Go Primary / Go Up One Primary

[GordMay]

Someone asked me, and I'm unfamiliar with these terms, so I'll ask you.

"What does it mean when someone says "Go Primary", or "go up one primary" on the radio?
When I listen to channel 16, when someone hails someone else, they say that."

What, exactly, does it mean?

[DeepFrz]

I don't believe I have ever heard that phrase used. It has been a while since I listened in on HF Ham Radio so maybe its something that has recently been used.

[Astrid]

Doesn't ring a bell with me either.

[S/V Alchemy]

I'm guessing it's a reference to a pre-arranged working channel like 7, 24 or 71.

[svcambria]

I have never run across those terms.
Only guess is Channel 16 as "primary" hailing and distress channel...

Michael

[Vasco]

Must be some secret code between mathematicians. 1,3,5,7,11,13 ......

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by svcambria

I have never run across those terms.
Only guess is Channel 16 as "primary" hailing and distress channel...

Michael

06,08,72 and 77. Intership calling

[daddle]

We say "Switch to secret channel 72."

[Blue Stocking]

Royal navy says "chup", matelot speak for change up

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by daddle

We say "Switch to secret channel 72."

I say "Let's go to secret channel 19" - which I now realize IS primary...(13, 17, 19, 23, etc...)
What is sort of amazing - distressing - is how many people don't know there are these other secret channels... ;-)
Michael

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by svcambria

I say "Let's go to secret channel 19" - which I now realize IS primary...(13, 17, 19, 23, etc...)
What is sort of amazing - distressing - is how many people don't know there are these other secret channels... ;-)
Michael

Do you not mean "prime" instead of "primary"?

I never knew Fibonacci had something to do with VHF.

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Do you not mean "prime" instead of "primary"?

I never knew Fibonacci had something to do with VHF.

Well, the primary is where young primes hang out...

Michael

[psneeld]

In the US, 17,18,19 are NOT for recreational use...so all the cruisiers that hail on 16 and say go up one aren't in compliance with the FCC.

[Blue Stocking]

Just google VHF primary. Its all there. I have them posted on a card alongside my VHF.

[MarkJ]

Not that I ever flick channels when there could be an interesting conversation to eaves drop on.......


But.........

Some Buddy groups use a set working channel so fewer people can hear their spicey gossip. So they may call on the hailing cannel and say go to Primary (or any other code word.)

There are some good VHF channels that not all radios can send/receive like International #70 (is DSC on USA, not on some International but on others). Also if you chack the freqs of the International and USA freqs theres a few different ones so if in the USA one could use an international channel.

# 75 and 76 are not on USA band either.

So sneaky conversations can be had if you are real smart.... and have someone to have secret conversations with