Ham101.com — Getting Started on Amateur Radio

How to Log Ham Radio Contacts

What to record and where to learn about POTA logging.

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What Information Should I Record in a Ham Radio Contact Log?

Record UTC date and time, the other callsign, band or frequency, mode and signal report. Add name, location and notes when useful. For POTA, keep the park reference with the activation and follow the program’s required fields.

Your Contact Record
FieldRecord
WhenUTC date and time
WhoOther station’s callsign
HowBand or frequency, mode and signal report
ContextName, location and useful notes
POTAPark reference and the program’s required fields
POTA Logging Apps & Upload Guide

For ordinary operation, the designated control operator’s privileges govern the station’s transmissions. This is not simply the lower of the guest’s and station owner’s license classes. FCC control-operator duties.

Use your assigned callsign. On nets, follow net control’s check-in instructions. Listen before transmitting and use only frequencies and modes your license permits.

Original Ham101 layout and explanations · Reviewed November 3, 2026.
References: ARRL Operating Aids · ARRL Q Signals. Phonetic words use standard Alfa / Juliett spellings.