HF Operating Practices and Etiquette
HF operating — working stations on the shortwave bands from 160 metres down to 10 metres — opens up a completely different world from VHF/UHF repeater operation. Band conditions change by the hour, signals arrive from thousands of kilometres away, and dozens of operators may be competing for the same contact. Good HF operating practices and etiquette are what separate the operators everyone enjoys working from the ones who generate complaints on the cluster.
| Band | Freq Range | Mode | Best Conditions | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | 1.8–2.0 MHz | LSB / CW | Night, winter | Regional to DX at night |
| 80m / 75m | 3.5–4.0 MHz | LSB / CW | Night, any season | Regional via NVIS, DX at night |
| 40m | 7.0–7.3 MHz | LSB / CW / Digital | Day and night | Regional to DX — most versatile band |
| 20m | 14.0–14.35 MHz | USB / CW / Digital | Daytime, moderate solar flux | Worldwide — the most popular DX band |
| 17m | 18.068–18.168 MHz | USB / CW | Daytime, higher solar flux | Worldwide, quieter than 20m |
| 15m | 21.0–21.45 MHz | USB / CW / Digital | Daytime, higher solar flux | Worldwide when open |
| 10m | 28.0–29.7 MHz | USB / CW / FM | Solar cycle peak | Worldwide with very low power when open |
Finding and claiming a frequency
Before transmitting on any HF frequency, listen for at least 30 seconds — preferably longer on a busy band. A frequency that sounds clear to you may have a weak DX station you cannot hear but others can. Before calling CQ, ask "QRL?" (is this frequency in use?) and wait for a response. If someone says "yes" or you hear any traffic, move elsewhere. Never simply start transmitting over an existing QSO because you could not hear one side of it — this is one of the most common and annoying mistakes on HF.
Calling CQ effectively
A good CQ call on HF is clear, concise, and includes your callsign in phonetics. "CQ CQ, this is [callsign phonetics], calling CQ and standing by" — two or three CQs followed by your callsign once or twice in phonetics, then listen. If you call CQ five or six times with no response, the band may be closed or you may be on a poor frequency. Try a different band or time. Long rambling CQ calls are poor practice — keep it to 20–30 seconds maximum.
Working a pile-up
A pile-up is what happens when a rare or popular station attracts many callers simultaneously. If you are calling a DX station in a pile-up, send only your callsign — not "CQ" or "hello" or any preamble. Listen to what the DX station is working — if they are working by region or number, wait until they call for yours. Send your callsign once clearly and listen. If they partially copy your call, send only the part they missed. Patience and discipline in a pile-up gets contacts; shouting over everyone does not.
Split operation
Popular DX stations often operate split — they transmit on one frequency and listen on a different frequency or range. This keeps their transmit frequency clear so they can hear callers. When a DX station announces "listening up 5" it means they are listening 5 kHz above their transmit frequency. You must set your radio to transmit on the split frequency to have any chance of being heard. Most modern HF radios have a split or dual VFO function for this purpose — learn how to use it before you need it in a pile-up.
Things to always do
- Listen before transmitting on any new frequency
- Ask QRL? before calling CQ
- Give your callsign in phonetics on initial contacts
- Identify at least every 10 minutes and at contact end
- Keep signal reports honest — not automatic 59s
- Log contacts with accurate time, frequency, and mode
- Adjust power — use the minimum needed for the contact
Things to never do
- Transmit on a frequency without listening first
- Call a DX station on their transmit frequency when they are split
- Send your callsign repeatedly in a pile-up — send it once clearly
- Tell other operators what to do on a frequency you do not own
- Use CB-isms — "breaker," "10-4," "handle," "what's your 20"
- Deliberately interfere with other stations
- Transmit music, profanity, or obscene content
Why do 40m and 80m use LSB while 20m uses USB?
This is a long-standing convention that predates the widespread adoption of single sideband on amateur radio. Lower frequencies adopted LSB first, and the convention stuck. USB became standard above 10 MHz. There is no technical reason you cannot use USB on 40m or LSB on 20m, but you will rarely find other stations doing so — following convention ensures you can hear and be heard by other operators on the same sideband.
What is QRM and QRN?
QRM is interference from other stations — deliberate or accidental. QRN is interference from natural sources like lightning static. Both are common on HF, especially on the lower bands at night. If a station is causing QRM by transmitting on your frequency, the correct response is to move — not to argue on the air. Deliberately causing QRM to another station is illegal under FCC rules.
How do I know when a band is open?
Listen — if you can hear signals, the band is at least partially open. On 10m, 15m, and 12m, tune across the band and listen for any signals. If the band sounds like white noise with no signals, it is closed or very poor. Tools like the Reverse Beacon Network (reversebeacon.net) show which bands are supporting CW and digital signals in real time based on signals spotted by automated receivers worldwide.
What power should I run?
FCC Part 97 requires using the minimum power necessary to maintain the desired communications. In practice, most HF contacts are made with 100W or less. Running full legal limit power (1500W for most licences) is not necessary or appropriate for casual domestic contacts. Save higher power for difficult DX paths, contesting, or when propagation is genuinely poor. Running excessive power contributes to QRM and is poor operating practice.