Index

The following information is intended for each and every radio amateur.

As time goes on, bad habits can creep into our daily operating procedures. For both the newly licensed operator, and the seasoned veteran, we can all stand a refresher course in basic "On-Air" and "Net" Protocol.

IDENTIFICATION

For some reason, you will find people checking to various nets, contests, or making on air contacts, using nothing but the suffix of their call sign. By the same token, some will sign out using only their call sign suffix. While this practice has seemingly become common place, please note that this is NOT a legal station identification! So, please be sure whenever you identify, do so by using your full FCC Amateur Radio Call Sign!

NOTICE - - - VERY IMPORTANT

The following information is to assist "EVERYONE" in helping to maintain continuity and clarity on the Amateur Radio "VOICE" bands.

Q-Codes and 10-Codes

It is very unfortunate that over the years certain phrases and use of Proword’s and Q-codes have become mangled and misunderstood. The fact that the help of an Elmer has become a lost art, we would like to help bring some clarification of phrases, signals, and codes.

Since Amateur Radio has many facets of operation, over the years, proper protocol and use of terms have become eroded. In order to help save time and use of words, or terms, Q-codes were developed for CW and digital modes. It is unfortunate that these same Q-codes have found their way into the Voice Bands. Just remember, the Voice Bands are just that, VOICE. Always use plain language when on the Voice Bands. No Q-codes, no 10-codes, and no slang.

Case in point to the above, I was once running a net on 20 meters when I had someone tell me he was going to QRT and stand by. What makes this funny is that he just told me and everyone else that he was going to turn off his radio and then set there and look at it.

Believe it or not, we are being monitored by various organizations such as the Local Commercial Television and Radio Stations, as well as Law Enforcement Agencies, the FCC, US Coast Guard, National Weather Service, etc. If we ever find ourselves having to interoperate with them and use such codes, they may not know what in the world we are saying and then find us un-useful to them. So, as you see, by using and getting use to using plain language, confusion is gone and better communication is achieved!

Fact #1: The Amateur Radio Voice Band is just that. VOICE. Please DO NOT use any Q-codes or 10-codes. Remember, you are working on a VOICE Band. Just talk as if you were talking to someone in person or the telephone. Q-codes are intended for CW Only! By the same token, 10-codes are for use by police and fire departments. As such, some of the 10-codes have been picked up by CB operators and they DO NOT always have the same meaning. So, DO NOT use any language or phrases you picked up from the CB Band. In case of an emergency, unless the other person you are talking to is a long time amateur radio operator (ham), they will not understand what in the world you are saying. This is the Voice Band. Just talk as if you were face to face with that person, or on the telephone.

Fact #2: No one has a handle. At one time, this was another way of asking what your name was. The term "HANDLE" has been changed from the CB band to mean an alias, i.e.: "You got the Silver Eagle good buddy".

Fact #3: Don't use the phrase, "The First Personal is...", or "What's the First Personal". Everyone has a name, so, just ask, "What's your name"...or "The name here is... Would you, in public, go up to someone and say, "The First Personal here is"? I didn't think so. You would say, "Name here is..." or something to that fact.

Fact #4: The term “BREAK” or “BREAK-BREAK” IS NOT another name for “I have and emergency. PERIOD! The proper term is "MAYDAY".

Fact #5: Once again, Q-codes are NOT to be used on the voice bands. If you really stop and think about the way you, or someone, who uses these Q-codes on voice sound, it really sounds funny, and sometimes stupid. These Q-codes include the following:

* QSL - Originally meant to confirm a contact. Now used as a question by some, instead of asking, "Did you understand my last..." or my favorite, "QSL on that!"

* QRT - Originally meant to alert that you where turning off the radio. Now, I know you have heard some say, "I'm QRT and Standing By", or "I'll be QRT and listening." To what? Nothing? You just got through telling the whole world that you are no turning off your radio and will set there and look at it.

* QSB - This code means, Band Fading. When some people use this code, it sounds as if they are calling someone a bad name, "You SB". Sounds funny, but true.

* QTH - where are you located? Or my location is... One of my favorites is when I asked a station his location, I received the following: "My Home QTH is Anytown, US, but I am currently in The Othertown, US. By using plain language, this question would have been easily answered.

Bottom Line here is, Don't Use Q-codes on Voice. Don't use any phrase that you may have picked up from the CB Band. Just use everyday plain, clean, language, and talk as if you were on the telephone or in face to face.

PROWORD'S

To further enhance effective communications, we need to become acquainted with several proword's. The term "proword" is a contraction for "procedural word," and the proword's that are used by the amateur radio service were developed, and are still in use, by US military forces. While the use of these proword's may, at first, seem awkward (and, in some cases, outdated), once you get used to using them, you'll find that they will dramatically enhance your station's ability to communicate - both as a transmitter and a receiver of information - more efficiently.

THIS IS:

This proword is self-explanatory. THIS IS should precede your call sign in every transmission during a DIRECTED NET operation. For example, WM5A replies to the net control station (NCS), K5FV: THIS IS WHISKEY MIKE FIVE ALPHA , MIKE, etc.

OVER:

This proword is used at the end of a transmission when additional communications is expected with another party. For example, MIKE, WM5A, is communicating with RICK, K5FV. Here is Mike's transmission: KILO FIVE FOXTROT VICTOR, THIS IS WHISKEY MIKE FIVE ALPHA. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER, RICK ? OVER.

Mike's use of the proword OVER indicates that he expects a transmission from Rick. An NCS asking for check-ins to a net would also use this proword to end his/her transmission: ADDITIONAL STATIONS FOR THIS NET, OVER.

OUT:

This proword is used to indicate that no further communication is expected from the other party. Using the above example, Mike, WM5A, replies: THIS IS WHISKEY MIKE FIVE ALPHA, NOTHING FURTHER. OUT. The proword OUT is similar to hanging up the telephone - the conversation between the parties has ended. This proword would also be used by an NCS to terminate net operations: ALL STATIONS, THIS IS WHISKEY NINER FOXTROT X-RAY. THIS NET IS SECURED. OUT.

ROGER:

This proword means that you understood the transmission of another station. This is not to be confused with answering a question in the affirmative. If you are asked a question and the answer is in the affirmative, use YES, or AFFIRMATIVE - not ROGER!

WAIT:

There are two forms of use of this proword. WAIT, or WAIT, OVER is used when an operator experiences a brief delay. For example, if you drop your pencil or have to reach into a drawer to retrieve a piece of paper or pen, transmit the proword WAIT or WAIT, OVER. The transmitter can be either be un-keyed or remain on the air during the delay. If, however, the delay is anticipated to be longer than a few seconds, transmit the proword’s WAIT, OUT. Circumstance that might dictate the latter use of this proword includes a visitor in the radio room, a telephone call, or other disturbance. In any event, the proword WAIT is similar to putting someone you are talking to on the telephone on hold. Just as you must take the person on the phone off hold to conclude your conversation, do not forget to finish your communication with the station to whom you transmitted WAIT. If you are not acting as NCS and you have used the proword’s WAIT, OUT, be sure to once again obtain the permission of the NCS to resume your communications with the other station. By using the proword OUT, you terminated whatever communications were earlier taking place. "WAIT, OUT," releases the frequency for use by the NCS and other net members.

SAY AGAIN:

In a perfect world, all communications would be understood by all parties on the first attempt. Alas, the world is not perfect (nor is HF or VHF propagation), and repeats or "fills" of transmitted information will be required. The proword’s SAY AGAIN tells the other operator that you need a fill or repeat of information that was previously transmitted. If you are copying formal traffic, other proword’s may follow. For example, SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER xxxx tells the other operator that you need him or her to repeat everything in the message after a certain word or group of figures (xxxx). For example, you might transmit SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER SCHOOL, OVER. If you only missed a word or two or a short phrase, you can transmit the proword’s SAY AGAIN FROM xxxx TO xxxx. This tells the other operator that you need all the information contained in the message FROM the word (xxxx) TO the word (xxxx). For example, SAY AGAIN FROM ELEPHANT TO MONKEY, OVER.

FIGURES:

Routinely, in handling messages, we encounter groups of numbers such as telephone numbers, latitude and longitude indications, street addresses, and so forth. In order to let the operator on the other end of the communication pipeline know that what we're about to transmit is a group of numbers, or, a mixed group containing both numbers and letters but beginning with a number, we use the proword FIGURES. Here's how it works: We need to transmit this telephone number: 800-374-7279. We transmit that information as FIGURES EIGHT ZERO ZERO DASH THREE SEVEN FOUR DASH SEVEN TWO SEVEN NINER.

I SPELL:

Here again, we rely on the International Phonetic Alphabet. Many words in the English language sound alike but have entirely different meanings. To, too, and two, for example, sound exactly the same. In order to make certain that the recipient of information understands what word we're using, when we encounter words we cannot pronounce, words that sound like other words, or uncommon words, we phonetically spell them out. In order to use this proword, we SAY THE WORD, SPELL THE WORD PHONETICALLY, and then, SAY THE WORD AGAIN. Here's how it sounds in practice: I AM GOING TO I SPELL TANGO OSCAR TO SEND YOU TWO I SPELL TANGO WHISKEY OSCAR TWO FORMS COMMA TOO I SPELL TANGO OSCAR OSCAR TOO PERIOD.

MIXED GROUPS:

You will, from time to time, encounter groups of letters and numbers that, taken together, represent a single group. Ham call signs are a very good example. The rule for transmitting mixed groups by voice is very simple: If the group starts with a letter, use the proword I SPELL. For example: I SPELL WHISKEY FIVE ALPHA BRAVO. If the group starts with a number, use the proword FIGURES. Example: FIGURES SIX ONE FOUR SIX ALPHA.

CORRECTION:

We all, occasionally, make errors in our transmissions. When an error is made, the proword CORRECTION should be communicated, followed by the correct information. Example: THIS IS WHISKEY FIVE CORRECTION WHISKEY EIGHT ALPHA INDIA. OVER.

BREAK:

When reading bulletins or advisories, some of which can be very long, the proword BREAK should be used, un-key the microphone, listen for any emergency traffic. Then key the transmitter, use the proword CONTINUING, and carry on with the material. Example: …OF THE LARGE EYE MAKES LANDFALL. BREAK. (pause) CONTINUING.

BREAK-BREAK (Double Break):

Contrary to popular belief, a station calling "Break" or "Break-Break" is NOT an Emergency call. This is a total misunderstanding of this proword from the CB band. Over the past number of years, there has been a huge influx of operators from the CB Band. Unfortunately, they have not been taught, or Elmered, that this is not the proper usage of this term. At the same time, many operators have taken hold of this proword as meaning that there is indeed an emergency. It may be, however, Emergencies are properly identified by "MAYDAY" or "EMERGENCY" and no other words. PERIOD. Do not dilute the internationally established method of declaring that status. Responding "Breaking station, go ahead" will result in all break stations responding and now you have to sort them out. Do not respond to break stations, instead, reply with "full call signs only please".

PROWORD'S - COMMONLY USED

CONTACT:

This indicates that a station has heard a particular station or a station in a particular area that they wish to contact. The NCS will acknowledge a station using the pro-word 'contact' and allow it time to call the station and arrange to change frequency.

"Contact" takes priority over regular check-ins. Call the contact station first.

RECHECK:

This indicates that a station has returned to the Net after changing frequency with another station and was unable to establish contact with that station on the other frequency. It is very unfortunate that this Proword is not used properly on some nets, or has lost its original meaning.

The appropriate response from the NCS would be “The station calling RE-CHECK call your lost station". If the second station is not on the frequency, advise the re-check to stand-by on frequency and to call 'contact' when he hears his station return.

Re-check takes priority over regular check-ins...call the re-check station first.

RE-ENTRY:

this indicates that a station had left the Net frequency and is now returning to the Net. The proper time for this to be used would be when the NCS calls for further check-ins. The proper use would be, for example: "W2ABC re-entry". The response from the NCS would be simply to acknowledge W2ABC back on frequency.

CHECK OUT:

this indicates that a station wishes to leave the Net frequency.

AFFIRMATIVE:

Yes or permission granted. DO NOT USE QSL!!

NEGATIVE:

No or permission denied.

BREAK:

used to separate portions of the same transmission. For example, to indicate that you have finished with one station and are moving onto the next, say this: "W2ABC, thank you for checking in. BREAK. W4XYZ, call your traffic, over".

OVER:

this indicates "this is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary".

OUT:

this indicates "this is the end of my transmission to you and a response is not necessary". When a station says 'out', it indicates that they are not listening for a response nor will there be further transmissions from them. NEVER SAY OVER & OUT!!

ROGER:

I have received AND understood your last transmission. Do not confuse this with OVER. ROGER is never a question.

BREAK-BREAK (Double Break):

This Proword bares repeating...Contrary to popular belief, a station calling "Break" or "Break-Break" is NOT an Emergency call. This is a total misunderstanding of this proword from the CB band. Over the past number of years, there has been a huge influx of operators from the CB Band. Unfortunately, they have not been taught, or Elmered, that this is not the proper usage of this term. At the same time, many operators have taken hold of this proword as meaning that there is indeed an emergency. It may be, however, Emergencies are properly identified by "MAYDAY" or "EMERGENCY" and no other words. PERIOD. Do not dilute the internationally established method of declaring that status. Responding "Breaking station, go ahead" will result in all break stations responding and now you have to sort them out. Do not respond to break stations, instead, reply with "full call signs only please".

INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

There is a very simple personal, as well as every net, policy in dealing with those who intentionally cause interference, QRM for CW and Digital modes, and jam the frequency with music, comments and the like.

The policy is .....IGNORE IT!!!

Those who jam the frequency and deliberately cause interference want one thing and one thing only, ATTENTION. They want everybody on the frequency to talk about THEM and the interference they are causing. They want to be the center of attention.

DON'T GIVE THEM THE AUDIENCE THEY WANT. If we ignore them, and I mean completely, nine times out of ten they will get tired and go away. If they do not get the attention they want, they will go some place else to get it. It is that simple.

If you are running a net, or just having a conversation with someone and the intentional interference starts, don't say something like "The village idiot is on frequency" because that is what they want. Say nothing, not even the slightest comment about the intentional interference and proceed with your net or conversation. Pretend that you can't even hear the intentional interference.

When operating on Single Side Band (SSB), "OTHER NET CONTROLLERS AND OPERATORS ON THE FREQUENCY, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE FREQUENCY ON TOP OF THE CONTROLLER BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW CAUSING MORE INTERFERENCE. JUST IGNORE IT!!!

It is best to "take the high road" when it comes to this kind of thing.