Phone?

[NQ6U]

The correct way to break into a QSO in progress is to tune up your amp to 2500 watts, turn the mic gain up until everything distorts and you send harmonics up the entire band and then yell your call sign into the mic.

Seriously, just wait until there's a lull in the conversation then transmit your call sign. Also, in ham radio, the term "phone" is generally used for any sort of contact that's made via voice into a microphone, as opposed to CW (Morse Code), digital, RTTY etc.

[kb2vxa]

Now if you REALLY want to do it right just misadjust the neutralizing cap until it squeals like a stuck pig and flip the switch to CW (Class C) while transmitting SSB; super slop bucket. That way you're guaranteed to break in on every QSO on the band and then some without even adjusting the VFO to any particular frequency. I once heard a CBer splattering six ways to Sunday and never did figure out what channel he was on, CB, freeband, subspace???

Right about "phone", after all the Pope is infallible so always listen to him. Just to add something those outside the 75M AM window may not know, telephonium refers to yellowy audio from a rig that needs to be de-yellowfied. That is to say a stock transmitter, one incapable of singing Angel Music or in other words not Timtronized. HUH? Waddeesay?

"The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why."
I have only one important day then, I never did figure out why.

[K9CCH]

. Also, in ham radio, the term "phone" is generally used for any sort of contact that's made via voice into a microphone, as opposed to CW (Morse Code), digital, RTTY etc.

Ok this is what was confusing me....

[NQ6U]

Ok this is what was confusing me....

It's short for "radiotelephone."

[W7XF]

This WAS the procedure for the OPRC phone patch when it existed:

1. Wait till you ascertain that the frequency is clear.
2. Say your callsign, followed by "bringing up autopatch", then WITHOUT UNKEYING, dial * then phone number.
3. Unkey and wait for call to be placed. When called party answers, let them know you're using the autopatch.
4. MAXIMUM 3 MINUTES.
5. When call is completed, say your callsign, followed by "bringing down autopatch", dial #. Listen for dual tone courtesy beep, which will tell you the patch is
successfully hung up.
6. IN EMERGENCIES, SIMPLY KEY UP AND DIAL 911. Controller will disable timer for duration of 911 call. When call is complete, follow instructions on line 5.

ALL FCC regulations must be followed as to no business calls, except for assistance (e.g., calling for towing service for a breakdown).

[K7SGJ]

This WAS the procedure for the OPRC phone patch when it existed:

1. Wait till you ascertain that the frequency is clear.
2. Say your callsign, followed by "bringing up autopatch", then WITHOUT UNKEYING, dial * then phone number.
3. Unkey and wait for call to be placed. When called party answers, let them know you're using the autopatch.
4. MAXIMUM 3 MINUTES.
5. When call is completed, say your callsign, followed by "bringing down autopatch", dial #. Listen for dual tone courtesy beep, which will tell you the patch is
successfully hung up.
6. IN EMERGENCIES, SIMPLY KEY UP AND DIAL 911. Controller will disable timer for duration of 911 call. When call is complete, follow instructions on line 5.

ALL FCC regulations must be followed as to no business calls, except for assistance (e.g., calling for towing service for a breakdown).

Or a pizza if you are dying, of hunger?

[W3WN]

Or a pizza if you are dying, of hunger?

When I moved to Pittsburgh, I worked in a (now defunct) ham store. We always had a "demo" radio on, usually scanning the 2 meter repeaters.

One day, one yahoo is talking with his buddies about problems with the new Cushcraft 2 M yagi he'd bought. (And it was very clear from the conversation that he hadn't bothered to RTFM, and was told as such, but noooooooo... he knew what he was doing.) So he decided to call the store and ask me some questions. On the repeater autopatch.

Since I knew what was going on, and was very nervous about my newly minted Extra (can you say, "the ink wasn't dry yet"? I knew you could), I simply said "Hello" when the phone rang. Long story short, I told him point blank that this was a business call, as far as I was concerned, and I'd be happy to talk with him in person or on the landline -- but NOT on the autopatch.

"How the hell do you know I'm on the autopatch?" he snarled
"Because I have the TR-7950 on the demo bench monitoring the (frequency) repeater." Repeated that he should call me on the landline, said goodbye, hung up.

I got called a few choice words on the repeater after that. He got told by the control op to knock it off. He never did call, or come in... sold the antenna for half of what he paid for it, new owner assembled it correctly & got a good antenna cheap. Can't recall now if the guy ever walked in the store again or not...

Too bad. You call a store you bought something on with a problem assembling it... how is that NOT a business related call?

[kb2vxa]

Ya just GOTTA love Pissburgh! Oh whaddya mean dial * and #? I don't see a * or a # on the dial and I don't see a dial on the microphone... WTF?