Desert Radio Labs

Guided learning path · beginner · 30–60 minutes

Make your first amateur radio contact

Learn the settings a local repeater needs, listen to how people use it, and make a short voice exchange when your license permits. The steps include a way to check your setup and a few things to record after the contact.

What success looks like

Complete and record one legal, courteous voice contact.

Print the First Contact Quick Reference →

Before you begin

Prerequisites

  • An issued license with appropriate privileges before you transmit
  • A local active repeater or a club mentor

What you need

  • A suitable programmed radio and antenna
  • A notebook or logging app
  • The repeater frequency, offset and access tone

Work through the steps

Use the checks as a personal or mentor-led review. You can print this page and mark each one as you go.

  1. Confirm your permissions

    Look up your current license status and operating privileges. Verify the repeater information with a local club or current directory.

    Verify: You can identify the authorized band and the repeater settings.

  2. Program and listen

    Set receive frequency, transmit offset, tone, and reasonable power. Monitor the repeater first to learn its traffic and etiquette.

    Verify: You can receive traffic or identify the repeater without transmitting.

  3. Call clearly

    When the channel is clear, identify with your callsign and say you are listening or ask for a radio check. Avoid repeated unanswered calls.

    Verify: You used your assigned callsign and did not interrupt a conversation.

  4. Exchange and log

    When someone responds, exchange callsigns and a short report, thank them, and log what you learned.

    Verify: You recorded the date, contact callsign, and one improvement for next time.

Safety and operating limits

  • Never transmit until the relevant license has been granted and the frequency is authorized for your license class.
  • Do not transmit when driving unless local rules, conditions and equipment allow safe operation.

Trusted starting references

  • Check the official license record and application information before transmitting. Confirm that the license is active and note the class shown on the grant.

    FCC Universal Licensing System

  • Find repeater listings for your area, then verify the frequency, offset and tone with current local information before programming the radio.

    RepeaterBook

Where to go next

Try a second contact without the checklist, or ask a club mentor about simplex.

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