalling CQ really aren't doing it right, at all. No sweat, we were all newbies once. Here's a good way tocall CQ and actually get answers:

Pick what you think is a clear frequency, within your licensed band limits. (Always stay about 4kHz clear of any band edge (or license subband edge), as using standard bandwidth SSB, it'seasy to have sideband energy at least 3 kHz from your “carrier” (center) frequency of operation -there may be no carrier with SSB, but your dial usually reads the frequency where the carrierwould be, if there were one.)

Transmit, and ask, “Is the frequency in use?” Stop transmitting, and listen for an answer. If youhear no reply, after about five seconds ask one more time, “Is the frequency in use?” If you stillhear no reply, consider the frequency fair game for a CQ. If you hear a reply like, “Yes it is!” ormore politely, “Yes, thanks for asking,” tune to another seemingly clear frequency and start again.

Call CQ. Always include your callsign and your location in the CQ. And always make a CQ last atleast 20 or 30 seconds. Enunciate clearly, and use phonetics at least once or twice. Although itseems silly, it's common to also announce the band you're on when calling CQ. This really isn'tso silly when you think about it: You're actually calling “the band,” since you're not calling anystation in particular. So, don't laugh when, on 20 meters, you hear someone calling, “CQ 20meters.” It makes sense. Here's a good CQ format, for general purpose work. (Note: None of thispertains to contesting.)

“CQ, CQ, CQ calling CQ 20 meters. This is WB2WIK calling. Whiskey Bravo Two Whiskey IndiaKilo, WB2WIK in Los Angeles calling CQ 20 meters. Hello CQ, CQ, CQ 20 meters. This is WB2WIKcalling. Whiskey Bravo Two Whiskey India Kilo, WB2WIK in Los Angeles calling CQ 20 meters andstanding by for a call.”

Perfect. That CQ takes exactly 30 seconds for me to say crisply and clearly, not too fast and not tooslow. It announced my callsign six times, including twice phonetically. It announced my locationtwice. There should be little question, for anyone who tuned across my signal, who I am or where Iam.

It's important to give your location during a CQ, unless you happen to be in, for example, a very small

Email SubscriptionYou are not subscribed to discussions onthis article.

Subscribe!My SubscriptionsSubscriptions Help

Other Recent Articles Amateur Radio Club Ahead of the Curve: Propagation Forecast Bulletin #10 de

K7RA: Join the UK Hub on EchoLink or AllStar: Severe Weather: Become a SKYWARN

Spotter: Codes Cracked at City Musuem:

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ http://www.eham.net/articles/7952

1 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

country. If I were operating from Liechtenstein, and had a local call there, I probably wouldn't botherannouncing my town or city - it's a small place, and the same beam heading for anyone, anywhere,regardless of what town I'm in. But operating from the U.S. or Canada, or other large country (China,Russia, Brazil come to mind), the distance between one town and another can be thousands of miles,and require vastly different beam headings. Another reason to announce your location: Many hamstuning the bands are County Hunters, or looking for a new State for WAS, or whatever. The moreinformation you provide with your CQ, the more likely you are to receive an answer - period.

On the VHF bands, weak signal enthusiasts (using SSB) call CQ, and usually include their grid squarein lieu of other location data. This is because the grid square tells anyone listening all they need to knowabout your approximate location, and whether they “need” your grid or not, for an award or contestpoint, or whatever. Because 4-digit grid squares are quite large (1° latitude by 2° longitude) and VHFantennas quite sharp, when I call CQ on VHF or UHF, I include not only my grid square but otherlocation information as well, to help a station hearing me weakly determine which way to turn hisantenna to hear me better. It helps.

Important note: Repeat Step (3) above if you receive no reply to your CQ! If, after five or six tries (CQcalls) on the same frequency, over a period of a few minutes, you still have no replies, try tuning up ordown the band a little bit, and try again. It sometimes happens that even though the frequency soundsperfectly clear to you, and no one answered your “frequency in use?” call, the frequency may indeed bebusy for listeners in other areas, and might be tied up by a very strong signal emanating from a stationtoo close for you to hear via sky-wave (and too far to hear any other way).

Now that I've taught you how to call CQ, do you really know how to answer one? Many hams evidentlydon't, as I can tell by the answers I receive when I call CQ, myself!

How to answer a CQ: First, use the callsign of the station you're calling. Follow that by your owncallsign, and your approximate whereabouts. If the station you're calling is very strong, just once will do.If he's very weak, you might double up the call. If you're calling in a pileup, timing, frequency andarticulation are more important than signal strength. I'll explain.

Typical call:

“WB2WIK this is K2OWR, Kilo Two Oscar Whiskey Romeo in New Jersey calling.”

Bingo! Perfect. He told me his call, twice, once phonetically, and also where he is. Can't ask for morethan that. His call took six seconds, and gave me all the data I need.

If I didn't hear him well, I might say, “QRZ? Is someone calling me? Try again please; this is WB2WIK.”And he could try again, maybe twice this time, that is, doubling up on the call, like this:

“WB2WIK, this is K2OWR, Kilo Two Oscar Whiskey Romeo, K2OWR in New Jersey calling. Copynow?”

That takes about 2-3 seconds longer, but repeats the call once more. If his signal's weak or I have ahigh noise level or other distraction, that should still be sufficient.

I might not hear him because I'm beamed towards the Pacific, and poor K2OWR's off the back of mybeam. So I'll usually say something like, “This is WB2WIK in Los Angeles, beaming Pacific. Weakstation, where are you?” To which he should reply, “New Jersey, New Jersey, New Jersey, New Jersey,QSL?” or something like that, to advise me that I'm beamed the wrong way.

For those who don't have beams, remember it usually takes 60 seconds to rotate a beam all the wayaround, and 30 seconds to go 180 degrees. If you make your transmissions too short, we'll never beable to peak you. Those with Fluid Motion SteppIR beams can change directions 180 degrees in aboutfive seconds, but the rest of us take longer.

Now, in a pileup, as often occurs on any “rare” station (DX, or maybe not even DX, but a special eventstation, rare IOTA island, whatever), it is very poor practice to make a long call. So poor, in fact, that ifyou are actually heard by the rare station making a too-long call, he might “blacklist” you, to be sure tonever work you the entire time he's operating, just as punishment for your crappy operating. Don't beblacklisted.

Many pileups operate “split,” of course, and I won't go into a whole seminar on working DX and splitfrequency operation. But assuming you're able to transmit on a frequency where the DX (or rare station)is listening, timing and articulation are everything, and certainly more important than signal strength inmost cases. Your call must be timed precisely to when the other station's listening. Make your call veryshort and sweet, don't use any fancy phonetics, and although many successful DX operators use “lasttwo” for a callsign, this really isn't good practice and I wouldn't suggest it. (“Last two” means saying onlythe last two letters of your callsign, omitting everything else, just to get through; for example, if your callis KG1ABC, you'd sign “BC.” Don't do it.)

When calling in a pileup, your transmission should be very short, but properly timed. The average callthat actually “gets through” and makes a successful contact is probably in the 1-2 second range.Practice saying your call articulately (very clearly) in just one or two seconds. Crispness counts. If youuse phonetics to make a longer call because it seems that's what everyone else is doing, useappropriate phonetics. If you're calling a DX station who has an accent (sounds like he's from anon-English speaking country), try “international” phonetics, rather than the common American ones.International phonetics are often the names of cities or countries: W1ABC might be W1 America BrazilCanada. J is Japan, and Y is Yokohama, especially if calling a Japanese station! I is always Italy whencalling an Italian, and G is always Germany when calling a German. Make it make sense.

Great practice: Use a tape recorder, or a digital voice recorder, and listen to yourself. Only when doingso will you know how you really sound. Most people don't sound nearly as good as they think they do.Which is why many people cringe when they hear their own voices played back!

When calling in a pileup, follow a few simple rules:

Be really sure you can actually hear the station you're calling! It makes no sense to call someoneyou can't hear.


2 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

If it's a split operation, be sure you have the split frequencies tuned in or programmed properly,so you're really calling the station where he's listening, or approximately so.

Become adept at listening to both the DX station causing the pileup, and the pileup itself. If youhave “dual receivers,” perfect. If not, use the “A/B” switch on your rig to switch quickly betweenthe DX and the pileup, trying to hear the last station the DX worked and getting a feel for whetherthe DX station is sticking with just one receive frequency, or tuning around. If he's tuning around,you might note a trend, like, “Hey, he's tuning up the band, and every station he works is 200 Hzhigher than the last guy.” Follow the trend, and beat others to the “new” frequency.

Follow the protocol that seems to be working for others, but by all means remember that a 2-waycontact is only made when you and the other station exchange callsigns and another piece ofdata, such as a signal report. Considering the contact complete because you think you heard theDX utter your callsign suffix is lunacy.

Get really good at it, and you don't need to have the strongest signal in the pileup. Having a moderatesignal with great articulation, no background noise and no distortion will get right through, if you timeyour call right.

So, there you have it. How to call CQ, and how to answer one. Simple, eh?

Now go practice it! See you on the bands.

WB2WIK/6

Member Comments:

This article has expired. No more comments may be added. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N3ZKP on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve:

Great article. It is a nice reminder to those who have been at it a while and may have fallen into badhabits. :)

Lon How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AK7P on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Good post on the CQ methods; with the take your call sign anywhere policy, it is very informative for anyanswering stations to know your QTH; i.e. I'm a 7 residing in 4 land, so I always make a point of statingmy location when signing.

Good DX!

Mike How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by LNXAUTHOR on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!- good tips and quite helpful for newly licensed ops!

- i do have a question though: why is it that some hams will tune up directly on top of an on-going QSO,or in a pileup, right on top of the DX station? i suppose this question relates to using an amp (don'tuse/have one)?

- thank you for the article - i look forward to more courtesy and commonsense-related articles here...good stuff! How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W3ULS on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Thanks, Steve. Great article. And thanks to eHam.net.

We need many more such articles on ham radio basics, as I have discovered during the past severalyears of reentering ham radio after a long hiatus. Too much info is taken for granted in the ARRLpublications. Learning by osmosis is not the best nor most efficient educational process. You have tocrawl before you can walk.

I wonder how this and other such basic subject matter is handled in Ward Silver's new "Dummies"book?

73,John, W3ULS How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W3FAY on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve,

Great article and reminder!

I have a question though concerning CW CQs. Since returning to the air after a several year hiatus, I'venoticed on occasion operators calling "CQ TEST." Is that what operators send these days to signifythey're wanting to make a contest contact and, if so, is this considered good operator practice?


3 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

Thanks,Denis RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N8IK on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Good stuff! I understand from the OTs that "CQ 20 meters" was useful for avoiding calling the CQer ona harmonic. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K0LEJ on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Excellent article! I also like the idea of adding your location to the CQ call. I agree with AK7P that withmore people having call signs that don't represent the area they live it's harder to know where you aretalking.

It would also be nice to have an article showing the "proper" method of joining a conversation. It seemsthat people are unwilling to join because they don't know the people in the group, too shy to speak up,or simply don't know how and are afraid of doing something wrong.

In our area we are seeing a good amount of Technicians upgrade to General and they often ask how toget started in HF. Our local club has a good document for those entering the hobby as Techs, but haveyet to develop a document for getting started in HF....

Thanks for the refresher!

LarryK0LEJ How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N4ZOU on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article! You did not cover digital modes but thats no big deal but I would like to comment on splitoperation by DX stations in RTTY mode. Most of the DX RTTY (and other digital modes) sometimes willcall CQ and will state 1 to 3 up. This means that they have there second VFO split from the transmitfrequency and tune around to copy responding stations. This is fine except when you are theresponding station and DO NOT LISTEN to the frequency you are about to transmit on. There might bean on-going QSO taking place there already! This happened to me just yesterday. K7LLC and I werehaving a nice chat in RTTY mode on 14.083 when a DX station on 14.081 started working split andcalling up 1 to 3. This put us right dead in the middle of his listening zone! Don and I had no idea thiswas taking place at the time so here were all these RTTY stations showing up all of a sudden almostright on top of us. Don runs a TNC and so do I and so to keep chating about using old terminal unitswith a modern PC we simply switched to ARQ Amtor mode so the QRM problem we started having wasno longer a problem at all! We just continued the QSO. The problem then was with all the pooroperators that never contacted the DX station because they never bothered to listen to the frequencythey were trying to use. The DX station would never copy them through the constant back and fourthchirping of two ARQ linked Amtor stations and our chat continued because the full error correcting linkof Amtor would simply send the text across between the times they were trying to call the DX station.So just remember, if your a DX station calling CQ and operating split PLEASE listen to the frequencyspace you intend to use both transmit and receive and if your going to answer a station working splitalso listen before you transmit ON THAT FREQUENCY. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K0BG on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!And please! When you're asking if the frequency is clear ask it just like Steve suggested. Don't say"QRZ the frequency" which means who is calling me. In all my years in ham radio, I've never heard thefrequency calling anybody. In fact, the use of Q signals on SSB is redundant.

And please! When breaking in, don't say "break, break, break", as most old timers will consider that youhave an emergency. Do as Steve suggests, and just give your call.

Alan, KØBG RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3UOD on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!LNXAUTHOR - I suspect that many of the tune-ups on top of ongoing QSOs are inadvertent. Someonelistens with the rig in USB or LSB. Then they tune to a clear spot. Then they switch modes to CW forthe tune-up. However, when you switch modes, the carrier freq shifts. Sometimes the shift is right ontop of someones QSO. I've caught myself doing this. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!The tuning up on top of an ongoing contact is an age-old problem, and it's not only people usingamplifiers. They could be adjusting antenna tuners, or just the tunable PA stage in a tube-typetransmitter regardless of power level. Or they could be practicing being jerks.

But this is surely nothing new. I think most of it is not malicious, although some might be.

As for "CQ TEST" on CW: Yes, this means the station is soliciting contest contacts. This is nothing neweither, and I recall working my first Sweepstakes about 38 years ago...and people were calling "CQTEST" then, too. And probably long before that! You might also hear "CQ SS" (CQ Sweepstakes), "CQFD" (CQ Field Day), and sometimes just "TEST" without the CQ. Or any number of possible ways tocall for contest contacts. I agree it might sound confusing for non-contesters who just fired up thestation for the first time in a long time. It surely pays to listen a while and see what's going on!


4 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

WB2WIK/6 RE: Joining a roundtable/group by W5HTW on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Someone asked about joining an in-progress group. I do this frequently on 75 meters, and occasionallyon 20 meters.

First, if this is a group you do not know, and that does not know you, the main consideration is "Why?"Are they having an interesting conversation? Why is it interesting? Do you know something about it? Doyou have something to add? Or perhaps a question? If the group is talking about Power Stroke dieselengines, do you want to know something about that engine? Or maybe you want to compare thatengine to some other engine.

I liken round-tables or 'groups' to a group of men standing at the bus stop. They are talking aboutsports. You arrive at the bus stop and overhear their conversation. But you know none of these men.However, you do know something about sports, so you want to join in. You wait for the right opportunityand then you say "How about dem Cowboys?" Or whatever sports comment is appropriate.

It's the same thing on ham radio. This is a group of people talking about a subject. If you listen for a fewminutes, the subject may switch from Power Stroke engines to fishing boats. That's OK. Maybe you likethose, too! In other words, be pertinent. Don't pick a group that is talking about digital photography andhop in there with "Any of you guys rebuilding Power Stroke engines?"

Having determined you have a reason for breaking into a conversation, you need to pick the time.Some of the round tables go pretty quickly, with none of the operators "dragging their feet" to listen fornewcomers. So you have to be ready for a pause that is longer than a second. If not, you are going tobe doubling with someone, and that won't earn you points. See if you can pick up the rhythm of theconversation. Usually one fellow, and maybe a couple, will be a bit slower on the uptake than the rest,and you will recognize this. But if not, sooner or later there will be a brief moment of silence. And that'swhere you fit in! Be ready! Don't be off feeding the dog or fixing a snack.

Say your call sign, once only, clearly, and no phonetics! You have only one or one and a half seconds toget it in, so make it count. Be sure you are right on their frequency, and let's pray you didn't tune upthere!

Recognize that not everyone in the group may have heard you, depending upon propagation, QRN, etc.But someone probably did. If you are immediately acknowledged, great! Someone will say "was there abreaking station in there?" Well, yes, by gosh, there was and you're "it." Now you can return with "Thisis (call) and the name is (name) in (location). I heard you guys talking about that fishing boat and I haveone. (Or I plan to buy one. Or mine sank.)" But keep it short! One sentence if possible. I recommend stillnot using phonetics for your call sign until and unless you are asked to clarify it.

You are in. Next go around you will be included, and someone will probably comment directly to youeven at this point. "Oh, your boat sank, Joe? Was it overloaded with fish?" You are on your way. Butdon't get long winded and tell a long, tall tale. Make your transmissions short, conversational the waythey would be if you were standing around the room chatting with these guys. (In AM operation, yeah,make your tale long!)

Suppose you weren't heard? Or no-one acknowledged you. Wait a few moments, perhaps throughthree or four other guys transmitting, then try it again. Still not acknowledged? Wait again, and try it athird time, after perhaps three more transmissions. Trust that if you can hear all of them, certainly someof them, if not all, can hear you. So if you aren't allowed in, or acknowledged, in three tries, find anothergroup.

On CW? Similar reasons and similar techniques, except you have to be faster on the break, especially ifCW is at 15 wpm or more. The "old" way was to wait for one guy to turn it to the other, and quickly insert"BK" (the prosign) and hope you were quickly enough to be heard. Chances are you were. If not, try itagain next transmission.

More recently one technique I hear is to use what is generally accepted in net procedures; to simplyinsert a character. Like as Station A turns it to Station B, and sends "K" you just send "M" for example.Doesn't have to be a letter from your call sign. If they heard you, someone will send "M?" and you arein. If the QSO you want to break is slow enough, you can drop in your call sign instead of a letter. Thestation who is picking it up will hear you and wait.

CW roundtables are not so common anymore, where multiple CW stations are having a commonragchew. In most cases when it was more common all stations were using full breakin (QSK) so anystation could hop in at any time, including a new station. I haven't heard a CW roundtable in years, so itprobably isn't very applicable today.

Tailgating is. That is waiting until a QSO is ending, as as the stations sign with each other, pick the oneyou want and call him, a one by one call. (his call once, DE, and your call once. No long calls here,either.)

Getting into group discussions (yeah, Doc) on SSB can be very enjoyable and can form long termfriendships. Remember, those groups you hear every night may consist of some guys who have nevermet the others in person, yet have been talking for years. You can become a member. You just have to'fit in,' and that means you have to have something to contribute, something to say that interests thegroup.

Have fun!


5 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

Ed How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W8AD on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hi Steve,

Really good stuff. This is the kind of thing that helps a lot. It is Elmering at its best. Good going!!

Don, W8AD RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KC0MDC on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great topic filled with excellent information. Reading an article like this helped ease some of myanxiousness when I first got on a couple years ago. Fine job!

73 Tim How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NK7J on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great Article, it is nice to see good elmering.

I have been on HF since 1990 and still have a problem "breaking into" conversations. Always feel like Iam butting in on someone.

I have a question, how often do you break into a QSO and the group more or less could care less youare there? I have found this the case several times on 75 meters.

Jack RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K1WW on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Nicely put together Steve.

I suggest when asking if a frequency is in use including your callsign. It makes you legal with noquestion.As for phonetics, most foreign operators are taught and use the standard International PhoneticAlphabet i.e., Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc, that we should all know. It helps overcome the languagebarrier. If you feel a foreign operator has a decent grasp of the English language then you will be fairlysafe in straying from the standard. One example of why not to use non-standard phonetics is the wordCanada for the letter C. In many countries Canada is spelled Kanada.

73, Ray RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hi Steve,

Thank you for the truly terrible article. You must have search high and low for such a lame topic. Keepup the tiresome work.

73s from

K6BBC How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N4XLE on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article with lots of reminders for us all. Personally, I do not like to announce the band I am callingon when CQ'ing and still consider it redundant and therefore unnecessary to do so. That part about'calling the band' I still don't get. I mean its no big deal but it just seems.....(I won't be redundant here)

73 RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KB7YOU on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hi,

Good article. It’s always nice to see tips and tricks for the new ham.

I have some extra tips for the new ham. Also I disagree with Steve’s CQ method. A more appropriatemethod (in my opinion) is to call a shorter CQ more frequently. This gives you more opportunity to listen.Also it your radio has the ability, use VOX which when properly configured lets you hear incomingconditions between phrases.

Even though I prefer a different technique, Steve’s is OK. Remember, no matter what technique youuse, listening first and having respect for fellow hams is key!

Here is the technique I prefer and the one recommended in most of the operating guides I have read:

1. CQ CQ CQ this is Kilo Bravo Seven Yankee Oscar Uniform, Kilo Bravo Seven Yankee OscarUniform, KB7YOU calling from Kaysville UT.

2. Pause 5-10 seconds.


6 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

3. Repeat.

The goal is to make your CQ last 10-15 seconds and have lots of repetition and listen time.

Here are some other suggestions:

1. Once you have tuned to a frequency you think is clear, wait a few minutes to see if you hear anythingbefore calling QRL. I hear lots of hams tune up on a frequency then call QRL right over an existingQSO. If they had paused for a few minutes, they would have heard the ongoing QSL.

2. You should use STANDARD internationally recognized phonetics. Variations are confusing andeveryone seems to have their own. The standard (alpha, bravo, Charlie, etc) are recognized andunderstood by all hams everywhere (or at least they should be!).

3. On SSB, be sure to leave at least 3KHz of space (preferably 5KHz) between your call and anyongoing QSO’s you hear – that’s on EACH SIDE of your intended transmitting frequency. Trying tosqueeze in at 2KHz or less is simply rude and causes QRM. For CW, 1kHz is a good spacing. Noteveryone has 250Hz or 500Hz filters. On a crowded band, during a contest this spacing is not alwayspossible. In those cases, I do not transmit.

4. Get and read a copy of the “ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs”. This book does anexcellent job of describing proper on air operation. It also describes how to use just about everycommunications mode and band. This is an invaluable reference and an interesting read. I highlyrecommend it to anyone who wants to operate well on the air.

5. If you hear a bunch of interesting stations (DX) and want to call CQ, tune nearby. For variousreasons, communications tend to “clump” in certain parts of the band. I have had lots of success when Icall CQ within 10-15 KHz of interesting DX stations.

6. If you hear an ongoing QSO and decide to break in please do not tune up on top of the QSO.Instead, tune up or down a few KHz to a quiet part of the band, reduce your power to minimum(whatever your tuner needs to function) and tune up. Then return to the frequency with the ongoingQSO. I hear too many people tuning up on top of others and this is very rude behavior. For those withauto tuners, be careful. If you have been moving around the band, many tuners will auto-tune the firsttime you transmit.

Out of all of these tips, I would say that number 4 is the most important. It will lead you to all the othergood operating practices. Plus, it’s an interesting read.

Again, great article Steve.

Look forward to hearing everyone on the air.

73 ChrisKB7YOU

Chris LevinCheck out my web sites:Amateur Radio: http://cmtdigital.sytes.net/HamRadioMy Resume: http://cmtdigital.sytes.net/RESUMEFamily Pictures: http://cmtdigital.sytes.net/ToriBabyOr, visit the main site and see whats new: http://cmtdigital.sytes.net

Kaysville, UT 84037N 41d 01m 29.9s W 111d 55m 41.0shttp://cmtdigital.sytes.netmailto:[email protected] RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WR8D on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Very nice article. One thing that really gets on my nerves is someone wanting to break into your qso willjust key up and say CONTACT. I'm not in an old aircraft with the ignition switch turned on and no youare not about to swing my prop around for me. You can hear this a lot on 40 meters, i think this iscommon net lingo. I also hear a lot of new folks using this to get into a qso and i guess they havelistened to nets and just don't know how to talk. Please folks if you want to get into a qso just key upand say your call, or just give your call and say you need a radio check but please drop the CONTACTcrap!

73John WR8D RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hmmm...I probably should have added something, and was remiss in its omission:

Before you call CQ, and before you call anybody at all, make sure your RIT (Receiver IncrementalTuning) or RX Offset control is turned *OFF*.

Also of reasonable importance: When you do call someone, unless you're intentionally working "split" asrequired for a pileup, make sure you're really on the other station's frequency. Without a carrier to tunein (on SSB), this can be tricky -- especially if you really don't know how the other station's voice is


7 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

supposed to sound. You can tune in an SSB station several hundred Hz off the correct frequency, andusually still understand what they're saying, but you're not on the correct frequency and the otherstation may not recognize you, or simply be annoyed that you're calling him so far off.

One way to "find" the correct frequency for an SSB station is to tune above and below his apparentfrequency and zero in on what you honestly think is the zero beat frequency, where the other station'svoice sounds as natural as possible. Unless you tune *through* zero beat (from too high pitched to toolow pitched, or vice-versa, depending on which SSB mode is used), you can never be sure you've doneit correctly. Take a few moments to zero in as best you can.

This is one reason I recommended the longer CQ format which takes about 30 seconds: It providesprospective callers to really tune you in properly. A repetitive 10-second CQ does not provide thisopportunity.

In SSB contests, it is common for nobody to ever have anyone tuned in fully since the CQs take aboutone second, and so do the replies! Doesn't matter much, as long as you're making contacts, since eachcontact takes about two seconds anyway. But for general operating and "rag chews," it's really nicewhen you're "netted" on frequency correctly, and this takes more than a second for most people.

WB2WIK/6 RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KJ7XJ on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Right on the money Steve! I like calling CQ on 29.6 FM Being the "edge" of HF, I still use my grid CN87when calling CQ along with Tacoma and Western Washington. This way DX can hear a callsign,grid,and city/state. FM DX is exciting, but the QSB (fading) can be really annoying, so the more info I canget out there, the better I can snag someone. See you on the bands! Eric How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3GI on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Good article. I heard an older gentleman once calling CQ on 20 meters. It went something like this, "Isthe frequency in use?"[pause]"This is <callsign>. Is the frequency in use?"[pause]"Is there a net about to use the frequency?"[pause]"Is there anybody who has a sched on this frequency at about this time?"[pause]"Is there anybody who is going to get mad at me for using this frequency now?"[pause]"I guess it's okay for me to call CQ. CQ, CQ, CQ,...." RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3ESE on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article and thread! Just a note for CW CQers...remember that the most critical skill in all ofhamdom is listening, so make your CQ's short, and your listening frequent. When not in a contest, I'llusually send "CQ CQ de K3ESE K3ESE K," and then listen for 6-8 seconds before repeating. When Ihear (and I do, too often,) twenty CQs, then a few calls, then twenty more, then more calls, I'm usuallydisgusted enough to not even want to wait around for a QSO. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KE4ZHN on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Its better to remain silent and let people believe your stupid, then to open your mouth and remove alldoubt. Right Steve? Its a shame that when he moved to 6 land, he took his arrogant NY attitude alongfor the ride. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NN6EE on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Good post Stevie!!!

Though typically when operating on any one of the VHF or UHF Simplex frequencies what I do, andmany others do as well is NOT call CQ but to ask: "Is anyone around on this channel?" a couple timesand then sign your call a couple of times and that's it!!!

Why call CQ on a Simplex channel when somebody answers you they've been listening anyway!!! :-)))

Jim/ee How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by G0GQK on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!How sad that it is thought neccessary to advise a radio amateur who has supposedly passed a radioknowledge proficiency examination and obtained a licence on how to call CQ. Good grief! What next!

If the mutt is so dim how would he/she know about receiver incremental tuning or receiver offset control?

Are the next lessons to be "How to switch on your new tranceiver " Does anybody read books in theStates these days ? How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by CWTITAN on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!


8 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

Nice info. My pet peeve with two meter jocks that come down to HF are the ones that call CQ and say"n7xwy HERE IS KW7PV" what ever happened to "this is". Are they supposed to be cool or what???sounds hinky to me and I won't answer them. I have correctely some, very nicely in manner, only to becussed at or told to take a hike....Just my thoughts!!! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!G0GQK

What are you talking about? Look at how many wonderful comments this pabulum has generated. Onewould think a great work of thought had just been published. This is why we need the no-code license;to get fresher, more enlightened brains into the hobby. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NN6EE on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!AH GEEEZZZZ "BBC" look at what you just said!!!

Brains does'nt have a darn thing to do with Ham Radio anymore!!! No-Code Techie thru Extra-Lite!!!

:-)))

Jim/ee RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WA5ZNU on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!>My pet peeve with two meter jocks that come down to HF are the ones that call CQ and say "n7xwyHERE IS KW7PV" what ever happened to "this is". Are they supposed to be cool or what??? soundshinky to me and I won't answer them. I have correctely some, very nicely in manner...

Pardon me, but even if you were nice about it, it doesn't sound like it's the kind of thing worth"correcting" someone for. Now, if it were people who say "fahv" instead of "five" ;-) RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KD5UJX on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!

Quote:"How sad that it is thought neccessary to advise a radio amateur who has supposedly passed a radioknowledge proficiency examination and obtained a licence on how to call CQ. Good grief! What next!"

Gordo's study book and the 35 question test DID NOT prepare me for HF. (no suprize there) Proper onair operation is woefully covered. I spent many hours listening before I This piece is great! I have pickedup most of the items disscused by "on air" schooling (sorry anyone offended) but, the new ham needsto know these things.

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!How can one not be prepared for HF? How does anybody get interested in the hobby anyway. Is it notby listening? Do stamp collectors just start collecting without ever seeing a stamp. Come on guys. Thisnonsense is a result of 13 WPM thinking. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3BZ on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Outstanding article, Steve. Only one correction, if I may be allowed.... we SteppIR users are indeedblessed with a 180 deg. turn time of much less than 5 seconds... I find it to be more like 3 seconds ;-)Thanks for your continuing excellent contributions to the hobby.73, Jerry K3BZ RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W9GOC on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Thanks for a thought-provoking article. It seems to have generated both kudos from those who wereenlightened on this subject and some snide remarks from those who already know it all. :-)

There were some comments about '...read a book' and such - - while research is useful, I mention thatham radio has now been around for a bit over a century, and 'best practices' have undergone somesubtle shifts in that time. (operating recommendations in my latest ARRL operating manual aresignificantly different in the details than those recommended in my mid-60's version of the publication,for example.)

This forum serves as a form of peer review for the written word. There have been several constructivealternatives proposed in previous replies, suggesting refinements to the techniques. And we can hopethat the A-1 Operators out there will patiently guide those of us who'd like to emulate their goodexample.

Again, thanks for putting your recommendation out here for all to see and comment upon.

Best regards,Frederick/W9GOC RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K7JBQ on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!


9 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

Thanks for the piece. And sorry that it "insulted the intelligence" of a few who were obviously born withthis knowledge.

Did it tell me anything new? No. Would it have been helpful lo those many years ago when I first firedup a rig? You bet.

One sneaky bit of advice on split DXing that I may regret giving, but this is aimed at the low power/lousyantenna op: If the DX is listening progressively higher with every QSO, eventually everyone will get thepoint and fall into line, leaving the little guy's signal swamped. But here's the deal: At some point the DXis either going to head back down frequency, or start over aways down the band. If you can anticipatethat, he might hear your little signal, in the clear. Takes time, but it sure is fun when it works, and I'veworked more than a few new ones exactly that way, both on phone and CW.

73 es DX,Bill RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N9FIK on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Many thanks for the article. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K9COX on April 13, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Nicely done Steve, however I bet you can rattle the aforementioned CQ in 15 seconds or less! You area great enunciator and a very fast talker! How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KB9YKG on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article Steve, I think many hams (including myself) will benifit from it. It's amazing how manypeople are so arrogant that they will bash someone else for trying to help out the new guys - but thenagain we don't deserve to be here. No wonder it's a dying hobby.

73'sKB9YKG How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NA6Z on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Perhaps we might want to consider using the approach from the last Novice question pool: N2A17 Say"CQ" three times, followed by "this is", followed by your call sign spoken three times. Much shorter than30 seconds. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Writing an article to fellows hams instructing calling CQ is like an auto mechanic writing an article tofellow mechanics on changing oil. Is this perhaps a little insulting – or is it just me? RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KD5UJX on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!It's you. As you can see by the number of people that prased the article you and the few others thattook offence are in the minority. Keep up the good work. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WA2JJH on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Another nice one steve.

Few pet peeves of mine, bet this one bugs you too.

1)Ultra rare DX. Must be 40 stations in the pile up you can hear. I hate these slick guys that wait foreveryone to put in their call and are waiting to be picked up be the RARE DX. Some station(almostalways US) will then go hard and fast with his call sign for about 10 seconds, This wat he IS the laststaion heard!

Guess what he will be the 1st or second to get the contact fom the DX!

OK, Steve am I wrong for putting my call sign at the right time, or is this lst second trick consideredfair????????? I have not done this trick yet. Howvever is it liddy behviour or just hard contesting.

2)Pet Peeve 2--If you cannot work that DX on this pile up-----THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TUME YOURAMP!B)let me adjust my RF CLIPPER---hello five five five five!

GOOD POINT- using the international phonetic alphabet. I have been using the U.S.A.F alphabet forover 25 years. Time to change!

BAD HABIT(I have to break) I watch my power output meter while I send a voice CQ.

I know my voice and rig response very well. I will stretch certain words and change pronunciation to getmaximum peak RF out. I always think when I am not using an AMP, this will make my voice stand out ina pileup. It is a hard habit to break!

I also soflty go QRZ, IS THE FEQUENCY IN USE. after 2TIMES, I will do a QRZ with the rf speech proc in.


10 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

No response....CQ,CQ MY CALL REGULAR 2x, phonetic 2X,1 long regular. I think reily says thats A-OK.

A Brush up on the basics is always good to do.

73 MIKE RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N6AYJ on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!As always, a masterful discussion, Steve! I think you are the most knowledgeable ham that I've evermet. It was great speaking to you on 75 meters awhile back. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by GM7CXM on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Although I agree it's surprising that people do not know how to call or answer CQ calls, to my mind theanswer is as ever: kindly help your fellow hams the way you were once helped.

Steve, you missed out one point which is a bugbear for me, and that's replying to a CQ DX call. I oftencall CQ DX when I know/think the band is open, and constantly get replies from stations who I do notconsider to be DX. I was taught that, on HF, DX is anyone who is not on my own continent. It wouldseem however that not everyone shares this view. In fact, the other day I was rebuked by a ham in theUK, who said that he was answering my CQ DX call, and that if I wanted to work outside europe, Ishould call CQ DX OUTSIDE EUROPE. I have always considered this a redundancy but since this is arecurring situation... maybe not?

Your opinions on this particular point?

73 de Duncan EA5ON / GM7CXM RE: Joining a roundtable/group by W8JI on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Someone asked about joining an in-progress group. I do this frequently on 75 meters, and occasionallyon 20 meters.

First, if this is a group you do not know, and that does not know you, the main consideration is "Why?"Are they having an interesting conversation? Why is it interesting? Do you know something about it? Doyou have something to add? Or perhaps a question? If the group is talking about Power Stroke dieselengines, do you want to know something about that engine? Or maybe you want to compare thatengine to some other engine.>>>

I have a policy of being direct and to the point when someone breaks in for a signal report in the middleof an intense discussion, or who breaks in and can't hear the station I am working. I simply point out ifthey don't know what is going on and have nothing to contribute, they should wait. If they can't hear theother guy, they should also wait.

It is rude and Liddish to break in to a conversation when you don't know what is going on or you can'tunderstand both sides of the conversation.

A person should use the same common sense as he would use in person. If two or more people are ina conversation about some specific topic, would you really walk up and say "hey, how loud is myvoice"?If you couldn't understand one or hear him at all, would you join in?

I've been criticized for pointing out to people who are rude enough to break in when they don't haveanything at all to add that they are being rude.

I still remember way back to 1962 or 63 when I broke into a roundtable and said "I don't know who ishere or where you are at but I want to join in". I was politely educated! I learned a very good lessonabout manners, and still respect and value having it explained how rude it was to break in without beingable to contribute or knowing who was there.

Nothing wrong with joining in or asking for a signal report from strangers as long as the TIMING iscorrect.

73 Tom How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W4ROT on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great post/responses. This one is going to be added to the shacks quick reference HOW TO's goingforward.Thanks,w4rot RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!BBC:

Its you. We all need to lighten up a bit a times. As I am wont to say...

Relax, its only radio.


11 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AF4KK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!GREAT article!! It's not too often that we return to the "basics" for a little refresher. Ever seasonedHF'ers could use a brush-up once in a while!! THANK YOU!!Scott Heath (AF4KK) RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N3CAZ on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!BBC noted “Writing an article to fellow hams instructing calling CQ is like an auto mechanic writing anarticle to fellow mechanics on changing oil. Is this perhaps a little insulting – or is it just me?”

If you were going to draw an analogy, a better one would be an article to fellow mechanics instructingthem on how to talk to (with?) their customers and associates. WB2WIK wasn’t telling us how to repairor perform maintenance on our rigs; he was addressing good manners and proper protocol, whicharen’t readily apparent to everyone in every situation.

Good article Steve, really appreciated.

73, Ron Brown/N3CAZ RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Opinions...

-"DX" means "distance," and on HF is generally interpreted to mean outside the continent; however, thissurely varies a lot. In a DX contest, for example, if a "lower 48" station works Alaska (same continent),Canada (ditto) or Mexico (ditto), it counts as a DX contact. It's possible that in some cases, "DX" is amile away, across the border. Florida to Cuba is 90 miles, and Cuba is "DX." And so it goes...

-Don't watch a wattmeter while operating, other than to take an occasional glance to see if yourtransmitter's still working. What's the point? You can't control PEP with your voice. If your transmitter'sso undermodulated that you have to scream to create normal output power, something's wrong.Sustaining a l-o-n-g syllable doesn't increase output power at all; it only makes an average-readingmeter indicate higher because it gives the needle a chance to move up scale. On a PEP meter or a'scope, a single, very short syllable will indicate the same output power as a long sustained one.

-I don't think the military standard phonetics, nor the "international" ones regularly published fordecades, are particularly good for working DX. I follow what I hear a lot of the DX do, which is useinternational city and country names that are instantly recognized. The last letter in my call is "K," whichshould be "kilo" (sounds pretty international to me), and DX often just can't get it. If I change to"Kentucky" -- bingo -- they get it immediately.

WB2WIK/6

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N3DRK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Listen, Listen, and Listen some more before transmitting. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AD7DB on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hi Steve,

I think you wrote a good article here. It's bound to be helpful to newer hams, and some of us long timehams can get something out of it.

However, your instructions for breaking into a QSO...You said to wait for a break. HOW? They only wait a tenth of a second before replying! If mike buttonshad been triggers back in the Old West, they'd have outdrawn Wyatt Earp! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!If I hear stations who leave microseconds between transmissions, this isn't a conversation I'd care tobreak into...

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KZ1A on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve,

RIGHT ON........ RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KZ1A on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I LIKE THAT >>>>> RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K0RFD on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!


12 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

WA2JJH Wrote:>OK, Steve am I wrong for putting my call sign at the>right time, or is this lst second trick considered>fair????????? I have not done this trick yet. Howvever>is it liddy behviour or just hard contesting.

It might or might not be an effective way to get the QSO. It all depends on the DX op. Some Ops takethe first guy they hear, some take the last guy they hear. Others take the loudest guy they hear. Andmaybe he's listening to a range of frequencies and moving up or down, in which case neither "early" nor"late" is as good as being on the right frequency at the right time. That's why you want to listen to what'sgoing on before you adopt a strategy. If he's working split, use your A/B button frequently to listen to theDX *AND* the pilup and see if he's got a pattern of taking early or late callers, or to see if he's movingup or down a range of listening frequencies. Listen Listen Listen.

It's "liddy" behavior in one respect. The guy who waits REALLY long to call will often bury the guy theDX is trying to come back to. This slows down the whole process by forcing the DX to have to ask forthe caller's information again. It's really a question of how well the DX op manages the pileup. If he letslate callers disrupt his own operation, it's his own fault. If he answers a lid just to get rid of him, thenhe's rewarding bad behavior and might start a stampede of similar bad behavior.

>GOOD POINT- using the international phonetic alphabet.

Again, let the DX lead you on this. When you're listening to the DX, see what abbreviations HE useswhen working other stations. If I hear a DX using "Kilowatt", "Radio", "Florida", or "Denmark", I'll usethese rather than "Kilo", "Romeo", "Foxtrot", or "Delta" when I give my own callsign. If I use what HEuses, chances are better that he'll understand me. The whole point is to be understood. InternationalPhonetic Alphabet is the starting point, of course, but if you're not understood you're going to berepeating your callsign all day long. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Really good expedition (or other rare location) ops exhibit excellent pileup management and usuallywon't answer a tail-ender other than possibly to get him out of the way; they usually won't answersomeone who calls too long, either. Expeditions I've been on always kept lists of ops we wouldintentionally refuse to work after listening to crappy operating, and we'd call these "the black list." Iwouldn't care if a blacklisted op had the strongest signal on the band: No contact.

Now that most expeditions use computer logging with networked computers so the station ops can sendlittle real-time messages to each other, this is even more effective, as a black listed station will appearon numerous black lists all at once!

Then, some DXpedition ops are not so wonderful themselves. A great example of terrible operating,which leads to bad pileup management, is to not use the DXpedition callsign frequently enough.Technically, for a contact to "count" for a QSL card or award, a 2-way exchange is required, and thatincludes each station sending his complete callsign and another piece of data (like a signal report), andhaving the other station acknowledge receipt of both. A DXpedition who ID's once every ten minutesand then runs a hundred contacts between ID's technically shouldn't count for the 99 contacts where hedidn't ID.

WB2WIK/6

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by G0MZS on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!CQ 20m??? What sort of lesson is that? Learn how to speak English before you try to tell LICENCEDAmateurs how to call CQ!! Standards must be rock bottom if you feel the need to teach Amateurs howto call CQ, wrongly at that. It is bad practice to tell people who already know what band you are on thatyou are calling them on that band!If you do then at least do it with correct English. Are you calling 20m or are you calling on 20m? CQ20m Hi Hi what a laugh! Not got 20m on my dxcc list of most wanted, have you?

Seem like the USA have sub standard licence structure and all this dumbing down of the licence hashappened, in America, a long time ago.

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!G0MZS,

I agree, this is perhaps the lameist posting I have ever read on any ham site. What is more disturbing isthe amount of glad-handing coming from the peanut gallery. But, your insult to sub-standards wasuncalled for. Don’t mess with the USA! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3ESE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!...or there'll be another pre-emptive strike! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3ESE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!<KIDDING> RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ


13 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

by NI0C on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I was glad to see your article, Steve, and I see it as an informative bit of "elmering."

Steve observes that there aren't as many CQ calls on the bands as there once was, and that there areeffective and productive ways to issue a CQ.

I find that newcomers to the hobby are very anxious to learn good operating practices, but some of theops you hear on the bands are not setting good examples. Here's where a friendly dose of "elmering"comes in, and Steve focused on this one aspect of operating. A few months ago, the eHam articlesEditor put out a plea for more technical and operating type articles, and fewer opinion pieces.

How many articles have we seen from some of those who are snipping away at Steve here? Why don'tyou folks submit your own article on some aspect of the hobby you enjoy?

73 de Chuck NI0C RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!ESE, The G0 ain't a DUDE! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K0RFD on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I don't know about "CQ 20M", but several of the RadioSputnik series of amateur satellites had uplinkson the 15M band and/or downlinks on 10M. As I recall, it was good practice to call CQ 10 or 15 or CQSatellite just to let people know WHO you were trying to call. Maybe old habits die hard.

As far as the Ham who considers this particular article "lame" -- the subject of the article was clearlystated in the title. If you thought the subject was beneath you, you didn't need to click on it. You've madeyour point, several times, even slow people like me get it. You think the article is lame. Now give it arest. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!"What is more disturbing is the amount of glad-handing coming from the peanut gallery."

BBC, I done toldja, relax, its only radio. No need to be disturbed.

I recommend a good pint of Guinness from your buddy across the waters in Merry Ole' England. Neverhad Guiness with peanuts, though, so I can't vouch for that. Don't drink nasty American beeranyway...that is ONE thing the Brits did get right (no offense Steve, HEU). I love it with that vaguearoma of peat moss just on the verge of perceptibility, but I digress.

After about 20 pints, I guarantee your brain and bladder will be thoroughly cleansed and you won't havenary a worry, laddie.

P

:) RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Thanks KOE,

I think I'll have a few pints, fire up the rig, and call CQ 20, CQ 20, CQ 20 meter phone. The next step isto be lectured by a few of the enlightened. I guess after being licensed for 37 years I have have beencalling CQ all wrong.

Why do I have the feeling this posting was a cover for the "save the code" crowd. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WA2JJH on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!lOVE THT GUINESS...TIME TO BAIL....EJECT,EJECT! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W2DUG on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!G0MZS wrote:> Seem like the USA have sub standard licence structure and> all this dumbing down of the licence has happened, in America, a long time ago.

Please refer to the other thread on the topic of trolls. Here is an excellent example.

REMEMBER: Don't feed the trolls. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I guess calling CQ on a band is basically very simple and has many parallels in life....

It should be neither too long, nor too short, and not currently occupied by another user.

Figure that one out.

ARF ARF!!


14 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Philip, you're wise beyond your years.

When the young boy asked the wise man, "How long should a man's legs be?" and he received theanswer, "Long enough to reach the ground," he learned the first rule of radio operating. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by G0GQK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!There is a new book available for apprentice radio amateurs called "Ham Radio for Dummies" by N0AX.That's a good title for people who need instructions on how to call CQ.As some of you say, Sheeeesh ! How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NA5XX on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!And don't forget to pause long enough to allow someone to answer your CQ. I can't count the numberof times that I have tried to answer a CQ when the caller pauses his call only to find that when I unkeythe mike, the caller has started his oration again. You can't get an answer to a CQ if you don't take thetime to listen for one. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Tune in next week for “how to say seventy three” posting. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NI0C on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!K6BBC:Tony, you may be interested in AA0MZ's research on the topic of "73'S" at: http://www.qsl.net/aa0mz/73s.htm

While you're on his page, check this one out, too:http://www.qsl.net/aa0mz/qsl.htm

73 de Chuck NI0C

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NN6EE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!BBC!!!

I guess it's you!!!*****************************************************RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ Replyby K6BBC on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Writing an article to fellows hams instructing calling CQ is like an auto mechanic writing an article tofellow mechanics on changing oil. Is this perhaps a little insulting – or is it just me?*****************************************************

Jim/ee RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!G0GQK, quite a comment coming from a completely "unlisted" licensee-?

No info in worldwide data base, no credibility...

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!My next humor article after the DED's wrap up will be...

"Recommended Modulation Techniques for those with Excessive Drool, OR How I Almost Ruined MeHeil With Me Spit" RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by X-WB1AUW on April 14, 2004 Mail this to a friend!As always, great prose Steve.Nice concise, useful information for people just starting out.

I get board when hearing loooooong CQs, and just keep tuning. As a result, I prefer the shorter CQ,much like on CW.

Since I doubt anyone will be hearing a harmonic, on another band, I skip telling people what band I’mon. When I end the CQ on phone, I indicate I’m listening, and I still do listen around my xmit frequency.Appending my QTH to a phone CQ makes sense; doesn’t take long to say Tucson Arizona.

73Bob RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ


15 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

by AI3W on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Wishing the eHam would have a filter that you could just type in a call and they would never be seen.

I thought it was a very informative article. One for the OT'ers as well as the newbies to read and heed.

Thanks!

73 DE AI3W, Rick How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AI3W on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I think another good topic is that you are only supposed to run a power amount that you can establishgood communications.

I tire very quickly of 11, er 75m dudes with their 2kW. Actually hear a conversation that went somethinglike this:

(1st Ham) - My noise level is at s7-8. George, can you hear me?(2nd Ham) - Yes, Sam, you're 20 over here.(1st Ham) - Well, I'm only running 800W, so let turn that up - pause - Heeeeeellllllllo Heeeeellllo OneTwo Three Helllllloooo, George that's now 1kW.(2nd Ham) - Ok Sam, Now you'43 30 over.(1st Ham) - Okay, I better keep it at this level then...

And thus they splatter the frequency 50kc either side of them.

That was taught to me when I took my novice class. I think most have slept through that chapter.

73 DE AI3W, Rick

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NE1Z on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!"And thus they splatter the frequency 50kc either side of them..."

And thus you should shut off your noise blanker if it truly is +/- 50KHz.

No way a 1KW signal could be that wide unless it is in your driveway!

Bill RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KD5UJX on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Rough count:48 praise the article10 pan it23 "other" comments.

That says it all.

Good work Steve. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Count mine as praises, even the non-sequitor asides. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KC0LTV on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!WB2WIK: Good article

The rest whining about newcomers to HF: This is a HOBBY, not a PROFESSION. Obviously somenewer ops are going to make silly or stupid mistakes. So? It might not be perfect, but it 1) Doesn'tqualify them as lids, and 2) Is nothing to get all wrangled up about. Do users of the forums in this sitehave a higher incidence rate of ulcers? RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W7COM on April 15, 2004 Mail this to a friend!One note that I would like to add. IRLP and Echolink are NOT SSB. Many times I've heard (mostly EUstations) call up a node and do the 30 secon CQ thing. Most of the Internet stations are FM repeaterspeople! And they wonder why no one ever answers them. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AJ0HH on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article. Took me back to when I put CU3 on the air for 15 months while stationed there in the USAir Force (Jul 93 - Oct 94). The only regret I had to working split operation from there is that I didn'thave dual receivers and found out that I had lost my receive freq when someone (US) started tuningand calling cq on that same frequency. I did though get into the habbit of saying I was listening 5-10 upor down as the case was so I could dial the receive frequency around. This worked especially wellwhere we had ssb freqs that weren't aauthorized in the US, but could still listen there.

Joe


16 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WA1KWA on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve, great article. In my opinion, we need more articles like this on things taken for granted. On CW, Igenerally use the 3X3X2 method: CQ CQ CQ de WA1KWA WA1KWA WA1KWA repeated twice. Iusually have fairly good success this way. On SSB I'll usually say "CQ CQ CQ, CQ Ten, CQ Ten, CQTen, this is WA1KWA, Whiskey Alfa One Kilo Whiskey Alfa, WA1KWA near Boston calling CQ....." sameexchange repeated one more time. Like you said, last about 30 seconds speaking clearly & not rushingit. On VHF/UHF, I'll substitute the grid square for QTH & where my beam is pointed. I'll listen after oneseries, not 2 like on HF & try it longer on the same beam heading, unless the band is open, of course.Again, good article & you're a real asset to this site.

73,Colin WA1KWA RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve, again thanks for Elmering the unwashed messes!Many people forget that ham radio is a dynamic hobbywith a continuous flow of people in and out. Peoplecomplain if you do Elmer them and then complain thatyou have stopped! I swear(Not on the air!), that most of these people would grouse about gettinglynched with a "Brand New" rope! ;-)I have noticed that most of those who are complainingnever seem to show up on any of the Elmer threads.I guess that they are just too danged good to stoopto that level. They(and we *KNOW* who *THEY* are!) also are amongst the first to cry for their FirstAmendment Rights and say, "If you don't like what Iam saying, you don't have to listen!" Shame theywon't take their own advice. I guess it is all in the categorey that life sucks and then you only have timeto ham during contests! (That should stir it!)73 and stay sane out there on the shakey side!Cal K4JSR

Oh yeah, and another thing, Steve. *THEY* are all veryjealous because *THEY* know that the voices only speakto us!! ;-D RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Sorry, but I just remembered an amusing story thatappeared in Q Street back in the fifties, when AMwas still king.It seems that there was a large church that just hada P.A. system installed in their sanctuary. The firstSunday that they used the new system caused a majorpanic in the congregation. A nearby ham was callingCQ DX. The call came through the P.A. moderatelyloud, but the congregation thought the voice had said,"Seek you the EXIT!"

I guess maybe it is best if only Steve and I hear the voices! :-P

73 again (The voices say "73", also) Cal K4JSR RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K7JBQ on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Actually, that happened to me, years ago while mobiling on 20m sideband.

According to the not-so-amused guy in a black robe who came running out the front door of the church,the response he was seeking when he intoned "and the Lord sayeth..." was not:

"Rig here is an SB-33."

73,Bill RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Bill, if you still have the SB-33, those are becoming collector's items now and it's probably worth morethan it sold for new.

Then, the Lord sayeth: "Bring thy rig to the swap meet and maketh profits aplenty."

How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KG6PIR on April 16, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Thanks for the grate article it was a pleasure to read. I always like finding out more information thanwas available in the book I read to get my license. From what I have been reading on this site andothers I must be in the minority because I actually red the book before I took my test. Also I did morethen just read the book I studied it.

KG6PIR john 73


17 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by G7HEU on April 17, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Apologies for my late entrance:

Anyone who has suggested that this article was not required has exposed themselves as someone whodoesn't own a radio.

Thanks for the post WIK and also the MANY elmer moments elsewhere on this forum.

SteveM0HEU / G7HEU. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 17, 2004 Mail this to a friend!HEAR! HEAR! Anyone saying that Steve isn't a great Elmer is just a stick in the Fudd!

73, Cal K4JSR RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KM5EW on April 17, 2004 Mail this to a friend!It's just you...it's really just you. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by N1VLQ on April 17, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I also thank you for the wonderful article, Steve. As usual, it is very informative, and clearly written.

What I'm afraid is quite unfortunate is the fact that something so basic, informative and clear has to beridiculed. Even the best operators can use a refresher now and then.

Thanks for all that you do here Steve. Elmering is still alive. How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KC2ELS on April 19, 2004 Mail this to a friend!This one's getting printed and posted in my shack.

The only thing that would make this complete would be to talk about calling (and answering) CQ viaCW. The reference I have been using so far is http://www.netwalk.com/~fsv/CWguide.htm but I can'tsay that I've had any real success with it.

Thanks again for the very useful content! RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KE6I on April 19, 2004 Mail this to a friend!An important point I'd add, is to not to get discouraged calling CQ. With a modest station, especially, itcan take a long time to raise someone calling CQ. This is normal, don't worry, it's not that they don't likeyou, maybe the radio is working just fine -- it just takes time.

I find calling CQ for like twenty minutes or more into the microphone sort of discouraging. Mypreference is to use the 'voice keyer' option on my radio to record a CQ and then push the button ratherthan talking for ssb. I think it's just more relaxing to push a button and let the voice keyer send out asignal, while I read a little bit or chat on irc, while it's transmitting. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K2LES on April 19, 2004 Mail this to a friend!My butt smells like poop and I can't seem to clean it right. Could you post a detailed article on how toremedy the situation? RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KB3KAQ on April 19, 2004 Mail this to a friend!by K6BBCHow can one not be prepared for HF? How does anybody get interested in the hobby anyway. Is it notby listening? Do stamp collectors just start collecting without ever seeing a stamp. Come on guys. Thisnonsense is a result of 13 WPM thinking.<<<<

i regret to inform you that not everyone has a local ham they can go learn from. my first HF experienceswere at my house after i bought a radio and up a wire in my attic. again, not everyone has a person toshow them the ropes - you certainly won't get it on the air. when asking if a freq was clear, i was cursedat for not understanding propagation - just because i didn't hear the guy answer me doesn't mean thefreq is clear - that's what i was told.

as for the "dumbing down" of the hobby - please explain to me how to cut a crystal to 7.033MHz andthen how to make a spark gap. the knowledge required for those skills are no longer relevant in today'sham world. if that's your thing, have fun. i'll be busy communicating, you know, the reason the radio'sexist.

this thread explains the things (and reasons) that are learned from a mentor and passed down. if i hadone to learn from, i would. i thought that was why eHam was setup - to help guys like me.

glad to see ham radio is full of self righteous operators who have a world view as narrow as my CWfilter.


18 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

-steve

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!My goodness K2LES! Do you kiss your mama with thatmouth? RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K6BBC on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Ajax – that’s how I used to change crystal frequencies. Sorry, I can’t help you with the spark gap.

Warmest regards,

K6BBC RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KB3KAQ on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!by K6BBC on April 14, 2004Writing an article to fellows hams instructing calling CQ is like an auto mechanic writing an article tofellow mechanics on changing oil. Is this perhaps a little insulting – or is it just me?

<<<<<

it's just you. if you can not see the value in a post like this on a site for helping hams, then you are in thewrong place. i'd like to tell you where to stick it, but that is not a nice thing to say.

if you have nothing to contribute and think this is insulting, then go away. bye. if i ever hear you on theair, i'll make sure to bow before your supreme knowledge and operating skill, for you are truly the superham.

as for not being able to help with the spark gap, you must have taken the dumbed down tests in the1960's. and i'm sure you know the answer to this question taken from the current extra class:

what is the typical velocity factor for a coaxial cable with polyethylene dielectric?

or how about this one:

what type of semiconductor material contains fewer free electrons than pure germanium or silconcrystals?

-steve RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I KNOW STEVE (HAND RAISED IN AIR)!!!! How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4KAL on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Great article, but I do have one comment on this paragraph.

Many pileups operate “split,” of course, and I won't go into a whole seminar on working DX and splitfrequency operation. But assuming you're able to transmit on a frequency where the DX (or rare station)is listening, timing and articulation are everything, and certainly more important than signal strength inmost cases. Your call must be timed precisely to when the other station's listening. Make your call veryshort and sweet, don't use any fancy phonetics, and although many successful DX operators use “lasttwo” for a callsign, this really isn't good practice and I wouldn't suggest it. (“Last two” means saying onlythe last two letters of your callsign, omitting everything else, just to get through; for example, if your callis KG1ABC, you'd sign “BC.” Don't do it.)

Before calling on the frequency, take the time and see if there is a QSO on that xmit frequency. Itamazes me that people just call, and don't bother to check. The DX station in most cases doesn't knowif the frequency is in use, and many times they use such a large gap. Like 14.195 and QSX 200 to 210,they are causing problems with other hams who could care less about the DX station and just want tohave a QSO. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by AB5XZ on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Observation on phonetics:

Over the last several years, as I operate in SSB contests, I have had occasional trouble getting my callsign across to people. It shouldn't be a problem, but it is.

My call is Alfa Bravo Five X-ray Zulu.

Is that Alfa Bravo Five Victor Zulu?Is that Alfa Bravo Five Echo Zulu?

I've tried alternate phonetics, but in most languages there is just no good substitute for X-ray. Xilofono?Xenofobia? nope.


19 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

In the last WPX contest, I found the answer:

Alfa Bravo Five X-Raaaaaay Zulu.

Don't laugh. It worked!

73Tom RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!K4KAL, I agree with you completely. I did mention later in the article to be sure to listen on the QSXfrequency, and if possible, continue to listen there the entire time you're trying to work the DX station.The best defense is a strong offense, and knowing exactly what the competition's doing every second ofthe game is what makes winners.

Good comment.

WB2WIK/6 How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K3YD on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Hi Steve,

I sometimes work with prospective and new amateurs in a local club and think your article is a reallygood training piece. I've heard many "newbies" bring VHF-FM operating procedures to HF. I.e. "This isKD3XYZ listing fourteen-268." If they're lucky, they meet a helpful mentor. If they aren't, they might meeta latter day re-incarnation of the original W2OY. (Having just read through the comment thread, I have afew nominees.)

Any objection to my copying your article as a license class handout?

73, Blair k3yd

Village people. by G7HEU on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!K2LES

I can't help you with your personal hygiene. I was wondering though, ( having checked your Ehamprofile ), didn't you used to be in a band ?

SteveM0HEU / G7HEU

>>>>"RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ Replyby K2LES on April 19, 2004 Mail this to a friend!My butt smells like poop and I can't seem to clean it right. Could you post a detailed article on how toremedy the situation? " <<<<<

RE: Village people. by G7HEU on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!p.s. Good luck with your general license 'in the next ten years'.

:-) How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by NL7GB on April 20, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Thanks for the operational etiquette pointers Steve! As an idiot who has let 3 ham licenses expire andwho has never worked anything other than HF CW, I found this message thread informative. Studyingfor my fourth exam and looking for online Elmers drives home the point that it is definately getting a littleeasier to get a license -- but much harder to please everyone.

73 DE (Don't know what my next call will be -- meeting with VE in May)

Dave in Alaska RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 21, 2004 Mail this to a friend!-And the answer is "P" type, with holes as the majority current carriers. RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KB3KAQ on April 21, 2004 Mail this to a friend!

by KA4KOE on April 21, 2004-And the answer is "P" type, with holes as the majority current carriers.

you need to brush up on knowledge, your answer is not correct per the FCC extra exam.


20 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

and what about the velocity of the coax???

more light, less heat.

-steve RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 21, 2004 Mail this to a friend!HAY! KAQ AND KOE!!!I took a "straw poll" and found out that the MajorityCarriers of a 2 X 4 was; 1)Sheriff Buford Pusserand 2) KNOT HOLES! What are they, then?73, Cal K4JSR RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by LU1ARV on April 21, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Excellent found!!!73, José RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KI4EFO on April 22, 2004 Mail this to a friend!As a new ham I would like to count in on the "thanks for a helpful mentoring article" side. I learned a lotfrom reading this and I'm not ashamed to admit that. I've spent a *lot* of time listening and I think it'spretty apparent there are many valid ways to call a CQ. Hearing about the reasoning behind thesedifferent approaches has helped me make an informed choice as to how I want to call CQ.

Last night I extended my calling time just a bit, repeated my call more, included my location, and alsowaited a little longer between calls. It seemed to help and I felt I got more responses.

I have a follow-up question. How clear is clear enough? There are times when I can hear extremeleyfaint signals all up and down the band if I listen really hard with a headset on. I'm not sure how I wouldeven rate them on an S scale but they are so low as to be completely unintelligible. Does it make senseto ask if the frequency is in use given that they could hear me but I might not be able to hear anyone intheir conversation?

Thanks,EricKI4EFO RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KI4EFO on April 22, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Just for clarification -- I always ask if a frequency is in use. My question is simply whether I shouldtransmit at all if I hear extremely faint signals.

Regards,EricKI4EFO RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 22, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Always ask if the frequency is in use, and more than once. I usually ask two or three times, waiting afew seconds for any replies in between. If signals I hear are so faint they're unintelligible and nobodyreplies to my "in use?" query, that frequency should be fair game for a CQ; although I'd prefer to pick afrequency where I hear nothing at all within my IF passband if possible.

Sometimes, that's just not possible, period. Especially during contests!

Remember 99+% of all amateur communications is non-emergency in nature, so if you interfere withanybody unintentionally, it would be extremely unusual for that to do any harm. I can acceptoccasionally being called a Bozo...I've been called worse, even by family members...

WB2WIK/6 How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA3POY on April 22, 2004 Mail this to a friend!Steve - great article. Thanks to eHam for publishing it.

One growing mode that has not been discussed in depth here is...AM. On AM, phone operatingtechnique is possibly even more important because there is a large number of signals confined to verynarrow windows - in some cases these windows will only accomodate one AM qso at a time.

While you may occassionally get to send a CQ, odds are that if a band is propagating, the AM windowmay already be inhabited. For that reason, it is very important that ops leave time betweentransmissions for breaking stations to identify themselves. Also, ops in QSO should be even moreaccomodating to breaking stations because the reality is, more often than not, that the bandwidth theyare occupying may be the only AM game in town for the moment.

I have had largely great luck joining AM roundtables and encourage anybody else out there who isthinking about it to take the plunge. Don't worry if you can't run plate-modulated tube gear, run whatyou've got.

73, N5IIT


21 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by WB2WIK on April 22, 2004 Mail this to a friend!N5IIT: Good comments. AM is fun, and I find that the operators do leave l-o-n-g pauses, usually,between transmissions, which accommodate even rather slow-reflexed breakers.

Now, if I could only convince them to make each transmission a bit shorter! Since the channelizednature of HF-AM operations does encourage "round tables," as opposed to "one on one" contacts, ifeach station in a 6-member chat makes a 10-minute transmission, it takes one hour to go around once.

Which is why by the time it comes back to me, I'm always gone!

WB2WIK/6 RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by KA4KOE on April 23, 2004 Mail this to a friend!KAQ:

N type - majority current carriers are electronsP type - majority current carriers are holes

Either Si or Ge can be doped to be P or N type material.

Note that the FCC exams have been known to contain errors in the past.

Please refer to Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, Boylestad and Nashelsky, 3rd Edition, Pages 6-8.

RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by K4JSR on April 24, 2004 Mail this to a friend!What about the KNOT HOLES?2 X 4's are generally PINE which makes them P material!Gee, KOE, sometimes your a grouch! :-P73 Cal K4JSR RE: How to Call (and Answer) a CQ by W9OY on April 26, 2004 Mail this to a friend!I knew an old boy down on 75 and 40 a zillion years ago who really knew how to call CQ.

CQ CQ no lids, no kids, no space cadets, no phonetic phonatics, NO SCHOOL BUS RIDERS, onlyclass A operators need apply this is W2OY

Now this guy knew how to call CQ. He died a true hams death. Strapped in at 75 feet on his tower hehad the big one. I can almost hear those dulcid tones wafting through the celestial ether on a quite nightnolids...nokids...noscpacecadets.....

Copyright 2000-2013 eHam.net, LLCeHam.net is a community web site for amateur (ham) radio operators around the world.

Contact the site with comments or questions.

Site Privacy Statement


22 of 22 3/8/2014 12:44 PM

How to Call- And Answer- A CQ

Documents