Amateur Radio Operating Techniques and Etiquette

Over the course of time numerous people have discussed, written books and articles concerning the operating techniques and etiquette of Amateur Radio. 

These bear repeating as many operators either don't know because they are new to Amateur Radio, 
have been taught wrong, or haven't got it out of their system coming from CB!

Ladies and Gents this is AMATEUR RADIO, like no other type of service or hobby in the world and should be treated as such, 
with all the proper operating techniques and mannerisms which were originally intended!

No these are not particularly my own opinions but rather observations from 
over the air conversations which should inspire much better operating techniques. Just tune around and you'll learn for yourself!

No, these are not intended as slams or insults but rather common sense reasoning and information on proper operating techniques. 

Remember, many money seeking interests would like to grab frequencies out of the Amateur spectrum and 
everything we do to show that it is not being wasted from non use to unprofessional conversational techniques, should be kept in mind at all times. It might just help us keep what we have! I don't know about you, but I have spent my share of time and money building up my station and don't want to lose privileges and spectrum because of bad operating habits! 

Do you???

Okay, on to the stuff!

One of the most common is the use of 73. 73 means best regards. Many say 73's, hmmm best regards's? Once you know the real meaning of 73, using 73's just doesn't sound right. We wouldn't say " hey best regards's to you my friend", so why use 73's when 73 already means the plural of regard?
Another abuse of 73 is, as said, "seventy thirds"! This reeks of CB terminology! Not at all suitable for Amateur Radio, gents!
And yet another abuse is 'three's to ya", not at all ham radio protocol, doesn't belong anywhere on ham radio...period!

Another unnecessary phrase is, "bring it on back". Bring what on back??? My car, your wallet, someone take something from you, what??? Very dumb, oh maybe you mean please answer me or your turn to transmit, in which case just say "over", that is proper ham radio terminology and precisely to the understood point!

Another is when explaining your name. No not, "the personal here is". Personal what? Personal address? Personal occupation? Personal ailment? 
Oh, name!!! Sorry gents, not at all proper amateur radio terminology.
What's wrong with speaking to another as you would face to face? "My name is Joe", works quite well!

When signing off but standing by, say "This is W1XYZ standing by" or QRX, not "This is W1XYZ on the side". Side? Side of what? Beef? Gravy? Side of the road? Get the idea? ;-)

"My radio doesn't have good ears"... hmmm, if your radio has "ears", you have a mutant radio! This is more carry over, out of place, CB babble. How about saying exactly what you mean, i.e., "My radio has low, weak or bad sensitivity or selectivity"! 

When identifying, what's wrong with, "this is W1XYZ", versus "this is W1XYZ for ID"! Hmmm, obviously it's for ID!!! That's what we have call signs for, identification! 

"We are leaving now to go to work", who's we? Oh, you mean "I am going to work"! Say it that way! Unless you have a mouse in your shirt pocket! ;-) or a rider with you!

"Can I have a radio check"?  Hmmm, I wish someone would give me a check, that way I could buy another radio! What, that's not what you meant? Oh you mean a signal report! Well just ask "Can I have a signal report"! Or "What's my signal report?" Be exact in what you ask for!!! Do you want to know how strong your signal is? Do you want to know the quality of your audio? You should be very specific in your request if you want a proper response. And ask a few guys not just one. The gent you ask might not have the best sounding speaker and not give you the most accurate answer. Along this line of thought...I heard a QSO once where a guy said, "I just put up a different antenna, how do I sound?" Well the antenna doesn't directly affect how a transmitter audio is performed. Changing antennas will either do one of three things: increase the signal strength (thereby allowing the existing audio to appear better), maintain the same signal strength, showing no change, or three, decreasing the gain, thus reducing perceived audio quality. 

Another qso heard was where a guy was tuning up, of course, without any audio. Another station responded saying "You have no audio, you better check your SWR's"!!! Well two mistakes here, first he should have said SWR, not it's plural because you only have one Standing Wave Ratio, not many ratios but much worse is the fact that the lack of audio has absolutely nothing to do with a good or bad SWR match! If you think it does, consider that a CW only transmitter can tune up just fine with out any audio section even designed into the rig! 

Whistling into the mic, ummm sounds stupid on the receiving end and inspires one to think that another CB intruder is on the band. Yes setting transmitter audio and ALC levels is a very wise thing to do, to prevent signal distortion. How about just using a long "Hellooooooo Test". Anyone tuning upon your signal knows exactly what you are doing. And don't forget to identify, makes your testing legal!

And what's up with, "Thanks for the flowers"??? Did your contact send you a bouquet of flowers through FTD? Oh you mean thanks for the good signal report! (I had to analyze this one a bit  when I heard it!) More misplaced CB babble, again not appropriate for amateur radio! Consider, you just made a DX contact and said that, he would have absolutely no idea what the heck you meant and either would ask you about it or just figure, "Dumb American". This brings up another point, when working DX use regular common phonetics instead of the "cute" ones you concocted for your call. You can get away with the cute ones working local guys because they most likely will understand the idea but the regular phonetic alphabet is designed to get the information of the letters of your call through with minimal misunderstanding. This is especially critical when propagation conditions are bad or you're working a big pile up on that "rare one"!. You do want the DX station to get your call correct, don't you?

When tuning around for a clear spot in which to call CQ, please always ask twice, better three times, "Is this frequency in use". You might be transmitting over another station which you can't hear but another is in QSO with, who can hear you! Being the station that is trying to work that "rare one", is very aggravating when someone calls CQ, not first asking if the frequency is in use. It's tremendously courteous to ask first! A great ham radio practice to learn and use!

Listen, listen, listen, to how the DX station is running the contacts. He may be rip roaring fast and take the call as fast as you can say it or he may be taking the tail-enders. Knowing how HE is running the pile-up, will help make it easier to get that contact. Remember HE is the boss, answer the way he wants! He may also be taking a list of calls, he certainly will not appreciate you calling when going through his list. And he just might tell you about it! There are other techniques that the DX station may use to sort out calls but you get the idea.

Another thing, don't just keep saying your call, give the DX operator time to respond, don't try to be the last guy he hears! If everyone tried this, there would be no end to everyone calling! DUH, use your brain about this! I've heard how it infuriates the DX station to the point he quits and goes off the air. There are guys who just keep it up and will not  LISTEN. And also, say your full call! The FCC mandates that you identify with your full call! Yes I know it takes longer than saying the last one or two letters, but it won't cost you anything if I remind you, it just might if the FCC tells you, and they HAVE told a few!!!

Ladies and Gents, I've tried to point out some of the unhealthy habits of operators here in the spirit of Elmering, that is, to help you become very good ham radio operators by eliminating the confusing misplaced slang. 

Please leave the CB lingo and mannerisms on the CB band because honestly they have 
absolutely no place in ham radio!

More to come!

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