[PPRAANet] question from a total newbie Roger, KB0PQM

[Wes Wilson]

Roger --

Congratulations on the new license and callsign!

> What's the accepted etiquette for entering into an ongoing, on-air
> discussion?

Well, unfortunately, we have a few people who just key up and butt into the
conversation, a tactic which usually results in considerable doubling with
one of the established stations in the conversation.  This is considered to
be very rude behavior.

As a new ham, patient listening and observing operational habits of others
(good or bad) can be very beneficial in determining operating practices that
appeal to you personally.  Generally, if I don't know the parties discussing
something of interest to me, I listen -- but wait for the conversation to
terminate.  If, at that point I still have something to contribute, I call
one of the parties and offer my input -- frequently initiating a new
conversation or continued discussion.

If those involved are friends of mine, and I really feel the need to join
into a conversation in progress, I toss out my callsign suffix between
transmissions, e.g., "HBZ," and wait for them to invite me to join in the
discussion.  I normally don't do this unless I have something really
significant to contribute, or unless the information being discussed is
incorrect (like dates/locations for a meeting, etc.) or incomplete.

Communications on our bands are very similar to conversational practices at
a formal party -- if a group is having an interesting conversation over in
the corner, listen attentively and pay attention to the ongoing
discussion -- if you have something to offer, find a way to make your
presence known and wait to be invited to join the discussion.

If a controversial conversation is annoying or upsetting you, well, that is
why they put volume controls and power switches on radios -- better to just
walk away or turn the radio off -- I frequently turn the volume down
extremely low until the frequency is cleared.

Hope that helps!

73  Wes KOHBZ