Every single time you transmit. Get this automatic and everything else gets easier.
What they will say back
People will copy your call correctly the first time, which saves both of you three transmissions of "say again?"
If it goes sideways
If someone still can't copy it, slow down and leave a clear gap between each letter. On a bad band, say it twice with a pause between.
Why it works this way
Use the standard NATO alphabet — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. You will hear old-timers use regional substitutes like "Germany" or "Sugar" or "Nancy," and that's fine for them, but the standard set is understood by everyone worldwide including operators whose first language isn't English. Say the numbers as ordinary digits. "Niner" is an aviation thing, not a ham thing — nobody expects it.
Open this in Pocket Elmer, with your callsign filled in
More things to say
- Answering someone who's calling CQ — The easiest possible first HF contact
- When you legally have to identify — The rule that trips up new operators
- Talking radio-to-radio without a repeater — Simplex