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An amateur radio contact, more commonly referred to as simply a "contact", is an exchange of information between two amateur radio stations. The exchange usually consists of an initial call, a response by another amateur radio operator at an amateur radio station, and a signal report. A contact is often referred to by the Q code QSO. It is often limited to just a minimal exchange of such station IDs. Stations who have made a contact are said to have worked each other. An operator may also say that he has worked a certain country. Amateurs use the slang expression ragchew or ragchewing to refer to an extended, informal conversation, a variation of the common idioms "chewing the fat" and "chewing the rag". Sometimes, a contact in person, between two ham radio operators, is humorously referred to as an "eyeball QSO". An All-Time New One (ATNO) is an operator's contact with an amateur station that they have never worked before on any band or mode.

Many amateurs will send QSL cards to stations they have worked. Computer-based logging software, such as the American Radio Relay League's Logbook of the World, can also be used for logging contacts. Logs and QSL cards can be kept as keepsakes and used as proof of contacts for awards, such as Worked all States or the DX Century Club.

References

1. H. Ward Silver (2 March 2018). Ham Radio For Dummies. Wiley. pp. 12–. ISBN 978-1-119-45482-3.
2. W4QA, Rush (2013-03-13). "3 dB: A New One..." 3 dB. Retrieved 2024-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
3. ^ Harry L. Helms (1992). All about Ham Radio. HighText Publications. ISBN 978-1-878707-04-8.
4. H. Ward Silver (2006). The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual: All You Need to Become an Amateur Radio Operator. Technician; Level 1. American Radio Relay League. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-0-87259-963-5.
5. Danny Gregory; Paul Sahre (March 2003). Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 978-1-56898-281-6.

v t e Amateur radio
Activities	ARDF Emergency communications Contesting DX communication High-speed telegraphy Homebrewing
Culture	History Amateur radio operator Awards DX-pedition Hamfest International operation QSL card Q code Radiosport Vintage amateur radio
Governance	International Amateur Radio Union International Telecommunication Union Frequency allocations ITU prefixes for amateur radio Maritime mobile Licensing
Modes of communication	Voice AM DSB-SC ISB SSB AME FM PM Television ATV SSTV Data/Digital CW ALE AMTOR D-STAR DAPNET EchoLink FT8 Hellschreiber DMT MFSK Packet radio (APRS) PACTOR PSK RTTY Spread spectrum C4FM WIRES-X DMR
Technologies	Amateur radio station Amateur radio software IRLP QRP SDR Satellite Two-way radio Transceivers
Related	Shortwave radio Q code Amateur radio in India

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