Simplex, when somebody is listening

Simplex means radio to radio, no repeater: 146.520 MHz is the national 2 m calling frequency in the US and Canada (446.000 on 70 cm). Set it, no offset, no tone, then follow the coach. Listen first; nobody minds a new call. It needs another operator listening nearby, which is the one thing no list can promise, so the coach says who has said they are around. Stay on the voice channels: parts of every band are set aside for Morse, weak-signal and satellite work (on 2 m, 144.000 to 144.300 and 145.800 to 146.000), so a frequency comes from a list, never a round number picked by hand.

Who is listening

Looking for operators around you today.

1. Listen first

2. Say this

"your callsign, your callsign, listening on one four six five two zero."

Wait fifteen seconds. Say it once more. If nothing, that is normal at this hour; try again at drive time.

3. When someone answers

"[Their callsign], this is your callsign. Thanks for coming back. Name here is ..., I'm in ..., this is my first contact. Over."

Then listen. They will tell you how you sound. Ask them what they use; hams love that question.

4. Sign off

"Thanks for the contact. [Their callsign], this is your callsign, clear."

Keep in mind

Listen for a full minute before you key up. If someone is mid-conversation, wait for a pause.
Key up, pause half a second, then speak: it keeps your first syllable from being clipped.
Identify with your callsign at the start, at least every ten minutes, and when you sign off (Part 97.119).
You are the control operator: what goes out under your callsign is yours (Part 97.103).
No music, no encryption or obscured meaning, no broadcasting to nobody in particular (Part 97.113).