Operating and Procedures

Introduction

FM is the primary mode on 2 m and 70 cm — channelized operation
Repeater Range Extension — beyond line-of-sight; standard 2 m offset is plus-minus 600 kHz
CTCSS Tones — sub-audible tones that activate repeater access

160 m, 80 m, 40 m — LSB (Lower Sideband); 20 m, 15 m, 10 m — USB (Upper Sideband)
Listen first — always check that a frequency is clear before transmitting
Band Plans — separate modes to minimize interference with SSB, CW, and digital segments

Calling CQ — "CQ CQ CQ DE [call] [call] [call]" — DE means "this is"
Common CW abbreviations — 73 (best regards), DX (distant station), R (received)
CQ Calling Speed — send at a speed you can reliably receive; the other station will match

RST System — Readability, Signal Strength, and Tone for CW signal reports
S-Meter Calibration — S9 equals -73 dBm (IARU standard); each S-unit equals 6 dB
"5 9 plus 20 dB" — your signal is very strong; consider reducing power

QSL Card — written confirmation of a two-way contact between amateur stations
Logbook of the World (LoTW) — ARRL electronic QSL system; cryptographically signed confirmations

Dummy load — resistor that dissipates RF as heat without radiating — for testing
Antenna tuner — matches impedance between transmitter and antenna for maximum power transfer

UTC Time — all amateur logs use Coordinated Universal Time, eliminating time zone confusion
Grid Square System — Maidenhead Locator — 6-character coordinate system, e.g., FN86

Net Operations — organized, scheduled on-air gathering with a net control station
If propagation changes during a contact — move to another frequency or change modes

Distress Signals — MAYDAY (voice) / SOS (Morse) — life-threatening distress, highest priority
Repeater Break-In — say Break break and your call sign for distress

Q-Codes — QRM (interference), QRN (static), QRS (send slower), QSL (confirm), QRZ (who calls?), QSY (change freq), QTH (location)
Repeater Summary — FM mode, plus-minus 600 kHz offset (2 m), CTCSS tones (100 Hz / 67 Hz), time-out timer (about 3 min)
HF Voice Bands — LSB for 160/80/40 m; USB for 20/15/10 m; CW works on all bands
Calling CQ — voice: say "CQ CQ CQ this is [call]" three times; CW: "CQ CQ CQ DE [call] [call] [call]"
RST Reports and QSL Cards — Readability 1-5, Strength 1-9, Tone 1-9 (CW only); QSL and LoTW confirm contacts
Digital Modes and Station Equipment — TNC for packet, soundcard for FT8/FT4, and essential accessories
UTC and Nets — all logs in UTC; CHU time service; Net Control Station manages scheduled nets
Emergency Summary — MAYDAY/SOS highest priority; Break break for repeater emergency; Pan-Pan (urgency), Securite (safety)