Your first HF contact is a milestone, and it is also less mysterious than it looks. Thousands of operators are on the air at any hour, and most of them are glad to hear a new voice. All you need is a clear plan: pick a sensible band, listen well, answer a station, and keep the exchange simple. This walkthrough takes you through it in order.
Start with your licence and the rules
Transmitting on the amateur bands requires the right licence, and the rules differ between the USA and Canada. In the USA, a Technician licence gives only limited HF privileges, while General and above open up much more of the HF spectrum. In Canada, the Basic qualification gives access to HF only if you also achieved the higher pass mark (often called Basic with Honours). Otherwise you need the Advanced qualification for HF.
Check the privileges and band edges for your own licence class before you transmit. Not there yet? The licence exam practice can help you get ready, and our guide to getting a licence covers the Canadian path. Remember that you identify with your own call sign at the intervals your regulator requires. In general that means at the start and end of a contact and periodically during a long one, but check the exact timing for your country.
Pick a band and a time of day
HF conditions change with the time of day, the season and the solar cycle, so there is no single best band. As a rough guide, higher bands such as 20 m tend to work in daylight, while lower bands such as 40 m and 80 m come alive in the evening and at night. The higher the band, the more it depends on solar activity. Conditions vary, and nothing is guaranteed.
Look at the live HF propagation page before you start, so you are not calling on a band that is closed. If you want more background, read how to read a propagation forecast or the guide to 20 meters.
Set up the radio
Start with the mode. On voice, the convention is lower sideband (LSB) below 10 MHz and upper sideband (USB) above it. So 80 m and 40 m use LSB, and 20 m, 15 m and 10 m use USB. Choosing the wrong sideband makes voices sound like a garbled duck.
- Set a moderate audio level and leave any noise reduction off at first.
- Use AGC on its normal setting so loud signals do not blast your ears.
- Check that the antenna is connected and the SWR is acceptable, using a low-power carrier or your tuner's tune function. Never transmit into an unconnected antenna.
- Set mic gain so that the ALC barely moves when you speak normally.
If you are still choosing an antenna, this beginner's decision guide may help.
Tune and listen first
Turn the main dial slowly across the phone portion of the band. A single-sideband voice sounds natural only when you are tuned just right, so nudge the frequency until it does. Watch your S-meter, which gives a rough idea of how strong a signal is. Strong does not always mean easy to work, but it helps.
Spend a good ten or fifteen minutes just listening. You will learn how contacts are structured, how operators give their call signs, and how quickly conversations move. You can also hear real contacts on the live operators page while you get used to the rhythm.
Answer a CQ: the easiest first contact
A station calling CQ is saying, in effect, that they would like a contact with anyone. That makes answering a CQ the least intimidating first contact. Wait for them to finish and to say they are listening. Then give their call sign once or twice, followed by your own call sign, using standard phonetics. Then stop and listen.
Do not rush, and do not call on top of another station who is already answering. If the station returns to someone else, be patient and listen for the next CQ. Your first attempt may not connect, and that is normal. Just try another station.
What to say in the exchange
A basic contact needs only a few items, exchanged in a clear voice:
- Both call signs.
- A signal report, giving readability (1 to 5) and strength (1 to 9). Many operators still say "five nine" out of habit, but an honest report is more useful.
- Your name and your location (QTH).
Speak slowly, use phonetics for anything that might be misheard, and repeat key details once. You can add your equipment or the weather if the other operator wants to chat. If you forget a phonetic letter, the quick reference page has the standard list, along with common Q-codes.
Calling CQ yourself
Once you are comfortable, try calling CQ. First find a frequency that seems clear. Ask "Is this frequency in use?", listen for a reply, and ask once more. If it is quiet, call CQ a few times, give your call sign clearly with phonetics, and say you are listening. Then actually listen, for longer than feels natural, because a distant station may take a moment to respond.
Keep each call short. A long string of CQs makes it harder for someone to catch your call sign. If nobody answers, wait, and try again a little later or on a different band.
Wrapping up and logging the contact
When the exchange is complete, thank the other operator, sign off with your call sign, and finish with "73", the traditional shorthand for best regards. Then write down the date, time (in UTC), band, frequency, mode, call sign and reports right away, while it is fresh. The free online logbook on HamRadioList keeps those details together and can export them in the standard ADIF format.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Transmitting without listening. A frequency that seems quiet may hold a weak station you cannot hear.
- Too much microphone gain or power. Overdriving the radio produces a distorted signal that annoys neighbours. Use only as much power as you need.
- Wrong sideband. If voices sound wrong, check LSB and USB.
- Calling on the wrong band for the hour. Check conditions first.
- Rushing the exchange. Clear beats fast every time.
- Forgetting safety. Keep antennas well away from people and power lines, and never touch an antenna while transmitting.
Wrap-up
Making your first HF contact comes down to preparation and patience: know your privileges, choose a band that is open, listen before you speak, keep the exchange short, and log what happened. It may take a few tries. Once you have made the first contact, the second and the tenth follow much more easily.
How HamRadioList can help
Before you call, check the HamRadioList live HF propagation page to see which bands are open, and listen to a few live operators to hear how real contacts flow. When you finish your first QSO, log it in the free online logbook so it is saved from day one, and use the quick reference for phonetics and Q-codes.
- Live HF propagation - see current band conditions before you call CQ.
- Free online ham radio logbook - log every contact, import and export ADIF, sync with QRZ.com and keep your awards organised.
- Ham radio quick reference - bands, modes, phonetics and Q-codes on one page.
- Live operators - listen to amateur radio operators broadcasting live, with audio and an S-meter.
- License exam practice - practice questions for the US and Canadian amateur exams.
New here, or getting back on the air? Create your free HamRadioList account to log contacts, check band conditions and practise for your exam, or browse more guides from the blog. HamRadioList is built by amateur radio operators in Nova Scotia for operators everywhere.