getontheair.app

Calling CQ — running a frequency

1. Frequency & clearance

Pick a clear spot inside the band plan (example: 14.240–14.280 USB on 20 m SSB; 7.030–7.040 CW on 40 m — your licence class and current band plan win).

Ask twice:

SSB: Is this frequency in use? This is KB3CMT.
CW: QRL? de KB3CMT

If someone says yes, move. Do not argue.

2. Spot

Self-spot on pota.app (spots live there, not pota.us) or SOTAwatch with exact frequency, mode, and reference.

Stay on or next to the spotted frequency so hunters who just loaded the page can find you. When you QSY: last call on the old frequency, then QSY in Polo or edit the spot. Dead spots are how piles evaporate.

3. Logger, then the call

Before the first CQ:

SSB:

CQ POTA, CQ Parks on the Air. This is Kilo Bravo Three Charlie Mike Tango, KB3CMT, activating park US-1412. Standing by for any call.

Say the program you are actually in. “CQ contest” on a park frequency wastes everyone’s time. After they have the call, shorten it. Stay near the spotted frequency — hopping 5 kHz without updating the spot is how the pile evaporates.

CW:

CQ POTA DE KB3CMT KB3CMT K

FT8: still no repeaters. Still your callsign. Listen first. WSJT-X / similar does not get a pass on QRL.

Keep it short. Repeat the callsign twice on SSB until the pileup knows it; then once is enough.

4. The exchange (keep it boring)

KB3CMT, you are 59, QSL?
59, US-1412, thanks, QRZ?

Log then talk, or talk then log — pick one and never skip. Polo: type call, Send. AC Log: call, Tab, Tab, Log.

P2P: get their park in the P2P field on that QSO. “I’ll add it later” is how it never gets added. See pileups. Last call before you leave the frequency.

Band, mode, and where “clear” actually is

Pick a frequency you are allowed to use (licence class + current band plan). Examples people quote — 14.240–14.280 USB, 7.030–7.040 CW — are starting neighborhoods, not reservations. WARC bands (30/17/12) avoid most contest QRM; they also have fewer casual hunters. Contest weekend: contestcalendar.com before you pick a park pile you cannot control.

QRL is not optional. Twice, with your callsign. If someone was ragchewing there, move. After you are spotted and running, you own that slice until you announce a QSY — do not hop 5 kHz because the noise floor twitched.

Spots that hunters can actually use

The spot is a contract: frequency, mode, reference. pota.app, not pota.us. Refresh when it goes stale (~30 minutes on FT8 is a common habit). Dead spots are how piles evaporate.

No cell: CQ until a hunter with data spots you, then ask. RBN will often spot CW without a park number — hunters still need the reference in the comment when you can add it.

Do not spot a repeater. Do not spot a frequency you have already left.

Scripts that do not waste the pile

SSB — program name + reference + callsign twice until they have it, then shorten:

CQ Parks on the Air, this is Kilo Bravo Three Charlie Mike Tango, KB3CMT, US-1412, standing by.

CW: CQ POTA DE KB3CMT KB3CMT K — then reports and QRZ. Full rhythm: CW.

FT8: still QRL on the waterfall. Dial frequency on the spot (the USB suppressed carrier, not the audio offset). Hold Tx Freq, park TX in a clear slot, comment field has the park (US-1412). Fake It or Rig split so TX audio stays in the clean part of the filter — WSJT-X. Auto Seq is not a substitute for watching the slot you occupy.

Keep the exchange boring: 59, park if they still need it, thanks, QRZ. Log then talk, or talk then log — pick one. Polo: call, Send. AC Log: call, Tab, Tab, Log.

Last call, QSY, QRT

When the rate dies, last call a few times on the air, then move. Update the spot (QSY / QRT in Polo, or edit the listing). Following an activator 3 kHz without a new spot is hunter malpractice; doing it to yourself is how you activate in a vacuum.

Habits / gotchas / checklist (CQ)

Notes & edits

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