Callsigns, operating and the logbook

The callsign is your radio identity, unique worldwide. It reads in two parts: a prefix that designates the country (allocated by the ITU — French prefixes start with F, for instance) followed by a suffix specific to the station. Spoken aloud, you spell it with the phonetic alphabet to avoid any confusion.

Golden rule: you must identify yourself regularly (at the start and end of a contact, and periodically during it) by giving your callsign. Transmitting without identifying is forbidden.

The flow of a contact (QSO):

General call: "CQ CQ CQ de [your callsign]" to solicit a contact.
Reply: give your callsign, exchange a report (see RST), first name, location, equipment.
Closing: say goodbye and each station re-identifies.

Additional prefixes/suffixes signal a situation: portable station, mobile, or operating in another country under the CEPT agreement (see Réglementation du service amateur).

The logbook records contacts (date, UTC time, frequency, mode, the other station's callsign, reports). Beyond any legal obligation, it's a precious tool for tracking Propagation des ondes and your own performance.