Radio words, in plain English

Radio has its own vocabulary, but it's simple once someone explains it. Here are the words you'll hear most.

• Net — a scheduled on-air meeting where everyone checks in.
• Net control — the person running the net, calling for check-ins and keeping order.
• Check-in — announcing that you're on the air and listening.
• Repeater — a radio up high that re-broadcasts your signal so it reaches much farther.
• Simplex — radio-to-radio directly, no repeater. Usually shorter range.
• Offset — a repeater listens on one frequency and transmits on another. Ours is +5 MHz.
• CTCSS / tone — a quiet sub-audible tone your radio sends so the repeater opens up for you.
• Call sign — your FCC-issued ID (like WRXY123). Say it when you talk.
• Copy — "I heard and understood you."
• Say again — "please repeat" (we don't say 'repeat').
• Go ahead — "I'm finished, your turn."
• 73 — "best regards." A friendly sign-off.

Don't worry about memorizing these — you'll pick them up just by listening to a couple of nets.