Discord Quick Start Guide
New to Discord? This quick start guide covers everything you need to know to get up and running. Discord is a free communication platform used by many amateur radio communities for text, voice, and video chat.
What is Discord?
Discord is a communication platform that lets you interact through text, voice, and video. It works on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), mobile (iOS, Android), and in your web browser at discord.com. Think of it as a mix between group chat and a forum, but in real time.
Creating an Account
- Go to discord.com or download the app from your device’s app store
- Click Register
- Enter your email, a username, and a password
- Verify your email address
- You’re in!
Tip: Use your call sign as your display name (e.g., “David - N7WOY”) so other hams can recognize you.
Key Concepts
Servers
A server is a private, invite-only space for a community. Think of it like a clubhouse with different rooms for different topics. You can be a member of many servers at once. They appear as round icons on the far-left sidebar.
Text Channels
- Marked with a # symbol
- Separate chat rooms for different topics (general chat, announcements, tech help, etc.)
- Type your message in the chat bar at the bottom and press Enter to send
- Messages stay in the channel history so you can scroll back and catch up
- You can attach images, files, and links using the + button or by dragging and dropping
Voice Channels
- Marked with a speaker icon
- Just click a voice channel name to join – no calling or ringing needed
- Others can see you’re in the channel and drop in anytime
- Supports voice, video, and screen sharing
- Click Disconnect (the phone icon) to leave
Think of it like a repeater: you join a voice channel and everyone there can hear you. Unlike a repeater, multiple people can talk at once and you can share your screen too!
Navigating Discord
| Area | Location | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Server List | Far left | Round icons for each server you’ve joined |
| Channel List | Left panel | All channels in the current server |
| Messages | Center | Where conversations happen |
| Member List | Right panel | Shows who’s online |
| Your Controls | Bottom left | Your profile, mic, and speaker controls |
Sending Messages
- Type in the chat bar at the bottom of a text channel and press Enter
- @mention someone by typing @ followed by their name to notify them
- Reply to a specific message by hovering over it and clicking the reply arrow
- React to any message by hovering over it and clicking the smiley face
- Upload files with the + button or drag and drop directly into the chat
- Messages can be up to 2,000 characters
Voice Chat Controls
When you join a voice channel, your controls appear at the bottom left:
- Microphone icon – Mute/unmute yourself
- Headphone icon – Deafen (mute all incoming audio)
- Camera icon – Turn video on/off
- Screen icon – Share your screen or a specific window
- Phone icon – Disconnect from voice
Direct Messages (DMs)
- Click on someone’s name, then Message to start a private conversation
- DMs appear under the Discord logo / Home button at the top of your sidebar
- You can create group DMs with up to 10 people
- Voice and video calls work in DMs too
Managing Notifications
Discord can get noisy. Here’s how to keep it manageable:
- Right-click a server icon and choose notification settings: All Messages, Only @mentions, or Nothing
- Right-click a channel to mute it individually
- Recommended: Set servers to “Only @mentions” to avoid notification overload
- Set your status to Do Not Disturb to silence all notifications temporarily
- Mark as Read: Right-click a server icon to clear all unread indicators
Status Indicators
- Green – Online
- Yellow – Idle / Away
- Red – Do Not Disturb
- Gray – Offline or Invisible
Set your status by clicking your avatar in the bottom-left corner.
Text Formatting
Discord supports markdown formatting in messages:
| Format | How to Type It | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | **text** | text |
| Italic | *text* | text |
| Underline | __text__ | text |
| Strikethrough | ~~text~~ | |
| Inline Code | `code` | code |
| Quote | > text | (indented quote) |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + K | Quick channel/DM switcher |
| Ctrl + F | Search current channel |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Mute/unmute microphone |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Deafen/undeafen audio |
| Ctrl + E | Open emoji picker |
| Ctrl + / | Show all keyboard shortcuts |
| Esc | Mark channel as read |
| Up Arrow | Edit your last message |
On Mac, replace Ctrl with Cmd.
Roles
Roles are labels assigned to members by server administrators. They control what you can see and do in a server. Role names often appear as colored usernames. Some channels may only be visible to members with certain roles.
Good Discord Etiquette
- Post in the right channel for the topic
- Use @everyone and @here sparingly
- Be respectful – same as on the air
- Read pinned messages when you join a new channel for rules and important info
- Mute your mic in voice channels when you’re not talking
- Use threads for long side conversations to keep channels clean
Finding Ham Radio Communities
Many amateur radio clubs and groups have Discord servers. You can find them at:
- Disboard - Ham Radio Servers – Directory of ham radio Discord servers
- OARC - Online Amateur Radio Community
- HHRC - Ham Radio Crash Course
- The HamShack
Learn More
- Discord Beginner’s Guide – Official Discord help article
- Discord Basics – Full help center