Contact (amateur radio)

Last updated October 01, 2024

An amateur radio contact, more commonly referred to as simply a "contact", is an exchange of information between two amateur radio stations. The exchange usually consists of an initial call, a response by another amateur radio operator at an amateur radio station, and a signal report. A contact is often referred to by the Q code QSO. It is often limited to just a minimal exchange of such station IDs. Stations who have made a contact are said to have worked each other. An operator may also say that he has worked a certain country. Amateurs use the slang expression ragchew or ragchewing to refer to an extended, informal conversation, a variation of the common idioms "chewing the fat" and "chewing the rag".^[1] Sometimes, a contact in person, between two ham radio operators, is humorously referred to as an "eyeball QSO". An All-Time New One (ATNO)^[2] is an operator's contact with an amateur station that they have never worked before on any band or mode.^[3]^[4]

Many amateurs will send QSL cards to stations they have worked.^[5] Computer-based logging software, such as the American Radio Relay League's Logbook of the World, can also be used for logging contacts. Logs and QSL cards can be kept as keepsakes and used as proof of contacts for awards, such as Worked all States or the DX Century Club.^[3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioteletype</span> Radio linked electromechanical communications system

Radioteletype (RTTY) is a telecommunications system consisting originally of two or more electromechanical teleprinters in different locations connected by radio rather than a wired link. Radioteletype evolved from earlier landline teleprinter operations that began in the mid-1800s. The US Navy Department successfully tested printing telegraphy between an airplane and ground radio station in 1922. Later that year, the Radio Corporation of America successfully tested printing telegraphy via their Chatham, Massachusetts, radio station to the R.M.S. Majestic. Commercial RTTY systems were in active service between San Francisco and Honolulu as early as April 1932 and between San Francisco and New York City by 1934. The US military used radioteletype in the 1930s and expanded this usage during World War II. From the 1980s, teleprinters were replaced by personal computers (PCs) running software to emulate teleprinters.

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A DX-pedition is an expedition to what is considered an exotic place by amateur radio operators and DX listeners, typically because of its remoteness, access restrictions, or simply because there are very few radio amateurs active from that place. This could be an island, a country, or even a particular spot on a geographical grid. DX is a telegraphic shorthand for "distance" or "distant".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amateur radio station</span> Station receiving radio waves

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">QSL card</span> Amateur radio transmission confirmation card

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Marshall D. Moran was born in Chicago on May 29, 1906, and died April 14, 1992, in Delhi, India. He was an American Jesuit priest, missionary in India and Nepal, where he founded several schools, amongst them the St. Xavier's High School, Patna, and the St. Xavier's School school of Lalitpur.

QRZ.com is an amateur radio website listing almost every callsign in the world. In 1992, QRZ founder Fred L. Lloyd accessed data from the FCC database to create a CD-ROM with all call signs issued in the United States. A copy of the CD-ROM is carried on board the International Space Station and one was also aboard the Russian Mir space station. QRZ.com is one of the most recognized websites for amateur radio enthusiasts. Information is pulled directly from the FCC database and from on-line databases of other nations, when available. Registered users can edit their data for accuracy and currency and many list additional information about their station, antennas and other life interests.

References

↑ H. Ward Silver (2 March 2018). Ham Radio For Dummies. Wiley. pp. 12–. ISBN 978-1-119-45482-3.
↑ W4QA, Rush (2013-03-13). "3 dB: A New One..." 3 dB. Retrieved 2024-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
1 2 Harry L. Helms (1992). All about Ham Radio. HighText Publications. ISBN 978-1-878707-04-8.
↑ H. Ward Silver (2006). The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual: All You Need to Become an Amateur Radio Operator. Technician; Level 1. American Radio Relay League. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-0-87259-963-5.
↑ Danny Gregory; Paul Sahre (March 2003). Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 978-1-56898-281-6.

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[Silver2018-1] H. Ward Silver (2 March 2018). Ham Radio For Dummies. Wiley. pp. 12–. ISBN 978-1-119-45482-3.

[2] W4QA, Rush (2013-03-13). "3 dB: A New One..." 3 dB. Retrieved 2024-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[Helms1992-3] 1 2 Harry L. Helms (1992). All about Ham Radio. HighText Publications. ISBN 978-1-878707-04-8.

[Silver2006-4] H. Ward Silver (2006). The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual: All You Need to Become an Amateur Radio Operator. Technician; Level 1. American Radio Relay League. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-0-87259-963-5.

[GregorySahre2003-5] Danny Gregory; Paul Sahre (March 2003). Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 978-1-56898-281-6.

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