Making Your First Contact
The Phonetic Alphabet
On radio, some letters sound alike (B/D/E, M/N, S/F). The NATO phonetic alphabet avoids confusion:
| A - Alpha | H - Hotel | O - Oscar | V - Victor |
| B - Bravo | I - India | P - Papa | W - Whiskey |
| C - Charlie | J - Juliet | Q - Quebec | X - X-ray |
| 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 |
So VK2FABC would be spoken as "Victor Kilo Two Foxtrot Alpha Bravo Charlie".
Calling on a Repeater
- Listen first — make sure the repeater isn't already in use
- Key up and identify: "VK2FABC listening" or "VK2FABC monitoring"
- Wait for someone to respond
- If calling a specific station: "VK3XYZ, this is VK2FABC"
During the Contact
- Press PTT, pause briefly, then speak — this avoids cutting off the start of your transmission
- Keep transmissions short — say what you need to, then release PTT
- Leave gaps between transmissions so others can break in if needed
- Say "over" when you finish talking and expect a reply
- Say "out" or "clear" when the contact is finished
What to Talk About
A typical first contact includes:
- Your name and location
- Your radio and antenna setup
- Signal report (how well you can hear them)
- Weather, hobbies, anything friendly!
Don't be nervous! Everyone was a beginner once. The amateur radio community is welcoming and helpful. Your first contact is a memorable moment — enjoy it!