Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam 2025 - Free Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The PACTOR protocol is designed for point-to-point communication, meaning it establishes a direct connection between two stations only, allowing for efficient data transfer. Once a PACTOR connection is active, it is specifically tailored to facilitate communication between the two stations involved, and the link cannot be expanded to include additional stations. This limitation is a fundamental aspect of how PACTOR operates, ensuring that the communication channel remains private and controlled between the two parties.

The notion that joining an existing contact is not possible stems from this design constraint. PACTOR sessions are established on a dedicated basis, meaning that if one station is engaged in a conversation via PACTOR, another station cannot join that ongoing session without disrupting the established connection. This is in contrast to other communication methods that might allow multiple stations to participate in a conversation or a net.

Thus, understanding the operational scope of PACTOR is key to recognizing why connections are strictly bilateral and resist additional participants.