Radio communication is indispensable to many industries – from security to trucking – and it’s a popular hobby for thousands of radio enthusiasts. If you’re getting started in the world of radio operation, you’ll need to have a good grasp of the rules (both written and unwritten) before making your first broadcast. People of all skill types and interest levels use two-way radio communication, so it’s important to know standard practices, legal regulations, and acceptable etiquette for the airwaves. Read on to learn about the fundamentals of radio communication.
Radio Broadcast Etiquette
Advancements in radio communication technology have brought powerful two-way radios into the hands of hobbyists and professionals alike. And while high-quality radio accessories and radio functionalities allow for clear communication in the noisiest conditions, there are still important etiquette rules that radio operators must follow to keep conversations understandable and helpful.
Identify Yourself and Your Contact
When transmitting or responding to a radio message, always identify yourself and identify the contact you are trying to reach. This protocol helps avoid confusion and minimize back-and-forth clarifications. Amateur (or “ham”) radio operators are given call signs upon receiving their license, while CB (citizens band) radio operators and other radio users simply use their name or self-assigned nickname called a “handle.”
How to make a random contact
Part of the excitement of amateur radio communications is the potential for meeting other radio enthusiasts and making far-away connections. You don’t always know the person you will be talking to. So how do you initiate a conversation with an unknown contact (CQ)?
First, find an unoccupied station (you can ask “is this frequency in use? This is ____”).
Next, announce that you are calling “CQ” and identify yourself so someone can respond to you. “CQ, CQ, calling CQ, this is _____”
The ARRL advises repeating this broadcast 3-4 times before moving on to another channel.
Don’t Respond Right Away
Always allow for a couple seconds to pass after you use the push-to-talk button. Anyone who has communicated with a walkie-talkie knows the frustration of only catching the second part of a sentence! The same thing can easily happen with any wireless communication device. Waiting a few moments to speak ultimately saves a lot of time and effort.
Be Respectful
Respectful communication is a key part of radio etiquette. Radio operators are expected to wait before speaking – making sure the air is clear and never interrupting an ongoing conversation unless there is an emergency. Emergencies always take precedence, and normal conversations should give way to whoever is transmitting emergency details.
The FCC also regulates the types of messages that can be relayed via radio, and it’s against the law to transmit obscene, indecent, or profane broadcast messages. You can read more about how this is defined on the FCC’s website.
Keep Messages Short
Radio messages ought to be short and to the point. This is particularly important for emergency messages and other high-stakes communications but applies to casual conversations as well. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) even stipulates that CBRS (Citizens Band Radio Service) operators must limit conversation to five minutes with another CBRS operator, allowing for a one-minute break before their next transmission on the same channel – unless subject to an exception (47 CFR 95.957(a)).
However, this rule doesn’t mean you’re limited to practical or abrupt conversations. Ham radio operators in particular enjoy the ability to communicate with long-distance contacts – even making new friends – and many truckers find that conversations via ham radios can be more interesting and engaging than CB radio messages. When it comes down to individual transmissions, however, it’s standard practice to always keep your message clear and concise.
Never Transmit Confidential Information
CB radio channels and ham radio channels are not private. You can never be 100% certain that you and your contact are the only ones communicating on a particular frequency. With this in mind, it’s important never to share confidential information via radio transmissions. Assume that anything you say is being heard by others.
Always Speak Clearly
It’s a simple but important rule – your speech should be as clear as possible when broadcasting a radio message. Radio operators need to speak slowly and avoid raising or lowering their voices beyond a normal level to ensure that their contacts can understand what they are saying. This is a basic practice, but one that is easy to forget in emergency situations or other scenarios when emotions are running high.
Use Precise Language
Many of the terms we use in everyday speech are not good choices for radio communication. When making radio transmissions, try to find words that are not easily misunderstood or mistaken for other words. For example, “affirmative” or “negative” are much better word choices than “yep” or “nope” which are hard to understand when spoken quickly. Radio messages require a lot more forethought than cell phone conversations – remember that only one person can speak at a time, so it’s essential to say exactly what you mean the first time around!
Become Familiar with Radio Terminology
Radio lingo serves an important purpose, as standardized phrases and abbreviations facilitate clear and concise communication. Here are several examples of terms that every new radio operator should know:
- 10-4 – “message received” or “affirmative”
- Breaker, breaker or break, break – used to get someone’s attention or interrupt communications in an emergency
- Copy – “I understand” or “I hear you”
- Over – indicates that you’re finished speaking and are awaiting a response
- Out – indicates the end of a conversation
- Radio check – a request for someone to confirm your radio signal strength and clarity
- Roger – “message received” or “affirmative”
- What’s your 20? – “what’s your location?”
- Wilco – short for “will comply,” indicating that you will follow the given instructions
Check out this list of 60+ radio terms to learn more radio lingo.
Use the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The NATO phonetic alphabet, also called the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, is a universally accepted set of terms for spelling out letters of the alphabet. Operators are expected to use these terms when spelling out words or call signs. This eliminates any potential confusion between letters that sound alike. While using the NATO Phonetic Alphabet is essential for high-stakes communication like air traffic control, it is also standard practice for all types of radio operators.
| NATO Phonetic Alphabet | ||
|---|---|---|
| A -Alpha | J - Juliett | S - Sierra |
| B - Bravo | K - Kilo | T - Tango |
| C - Charlie | L - Lima | U - Uniform |
| D - Delta | M - Mike | V - Victor |
| E - Echo | N - November | W - Whiskey |
| F - Foxtrot | O - Oscar | X - X-ray |
| G - Golf | P - Papa | Y - Yankee |
| H - Hotel | Q - Quebec | Z- Zulu |
| I - India | R - Romeo |
In general, numbers follow standard English pronunciation, with a few slight variations for added clarity. For example, it’s common to hear 5 pronounced as “fife” and 9 pronounced “niner” to avoid any confusion between the two.
Radio Frequency Uses
Ham radio frequencies and CB radio’s 40 channels reserve different frequencies for different types of communication. For example, Channel 9 (27.065 MhZ) is designated for emergency communications. Many mobile radios come with a Channel 9 preset for ease of use. Learn more about ham radio frequencies and common uses here.
Popular Ham Radio Frequencies Chart
| Frequency (MHz) | Description |
|---|---|
| 162.400 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.425 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.450 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.475 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.500 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.525 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 162.550 | NOAA / National Weather Service broadcast frequency |
| 27.065 | Channel 9 on CB Radios, commonly considered the emergency frequency for CB and is still monitored by teams and law enforcement |
| 27.185 | Channel 19 on CB Radios, the most used CB channel, especially active around highways |
| 462.675 | GMRS emergency frequency (Channel 20) |
| 151.820 | Most commonly used frequency on GMRS/FRS |
| 151.880 | Most common repeater frequency on GMRS |
| 121.500 | Aviation Emergency & Distress |
| 123.100 | Aviation Search and Rescue |
| 156.800 | Marine Distress Safety and Calling (Marine Radio Channel 16) |
| 157.100 | U.S. Coast Guard Liaison (Marine Radio Channel 22) |
| 156.300 | Marine Intership Safety (Marine Radio Channel 6) |
| 161.205 | Railroad Police Mutual Aid |
| 155.160 | Land Search and Rescue |
| 121.500 | Air Search and Rescue |
| 146.520 | 2-meter band National Simplex Channel |
| 223.500 | 1.25-meter band National Simplex Channel |
| 446.000 | 70 cm band National Simplex Channel |
| 906.500 | 33 cm band National Simplex Channel |
| 1294.500 | 23 cm band National Simplex Channel |
CB Radio Frequency Chart
| CB Channel | CB Frequency | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | 26.965 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 2 | 26.975 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 3 | 26.985 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 4 | 27.005 MHz | Often used for 4x4s/off-roading |
| Channel 5 | 27.015 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 6 | 27.025 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 7 | 27.035 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 8 | 27.055 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 9 | 27.065 MHz | Emergency communications |
| Channel 10 | 27.075 MHz | Ope to everyone (often used by truckers) |
| Channel 11 | 27.085 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 12 | 27.105 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 13 | 27.115 MHz | Ope to everyone (often used by marine/Rvers) |
| Channel 14 | 27.125 MHz | Open to everyone (often used by walkie-talkies) |
| Channel 15 | 27.135 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 16 | 27.155 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB) |
| Channel 17 | 27.165 MHz | Open to everyone (often used by truckers) |
| Channel 18 | 27.175 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 19 | 27.185 MHz | Truckers re: East/West Highway Traffic |
| Channel 20 | 27.205 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 21 | 27.215 MHz | Open to everyone (often used by truckers) |
| Channel 22 | 27.225 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 23 | 27.255 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 24 | 27.235 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 25 | 27.245 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 26 | 27.265 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 27 | 27.275 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 28 | 27.285 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 29 | 27.295 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 30 | 27.305 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 31 | 27.315 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 32 | 27.325 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 33 | 27.335 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 34 | 27.345 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 35 | 27.355 MHz | Open to everyone |
| Channel 36 | 27.365 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB) |
| Channel 37 | 27.375 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB, LSB) |
| Channel 38 | 27.385 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB) |
| Channel 39 | 27.395 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB) |
| Channel 40 | 27.405 MHz | Open to everyone (and SSB) |
Click here to download a CB Channel List PDF
FCC Regulations for Radio Communications
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates radio communications for the United States. All radio operators are expected to follow the parameters set by the FCC for the usage of amateur radios, CB radios, GMRS radios, and other types of radio equipment. For example – here are a couple of the rules you will find in the CFR for CB Radio Service, under 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart D:
- The operator of a CBRS station must not use a CBRS station to transmit music, whistling, sound effects or any other audio material to amuse or entertain (47 CFR 95.933(f)).
- The operator of a CBRS station must not attach an external radio frequency power amplifier to a certified CBRS transmitter (47 CFR 95.939(b)).
You need to familiarize yourself with all applicable FCC regulations for the type of radio you intend to use. Radio operators will notice that amateur radios carry more restrictions and requirements than low-power equipment like CB or GMRS radio stations. These powerful transceivers are not limited to line-of-sight communications and even facilitate global communication under the right circumstances. Only licensed operators can take advantage of the improved signal strength and modification opportunities of ham radios.
Amateur Radio Licensing
Ham radio operators are required by the FCC to obtain a license by passing an exam. There are three levels of licensing for amateur radio operators with increasingly difficult qualifications.
- Technician Class: an entry-level license that grants transmitting privileges on the VHF and UHF bands used for local communication and limited ham bands for global transmissions
- General Class: expands transmitting privileges to long-distance, international communication via signal propagation and provides increased voice operation on ham bands
- Amateur Extra Class: grants access to the full range of ham bands allocated to the Amateur Radio Service
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