Airtime and rates

Airtime is the time you spend connected to a station, billed by the minute at the rate you chose when you connected. This article explains how it is measured and where to see it.

The rate is per connection

Each station offers one or more named rates. When you click Connect, the console shows the rate, or a Select a Rate menu when there is more than one. Common names are:

The rate you pick is fixed for the whole connection. It does not change when you transmit, when you stop transmitting, or when you change bands. Listening at a QRO rate costs the QRO rate, so connect at RX only or 100 W when you only want to listen, and disconnect and reconnect at QRO when you need the amplifier.

Published rate ranges are on the pricing page. The exact rate for each station is shown on the station in the console before you connect, and on its page under Stations.

How airtime is measured

• The station reports your connection about every ten seconds, and the cost is seconds ÷ 60 × the per-minute rate. You are not rounded up to whole minutes.
• A connection that runs across UTC midnight is recorded as two usages, one per day.
• Airtime runs until you click Disconnect, the idle timeout disconnects you, or the connection drops. Closing the tab does not end it immediately, so always disconnect first.

Your airtime pages

Account → Airtime lists every month with its total time and cost. Open a month to see each connection:

Each usage also carries a category. Most are Paid. You may also see Free - Owner or Friend at a station you own or whose owner has granted you free use, Free - Youth on the Youth Network, and occasionally Free - Promotional or Free - Other when RHR has waived a charge.

When airtime is charged

Credit in your account pays first. The rest is charged to your card monthly on your collection day, or sooner if you reach the usage cap. See Paying for airtime.