TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 13.01 DATE: January 6, 2013
SUBJECT: CALLING BY IDENTIFYING
It's been a practice that started a long time ago, that when Amateur Radio operators called CQ on the High Frequencies it was to announce they wanted to make contact with someone. VHF and UHF repeaters have been used for several years, and the practice of calling CQ is seldom used on them. Most of the time operators will just call the person, or people, they want to talk to.
But for several years I think that radio operators are using the phrase "MONITORING" to indicate they want to talk to someone. But, to me the phrase "MONITORING" is just that, monitoring, just in case someone has wanted to get a hold of them. When I say my call sign, and then the word "MONITORING" that's just what I'm doing, monitoring, not looking for someone to talk to.
So when a frequency, or repeater, is not being used, and you identify your station, and say you're monitoring, don't expect someone to call you back, since you haven't put out a general call, or haven't called for someone.
A lot of times Amateur repeaters are being monitored just in case someone needs help or assistance. Sometimes those monitoring a repeater are busy doing something else, and don't want to drop what they're doing, just talk, but are willing to drop everything they're doing to answer a call, IF, the person who is calling is looking for information, needs to talk to someone, or has an emergency.
I've heard stations come on a repeater and just transmit their callsign only, or say they are monitoring. I don't know if they're just letting others know they're monitoring the repeater, looking for someone to talk to, or doing what the FCC rules say about identifying any time they key their radio. But in any case I usually don't call them back, unless I hear a strange, or new callsign, such as someone passing through the area, I'll call that station to let them know there is someone monitoring just in case they need assistance.
If you need to talk to someone on a frequency, or repeater, you might first identify and see if anyone feels like having a conversation. If you don't get a reply, don't think there's no one listening. Instead, you might try again but change your call to something like this. This is, your Call Sign, looking for information for the area. Or, this is, your Call Sign, requesting information for this area, is anyone listening? Or, this is, your Call Sign, I have an emergency, can someone help? This lets those monitoring the repeater know that it's more than just a conversation request.
I guess the thing to remember, is never expect someone to answer you when you just identify, or just say you're monitoring. But NEVER just identify, when you're actually needing help, need to talk, or have an emergency.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV