T2A: Choosing a frequency; Repeater operations

Before you transmit on any frequency, listen to make sure others are not using the frequency. If you are in contact with another station and you hear an emergency call for help on your frequency, stop your QSO immediately and take the emergency call.

You should transmit a Morse code CQ call any speed you can reliably receive. The procedural signal "DE" means "From" or "this is," as in "W0AIH DE KA9FOX".


To minimize interference on HF bands capable of long-distance communication local amateur communications should use VHF and UHF frequencies instead of HF frequencies. To minimize on-the-air interference during a lengthy transmitter testing or loading-up procedure use a dummy load.


To call another station, whose call sign you know on a repeater simply say the station's call sign, then identify your own station. A courtesy tone heard on Amateur Radio repeater operation is a sound used to indicate when a transmission is complete.

During commuting rush hours, third-party communications nets should be discouraged on repeater operation. The proper way to break into a conversation on a repeater say your call sign during a break between transmissions. An autopatch is a device that allows radio users to access the public telephone system.