I'm not a regular poster on this board but I was wondering.
On HF, if you dont hear anybody, you usually start calling to find other hams.
On VHF and UHF repeaters, it seems like people just scan and wait for someone else to start a conversation.
Why don't more people call on the repeaters to start a conversation?
I've usually struck up a conversation within a call or three on the more popular repeaters. Got to do it more HF style to make sure your call lasts long enough for a scan to stop and the person to understand what your saying.
(03-12-2015, 11:15 AM)N1RLB Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a regular poster on this board but I was wondering.
On HF, if you dont hear anybody, you usually start calling to find other hams.
On VHF and UHF repeaters, it seems like people just scan and wait for someone else to start a conversation.
Why don't more people call on the repeaters to start a conversation?
I've usually struck up a conversation within a call or three on the more popular repeaters. Got to do it more HF style to make sure your call lasts long enough for a scan to stop and the person to understand what your saying.
Usually on a repeater you don't call CQ unless it is a 10 meter repeater and the band is open then you can call a CQ.
On a local repeater if you hear someone end a QSO you can call him or her. Or if you are looking for someone in particular that you know monitors that repeater you can call them by call to see if they are there. Otherwise usually you can announce yourself IE: "N1RLB Listening" and that lets people know you are around. It's considered bad manners to call CQ on a local repeater.
-73-
Al N1API
The only issue I have with just stating call sign and "listening" is that its such a short call that people on scan may not here it at all or their radio goes back to scan before they can respond. It seems like a longer acceptable call should be seen as okay. Like saying your call phonetically twice etc. Much closer to a HF CQ call.
You could also say something like "N1RLB listening - anybody around today" or something to that effect. That would let people know you're looking for someone to chat with.
Jim N1ZN
It just seems like many of these "norms" or typical calling procedures are geared towards radio's only monitoring one or two repeaters, and / or much more active repeaters. Habits of 20+ years ago etc.
New radio's scanning 3 dozen repeaters with smaller # of people listening, it doesn't make as much sense. It seems like pushing the length of the preamble long enough to last until the scan gets to you and then put your simple message across would have a better shot of being heard.
Jim, I like your idea. I'll have to give it a try. Maybe through a single phonetical call sign for a beginning. Just trying to last the scan you know.