Station Grounding & Safety
Proper grounding and RF safety protect your equipment, your family, and your neighbors. The FCC requires amateur stations to evaluate their RF exposure.
- ARRL RF Exposure Safety — FCC RF exposure evaluation requirements for amateur stations and the ARRL calculator tool.
Making Your First HF Contact — Phone/SSB
Voice operation on the HF bands (often called “phone” or “SSB”) is how most hams make their first long-distance contact. SSB stands for Single Sideband — use Lower Sideband (LSB) on 40 meters and below, and Upper Sideband (USB) on 20 meters and above. Here are a few tips to get started:
- Listen first — Spend time tuning around the bands to hear how other operators make contacts. Pay attention to how they call CQ, exchange signal reports, and sign off.
- Calling CQ — When you’re ready, find a clear frequency, ask “Is this frequency in use?” and if clear, call: “CQ CQ CQ, this is [your callsign], calling CQ and standing by.”
- Answering a CQ — When you hear someone calling CQ, wait for them to finish, then say: “[their callsign], this is [your callsign].”
- The basic exchange — A typical contact includes callsigns, signal reports (using the RST system, e.g., “You’re 59 into Illinois”), name, and QTH (location). Keep it friendly!
- ARRL Operating Resources — Comprehensive guide to on-air procedures, Q-signals, RST reporting, and operating courtesy.
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet
When giving your callsign or spelling out information on the air, use the standard NATO phonetic alphabet. This ensures clarity, especially on noisy HF bands.
A Alpha · B Bravo · C Charlie · D Delta · E Echo · F Foxtrot · G Golf · H Hotel · I India · J Juliet · K Kilo · L Lima · M Mike · N November · O Oscar · P Papa · Q Quebec · R Romeo · S Sierra · T Tango · U Uniform · V Victor · W Whiskey · X X-ray · Y Yankee · Z Zulu
For example, W9AXD would be spoken as: “Whiskey Nine Alpha X-ray Delta.”
Questions? Reach out through our Contact page or join us at our next meeting. Our members are always happy to help point you in the right direction.