Table of Contents

Amateur radio operating

Good operating makes contacts easier for everyone sharing a band. Listen before transmitting, identify your station clearly and leave room for other operators.

Making a contact

  1. Choose a frequency and mode your station is permitted to use.
  2. Listen to understand the activity and check that the frequency is available.
  3. Call a specific station or make a general call.
  4. Exchange callsigns and the information appropriate to that contact.
  5. Log the contact if you keep a station log.

On repeaters, observe local practice and allow pauses so other stations can join. A published repeater listing may specify access tones, offset and operating guidance.

What to record

Field Example of the information to keep
Date and UTC time The start time of the contact.
Station worked The other station's callsign.
Band or frequency The operating band and, where useful, exact frequency.
Mode Voice, CW or the named digital mode.
Report and notes Exchanged reports and useful station or propagation details.

Avoid publishing personal contact information without the person's consent.

Operating activities

Amateur radio includes casual contacts, scheduled nets, portable operation, contesting, satellite contacts and many other activities. Articles should describe the relevant procedures and link to the current organiser's documentation where rules change over time.