[PPRAANet] How to Make Contacts on the Radio or Not

[Paul Signorelli]

I hear guys on HF and FM Simplex come on the air and give their call sign once and say 'CQ'.
Like "KB0GEV  CQ" ..... Now was that KE0 KB0 KD0 ..  GEV GBZ ?;  B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V and Z sound very much alike when there is unfamiliarity.
You have to make noise on a unpopulated radio frequency especially if you have a new call
that know one knows. There is no radio dispatcher on the other end of your frequency.
You can't just give your call once and expect to have people answer you.
If you are on a repeater a single call might be all you need to do to make a contact.
If you want to be ignored just say  'KB0GEV testing'.

146.52 Simplex,  as an example,  isn't monitored by a police dispatcher. It may be just a scanned frequency that some one might hear in the back ground of their 'Noise of Life'.
Guys who might respond to you have to get over to where their radio is located and listen for you. If you never make a second call they won't know what or who it was.
If no one knows your call sign (like if you are travelling through town in your car),  you have to repeat your call several times and then use phonetics, (Kilo Bravo Zero Golf Echo Victor).
Then say "Listening on 52", so the scanning guys will know where to respond to you.
Then tell them what you are doing and what you need; a radio check, directions, traffic reports or just a QSO/Contact/ SOTA, etc..
Happy Contacts in the New Year.
Paul   w0rw