How to Make Your First Contact Without Sounding Like a Noob

You finally passed your exam, the radio is powered up, and now there’s one last scary step: actually talking. Many new hams stare at the mic for weeks, worried they’ll sound like a total noob, break some rule, or get corrected on-air.

Good news: if you have a valid license and you’re operating inside your band and power limits, you’re already on the right side of the rules. The rest is simple etiquette and repeatable habits that you can learn in a few minutes.

This guide walks you through HF and VHF first-contact etiquette, gives you ready-to-use scripts, and shows you what to do before, during, and after your first QSO. By the end, your biggest problem will be wondering why you waited so long.

Why Getting on the Air Feels Scary (and Why You’ll Be Fine)

Almost every ham you hear on the air has been exactly where you are. They worried about saying the wrong thing, forgetting their call sign, or talking over someone. They survived, and so will you.

Remember three things:

• Most hams want new voices. Fresh operators mean the hobby stays alive. Many will go out of their way to help you.
• It’s not a test. On-air QSOs are conversations, not exams. If you’re unsure, say so. “I’m a new ham” is totally fine.
• Silence is worse than mistakes. Minor etiquette slips are normal. Staying off the air because you’re nervous means you miss the fun and the learning.

If you want to dig deeper into radio basics later, bookmark the Radio section on BrokenSignal.tv so you can circle back after you’ve made a few contacts.

Key Terms You’ll Hear During Your First Contacts

Here are a few words and phrases that are useful on day one. You don’t have to memorize every bit of jargon to sound competent.

• QSO: A radio conversation or contact between two stations.
• CQ: A general call inviting any station to respond, mostly used on HF.
• Simplex: Both stations transmit and receive on the same frequency.
• Repeater: A station that listens on one frequency and re-transmits on another to extend range, common on VHF/UHF.
• Net: A scheduled on-air meeting with a net control operator and check-ins.
• 73: Short for “best regards.” A friendly sign-off used worldwide.

Before You Transmit: A Simple Pre-Flight Checklist

Doing the same basic checks every time keeps you calm and prevents most on-air embarrassment. Here’s a simple sequence you can follow on both HF and VHF.

1. Confirm your band and frequency. Make sure you’re in a band segment where your license class is allowed to transmit.
2. Check your power level. Use the minimum power needed to maintain a solid contact, especially on local VHF repeaters.
3. Verify tone/offset (VHF/UHF repeaters). Double-check the repeater’s input/output frequencies and CTCSS/DCS tone if needed.
4. Listen first. Spend at least 30–60 seconds listening (longer on HF) to see if anyone is already using the frequency.
5. Have a script. Write your first line down: who you’re calling and your call sign. Keep it in front of you.
6. Relax your voice. Take a breath, speak like you’re talking to a friend, and key up only when you’re ready.

VHF/UHF First Contacts: Repeaters and Simplex

For many new hams, the easiest first contact is on a local VHF repeater using a handheld or mobile radio. The etiquette is very similar on simplex, just without the repeater offsets and tones.

Basic VHF Repeater Etiquette

• Don’t “kerchunk.” Briefly keying up without identifying is poor form. If you key the repeater, say your call.
• Leave a pause. After someone unkeys, wait a second before you transmit so others (and the repeater timeout) have room.
• Identify clearly. Say your call at the start, at least every 10 minutes during a long QSO, and at the end.

Here are some example phrases you can literally read from your notes the first few times.

Scenario	What You Might Say
Just letting people know you’re listening	“This is [your call sign], monitoring.”
Calling for any station	“This is [your call sign], looking for a signal report or a quick contact.”
Responding to someone else’s call	“[Their call sign], this is [your call sign].”
Signing off	“Enjoyed the QSO. 73 from [your call sign], clear on the repeater.”

Simplex Contacts on VHF/UHF

On simplex, you’re not using a repeater, so you’ll usually call CQ on a local simplex calling frequency if that’s customary in your area, or answer someone else’s call.

A simple simplex call might sound like:

“CQ CQ, this is [your call sign], listening simplex on [frequency] and standing by.”

The same etiquette applies: listen first, avoid doubling over others, and identify regularly.

HF First Contacts: Calling CQ Without Sounding Lost

HF feels more serious because signals travel farther and the bands are busy. The good news: the basic pattern is always the same. Find a clear frequency, ask if it’s in use, then call CQ.

Step-by-Step HF First Contact

1. Pick the right band and segment. Make sure you’re in a phone segment you’re licensed for (like 20m or 40m SSB).
2. Listen to the band. Tune around for a few minutes. Get a feel for how fast people are talking and what kind of exchanges are happening.
3. Find a clear spot. When you think you’ve found an empty frequency, listen there for at least 30–60 seconds.
4. Ask if it’s in use. “Is this frequency in use? This is [your call sign].” Wait. If no one answers after two or three tries, it’s probably clear.
5. Call CQ clearly. Use a simple pattern like: “CQ CQ CQ, this is [your call sign], [your call sign], [your call sign], calling CQ and standing by.”
6. Listen. Release PTT and listen for 10–15 seconds. If no one comes back, repeat the CQ a few times.
7. Answer the reply. When you hear a reply, grab their call sign and say: “[Their call sign], this is [your call sign], thanks for coming back…” and continue the QSO.

If you’re not comfortable calling CQ yet, there’s nothing wrong with tuning around HF and answering someone else’s CQ instead. That’s often easier for a first contact.

On-Air Etiquette That Makes You Sound Experienced

You don’t need special vocabulary to sound like you know what you’re doing. These few habits go a long way on both HF and VHF.

• Identify at reasonable intervals. Start of the QSO, at least every 10 minutes during a long conversation, and when you sign off.
• Use plain language first. Q-codes, 10-codes, and slang are optional. Normal conversation is always acceptable on amateur radio.
• Pause between transmissions. Leave a second or two before you transmit so others can break in if needed.
• Avoid talking over people. If you accidentally double, just say, “Sorry, I doubled with someone, please repeat.”
• Be honest about your experience. “I’m a new ham, still learning my way around” is completely fine and often invites friendly tips.
• Stay on topic and clean. No business use, no music, no coded or encrypted communications, and keep language family-friendly.

Common New-Ham Mistakes (and Better Alternatives)

Here are a few mistakes almost everyone makes at some point, and how to avoid them.

If You Do This…	It Sounds Like…	Instead, Try…
Key the repeater with no ID (“kerchunk”)	Unknown station testing without following the rules	“This is [your call sign], testing and standing by.”
Talk really fast or mumble your call sign	Hard to log or respond to	Slow down and spell it once with phonetics.
Jump into an existing QSO without waiting	Interrupting or doubling over others	Wait for a clear pause, then say “Break” or your call sign once.
Over-explain every detail of your station	Nervous rambling	Give the basics: radio, antenna, power, and maybe location, then ask them a question.

Sample First-Contact Scripts You Can Steal

Feel free to literally read these off a card the first few times. After a handful of QSOs, you’ll naturally tweak them.

VHF Repeater: Looking for a Quick Chat

“This is [your call sign], new ham here, looking for a quick contact and signal report if anyone has a minute.”

When someone responds: “[Their call sign], this is [your call sign], thanks for coming back. Name here is [your name], I’m in [your city] using a [radio/antenna]. You’re sounding good here. How copy?”

HF: Answering Someone Else’s CQ

“[Their call sign], this is [your call sign].”

When they call you back: “Good afternoon [their name], thanks for the contact. Name here is [your name], QTH is [your town]. You’re about [signal report, e.g., ‘five-seven’] into [your area]. This is one of my first HF contacts, so I appreciate the QSO.”

HF: Making a General CQ Call

“CQ CQ CQ, this is [your call sign], [your call sign], [your call sign], calling CQ and standing by.”

If no response after a few calls, change it slightly: “CQ CQ from [your call sign], calling CQ and standing by for any station.”

Nets: The Easiest Way to Break the Ice

Local repeater nets are one of the friendliest places to make your first contact. There’s a net control who runs the show, and you just check in when called.

For a typical local net, the flow looks like this:

1. Net control announces the net and asks for check-ins.
2. When they call for “new hams” or “any station,” give your call once.
3. When net control acknowledges you, they’ll usually ask for your name and location.
4. Answer briefly, listen, and follow their lead.

Sample check-in line: “[Net control call sign], this is [your call sign], new ham, no traffic.”

Many nets are geared toward emergency prep or local community topics. If you’re into off-grid and resilience, you might also enjoy exploring things like Meshtastic mesh networks once you’re comfortable on traditional voice.

What to Log (and What You Can Ignore For Now)

You’ll hear people talking about logbooks. For casual local FM contacts, logging is optional. For HF DX and awards, you’ll want a log. As a new ham, keep it simple.

A minimal log entry might include:

• Date and time (UTC if you can, local is fine at first).
• Band and mode (e.g., 2m FM, 20m SSB).
• Other station’s call sign and maybe their name.
• Signal report and short note if anything interesting happened.

You can use a paper notebook, a spreadsheet, or logging software later on. The goal right now is just to get comfortable making contacts, not to build a perfect award-ready log.

HF vs VHF: Quick Habit Cheat Sheet

These are broad generalizations, but they help you pick the right “mindset” for the band you’re on.

On HF, You Usually…	On VHF/UHF, You Usually…
Call CQ or answer other CQ calls	Use repeaters or local simplex frequencies
Give signal reports like “five-nine”	Give more casual reports like “full quieting” or “you sound good here”
Have longer ragchews or quick DX exchanges	Chat locally about day-to-day stuff and local events
Spend more time tuning and checking the band	Spend more time programming radios and repeaters

FAQ: First-Contact Nerves

What if I mess something up on the air?

It will happen at some point, and it’s okay. If you double with someone, give the wrong call, or forget a detail, just correct yourself and move on. A simple “Sorry about that, still getting used to things” is usually all it takes.

Do I have to use phonetics every time?

No, but good phonetics help, especially on noisy HF bands. Use the standard NATO set if you can (“Alpha, Bravo, Charlie”), but don’t freeze if you forget. Any clear words are better than none.

How long should my first QSO be?

Short is fine. A basic contact with names, locations, and signal reports can be a perfectly good QSO. If you’re nervous, thank them for the contact, say 73, and clear. You can always make another one.

Can I ask “beginner” questions on the air?

Absolutely. Many hams enjoy helping new operators. Just be respectful of the ongoing conversation and avoid turning every contact into a troubleshooting session. For deeper technical dives, you can also browse the Tech section on BrokenSignal.tv between QSOs.

Conclusion: Key Up, Say Your Call, and Join the Conversation

You don’t need a decade of experience, perfect phonetics, or a thousand-dollar HF rig to sound like you belong on the air. If you remember to identify clearly, listen before you talk, leave pauses, and be polite, you’re already operating better than a lot of people think they need to on day one.

Start with something easy: check into a local net, answer a CQ on HF, or say “[your call sign], monitoring” on your local repeater. Use the scripts in this guide until you feel comfortable improvising.

Most importantly, don’t let fear keep you off the mic. The only way to stop feeling like a new ham is to stop being a silent ham. Key up, make that first contact, and then go explore more builds, antennas, and projects over in the Radio and Tech sections.

73, and see you on the air.