Radio Rambles #1: Calling CQ on 2m and what to say
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ม.ค. 2023
- Whether you're new to calling CQ, a little nervous about making your first contact or like me, need a refresher on how to call CQ and what to talk about to your contacts, then I hope this video is useful to you.
#CallingCQ #AmateurRadio #Baofeng
Website: www.rustyrocket.co.uk
Twitter: / rocketjez - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Good video with valid points. Over the years of using cb and being in sales, here's a couple other tips and tricks mic shy or new hams may find helpful...
Make sure you're not eating your mic or have it too far away when you speak in to it. Other stations won't respond if they can't understand you.
If you are unsure what to talk about after making the contact, as Rusty pointed out, thank them for responding, followed by "I'm out here on a walk about (or running errands) and thought I'd call out right quick, back to you".
This allows you to end the conversation at your convenience because 'well, I just got to the store, I better run in and get my stuff'.
After stating you are out running errands etc, the other station 99% of the time responds with their activities (what they have planned, what they should do, etc) for the day. This is good, because you don't have to talk any more. All you have to do is keep asking them about their day. If its gardening, ask what they plant, if working on a car, ask what kind...Get them talking about themselves, people like that.
Ask if they generally monitor a particular frequency or repeater. Be prepared to write down the freqs/repeaters they mention. Follow with 'I wasn't sure if anyone would be monitoring. Are there any freq's or repeaters that are more active than others?'. Get them talking.
When you're done, its the 'well, I just got to my destination, I hate to cut this short but I better run inside, it was great talking with you today and I sure appreciate all the info you shared!".
This makes some simple conversations that get's your call sign out there. Next time you're out, you can specifically call for the station you recently talked with. Having that history with that station, you can build on your conversation skills and it becomes easier to talk with new stations. You'll also make a new radio friend!
Don't be afraid to tell the other station that you recently got your license and are new to radio. Lots of times, the other station will offer some pointers and do's/dont's. By mentioning to the station that you're new to the hobby, all the other stations out there listening will hear that as well, thus when you call out next time they'll be more apt to respond beings they know you're new and trying.
Write a list of questions you can use as a template to guide your conversations. You'll be able to keep this list with your radio and use it every time you make a contact.
Thank them for responding
Their call sign
Signal Report
What your are currently doing (taking a walk, doing errands, taking a break from yard work)
Ask questions based on their response.
Ask if they usually monitor a specific frequency, repeater, weekly net (to learn the active frequency's and repeaters)
Tell them it was good talking with them and you hope to catch them on the air again sometime.
Hope some of this helps. Enjoy your radio, its a lot of fun :)
Excellent video. Great advice. I too passed my foundation during lockdown. I have a Kenwood th-d74 and a pi star hotspot for talking all over the world on d star but other than a few calls at the beginning I don’t go on it anymore. I am also very mic shy and can’t think what to say. I never remember people’s callsigns. Please could you make more videos like this. This was so helpful. 73’s. M7TTI.
Thanks for the tips. I'm an experienced pilot and have used the radio extensively. However, as a new ham, I've always found it difficult to start and finish a contact.
it's right your first qso doesn't have to be much. if you can add to the qso by offering a shared experience based on the location they're at then I tend to add that to the mix. Also if they're out portable you can learn what their objective is - is this a new place to them, a frequent haunt,. Also what kit they have etc and what made them choose it . food for thought, key thing is though is to call CQ though and build up your confidence. we need more people on the air for sure.
Great video, I was a lockdown ham , I passed foundation in 2020, still too nervous to call CQ
You have to be kidding? Don't be scared.
First off...don't call CQ on 2m or UHF. Get a repeater list or scan for some repeater action on 2m or 70 cm and jump into a net.
Just tell them you're new and nervous. They'll help you along.
1:55 For the American hams scratching their head here, the US 2m FM calling frequency is 146.52
Good point! Thanks for highlighting that. Sometimes I forget TH-cam is global.
Thanks for the video, I have this same issue.
In saying that, I used a commercial radio on and off for 5yrs but a blind CQ call is heaps harder.🍻🤠
Hi chap been licensed around 18 months now everyday is a learning opportunity I have make 11:02 an effort each time I am on the air to improve my operating skills, I have been active on 2/70 and HF bands. Keep up the good work, 73 M7CVK
I needed the pep talk. Thank you
Thank you for your comments. I have had my Technicians license for MANY years and have never initiated a conversation for fear of doing it wrong or not knowing what to do. I hope your pep-talk might get me going in the right direction.
I think this will help alot of new Hams get over the stage fright of getting on the mic for the first time.
Bravo sir!
73s!
That's such a kind comment. Thank you!
Thank you for doing this. I plan to return to the frequencies after a 35 years hiatus, I still have a license but need new gear and so much happened not least digital radio. I don't expect many of the old contacts to be around. For small talk I think after initial hello's and reports talking about gear one has or wants will be fine. 73's
Thanks for stopping by and thank you for commenting. I'm glad you found the video useful.
Thanks this was great and very helpful
Thanks for the awesome video
Thanks for the tips Jez. I've been licenced just over a year, and only been working HF so far. I recently got VHF/UHF 2m/70cm set up to work portable (my QTH badly located to work from home). As I've only been on HF so far, so I need to get used to the calling frequency approach 👍
Thank you for commenting. I'm glad you found the points useful. I looked up your callsign on QRZ and see you're from the same area. I was recording calling CQ today at the top of Harnham Hill. No joy unfortunately. Maybe we could arrange a time to get on the air and practice sometime?
@@RustyRocketProjects Sure 👍 I think best idea is to drop me an email (via my email address on my QRZ profile), and we could arrange something. I'm probably going to be going out working portable from a high point on the plain on many a weekend.
Thank you so much for this video. I just received my license and I am so nervous about calling CQ. My family can hear me so I feel self conscious, and I'm nervous that I'm going to contact someone that is a jerk. The place that I took my exam online said to email any questions. Well the day after I passed I emailed them a question I had about how the FCC handled payment for the license and when I would be able to use my radio legally and I received 3 emails back, the first 2 were mean and condescending only the last one was helpful.
Trust me, everyone is nervous to begin with, I still am if I'm honest. I think it's the not knowing how conversations are going to go, I worry about how to finish a conversation. Maybe talk about your hobby more with your family, show them around your equipment and have them sat next to you when calling CQ, maybe that will remove the feeling of being self conscious a little bit? Go for it! You'll read a similar comment in about six months time and reply with something along the lines of "That used to be me... here's what helped..."
Hi Jez, I passed my RAE back in 1982 as 14 year old but have spent 30+ years living overseas in Asia so let my license lapse. I moved back to the UK las year and have just renewed my license. Thankfully I did not need to redo any of the exams. However what this means is I have forgotten all I once knew about the practical side of things. I bought a Yaesu FT5DE last week and am looking to dip my toe once more. Great video and hope to make connect on the air some time soon Shaun, G1EYW
Hi Shaun! Thanks for dropping by. I'm sure it'll all start coming back to you once you get stuck in again. Take care, Jez. M7MCU
Thanks for your video, very informative, 73
I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by.
Great video! I’m studying for my Basics with Honours in Canada and these are things I’m thinking about!
Hi, thank you for commenting. I'm glad you found the video useful. Good luck with everything!
I like the comment about bashing the new kid! I have tried getting into this hobby but can't find anyone who states sensible intelligible info. Like how do you know what works in your area before spending cash to find out nobody is using what you can on a Foundation certificate.
a great video
Thanks. I'm glad you found it useful. Actually, I'm just glad you found it on TH-cam, I'm never quite sure how their algorithm works.
Just came across your video and everything you have said mirrors my experience. I now have my full licence and have never called CQ !!!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Since posting this video, I've found that many have had similar experiences. I've recently found a group on Facebook called "145 ALIVE ACTIVITY EVENT GROUP" that looks like it'll help.
@@RustyRocketProjects I have joined in on one of the 145 alive events.
I passed in covid to was mic shy at the start also. I just listened for a few weeks until I got the guts to make a call and I hit Italy on my yaesu dx10 with only 10watts of course😊 my call sign is M7DLK, hope to hear you on the air sometime also. Also if your mic shy at the start find a net on a Sunday, you only have to give your call sign nothing else, you can find a net on 20 or 40 metres.
That's a really good suggestion about joining a net. I'll do that.
Im looking to get into ham radio what radios would you recommend?
If you're just starting I would recommend the Baofeng UV-5R. Its cheap and covers VHF / UHF allowing you to listen to the local bands. Just remeber its perfectly legal to listen in without a licence but you aren't allowed to transmit until you've obtained your foundation level licence
ive been a 2meter ham for 3 years, never talked to anyone . never had any friends to help me with tihs....will prob never contact anyone....i dont deserve this im too new and incompetant
Why not give Echolink a go? It has the Call CQ feature where it'll connect you with someone else who has selected the Call CQ option. I know it's not quite the real thing but it'll get you connecting with people. Just go for it! The first call will be terrible, the second time will be better and the third call will just come naturally. Good luck!
Mmm 2m is like old cb I go hf only 73 m6ltv
What does 'CQ' actually mean? I know in german its 'allgemeiner Anruf' - so just calling for someone to drop in?
Seek You (CQ)
C'est Qui? adopted from French radio telegraphy. Who's there?
its like a playing a video game on Steam....the Map feature is useless....cant figure out where anyone IS.....actual humans omg