I heard CQ on a repeater one night from a new ham who referred to his call sign as his “handle”. After the dust settled, no less than 15 hams lined up to broadcast their “handles” one after another, hoping to set him at ease. It was a monumental occasion. The community joined together in the rescue of a young man who’d boldly and unsuspectingly ventured into a terrifying realm where, if not for so many who stood up for him that night, he might even now be envisioning ham as just a bunch of crotchety old men in dark musty basements barking out the rules of engagement.
Your last comment @2:40 about there not being many repeaters back then is true. Today there are plenty of repeaters... In fact... I was helping a local RAC update their repeater settings on the top of War Eagle Mountain.. and they said that they were actually surprised at how LITTLE the repeater is used. They said that local Ham clubs use it for their 'NET checkins'... but most of the time it sits dormant... unused. Crazy. 73
I call with the word Monitoring, or call for a radio check. SOARC is a pretty active group, and the linked repeaters cover over 10,000 miles of Coastal So Or and NO CA, and up the I-5 corridor, so there is someone monitoring.
In the US we were taught only to say Break on a repeater to break into a QSO in an emergency. Seems like it may have even been a question on the tech test back then.
On the HF, one break is to request to join the conversation since it might be going on for an hour. Two breaks, break-break, signifies emergency. On repeaters there's not supposed to be a hour long conversation anyway, so one break is treated like an emergency and not merely a request to join BUT this is SLOPPY since HF and VHF procedures ought to be more consistent.
according to KN4AQ a ham operator since the 60s and wrote the FM and Repeater section of the ARRL Operations Manual, There is nothing wrong with calling CQ,CQ,CQ on a repeater.
My understanding is also that calling "Break" means that you have an urgent need to use the repeater. I would have no hesitation calling CQ - IF nobody else is using the repeater (and I'd only put in one CQ). If I wanted to join in a conversation, then I'd just drop in my call. de VK2KWY
I never call CQ on a repeater, I find if I use my call sign and then say listening, I usually end up with a response but if others wish to use CQ then that is fine, just my two cents worth.🤷🏼♂️
Yep. I key up the repeater and give my call, thus telling whoever might be there that another person is on and open to a chat or whatever. It's essentially calling CQ without saying "CQ."
I'm always astounded at how quiet the repeaters in my area are. Until the internet goes down, then it's like a coffee shop 😂🤣 Just announcing my presence on the repeater will sometimes elicit a response, but most of the time, sadly, I'm just met with silence.
"Just announcing my presence on the repeater will sometimes elicit a response, but most of the time, sadly, I'm just met with silence." Precisely. Declaring that you are sitting there listening to a radio does not say what you WANT.
I normally just say VK7EV listening on and mention the repeaters name,in-case people are scanning more than one repeater, and then listen to the silence, if someone wants to call CQ I'm fine with that
In China, hams always use the full CQ message, even on FM repeaters: "CQ, CQ, CQ, this is calling CQ standing by." It's very verbose, and I much prefer the habit of hams in Canada, who only say a simple " listening" or " monitoring".
No problem calling CQ on a Repeater in fact I just did that on VK3RMC on the way home from work and got a reply. I don't believe saying "Break" is right, one should simply announce themselves using there call sign and maybe followed by - "for a quick one"....certainly please don't use any CB jargon!....;)
I just got licensed recently w/o taking classes. Got the book. Studied. Did the exam. Got the licence. Armed with a club's VHF and UHF repeater details I went about trying to get repeater traffic. Not knowing much about it: "CQ CQ VW2CCC" (in French and English pronunciation) and didn't get much. Didn't get anything actually. Next day, some guy did respond. And then I had to listen to a long winded description of his day. Turns out the best recipe is to call on the VHF and listen on the UHF - two cheap Baofengs do fine. (The club VHF repeater (30 km from my house - up on a tower on a hill) is linked to same club UHF repeater (municipal warehouse) about 15 km in the opposite direction). Finally someone from the club (French) recognized my voice. Brief chat. But I could only hear him on the UHF while I was transmitting on VHF. But - frankly there simply is not that much traffic overall - - - so throwing CQ up front doesn't seem so bad. Nobody has berated me for using "CQ" but I'll drop it now ...😬
Common wisdom is only use "BREAK" if you need the repeater with urgent traffic. Use the last 3 of your call, or just say, "Comment'.for normal traffic. Break means, "I want the air", for urgent traffic. Break Break, is a higher sense of urgency, and "BREAK BREAK BREAK" is a life or property threatening emergency. Similar to a "Security", "Pan pan" or "MAYDAY" on other services.
Should you call CQ on a repeater? Yes, absolutely. If all you do is say "monitoring" or "listening", well, that's what you are DOING, it is not what you DESIRE or WANT. If you WANT TO TALK you must indicate this desire! You can certainly just ask for it: "This is KB6OMG. I would like to talk to someone". Some people just blurt out a callsign. "KB6OMG". That's it. What am I supposed to do with THAT? Nothing!
As a repeater owner in the US I prefer a person throw out their call and follow with monitoring. If I am not busy I will go back to them and most likely talk with them until they are talked out..lol It also bothers me that a new ham will break into a QSO to correct a old timer about "proper etiquette"! Usually they get put in their place by those who is involved in the QSO. I preferr just normal talk just as you would when meeting a friend on the street.
"I prefer a person throw out their call and follow with monitoring. " So what distinguishes a person that merely announces availability; "monitoring", from someone that WANTS TO TALK? it doesn't have to be CQ, but it needs to indicate more than the passive act of monitoring.
I wouldn't do it / never did it. But I would recommend that everyone else do it. All of those "silent" repeaters that nobody uses would come to life pretty quick if the fools who sit and monitor the dead-air 24/7 were to hear somebody CQ. Sure, they might not have anything good to say, but at least they would used the damned repeaters.
It's in the sacred ARRL manual. Hams can be such jerks on these pedantic things. Call CQ. If you get a jerk response, politely refer said jerk to the manual.
"A CQ call will piss off the repeater owner!" Why? Do you speak for the many thousands of repeater owners? Anyway, it might; I sort of enjoy pissing off the protocol police. I will say "walkie talkie" when the protocol police insist that, while it is actually a walkie talkie, the PROPER word is handi talkie because it is in your HAND and you probably aren't walking anyway. But if you are, well, I suppose you could callit a walking handi talkie or a handi walkie talkie. So if it pisses YOU off, I probably don't want to be on your repeater anyway.
"K1STG, is my Baofeng working?" That should get a response.
🤣🤣
Turn your roger beep on, too! People love that.
Make sure your roger beep is enabled...
I heard CQ on a repeater one night from a new ham who referred to his call sign as his “handle”. After the dust settled, no less than 15 hams lined up to broadcast their “handles” one after another, hoping to set him at ease. It was a monumental occasion. The community joined together in the rescue of a young man who’d boldly and unsuspectingly ventured into a terrifying realm where, if not for so many who stood up for him that night, he might even now be envisioning ham as just a bunch of crotchety old men in dark musty basements barking out the rules of engagement.
Your last paragraph very true!!
Great way to keep the airwaves silent... No big deal calling CQ if the repeater is not occupied.
"If you want to get a lot of response call CQ" LOL, so true
Your last comment @2:40 about there not being many repeaters back then is true. Today there are plenty of repeaters... In fact... I was helping a local RAC update their repeater settings on the top of War Eagle Mountain.. and they said that they were actually surprised at how LITTLE the repeater is used. They said that local Ham clubs use it for their 'NET checkins'... but most of the time it sits dormant... unused. Crazy. 73
I call with the word Monitoring, or call for a radio check. SOARC is a pretty active group, and the linked repeaters cover over 10,000 miles of Coastal So Or and NO CA, and up the I-5 corridor, so there is someone monitoring.
Do you know how many repeaters are in the linked network?
"so there is someone monitoring."
And now you have announced that you, too, are montoring! 500 people monitoring, nobody talking.
In the US we were taught only to say Break on a repeater to break into a QSO in an emergency. Seems like it may have even been a question on the tech test back then.
Here in India we say cq even on simplex and repetar
On the HF, one break is to request to join the conversation since it might be going on for an hour. Two breaks, break-break, signifies emergency. On repeaters there's not supposed to be a hour long conversation anyway, so one break is treated like an emergency and not merely a request to join BUT this is SLOPPY since HF and VHF procedures ought to be more consistent.
according to KN4AQ a ham operator since the 60s and wrote the FM and Repeater section of the ARRL Operations Manual, There is nothing wrong with calling CQ,CQ,CQ on a repeater.
My understanding is also that calling "Break" means that you have an urgent need to use the repeater. I would have no hesitation calling CQ - IF nobody else is using the repeater (and I'd only put in one CQ). If I wanted to join in a conversation, then I'd just drop in my call. de VK2KWY
I never call CQ on a repeater, I find if I use my call sign and then say listening, I usually end up with a response but if others wish to use CQ then that is fine, just my two cents worth.🤷🏼♂️
Yep. I key up the repeater and give my call, thus telling whoever might be there that another person is on and open to a chat or whatever. It's essentially calling CQ without saying "CQ."
Yep same way I usually call on the repeater too
I'm always astounded at how quiet the repeaters in my area are. Until the internet goes down, then it's like a coffee shop 😂🤣 Just announcing my presence on the repeater will sometimes elicit a response, but most of the time, sadly, I'm just met with silence.
Did you notice an increase during lockdowns?
"Just announcing my presence on the repeater will sometimes elicit a response, but most of the time, sadly, I'm just met with silence."
Precisely. Declaring that you are sitting there listening to a radio does not say what you WANT.
YUUP! Wakes em up..but you end up talking to the self appointed repeater Police!!!
I normally just say VK7EV listening on and mention the repeaters name,in-case people are scanning more than one repeater, and then listen to the silence, if someone wants to call CQ I'm fine with that
In China, hams always use the full CQ message, even on FM repeaters: "CQ, CQ, CQ, this is calling CQ standing by." It's very verbose, and I much prefer the habit of hams in Canada, who only say a simple " listening" or " monitoring".
I don't call "CQ" but will say my call sign slowly and that "I'm looking for a contact". I get a response 90% of the time.
Good advice Stuart
No problem calling CQ on a Repeater in fact I just did that on VK3RMC on the way home from work and got a reply. I don't believe saying "Break" is right, one should simply announce themselves using there call sign and maybe followed by - "for a quick one"....certainly please don't use any CB jargon!....;)
THANKYOU for your hard work VK7HH
73
Don’t say break unless it’s an emergency
The repeaters in my area are pretty active so usually just saying my callsign is sufficient.
I just got licensed recently w/o taking classes. Got the book. Studied. Did the exam. Got the licence.
Armed with a club's VHF and UHF repeater details I went about trying to get repeater traffic.
Not knowing much about it: "CQ CQ VW2CCC" (in French and English pronunciation) and didn't get much. Didn't get anything actually.
Next day, some guy did respond. And then I had to listen to a long winded description of his day.
Turns out the best recipe is to call on the VHF and listen on the UHF - two cheap Baofengs do fine. (The club VHF repeater (30 km from my house - up on a tower on a hill) is linked to same club UHF repeater (municipal warehouse) about 15 km in the opposite direction).
Finally someone from the club (French) recognized my voice. Brief chat. But I could only hear him on the UHF while I was transmitting on VHF.
But - frankly there simply is not that much traffic overall - - - so throwing CQ up front doesn't seem so bad.
Nobody has berated me for using "CQ" but I'll drop it now ...😬
Common wisdom is only use "BREAK" if you need the repeater with urgent traffic. Use the last 3 of your call, or just say, "Comment'.for normal traffic. Break means, "I want the air", for urgent traffic. Break Break, is a higher sense of urgency, and "BREAK BREAK BREAK" is a life or property threatening emergency. Similar to a "Security", "Pan pan" or "MAYDAY" on other services.
Nothing wrong with Calling CQ on a repeater, it is in the handbook, CQ is just calling anyone.
I had even Toronto Ontario, Canada.I want to get a reputer for my gmr s radio
Locally it is not suggested to use "break" because it signals an emergency. We use either "comment" or just our call sign.
Besides why do they even have a repeater running if they don't want people to communicate on it
Should you call CQ on a repeater?
Yes, absolutely. If all you do is say "monitoring" or "listening", well, that's what you are DOING, it is not what you DESIRE or WANT. If you WANT TO TALK you must indicate this desire! You can certainly just ask for it: "This is KB6OMG. I would like to talk to someone".
Some people just blurt out a callsign. "KB6OMG". That's it. What am I supposed to do with THAT? Nothing!
So when I get to a new area for work and 3 weeks in with out no one coming back to me I'll call cq and boom always get some one hahahaha
Yep it always brings them out!
@@HamRadioDX should have been named OMs don't want you to know this trick 🤣🤣🤣
Some good points. TO is correct.
Well, How do you use DSTAR without calling CQ?
Good point!
@@HamRadioDX wow, that response took 2 months to get here ..... you being censored or is it me?
Wow really? TH-cam mustn’t like me
LOL. CQ is built into the protocol ;-)
As a repeater owner in the US I prefer a person throw out their call and follow with monitoring. If I am not busy I will go back to them and most likely talk with them until they are talked out..lol
It also bothers me that a new ham will break into a QSO to correct a old timer about "proper etiquette"! Usually they get put in their place by those who is involved in the QSO. I preferr just normal talk just as you would when meeting a friend on the street.
"I prefer a person throw out their call and follow with monitoring. "
So what distinguishes a person that merely announces availability; "monitoring", from someone that WANTS TO TALK? it doesn't have to be CQ, but it needs to indicate more than the passive act of monitoring.
Never done it, but why not, I don't see any issue with it.
I wouldn't do it / never did it. But I would recommend that everyone else do it. All of those "silent" repeaters that nobody uses would come to life pretty quick if the fools who sit and monitor the dead-air 24/7 were to hear somebody CQ. Sure, they might not have anything good to say, but at least they would used the damned repeaters.
It would stir them up for sure Mike!
Call...Your call sign and testing!
I say callsign receiving.
It's in the sacred ARRL manual. Hams can be such jerks on these pedantic things. Call CQ. If you get a jerk response, politely refer said jerk to the manual.
My call sign call is FJB 45 Don.
A CQ call will piss off the repeater owner!
"Break" is proper "breaker" is not
"A CQ call will piss off the repeater owner!"
Why? Do you speak for the many thousands of repeater owners? Anyway, it might; I sort of enjoy pissing off the protocol police. I will say "walkie talkie" when the protocol police insist that, while it is actually a walkie talkie, the PROPER word is handi talkie because it is in your HAND and you probably aren't walking anyway. But if you are, well, I suppose you could callit a walking handi talkie or a handi walkie talkie.
So if it pisses YOU off, I probably don't want to be on your repeater anyway.
I am more likely to ignore you for calling CQ on a repeater than only giving your call sign.
I noticed ham radio has an abundance of Karen's
No Do not say BRAKE that means there is an Emergency You should Say CONTACT, Only say BRAKE when there is an Emergency!