CQ on a repeater...

[HHD1]

So, tell me, why is calling CQ on a repeater "frowned upon" by some? What is the reasoning? Is it more than a "just because". ?

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, HHD1 said:

So, tell me, why is calling CQ on a repeater "frowned upon" by some? What is the reasoning? Is it more than a "just because". ?

There are quite a few YouTube videos that discuss this, but I’ll offer my perspective, which has been developed over a very short time and without watching any of those videos .  
Calling CQ is done to attempt to make direct radio contacts, as an operator strives to overcome radio communication challenges: “How far can my 5 QRP signal travel?“ or “What’s the propagation like?” or “Let me see if I can pick out a message from this noise.”  Calling CQ usually leads to logged contacts that include the other person’s call sign, a signal report, and the time of the call and usually the logs are uploaded to a clearinghouse like QRZ or LOTW for confirmation. Many folks collect awards based on their confirmed contacts.

A repeater is set up to eliminate such challenges and provide a reliable radio pathway (typically vhf or uhf) for relatively short distances, especially compared to those on HF bands. You still hear people who announce themselves, usually just by saying something like “AI7KS, mobile” and usually someone will respond and they’ll have a brief chat, but seldom are those contacts logged. They’re only as far as the repeater and it’s not really such a challenge.

[amaff]

4 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Calling CQ is done to attempt to make direct radio contacts, as an operator strives to overcome radio communication challenges: “How far can my 5 QRP signal travel?“ or “What’s the propagation like?” or “Let me see if I can pick out a message from this noise.”  Calling CQ usually leads to logged contacts ...

I dunno man. Everytime I listen in on the Intermountain Intertie, a chain of linked VHF repeaters that goes from southern Arizona through Vegas, all of Utah and most of Idaho, it seems like there's someone calling CQ and they're very, VERY interested in making sure they have their contacts logged

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, amaff said:

I dunno man. Everytime I listen in on the Intermountain Intertie, a chain of linked VHF repeaters that goes from southern Arizona through Vegas, all of Utah and most of Idaho, it seems like there's someone calling CQ and they're very, VERY interested in making sure they have their contacts logged

Yeah, I’ve heard it, and even replied to a gentleman who needed Montana on DMR also, but those might be the main exceptions and they might be one of the reasons why some people wish other people wouldn’t CQ on a repeater.  When you’re calling CQ on a simplex frequency, you have an almost infinite range of frequencies to use.  People who don’t want to hear someone saying “CQ CQ CQ AI7KS” over and over again can simply turn the VFO knob. On an analog repeater, everyone who is listening for traffic on that repeater has only two choices, listen to the CQ or stop listening to that repeater, thus forfeiting the utility of the repeater. During a contest things could get really hectic.

Personally, I like listening to people use our 2 meter repeater.  It’s not networked but it has a really huge footprint and sometimes it can be busy.  Yesterday there were conversations going on about all the area damage from a huge windstorm that affected much of Montana. I didn’t have anything to contribute, thank God, so I just listened.

[WRHS218]

The whole using Q-codes (or whatever they are called) on voice transmissions is tiresome. They were designed for Morse Code. I feel the same way about saying "73s". I have a daughter who is a Speech Language Pathologist who works with children who have problems speaking. She often encourages her clients to "use their words". People can and will do what they want but I encourage people to use their words when transmitting on voice. Of course I don't try to make random contacts even on the Amatuer bands. If I need something I just ask using sentences. 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRHS218 said:

The whole using Q-codes (or whatever they are called) on voice transmissions is tiresome. They were designed for Morse Code. I feel the same way about saying "73s". I have a daughter who is a Speech Language Pathologist who works with children who have problems speaking. She often encourages her clients to "use their words". People can and will do what they want but I encourage people to use their words when transmitting on voice. Of course I don't try to make random contacts even on the Amatuer bands. If I need something I just ask using sentences. 

I don’t have a problem with q-codes although I certainly don’t know many of them yet.  They’re an efficient way to make contacts in a short period of time.  I don’t hear them much when people are rag chewing, except maybe the more common ones.  They’re just additional words added to our vocabulary that represent longer phrases. And I certainly never object to hearing someone wish me 73.  But, like most hobbies, it’s wide open.  You should never be made to feel forced to use q-codes and whatever way you wish to end a conversation is entirely up to you.

[marcspaz]

I think it depends on where you are and who you are interacting with.  I know some people already mentioned it above, but its worth restating.

 

Q codes and other short-hand were developed for amateur operators using Morse Code.  CQ is an abbreviation to Seek You... and normally it is followed by something else.  For example, CQ DX means you are looking for stations outside of whatever country you are in.  CQ Contest means you are looking for other operators in a contest that is happening that day/time.  Or CQ N1AB DE K1AA, where K1AA is calling a specific operator, N1AB... though in voice, the DE is usually spoken 'this is' or 'here is'.  The fewer letters you have to key, the quicker and more efficient the communications would be.  Also, you could operate longer, since there were fewer characters to key.

Moving over into HF voice, a lot of people kept using this shorthand for calling other stations because it is familiar, and it's still quick.  If you are trying to make contacts during a contest, for example, its a lot faster to say 'CQ Contest K1AA' compared to something longer like 'Here is K1AA calling any station participating the the contest. Please call K1AA now."

As far as VHF/UHF is concerned, especially on a repeater... man, like I said, it really depends.  If you are on a Ham repeater and K1AA wanted to call N1AB, he could (an I have done this myself) say something like "CQ N1AB, K1AA".  It's short and to the point.  Now, K1AA could also say "Hey Stephen, its Arron.  Are you around?" and that would be perfectly acceptable, too.  Or just say "N1AB, K1AA".  There really isn't a wrong way of doing it.

Now, just because its an acceptable and usable communications method, does that mean some curmudgeon won't bitch about it?  Nope.  Curmudgeon gonna curmudgeon.

As a quick note... not every GMRS user is a Ham.  Calling CQ may either be ignored because they don't know what you're saying... or it may stimulate a conversation when another operator says "Hey, what does CQ mean?"

[WRHS218]

3 hours ago, marcspaz said:

Curmudgeon gonna curmudgeon.

Steve and Marc make excellent points about the HAM vocabulary. And, while I AM a curmudgeon, I don't bitch about my views over the air or on-line. I was just stating my opinion. I have a friend who loves CW and uses Q-codes on HF with CW, on voice over UHF/VHF and while in the drive through at the local burger joint. I harass him about that without mercy to his face. We both just laugh. Do what you are gonna do and have fun.

[Davichko5650]

2 hours ago, WRHS218 said:

 and while in the drive through at the local burger joint. 

"You want fries with that?"

 

"AGN AGN, QRZ? QRZ?"

[marcspaz]

3 hours ago, WRHS218 said:

Steve and Marc make excellent points about the HAM vocabulary. And, while I AM a curmudgeon, I don't bitch about my views over the air or on-line. I was just stating my opinion. I have a friend who loves CW and uses Q-codes on HF with CW, on voice over UHF/VHF and while in the drive through at the local burger joint. I harass him about that without mercy to his face. We both just laugh. Do what you are gonna do and have fun.

 

Man, I am so sorry. That definitely was not directed at you. You had a great response, though! If we can't mercilessly ridicule our friends, life is no longer worth living. LoL

[HHD1]

Thank you all for the awesome responses. I've learned a thing or two once again from you fine people.  I've decided that I will use some lingo/slang as I see fit.  My aim is to make it fun when it's for fun, and efficient when it's time for work.

This first week of being licensed has been great so far. I'm learning so much, and for me, that's the point.

[WRHS218]

14 hours ago, marcspaz said:

That definitely was not directed at you.

No worries. I didn't take it to be directed at me, nor would I have been offended, had it been. I embrace my curmudgeoness. There used to be a coffee shop in Morro Bay that had a table in a corner of the room with a sign that said "Curmudgeon Corner".  It was my seat of choice.

[LeoG]

The only time I think you might call out a CQ on a repeater is during ducting events where you are getting much farther than normal.  I was reaching a repeater from upper CT to Long Island through a huge mountain with a 5 watt HT and getting in at R9 one night.  Everyone was having a ball talking the distance and asking where you are because on that night you never knew.  But I doubt anyone was recording in their ledger.

[AdmiralCochrane]

Circling back to the beginning, the standard ham protocol on a repeater is just to state your call and say "monitoring" or "listening".  It works fine for ducting situations.


"CQ" is for when you have found a clear HF frequency and are looking for recordable contacts.