# UK Amateur Radio ## Foundation Licence 2002
| You must have your sound card operational for the best use of this section.
### Operating Practices & Procedures Part B This part of the course will be tutor lead at practical sessions
### The RST code The readability and signal strength is use with all modes but the tone is used mainly with the CW (morse) but could be used if you were helping some one set up say a RTTY station where they are sending a tone rather than a voice modulated signal.
### Readability | R1 Unreadable R2 Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable R3 Readable with considerable difficulty R4 Readable with practically no difficulty R5 Perfectly readable
### Signal strength | S1 Faint, signals barely perceptible S2 Very weak signals S3 Weak signals S4 Fair signals S5 Fairly good signals S6 Good signals S7 Moderately strong signals S8 Strong signals S9 Extremely strong signals
### Tone | T1 Extremely rough hissing note T2 Very rough AC note, no trace of musicality T3 Rough, low-pitched AC note, slightly musical T4 Rather rough AC note, moderately musical T5 Musically modulated note T6 Modulated note, slight trace of whistle T7 Near DC note, smooth ripple T8 Good DC note, just a trace of ripple T9 Purest DC note
#### RST The abbreviation of the above. If you are working CW then you would send RST 599 or as appropriate. If in a voice mode then you would say :- "Your report is 59" or what ever it is ......
### Listen before calling and ask if the frequency is in use.
Ok so now you know all the operating control that you need where do you go from here. You must know that the frequency is clear before transmitting. How do you know that the frequency is clear of any other transmissions. You don't, so the only way to find out is the listen for a short while. Even then it may be that stations that are in contact with each other are some distance apart and you cannot hear the distant station which is transmitting but another local station can. If you then just started your CQ call you would ruin the QSO of the other stations. So having listened you then call out "Is this frequency busy this is M3ABC calling". If it is busy then one of the other stations should reply saying something like - "M3ABC this is G4VSZ the frequency is in use". Don't be surprised if the station says "the frequency is in use old man". The old man part is merely a term of endearment and a hang over from the days when it seemed only old men from shacks in the garden shed enjoyed Amateur Radio!! You do not respond further but change frequency (QSY) and try again until find an unoccupied frequency. You can happily call CQ until you get a contact.
#### Making a CQ Call
| Click the link hear a typical "cq call" as on HF
So what is a CQ call. It is to draw attention to your station and invite a reply to you. It will go something like this :- "CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ and standing bye" If you are operating on FM then that is a sufficient call as tuning is straight forward but for SSB where the tuning can take more time a longer CQ call is recommended to allow the receiving station to refine the tuning to your signal:- "CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ CQ CQ this is M3ABC mike three alpha bravo charlie calling CQ and standing by" Then you wait for say 5 to 10 seconds and if no reply then repeat the CQ call on the same frequency. Don't forget to practise this before the practical assessment so that using word that you have not necessarily used before will become common knowledge. A great place to try this is in the bathroom .... The echo is fantastic AND you are on your own ..usually!
#### Let's have a bit of fun
Before you read on let's try to simulate a qso .... As I don't know what you are going to say I will have to give you the idea in the text. You read it out pretending to operate a mic and that you are starting with a CQ call. We will use the call sign G7BRC. Don't forget the procedure to check the frequency. Remember we are simulating a QSO so be ready to alter the volume control as the condition get better and or fade over by over ..
You say "out loud" what is written below then click the button. | Buttons
"Is the frequency clear" |
QSY and then call "Is the frequency clear" |
CQ CQ CQ this is G7BRC G7BRC G7BRC calling CQ and standing by. |
G4VSZ this is G7BRC I read you loud and strong. Your report is 5 by 9 and 20 over. how do you copy me G4VSZ this G7BRC over |
G4VSZ this is G7BRC nice to speak to you Charles. My name is ......... and the QTH is also Gillingham. I am working towards my Foundation licence taking a course at the Bredhurst Club that meets on a thursday. G4VSZ this is G7BRC over |
G4VSZ this is G7BRC my name is ........ and I spell it for you (spell your name using the phonetic alphabet given below). I am enjoying the course and I hope to work you again soon. Thank you for the contact and I am listening for your final. G4VSZ this G7BRC over |
G4VSZ this is G7BRC thank for the contact Charles and I will look for you on the band sin the near future. Good DX and best '73 G4VSZ this is G7BRC clear with you but listening the frequency and if not called will closed the station QRZ QRZ this is G7BRC listening |

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