Technician Class

1
Technician Class

• presented by the
• Salem Amateur Radio Club
• Salem, Oregon

2
Introduction to the Course

• The purpose of this presentation is to acquaint
  you with the material necessary to obtain your,
  entry-level, Technician Class US Amateur Radio
  license.

v 2
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Course Philosophy

• Introduce the concepts of electricity and radio
  communications
• Well give you the info youll need to study and
  learn this week.
• 60 90 minutes of daily study will be required
• Practice and Quiz for Free!
• www.qrz.com
• www.aa9pw.com

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This Presentation furnished by

• Jeff Crabill, KK7LU
• Dean Davis, KL7OR
• With help from all members of the Salem Amateur
  Radio Club!

Presentation format adapted from Dana Wade
Massengill, KU4OJ
5
Materials

• Highly recommended no-code Technician class study
  guide Now Youre Talking
• Both are available from the American Radio Relay
  League ARRL
• Now Youre Talking is also available today for 20

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Elmers

• An Elmer is an experienced amateur radio
  operator who helps you get started in amateur
  radio, study for your license exams or upgrades,
  or offers any similar encouragement.
• If you dont have an Elmer to mentor you, ask
  for one.

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The 10 Sub-Elements
(5) Rules (3) Good Operating Practice (2)
Methods of Communication (3) Basic Electronics
(2) Propagation (6) Engineering Practice (3)
Licensee Duties (2) Special Operations (3)
Control Op Duties (6) RF Safety
There are over 500 questions in the pool. There
are 35 questions on the test. We will use many
real test questions this weekend!
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Introduction to Amateur Radio

• The Entry-Level Technician License

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First of all, what is radio?

• Nature gave us the entire electro-magnetic
  spectrum.
• X-rays
• UV rays
• Infra-red
• Visible Light

• We use some of these waves to carry information.
• Television
• Radio (FM and AM)
• CB
• Walkie-Talkies
• Police/Fire
• Satellites

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(No Transcript)
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What Is Amateur Radio?

• Public service
• Emergency Communications
• Volunteers
• Goodwill between people!
• Access to all types of radio spectrum.

March of Dimes
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What Is Amateur Radio?

• Fun!
• Hobby
• Stress relief
• A place to make new friends
• A community
• A reliable alternative to cell phones!

Field Day June 2004
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What is Amateur Radio?

• A hobby!
• Radio communication
• Local, National, Worldwide
• Dozens of ways to communicate
• Voice, Morse Code, Digital, TV, Pictures
• Most importantly Reliable Communications for
  all needs!

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Amateur Radio Today
15
Amateur Radio Licenses

• In order of privileges
• Technician
• Technician
• with Morse code
• General
• Amateur Extra

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Entry Level License (Technician)

• Written Exam (Element 2)
• No age requirement
• No Morse Code requirement
• Provides all operating privileges above 50 MHz,
  including the popular 2-meter band all modes
  including exotic data and satellite modes
• Changes are in the midst, however!

17
T1C10 To what distance limit may Technician class
licensees communicate? A. Up to 200 miles B.
There is no distance limit C. Only to line of
sight contacts distances D. Only to contacts
inside the USA
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Whats this about Morse Code?

• Element 1 The Code Test
• Copy five words a minute
• Gain HF privileges.
• Its the only code test anymore!
• Optional NOT REQUIRED for entry-level license.
• The Technician Test is Element 2

19
T1C02 What are the US amateur operator licenses
that a new amateur might earn? A. Novice,
Technician, General, Advanced B. Technician,
Technician Plus, General, Advanced C. Novice,
Technician Plus, General, Advanced D.
Technician, Technician with Morse code, General,
Amateur Extra
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Why Amateur Radio?

• How the FCC Defines the Amateur Radio Service

21
Sec. 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and
regulations in this part are designed to provide
an amateur radio service having a fundamental
purpose as expressed in the following
principles (a) Recognition and enhancement of
the value of the amateur service to the public
as a voluntary non-commercial communication
service, particularly with respect to providing
emergency communications. (b) Continuation and
extension of the amateurs proven ability to
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
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(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur
service through rules which provide for advancing
skills in both the communication and technical
phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing
reservoir within the amateur radio service of
trained operators, technicians and electronics
experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the
amateurs unique ability to enhance international
goodwill.
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T1A03 What is the definition of an amateur
station? A. A station in a public radio service
used for telecommunications B. A station using
radio communications for for a commercial
purpose C. A station using equipment for training
new broadcast operators and technicians D. A
station in the Amateur Radio service used for
radio communications.
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Why do they call it Ham Radio?
Originally, ham was a derogatory term for
amateurs who inadvertently interfered with
commercial radio (before the spectrum was
regulated).
Not knowing it was a bad thing, amateurs adopted
the term and we still call ourselves hams.
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Rules (Sub-Element T1)

• Cant we all just get along?

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Courtesy and Common Sense

• With only a few exceptions that may seem silly,
  the rules are basically common sense
• No music (except from NASA)
• No payment, unless you are teaching in a school
• No profanity or obscenity, no exceptions!
• In a life or property threatening emergency, just
  about anything goes.

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About Your Call sign

• Amateur call signs in the US begin with the
  letters A, K, N or W
• Each call sign contains a one-digit number, zero
  through nine (0 9)
• The arrangement of letters indicates license
  class, with shorter calls going to higher license
  classes
• Licenses are good for 10 years
• There is a 2 year grace period for renewal

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Callsigns

• Fun Callsigns
• KA1THY
• KE1TH
• K9DOG
• N1CE
• K1TE
• KJ7EFF

• More
• N0PE
• N0DX
• N0EL
• KN0W
• W0MAN
• KR1S
• W8LES

• Salem Area
• KK7LU (Jeff)
• KL7OR (Dean)
• WA7ABU (Dan)
• W7PCD (Bobby)
• W7SAA (SARC)
• KD7TAZ (Taz)
• KE7ASM (Doug)

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Restrictions

• No music.
• No business or commercial communication.
• No broadcasting
• No codes or ciphers designed to hide meanings.
• No unidentified communications.
• No harmful interference.
• No foul language!

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T1A07 Which of the following one-way
communications may NOT be transmitted in the
amateur service? A. Telecommand to model
craft. B. Broadcasts intended for reception by
the general public. C. Brief transmissions
made to adjust the station. D. Morse code
practice.
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T1A14 What does the term broadcasting mean?
A. Transmissions intended for reception by
the general public, either direct or relayed
B. Retransmission by automatic means of
programs or signals from non-amateur stations
C. One-way radio communications, regardless of
purpose or content D. One-way or two-way radio
communic- ations between two or more stations
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Frequency Bands

• A band is a range of frequencies.
• The 2-meter band
• 144.0 MHz - 148.0 MHz
• The 23-cm band
• 1240 MHz - 1300 MHz
• The 10 meter band
• 28.0 MHz - 29.7 MHz

Dont worry about memorizing frequencies right
now. That comes with time spent on the radio
once youre licensed!
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T1D03 What government agency grants your amateur
radio license? A. The Department of Defense B.
The State Licensing Bureau C. The Department of
Commerce D. The Federal Communications Commission
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T1C05 What is the normal term for an amateur
station license grant? A. 5 years B. 7 years C.
10 years D. For the lifetime of the licensee
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US Call Areas
6-land
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ITU Regions
37
T1D06 What is a Volunteer Examiner (VE)? A. A
certified instructor who volunteers to examine
amateur teaching manuals B. An FCC employee who
accredits volunteers to administer amateur
license exams C. An amateur, accredited by one or
more VECs, who volunteers to administer amateur
license exams D. An amateur, registered with
the Electronic Industries Association, who
volunteers to examine amateur station equipment
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T1D07 What minimum examinations must you pass for
a Technician amateur license? A. A written exam,
Element 1 and a 5 WPM code exam, Element 2 B. A
5 WPM code exam, Element 1 and a written exam,
Element 3 C. A single 35 question multiple choice
written exam, Element 2 D. A written exam,
Element 2 and a 5 WPM code exam, Element 4
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Methods of Communication(T2)

• How do we talk to each other?

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Electromagnetic Spectrum
41
T2A06 What is a radio frequency wave? A. Wave
disturbances that take place at less than 10
times per second B. Electromagnetic
oscillations or cycles that repeat between 20
and 20,000 times per second C. Electromagnetic
oscillations or cycles that repeat more than
20,000 times per second D. None of these
answers are correct
42
T2A11 How fast does a radio wave travel through
space (in a vacuum)? A. At the speed of light
B. At the speed of sound C. Its speed is
inversely proportional to its wavelength D. Its
speed increases as the frequency increases
43
The Relationship of Frequency and Wavelength

• The distance a radio wave travels in one cycle is
  called wavelength.

V
One Cycle
0V
time
V-
One Wavelength
44
T2A16 What is the basic unit of frequency? A.
The hertz B. The watt C. The ampere D. The ohm
One hertz is one cycle per second.
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Wavelength Formula

• To convert from frequency to wavelength
• Wavelength and Frequency are Inversely
  Proportional. As one goes up, the other must go
  down.

300 freq (MHz)
Wavelength
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On what amateur bands will you find these
frequencies?

• 50.125 MHz _______ meter band
• 21.25 MHz _______ meter band
• 145.21 MHz _______ meter band
• 7,233 kHz _______ meter band
• 28.350 MHz _______ meter band

6
15
2
40
10
47
T1B10 If you are operating on 28.400 MHz, in what
amateur band are you operating? A. 80 meters
B. 40 meters C. 15 meters D. 10 meters
48
T2B08 What term describes the process of
combining an information signal with a radio
signal? A. Superposition B. Modulation C.
Demodulation D. Phase-inversion
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CW
In CW the telegraph key simply turns the
radio transmitter on and off to form the
Morse code characters
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T2B10 What does the term phone
transmissions usually mean? A. The use of
telephones to set up an amateur contact B. A
phone patch between amateur radio and the
telephone system C. AM, FM or SSB voice
transmissions by radiotelephony D. Placing
the telephone handset near a transceivers
microphone and speaker to relay a telephone
call
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Phone

• Phone is any voice transmission
• This includes
• AM (amplitude modulation)
• SSB (single side band, similar to AM)
• FM (frequency modulation)

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Amplitude Modulation
An unmodulated RF carrier wave
A carrier wave AM modulated with a simple audio
tone
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AM and SSB
An unmodulated RF carrier requires
narrow bandwidth
Modulation of the carrier creates sidebands.
This requires more bandwidth. Transmitter power
is spread across this bandwidth
54
AM and SSB
The carrier contains no audio information. The
sidebands contain duplicate audio information
By filtering out the carrier and one sideband, we
save spectrum and concentrate our RF energy into
a narrower bandwidth. SSB is therefore more
efficient.
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AM and SSB

• When SSB is not modulated (when you are not
  talking) the transmitter output power drops to
  almost nothing.
• When either AM or SSB is over-modulated the
  signal may cause splatter, and interfere with
  other stations.

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Frequency Modulation
Unmodulated carrier, full power at all times
Waveform of modulating signal
Modulated carrier with frequency deviation
and constant amplitude
57
Frequency Modulation

• FM transmitters operate at full power at all
  times, even when you are not talking.
• When an FM transmitter over-modulates, the
  transmitted signal becomes so wide (bandwidth) it
  may interfere with adjacent channels. This is
  called over-deviation.

58
Image

• Image transmissions include all modes that will
  produce a picture, either video or paper copy
  (like a FAX) at the receiver.
• These modes include
• SSTV (slow scan television)
• ATV (amateur television)
• FAX (facsimile)

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Image
Callsign of the sending station!
A sample amateur SSTV transmission.
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Image
Amateurs like to receive weather images direct
from the satellites. The equipment
is inexpensive and you dont even need a license!
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Data and RTTY

• RTTY (radio teletype) was the forerunner of all
  modern digital mode transmission.
• Today, amateurs use many kinds of intelligent on
  air networking modes. Collectively, the FCC
  refers to these intelligent modes as Data.
• Both Data and RTTY require an interface between
  the Data or RTTY device and the transceiver.

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A Packet Network

• With only a few watts, you can connect to an
  on-air network. Your data packets will be
  forwarded to hams all over the country.
• Packet type protocols include
• Packet and APRS,
• COVER,
• PACTOR
• G-TOR
• Basically, its email over the airwaves.

63
Questions?
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Propagation (T3)

• How radio waves get there
• and back.

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HF (3 MHz - 30 MHz) Propagation

• It is the unpredictable nature of HF propagation
  that makes the HF bands so much fun.
• Long distance communication (DX) is accomplished
  by the reflection of radio waves by the
  ionosphere, the upper layers of the atmosphere
  ionized by ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

66
Ionospheric Protection
The ionosphere and magnetosphere protect us from
harmful radiation from the sun.
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How the Ionosphere is Formed
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The Ionosphere
F2 Layer (Reflecting) F1 Layer (Reflecting) E
Layer (Reflecting) D Layer (Absorbing)
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Layers of the Ionosphere

• D Layer, Absorbing, Disappears at night
• E Layer, Reflecting, Disappears at night
• F1 and F2 Layers, Reflecting, combine into a
  single F layer at night.
• The reflective layers are responsible for sky
  wave propagation.

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Layers of the Ionosphere
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T3A03 Which region of the ionosphere is mainly
responsible for absorbing MF/HF radio signals
during the daytime? A. The F2 region B. The F1
region C. The E region D. The D region
72
T3A04 Which region of the ionosphere is mainly
responsible for long-distance sky-wave radio
communications? A. D region B. E region C. F1
region D. F2 region
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T3B11 What is the condition of the ionosphere
above a particular area of the Earth just before
local sunrise? A. Atmospheric attenuation is at
a maximum B. The D region is above the E
region C. The E region is above the F region D.
Ionization is at a minimum
74
Sky wave Propagation (Skip)
Over the horizon communication is possible by
sky- wave propagation, bouncing signals off the
ionosphere.
Occurs mostly at HF frequencies (less than 30
MHz).
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Line of Sight Propagation
Worldwide communications by line of sight is not
possible due to the curvature of the Earth
Occurs mostly at VHF UHF frequencies.
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In a nutshell
77
T3B12 What happens to signals that take off
vertically from the antenna and are higher in
frequency than the critical frequency? A. They
pass through the ionosphere B. They are
absorbed by the ionosphere C. Their frequency
is changed by the ionosphere to be below the
maximum usable frequency D. They are reflected
back to their source
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Sunspots

• Sunspots peak during 11-year cycles.
• The higher the sunspot count, the more the
  atmosphere is ionized.
• Thus, higher sunspot counts support a higher
  Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF).

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VHF/UHF Propagation

• Generally line of sight
• Can be blocked by and/or reflected off mountains
  and large buildings even the Moon!
• Temperature inversions in the troposphere can
  cause ducting, and a path will open briefly for
  500 - 600 miles.
• VHF/UHF will penetrate the Ionosphere, making
  these frequencies ideal for satellite, and
  Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) operations.

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VHF/UHF Propagation
VHF/UHF signals travel only in straight lines. We
call this line of sight propagation
Direct communications are not possible because of
the mountain
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Tropospheric Ducting
Under certain conditions, VHF signals are
caught in a duct of moist warm air, giving
propagation over hundreds of miles.
82
T3B06 Why should local amateur communications use
VHF and UHF frequencies instead of HF
frequencies? A. To minimize interference on HF
bands capable of long-distance communication B.
Because greater output power is permitted on
VHF and UHF C. Because HF transmissions are not
propagated locally D. Because signals are
louder on VHF and UHF frequencies
83
T3B03 Ducting occurs in which region of the
atmosphere? A. F2 B. Ecosphere C. Troposphere D.
Stratosphere
84
T3A06 What type of solar radiation is the most
responsible for ionization in the outer
atmosphere? A. Thermal B. Non-ionized
particle C. Ultraviolet D. Microwave
85
T3B07 How does the number of sunspots relate to
the amount of ionization in the ionosphere? A.
The more sunspots there are, the greater the
ionization B. The more sunspots there are, the
less the ionization C. Unless there are
sunspots, the ionization is zero D. Sunspots do
not effect the ionosphere
86
T3B13 In relation to sky-wave propagation, what
does the term "maximum usable frequency" (MUF)
mean? A. The highest frequency signal that will
reach its intended destination B. The lowest
frequency signal that will reach its intended
destination C. The highest frequency signal that
is most absorbed by the ionosphere D. The
lowest frequency signal that is most absorbed by
the ionosphere
87
Questions?
88
Good Operating Practices (T6)

• Become proficient on the air!

89
The World of High Frequency (HF)

• These are the traditional world wide bands people
  usually associate with ham radio.

90
HF/Single Sideband (SSB) Operations

• When trying to find a clear frequency, LISTEN
  FIRST, then ask, Is this frequency in use? sign.
• If the frequency is clear, then call CQ 3 x 3 -
  Call CQ three times followed by your call sign
  phonetically three times, listen, repeat.
• When calling another station, always give the
  other stations call sign first, then yours.
• ID every 10 minutes and at the end of the QSO,
  you need not ID after every exchange.
• Give stations you contact honest signal reports.

91
The RST Reporting System

• The RST system is a quick way amateurs use to
  describe a received signal.
• Readability 1 Poor 5 Good
• Signal Strength 1 Poor 9 Good
• Tone (CW only) 1 Poor 9 Good
• Note Do not use the RST system on repeaters.

92
Q-signals

• Q-signals are a kind of short-hand hams use to
  communicate quickly, especially via Morse Code.
• Most Q-signals can be used as a question or a
  statement
• My QTH is Georgia.
• What is your QTH?

93
Q-Signals

• The use of Q-signals began in the days of the
  telegraph, where operators developed a way to
  exchange commonly transmitted information
  (location, output power, etc.) more efficiently.
• Some common Q-signals are on the next slide

94
Q-Signals

• QRM - Is my transmission being interfered
  with?/Something is causing interference
• QRN - Are you troubled by static/noise?/I am
  troubled by static/noise.
• QRO - Shall I increase transmitter power?/I am
  running high power.
• QRP - Shall I decrease transmitter power?/I am
  running low power.
• QRQ - Shall I send faster?/Please send faster.
• QRS - Shall I send slower?/Please send slower
• QRT - Shall I stop sending?/I am going off the
  air.
• QRZ - Who is calling me?
• QSB - Are my signals fading?/Your signal is
  fading.
• QSL - Can you acknowledge receipt?/I received the
  message.
• QSO - Can you communicate with ____ direct?/I
  will communicate with ________ directly.
• QSY - Shall I change frequency?/I am changing
  frequency to _______.
• QTH - What is your location?/My location is
  _______.

95
QSL Cards
A QSL card is a written confirmation of contact
between two amateur radio stations.
96
ITU Phonetic Alphabet
97
T6A01 What is the advantage of using the
International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) phonetic alphabet when identifying your
station? A. The words are internationally
recognized substitutes for letters B. There is
no advantage C. The words have been chosen to
represent Amateur Radio terms D. It preserves
traditions begun in the early days of Amateur
Radio
98
ITU Phonetic Alphabet

• Used for accurate copy when band conditions are
  noisy or crowded.
• Always use the proper words, they were carefully
  selected so no two sound alike.
• Avoid being cute.
• Generally not needed on repeaters.

99
Some No-Nos

• Dont use CB slang or 10-codes.
• Dont interrupt conversations (QSOs) in
  progress.
• Dont tune up on the air, use a dummy load.
• Avoid subject matter that could be offensive.
• Dont forget your manners be polite.
• Dont whine and complain.
• Dont forget that the whole world can hear you!

100
T6A02 What is one reason to avoid using "cute"
phrases or word combinations to identify your
station? A. They are not easily understood by
non- English-speaking amateurs B. They might
offend English-speaking amateurs C. They do
not meet FCC identification requirements D.
They might be interpreted as codes or ciphers
intended to obscure the meaning of your
identification
101
T6A03 What should you do before you transmit on
any frequency? A. Listen to make sure others are
not using the frequency B. Listen to make sure
that someone will be able to hear you C. Check
your antenna for resonance at the selected
frequency D. Make sure the SWR on your antenna
feed line is high enough
102
T6A04 How do you call another station on a
repeater if you know the station's call sign? A.
Say "break, break 79," then say the station's
call sign B. Say the station's call sign, then
identify your own station C. Say "CQ" three
times, then say the station's call sign D. Wait
for the station to call "CQ," then answer it
103
Bandwidth
The amount of space a signal occupies in the
radio-frequency spectrum.
Ever listened to 97.1and you can hear
thestation at 96.9 and97.3? (thats 400 kHz!)
97.1 MHz
Broadcast FM is very messy (wide).
104
T6B03 What is the usual bandwidth of a
frequency-modulated amateur signal? A. Less than
5 kHz B. Between 5 and 10 kHz C. Between 10 and
20 kHz D. Greater than 20 kHz
105
Bandwidth -- AM SSB
We can hear most AMbroadcasts 5 kHz updown.
1080 kHz
AM Bandwidth 4 to 6 kHz SSB Bandwidth 2 to 3 kHz
106
T6B02 What is the usual bandwidth of a
single-sideband amateur signal? A. 1 kHz B. 2
kHz C. Between 3 and 6 kHz D. Between 2 and 3 kHz
107
Bandwidth of Amateur Signals
PSK31
50 Hz
200 Hz
RTTY
50 - 200 Hz
CW
2 3 kHz
SSB
AM
4 6 kHz
FM
10 20 kHz
(Not to scale!)
108
Bandplans
Amateursagree tooperate only in certain places
for certain modes of operation.
109
T6B06 What is a band plan? A. A voluntary
guideline beyond the divisions established by
the FCC for using different operating modes
within an amateur band B. A guideline from the
FCC for making amateur frequency band
allocations C. A plan of operating schedules
within an amateur band published by the FCC D. A
plan devised by a club to best use a frequency
band during a contest
110
Interference
Both radio and TV receivers can sometimes pick up
unwanted transmissions from two way radio, CB and
amateur radio services. Hearing voices other than
those on the radio program you want to listen to
identifies this form of interference.
111
Reducing Interference
Very often the problem arises because the
broadcast receiver cannot reject the operating
frequencies used by CB, amateur or two way radio
transmissions.
A high-pass filter
112
T6C03 What type of filter should be connected to
a TV receiver as the first step in trying to
prevent RF overload from an amateur HF station
transmission? A. Low-pass B. High-pass C. Band
pass D. Notch
113
T6C05 If you are told that your amateur station
is causing television interference, what should
you do? A. First make sure that your station is
operating properly, and that it does not cause
interference to your own television B.
Immediately turn off your transmitter and contact
the nearest FCC office for assistance C. Connect
a high-pass filter to the transmitter output
and a low-pass filter to the antenna- input
terminals of the television D. Continue operating
normally, because you have no reason to worry
about the interference
114
Grounding Your Station
All radio station equipment must be properly
grounded, separate from the ground for the
houses AC electrical distribution system. If the
grounding is not kept separate, reflected radio
frequency energy in the form of standing waves
can be conducted into the electrical wiring of
the building and into neighborhood power
distribution lines.
115
Grounding Diagram
116
Just be careful where you dig!

• Watch for
• Water Mains
• Sewer
• Telephone
• Otherwise, well

117
Station Grounding

• Use only copper or galvanized rods
• Eight feet into the ground
• Connect to equipment with copper braid
• Make connections as short as possible!
• Ground ALL your equipment.
• Do not use plumbing for ground.
• Make sure all connections are tight!

118
Lets talk about RFI central! -- BPL

• Apply RF to power lines (open wires)
• They will radiate
• Just like antennas!
• And you will get interference
• Lets watch a short video about BPL.

119
Broadband over Powerline
120
Questions?