Making Your First Contact

Your First QSO

A QSO (radio contact) is just a conversation over radio. It might seem intimidating at first, but there's a simple structure to follow.

Basic QSO Format

Every contact includes:

1. Callsigns: Your callsign and theirs
2. Signal Report: How well you're hearing each other
3. Name and Location: Basic info exchange
4. Sign off: Ending the contact properly

Making a Contact on a Repeater

Repeaters are the easiest way to make your first contact. They amplify your signal so you can talk farther.

Step 1: Listen First

Before transmitting, listen to the repeater for a few minutes. Make sure it's not already in use and get a feel for the conversations.

Step 2: Announce Yourself

Key up and say something like:

"This is [your callsign], listening"

or

"[Your callsign] monitoring"

Step 3: Someone Responds

When someone responds, they'll give their callsign. Now you're in a QSO!

Step 4: Have a Conversation

A typical exchange:

You: "This is KD9XYZ, thanks for coming back. My name is John, I'm in Chicago. How copy?"
Them: "KD9XYZ from W9ABC. Good copy John! I'm Bob in Naperville. How are you today?"

Step 5: Sign Off

When you're done chatting:

"Well Bob, thanks for the contact. 73, this is KD9XYZ clear with W9ABC."

73 means "best regards" - it's a ham radio tradition.

Making a Contact on HF (Simplex)

HF is different because you're talking directly to another station without a repeater.

Calling CQ

CQ means "calling any station." To call CQ:

"CQ CQ CQ, this is Kilo Delta Nine X-ray Yankee Zulu, KD9XYZ calling CQ and standing by."

Use phonetics for your callsign so people can understand you through noise and static.

Answering a CQ

When you hear someone calling CQ:

"W1ABC, this is KD9XYZ, Kilo Delta Nine X-ray Yankee Zulu"

The Exchange

A typical HF exchange includes:

• Signal report (59 means loud and clear)
• Name
• Location (city/state or grid square)
• Sometimes: radio and antenna info, weather

Example HF QSO

You: "CQ CQ CQ, this is KD9XYZ, Kilo Delta Nine X-ray Yankee Zulu, calling CQ and standing by."
Them: "KD9XYZ, this is W1ABC"
You: "W1ABC, you're 59 in Chicago. Name here is John, J-O-H-N. How copy? KD9XYZ"
Them: "KD9XYZ from W1ABC, thanks John, you're also 59 in Boston. I'm Mike. Running an IC-7300 into a dipole. Back to you."
You: "Thanks Mike, I'm running a Yaesu here with a vertical. Well, thanks for the contact. 73, KD9XYZ clear with W1ABC."

Tips for New Hams

• It's okay to be nervous: Everyone was new once. Most hams are friendly and patient.
• Listen before you transmit: Get a feel for how others operate.
• Write it down: Keep a notepad handy to write callsigns and names.
• Be brief on busy frequencies: If the band is crowded, keep contacts shorter.
• Say your callsign clearly: Use phonetics, especially on HF.
• Don't worry about mistakes: If you mess up, just correct yourself and keep going.

Common Phonetic Alphabet

When spelling out your callsign:

• A = Alpha, B = Bravo, C = Charlie, D = Delta, E = Echo, F = Foxtrot
• G = Golf, H = Hotel, I = India, J = Juliet, K = Kilo, L = Lima
• M = Mike, N = November, O = Oscar, P = Papa, Q = Quebec, R = Romeo
• S = Sierra, T = Tango, U = Uniform, V = Victor, W = Whiskey
• X = X-ray, Y = Yankee, Z = Zulu