I Have My Radio. Now you are ready to go 'on the air'. Possibly the easiest way to start is to check into your amateur radio club's net. Make an 'appointment' with a ham friend and have a chat. Remember that a hand-held radio is not a private telephone.
Nothing is private when transmitting on amateur radio frequencies.
It is important for operators to always conduct themselves in such a way as to not bring any disrepute on the Amateur Radio Service. Your first conversations should be on Simplex - then you progress to the use of repeater stations available in your area. It is best to use simplex whenever possible, as this frees the repeater for other uses. Repeater Operating Procedure Monitor the repeater to become familiar with any peculiarities in its operation and to make sure no one is using it. To initiate contact simply indicate that you are on frequency.