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Chapter 2 – Procedures and Practices

You’ll find that operating on the HF bands as a General Class licensee has many similarities to the operating you’ve done as a Technician. You’ll also find that there are many new and different modes and methods to try. Section 2 introduces you to those new procedures and practices.

General Operating

• The ARRL Operating Manual - covers many popular types and styles of operating and operating activities
• ARRL Field Organization The ARRL has organized hams for nearly 100 years - this part of the League is called the Field Organization and there are several types of appointed position:
  • Official Emergency Station
  • Official Observer
  • Official Relay Station
• Phonetics - use these when operating phone
• CW Prosigns and Abbreviations - these make QSOs flow smoother
• UTC Time Zone Conversion Chart

Sending and Receiving QSL cards

• ARRL Incoming QSL Bureau - receiving foreign cards
• ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau - sending foreign cards
• Logbook Of the World - The ARRL's on-line contact database

Operating Awards

• ARRL Awards program - a large selection of operating achievement awards
• CQ Awards - DXing and operating awards
• Islands On the Air - 1200 island groups worldwide waiting for your contact
• K1BV directory - over 3000 ham radio awards

Organization Of the Bands

• Amateur band plans - guidance about where to find different types of operating
• Amateur Frequency Chart - a colorful chart that makes remembering band segments easier
• Digital mode calling frequencies – here is where you can find digital mode operations
• Frequency Coordinators - find your local frequency coordinator here
• The ARRL Repeater Directory - annual list of repeaters in North America Nets
• Amateur Traffic Handling - an introduction to formal net operation and message handling
• ARRL Net Search page - find nets on-line
• The National Traffic System - the original Amateur Radio Internet is still handling messages today

Emergency Communications

• Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
• Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
• Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)
• SKYWARN
• ARRL Emergency Communications on-line courses

Contesting and DXing

• ARRL Contests
• ARRL DX Bulletin - a variety of bulletins are transmitted by W1AW over the air or can be received by email
• ARRL Special Events - these short term operations are fun to contact and often feature special QSLs or certificates 
• Contester's Rate Sheet - biweekly email newsletter on contesting, free to ARRL members
• Contesting.com
• CQ VHF Contests
• DXing propagation
• Field Day
• National Contest Journal - bimonthly magazine on contesting
• SM3CER Contest Calendar - SM3CER runs one of the most comprehensive sites, listing contests from all over the world 
• The Complete DXer by Bob Locher W9KNI

Space and Satellite Operating

• Amateur Satellites - general information about communicating through the amateur satellites
• Amateur Radio on the ISS - learn all about contacting the International Space Station
• AMSAT - largest amateur satellite organization
• Earth-Moon-Earth or "Moonbounce" - information on this lengthiest of contacts and other interesting operating activities on the VHF+ bands