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Get familiar with the etiquette of two-way radio communication. Learn walkie talkie lingo. To make radio communication go more smoothly, over the years certain rules, or etiquette, have been established. Below we have outlined the basic etiquette a radio user should understand. It will help improve your overall experience when using your radio!
Basic Radio Etiquette Rules
4 Golden Rules of Radio Communication
| 1. | Clarity: | Your voice should be clear. Speak a little slower than normal. Speak in a normal tone, do not shout. |
| 2. |
Simplicity: | Keep your message simple enough for intended listeners to understand. |
| 3. | Brevity: | Be precise and to the point. |
| 4. | Security: | Do not transmit confidential information unless you know the proper security technology is in place. Remember, frequencies are shared, you do not have exclusive use of the frequency. |
Speaking the Language
| General Terms | Meaning |
| Radio/Signal Check | What is my signal strength? Can you hear me? |
| Go Ahead | You are ready to receive the transmission. |
| Stand-by | You acknowledge the other party, but I am unable to respond immediately. |
| Roger or QSL | Message received and understood. |
| Negative | Same as “No”. |
| Affirmative | Same as “Yes”. Avoid “yup” or “nope” as they are difficult to hear. |
| Say Again | Re-transmit your message |
| Over | Your message is finished. |
| Out | All conversation is finished, the channel is clear for others to use. |
| Break, Break, Break | You are interrupting in the middle of communication because you have an emergency. |
| Read you loud & clear | Response to “Radio Check”. Means your transmission signal is good. Also, use “Read you 5-by-5“. |
| Come in | You are asking the other party to acknowledge they hear you. |
| Copy | You understand what was said. |
| Wilco | Means “I will comply”. |
| Repeat | Used before you repeat something. ex: “I require 9-5, repeat 9-5, gallons of diesel fuel. Over” |
| Marine & Aviation | |
| Sécurité | Safety call. Alert to some safety warning. Repeat 3 times. Has priority over routine calls. |
| Pan-Pan | Urgent call. Help needed. Repeat 3 times. Has priority over safety calls. |
| MayDay | Distress call. Repeat 3 times, and again following each transmission. Has priority over all other calls. |
| See our section Using VHF Marine Radios for more information. | |
| Q-Codes (ICAO) | See our Q-Code Aviation Guide for a list of all Q-codes used in aviation. |
| CB & Ham Radio | |
| 10-Codes | See 10-Code Communication Guide for a list of all 10-codes. |
| Q-Codes | See Q-Code Communication Guide for a list of all Q-codes. |
These terms can be combined such as “Roger Wilco” means “I understand and will comply”, or “Over and Out” means “I’ve finished talking and I’m signing off”.
Making a Call
Follow these easy steps to make a call.
Here’s a typical radio conversation:
| You: | “4 Foxtrot 7 Mike Hotel Zulu(4F7MHZ), 4 Foxtrot 7 Mike Hotel Zulu(4F7MHZ), This is Delta Whiskey 7 November Charlie Mike(DW7NCM), Come in, Over” (4F7MHZ is their call sign, DW7NCM is your call sign) | |
| Recipient: | ” Delta Whiskey 7 November Charlie Mike, This is 4 Foxtrot 7 Mike Hotel Zulu, Go Ahead, Over” | |
| You: | Say your message and then say: “Over” | |
| Recipient: | “Roger Wilco, Over” | |
| You: | “This is Delta Whiskey 7 November Charlie Mike, Over and Out” |
Did you notice how at the beginning and end of the transmission you pronounce your call sign? Because there can sometimes be many people listening on the frequency, pronouncing your call sign, and the call sign of the party you are calling, lets everyone know who the transmission is for. Communicating this way might feel a little odd at first, but you’ll soon get used to it. With practice, it will start to feel natural.
Emergency Calls
If you have an emergency message and need to interrupt others’ conversations:
Memorize the Phonetic Alphabet
Following is a list showing the international phonetics used for the alphabet:
| A – ALPHA | H – HOTEL | O – OSCAR | V – VICTOR | |
| B – BRAVO | I – INDIA | P – PAPA | X – X-RAY | |
| C – CHARLIE | J – JULIET | Q – QUEBEC | W – WHISKEY | |
| D – DELTA | K – KILO | R – ROMEO | Y – YANKEE | |
| E – ECHO | L – LIMA | S – SIERRA | Z – ZULU | |
| F – FOXTROT | M – MIKE | T – TANGO | ||
| G – GOLF | N – NOVEMBER | U – UNIFORM |
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Amateur Radio Stations transmits voice, Morse codes, or packets, through radio waves.
Radio Waves is a small portion of the Electromagnetic Waves spectrum.
Electromagnetic Waves or EM Waves are waves that are created as a result of vibrations between an electric field and a magnetic field. In other words, EM waves are composed of oscillating magnetic and electric fields. [1]
EM Waves are formed when electric field and magnetic field come into contact, thus its name.
EM Waves can be measure by its amplitude (height) and the wavelength (distance between the highest/lowest points of two consecutive waves)
EM waves travel with a constant velocity of 3.00 x 108 m/s in vacuum or space.
It is possible to calculate the wavelength of an EM wave or a Radio Wave given we know the frequency. Frequency is a number of cycles the waves in one second, cycles per second or Hertz (Hz).
Example:
What is the wavelength of 145.0 MHz?
Using the formula above, v = 3.00 x 108 m/s and f = 145,000,000 Hz.
Wavelength is 3.00 x 108 m/s divided by 145,000,000 Hz.
Wavelength is 2.0689655172413793103448275862069 meters or 2 meters.
145 MHz has 2 meters of wavelength. This is why we call the 145 MHz Amateur VHF band as a 2 meter band.
The wavelength calculated above is based when the radio waves is travelling in a vacuum or space. This is the standard/reference measurement.
With enough energy, Radio Waves can travel in any medium – be it air, a solid material or vacuum. When the radio waves travels in a different medium, it travels relatively slower than of in vacuum. The term we use to indicate how much a material slows down the propagation of the radio wave is Velocity Factor, often written as VF.
Radio waves are intercepted by an antenna and converted it to electrical form into what we commonly called, Radio Frequency (RF) electrical signal. The RF signal is in electrical form and behaves as a wave similar to Radio Waves in space or atmosphere. RF signals can also be measured by its amplitude and wavelength similar to Radio Waves.
The velocity of the RF signal is much slower than that of Radio waves in vacuum. VF is less than 1.0. Because the wave is slower, the wavelength becomes shorter.
A radio wave of 2 meters in space is equivalent to 1.98 meters in a bare copper wire suspended in air, VF=0.99.
Wavelength_InCopperWireInAir= is 0.99 x 3.00 x 108 m/s = 1.98 meters.
Wavelength_Vacuum= is 1.0 x 3.00 x 108 m/s = 2 meters.
In antenna design, to tune in a certain wavelength or frequency, the actual physical conductor is trimmed according to its velocity factor, VF.
Where if we are to design a 145 MHz end-fed dipole antenna using a bare copper wire in air; the resulting actual physical length of the copper antenna is shorter by a factor of 0.99 which is the VF value. This shorter equivalent the wavelength in vacuum is what we called physical length.
Below is a visualization of the wavelength in vacuum and it’s equivalent physical length of the copper wire.
Another example for a common coaxial cable RG-58/U PE (Belden 9201), the VF is 0.66, the coax cable equivalent physical length for 145 MHz is 1.32 meters.
Radio waves is an electromagnetic waves composed of electric and magnetic waves.
Waves can me measured by amplitude and wavelength.
Waves travels in a vacuum at the speed of light 3.00 x 108 m/s. Given enough energy, it can travel through anything but relatively slower than in free space. The propagation delay manifested in a shorter equivalent physical measurement.
The physical length is dependent to its dielectric material. The physical length is used in antenna design, and transmission line calculations.
| Properties of Coaxial Cable Dielectrics (c = speed of light in a vacuum) | ||
| Dielectric Type | Time Delay (ns/ft) | Propagation Velocity |
| Solid Polyethylene (PE) | 1.54 | 0.659c |
| Foam Polyethylene (FE) | 1.27 | 0.800c |
| Foam Polystyrene (FS) | 1.12 | 0.910c |
| Air Space Polyethylene (ASP) | 1.15-1.21 | 0.840c-0.880c |
| Solid Teflon (ST) | 1.46 | 0.694c |
| Air Space Teflon (AST) | 1.13-1.20 | 0.850c – 0.900c |
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/electromagnetic-waves
[2] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electromagnetic-Spectrum.svg
[3] Electronic Communication Systems, 2nd Edition, Blake
1/2 Wavelength Dipole Antenna Calculator
Speed of Light = 299,792,458 m/s = 300 = s
Frequency = Operating Frequency in MHz = fo
Velocity Factor (see text*) = constant for 50 ohms cable = 0.95
Results is in meter…..
Meter -> Inch = 1 meter = 39.3701 inches
Formula:
λ = s / fo
Vertical Monopole Element = (λ*0.5)*vf
Actual wavelength approximate rounding off to = 81.3990 or 81.4 inches
Substitute from the formula for 145.000 MHz
λ = s / fo (meters)
λ = 299,792,458 /145,000,000 = 2.0675 meters
λ = = 2.0675 meters
Converting to inches by multiplying wavelength results to 39.3701
λ = 2.0675 x 39.3701 = 81.3990 inches
Hence:
λ = 81.4 inches = L
vf = 0.95
Solving for one-half wavelength:
Radiating Element = (λ*0.5)*vf = E
= (81.4 x 0.5) x 0.95 = 38.6645 inches
Divided by 2 elements for upper and lower elements
= 38.6645/2 = 19.3 inches
Gap between Radiating Element = λ / 200 = 0.407 inch = G
L = 81.4“
E = 19.3”
G = 0.407”
Note: important
Adjust
To the lowest Standing Wave Ratio (SWR)
Cutting:
= (146 / 145) x 20.265
= 20.125 inches
BY: Nicolas C. Medalla, DW7NCM
HRC – Tribu Amihan
Download: PDF File
Bob Bruninga, a senior research engineer at the United States Naval Academy, implemented the earliest ancestor of APRS on an Apple II computer in 1982. This early version was used to map high frequency Navy position reports. The first use of APRS was in 1984, when Bruninga developed a more advanced version on a Commodore VIC-20 for reporting the position and status of horses in a 100-mile (160 km) endurance run.[3] [2]
During the next two years, Bruninga continued to develop the system, which he now called the Connectionless Emergency Traffic System (CETS). Following a series of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) exercises using CETS, the system was ported to the IBM Personal Computer. During the early 1990s, CETS (then known as the Automatic Position Reporting System) continued to evolve into its current form. [2]
As GPS technology became more widely available, “Position” was replaced with “Packet” to better describe the more generic capabilities of the system and to emphasize its uses beyond mere position reporting. [2]
The Automatic Packet Reporting System was designed to support rapid, reliable exchange of information for local, tactical real-time information, events or nets. The concept, which dates back to the mid 1980’s, is that all relevant information is transmitted immediately to everyone in the net and every station captures that information for consistent and standard display to all participants. Information was refreshed redundantly but at a decaying rate so that old information was updated less frequently than new info. Since the primary objective is consistent exchange of information between everyone, APRS established standard formats not only for the transmission of POSITION, STATUS, MESSAGES, and QUERIES, it also establishes guidelines for display so that users of different systems will still see the same consistent information displayed in a consistent manner (independent of the particular display or maping system in use). See the original APRS.TXT. The two images below should give you an idea of the kinds of information available to the mobile operator on his APRS radio. On the left is the Kenwood D710 radio showing the station list, and on the right is the attached GPS with map display showing the location of other APRS stations. [1]
APRS is not a vehicle tracking system. It is a two-way tactical real-time digital communications system between all assets in a network sharing information about everything going on in the local area. On ham radio, this means if something is happening now, or there is information that could be valuable to you, then it should show up on your APRS radio in your mobile. See typical oversights and hear my talk on the 3 Oct 08 Rain Report See also some original APRSdos views and concepts overlooked in some new programs. [1]
APRS Internet System (APRS-IS): Like most other Ham radio systems, APRS has been fully integrated with the internet beginning with the efforts of Steve Dimse and the Sproul Brothers in 1997. Currently there are many web pages for live viewing of APRS activity such as APRS.FI, or FINDU.COM. [1]
APRS also supports global callsign-to-callsign messaging, bulletins, objects email and Voice because every local area is seen by the Internet System (APRS-IS)! APRS should enable local and global amateur radio operator contact at anytime-anywhere and using any device. See the APRS Messaging/Contact Initiative. [1]
APRS SPEC! . APRS continuously evolves. There have been several initiatives that have drastically improved APRS network performance and useability for users. The original APRS spec was updated in 2004 with the APRS1.1 addendum and since then with the APRS1.2 updates. [1]
There is NO known assigned frequency for APRS by the NTC in the Philippines.
AFAIK, there is not too much APRS activity in the Philippines. Most of the stations are DMR and Echolink beacons through APRS-IS.
Here is an image capture from APRS.FI website.[3]
RF-to-RF and RF-to-IS: There is an active APRS SatGate and Igate in District 6 by DU6DKL. Experimental APRS Stations are currently made, as of writing, in Cebu.
DV7HAA spearheaded the APRS System development in Cebu as his amateur project for 2020. Together with the DX7CBU-Ham Radio Cebu, Inc. members, slowly the APRS system in Cebu is making progress, with the specific motivation to aid Disaster Resiliency in Communications.
The project has a facebook group APRS-PH. As of the moment the APRS frequency is at 145.825MHz, same as to ARISS.
[1]Automatic Packet Reporting System, Bob Bruninga, WB4APR , http://www.aprs.org/
[2]Automatic Packet Reporting System, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System .
[3] www.APRS.fi
Glance and glimpse of the event…
It’s been a year since I become member of HRC, and I would say that it gives more meaning to my life as a volunteer, to feel high when there are in need for emergency or in any other volunteer works to be done.
Hope for the years to come that HRC will be a stronger and better one with purpose, even though the ups and downs we experienced, old and new members will be as one for the betterment of the group to help others in needs especially in times of disaster.
“Volunteer for me is very difficult meaning to fathom it’s an infinite as long as I live.”
Mabuhay ang HRC!!!
Ham Radio Cebu, Inc. (HRC, Inc) is an amateur radio and a volunteer group. We are a non stock, non profit and non sectarian organization.
Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Reg. No. CN201533149 dated February 05, 2015.
Affiliated with the Philippine Amateur Radio Association, Inc. (PARA) with Certificate of Affiliation no. 0213-15 dated March 27, 2015
Institutional Member of Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team – Philippines ( RETT-Ph).
Accredited by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The purposes of which the association is formed are (Articles of Incorporation Art. II):
