Download AE6FK`s outline

AE6FK’s outline of stuff to study for your tech test.
1.
SUBELEMENT T1 – FCC Rules, descriptions and definitions for the amateur radio service,
operator and station license responsibilities - [6 Exam Questions - 6 Groups]
T1A: Amateur Radio services; purpose of the amateur service, amateur-satellite service,
operator/primary station license grant, where FCC rules are codified, basis and purpose of FCC
rules, meanings of basic terms used in FCC rules.
T1B: Authorized frequencies; frequency allocations, ITU regions, emission type, restricted subbands, spectrum sharing, transmissions near band edges.
T1C: Operator classes and station call signs; operator classes, sequential, special event, and
vanity call sign systems, international communications, reciprocal operation, station license and
licensee, places where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, name and address on ULS,
license term, renewal, grace period.
T1D: Authorized and prohibited transmissions.
T1E: Control operator and control types; control operator required, eligibility, designation of
control operator, privileges and duties, control point, local, automatic and remote control, location
of control operator.
T1F: Station identification and operation standards; special operations for repeaters and auxiliary
stations, third party communications, club stations, station security, FCC inspection.
a. FCC – Part 97. ITU – Region 2.
b. Why is there Amateur Radio? 5 principles of ham radio:
i. Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public
as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect
to providing emergency communications
ii. Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the
advancement of the radio art
iii. Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which
provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of
the art
iv. Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained
operators, technicians and electronics experts.
v. Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance
international goodwill
c. “The amateur service is a radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training,
intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs,, that is, duly
authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without
pecuniary interest.”
d. “License”
i. = station AND operator
ii. Clubs / Trustees (>= 4 people)
iii. Valid anywhere where the FCC regulates. States, territories, US flagged ships
and aircraft in international waters
iv. Valid as soon as the license is posted on ULS, lasts 10 years, 2 year grace period
to renew
v. Can copy, must obtain original
vi. Callsign format (prefix, district, suffix)
1. 1x1: S.E.S.
2. Club calls
3. Tactical calls
4. ‘callsign indicators’
e. “Control Operator” = “Amateur operator designated by the licensee of a station to be
responsible for the transmissions from that station to assure compliance with the FCC
Rules.”
i. “Only when transmitting.”
ii. Must be at or have control of the “control point”
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
iii. Station licensee & license class
iv. Automatic control (repeaters) & “local” vs. “remote”
License classes – Tech, General, Extra (tech test: 35 questions, can miss 9, 10 sections)
Emission types:
i. CW
ii. Data (packet, amtor, pactor, rtty, psk31, …)
iii. Image (FSTV, SSTV)
iv. MCW (modulated CW)
v. Phone (AM, FM, SSB)
vi. Pulse (telecommand)
vii. RTTY (radio teletype)
viii. SS (spread spectrum)
ix. Test transmissions (still identify your station!)
x. (beacons)
Max power: 1500W PEP – “An amateur station must use the minimum power necessary
to carry out the desired communications”
Band plan
i. Primary/secondary allocations - Secondary privileges on some bands
ii. Questions: 6m band –> 52.525 MHz, 146.52 MHz -> 2m band, 70cm ->
443.350 MHz, 23cm -> 1296 MHz, 223.500 -> 1.25m
iii. Mode restrictions for techs: 6m, 2m, 1.25m (CW on 50.0-50.1 and 144.0144.1)
Frequency coordination – for repeaters, local ham or ham club does it
Operating Guidelines
i. Station ID – (every 10 mins, end of QSO, in english or CW)
ii. 3rd party traffic – ok in US, agreements with some other countries
iii. Armed Forces Day Communications Test
iv. Allowed 1-way traffic (stuff that’s not ‘broadcast’)
1. Model control / remote control (codes & ciphers <1W) – telecommand:
“A one-way transmission to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a
device at a distance”
2. “telemetry” – “A one-way transmission to initiate, modify or terminate
functions of a device at a distance”
3. Space station retransmissions
4. Beacon stations ( <100W )
5. “brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to a station”
6. “brief transmissions necessary to establish two-way communications
with other stations”
7. “transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving
proficiency in, the international Morse code
8. “transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins” (not to
general public, to amateurs, QST)
v. Not allowed ever:
1. “harmful interference” – “That which seriously degrades, obstructs, or
repeatedly interrupts a radio communication service operating in
accordance with the Radio Regulations”
2. No profane language – (no official list, ‘grandma rule’)
3. Broadcasting – “one-way communications intended for the general
public”
4. Business communications – (pizza rule, selling ham gear, classroom
instruction expenses)
5. NO music (intended or unintended – space station rule)
6. NO “false or deceptive” signals
7. Codes & Ciphers (except space stations and RC craft)
vi. Band edges: bad. (calibration error, sidebands extend past edge, frequency drift)
vii. Space stations “>50km altitude”
2.
3.
viii. Official notices of violation – “self policing” (don’t ignore!)
SUBELEMENT T2 - Operating Procedures [3 Exam Questions - 3 Groups]
T2A - Station operation; choosing an operating frequency, calling another station, test
transmissions, use of minimum power, frequency use, band plans
T2B – VHF/UHF operating practices; SSB phone, FM repeater, simplex, frequency offsets, splits
and shifts, CTCSS, DTMF, tone squelch, carrier squelch, phonetics
T2C – Public service; emergency and non-emergency operations, message traffic handling
a. Simplex
i. Calling Freqs (70cm: 446.000, 2m: 146.520)
b. Repeaters
i. FM (deviation & audio amplitude, bandwidth )
ii. Offset (common: 220: 1.25Mhz, 2m: 600kC, 440: 5MHz)
iii. Tones (CTCSS/PL, tone burst, DCS, DTMF, carrier squelch)
iv. Courtesy tones & hang time
v. Autopatch
vi. Emergencies – tatcial callsigns, Health & Wellfare traffic, ARES, RACES
vii. No CQ, just ID
c. Phone
i. VHF/UHF: FM (5-15kHz BW)
ii. HF: SSB (LSB <= 14MHz, USB > 14MHz ) (2.4kHzBW)
iii. HF splits
iv. phonetics
d. Calling CQ – Answering CQ
e. Power level (“An amateur must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry
out the desired communication”)
f. RST - 599
g. DX
h. Q Signals (QSL, QRM, QRN, QRP, QRZ, QSL, QSO, QST, QSY, QTH)
i. Tuning
j. CW / RTTY / Packet
k. Emergency Comms:
i. “When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged, or disrupted
because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur…an amateur station may
make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and
facilitate relief actions.”
ii. (ARES & RACES)
iii. “SOS” vs. “break break break” vs. “priority/emergency”
iv. Important: “Passing messages exactly as written, spoken or as received”
v. Check count
SUBELEMENT T3 – Radio wave characteristics, radio and electromagnetic properties,
propagation modes – [3 Exam Questions - 3 Groups]
T3A - Radio wave characteristics; how a radio signal travels; distinctions of HF, VHF and UHF;
fading, multipath; wavelength vs. penetration; antenna orientation
T3B - Radio and electromagnetic wave properties; the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength vs.
frequency, velocity of electromagnetic waves
T3C - Propagation modes; line of sight, sporadic E, meteor, aurora scatter, tropospheric ducting, F
layer skip, radio horizon
a. VHF propagation
i. multipath fading
ii. Reflections
iii. picket-fencing
iv. sporadic E refraction (10, 6, & 2)
v. auroral reflection (distortion, fading)
vi. Knife Edge propagation
vii. Meteor Scatter (6m)
b. UHF – punches through buildings, no reflections from ionosphere
4.
5.
i. Troposhperic ducting, tropospheric scatter (~300 mi, temp inversion layers)
ii. Radio horizon = “Line of sight ++”
c. HF – ionospheric reflections
i. Daytime skip
d. Polarization:
i. Horiz (HF->6m, and weak-signal SSB on VHF/UHF)
ii. Vert (VHF ^)
iii. LHC, RHC (microwave & satcom)
e. Electromagnetics
i. Wavelength & frequency – (“Wavelength in meters equals 300 divided by
frequency in megahertz”)
ii. Frequency (explain)
iii. Bands (HF=3MHz-30MHz, VHF=30MHz-300MHz, UHF=300MHz-3Ghz)
iv. Electric and magnetic fields
v. Speed of light: (300,000,000 meters per second)
SUBELEMENT T4 - Amateur radio practices and station set up – [2 Exam Questions - 2
Groups]
T4A – Station setup; microphone, speaker, headphones, filters, power source, connecting a
computer, RF grounding
T4B - Operating controls; tuning, use of filters, squelch, AGC, repeater offset, memory channels
T5B - Math for electronics; decibels, electrical units and the metric system
a. Microphones - “Some connectors include push-to-talk and voltages for powering the
microphone”
b. Headphones
c. Regulated power supply
d. Filters
i. Harmonic emissions? – between transmitter and antenna
ii. TV set with 2m overload? – band reject (notch)
iii. “reduce RF current flowing on the shield of an audio cable” - Ferrite choke
iv. High-pitched whine – from alternators
e. Terminal Node Controller
f. Sound Card – “The sound card provides audio to the microphone input and converts
received audio to digital form”
g. Grounding (Flat strap=best)
h. Operating controls:
i. Mic gain – can cause distortion
ii. VFO knob – enters frequency
iii. Squelch
iv. Memory channels
v. Noise blanker
vi. RIT(Receiver Incremental Tuning) / clarifier
vii. Receiver filters (noise/interference reduction) (SSB=2400Hz, CW=500Hz)
SUBELEMENT T5 – Electrical principles, math for electronics, electronic principles, Ohm’s
Law – [4 Exam Questions - 4 Groups]
T5A - Electrical principles; current and voltage, conductors and insulators, alternating and direct
current
T5B - Math for electronics; decibels, electrical units and the metric system
T5C - Electronic principles; capacitance, inductance, current flow in circuits, alternating current,
definition of RF, power calculations
a. Units:
i. Amperes – Electrical Current, “flow of electrons” (DC: one direction, AC: two
directions)
ii. Watts – Electrical Power, “Power (P) equals voltage (E) multiplied by current
(I)”
iii. Volts – Electromotive Force (EMF), “electron pressure” (ham gear: 12VDC)
iv. Farads – Capacitance, “ability to store energy in an electric field)
6.
v. Henry – Inductance
vi. Hertz – Frequency
vii. Ohms – Resistance
b. Conductors vs. Insulators
c. SI units, convert back and forth
d. Decibels
e. Radio Frequency = “RF”
f. P=IE
g. V=IR - “Current (I) equals voltage (E) divided by resistance (R)” or “Voltage (E) equals
current (I) multiplied by resistance (R)” or “Resistance (R) equals voltage (E) divided by
current (I)”
SUBELEMENT T6 – Electrical components, semiconductors, circuit diagrams, component
functions – [4 Exam Questions - 4 Groups]
T6A - Electrical components; fixed and variable resistors, capacitors, and inductors; fuses,
switches, batteries
T6B – Semiconductors; basic principles of diodes and transistors
T6C - Circuit diagrams; schematic symbols
T6D - Component functions
a. Resistors i. “used to oppose the flow of current in a DC circuit”
ii. Variable resistors = “potentiometers” (useful for volume controls)
b. Capacitors –
i. “stores energy in an electric field”
ii. “consists of two or more conductive surfaces separated by an insulator”
c. Inductors –
i. “usually composed of a coil of wire”
ii. Used with capacitors to make tuned circuits
d. Switches –
i. “used to connect or disconnect electrical circuits”
ii. “a switch controlled by an electromagnet”
iii. SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT
e. Fuses - “used to protect other circuit components from current overloads”
f. Batteries
i. NiCD: nominal cell voltage = 1.2v
ii. Rechargeable: NiCD, lead-acid, lithium ion (careful with explosive gasses
accumulating if no ventilation or if you charge/discharge too fast!!!)
iii. Non-rechargeable: carbon-zinc, alkaline
g. Transistors:
i. “capable of using a voltage or current signal to control current flow“
ii. Can be used as a switch or amplifier
iii. Made of three layers of semiconductor material
iv. FET = Field Effect Transistor (gate, source, drain)
v. BJT = Bipolar Junction Transistor (base, collector, emitter)
h. Diodes:
i. “allow current to flow only in one direction”
ii. Two layers: Anode and Cathode
iii. Cathode of diode is often identified with a stripe
iv. Often used as a “rectifier.” (“a device that changed an alternating current into a
varying direct current.”)
v. LED = Light Emitting Diode (common visual indicator)
i. Meter: (can be used to display signal strength on a numeric scale)
j. Regulator: “controls the amount of voltage from a power supply”
k. Transformer: “commonly used to change 120V AC house current into lower AC
voltages for other uses”
l. Integrated circuit: “combines several semiconductors and other components into one
package”)
7.
m. Coaxial cable: “carry RF signals between a radio and antenna”
n. Schematics: - show components and “the way components are interconnected”
SUBELEMENT T7 – Station equipment; common transmitter and receiver problems,
antenna measurements and troubleshooting, basic repair and testing – [4 Exam Questions 4 Groups]
T7A - Station radios; receivers, transmitters, transceivers
T7B – Common transmitter and receiver problems; symptoms of overload and overdrive,
distortion, interference, over and under modulation, RF feedback, off frequency signals; fading
and noise; problems with digital communications interfaces
T7C – Antenna measurements and troubleshooting; measuring SWR, dummy loads, feedline
failure modes
T7D – Basic repair and testing; soldering, use of a voltmeter, ammeter, and ohmmeter
a. Parts of a radio:
i. Product Detector – detects CW and SSB signals
ii. Oscillator
iii. Mixer – shifts incoming signal to an intermediate frequency
iv. Modulator – “combines speech signals with an RF carrier”
v. Discriminator – demodulates FM
vi. Single-conversion superheterodyne
vii. Transverter – converts frequencies
b. Parts of a station:
i. T/R switch (transmit/receive switch)
ii. Transceiver
iii. RF power amplifier
iv. Pre-amp (goes between the antenna and receiver)
v. Feedline / transmission line
1. Connects antennas to radio gear
2. Most common failure due to moisture intrusion, especially on air-core
3. Use a UV jacketed feedline!
4. 50 ohm coaxial cable is most common because it’s the easiest to handle
5. Longer the feedline, the more the loss
6. larger (fatter) cables typically have less loss. RG-8 loss < RG-58 loss
7. air-insulated hard-line is –really- good for VHF, UHF, just expensive
vi. Tuner: matches TX and antenna
c. Test Equipment:
i. Dummy Load – replaces antenna during testing, prevents radiation of signals
during testing
ii. Antenna Analyzer – useful for determining if an antenna is resonant at the
desired frequencies (RF power meter, directional wattmeter, SWR bridge)
iii. Voltmeter – use in parallel with device to “measure electric potential or
electromotive force”
iv. Ammeter – use in series with a device to “measure electric current”
v. Ohmmeter – use out of circuit to measure resistance of a device. (changing
value indicates capacitance!)
vi. Multimeter – usually tests current, voltage, and resistance, don’t use the
resistance setting to try to measure voltage! (ouch!)
vii. Soldering iron - rosin-core solder, cold solder joints
d. Terms:
i. Selectivity: “describes the ability of a receiver to discriminate between multiple
signals”
ii. Sensitivity
iii. Fundamental Overload: Interference caused by very strong signals
iv. Interference: “fundamental overload, harmonics, spurious emissions”
v. SWR = “Standing Wave Ratio”
1. (A measure of how well a load is matched to a transmission line)
2. 1:1 = perfect, 2:1 = most modern rigs reduce power, 3:1 = ouch!
3. Power lost in feedline turns into heat
Problems:
i. “What can you do if you are told your FM handheld or mobile transceiver is
over-deviating?” (Talk further away from the microphone)
ii. “What is the most likely cause of interference to a non-cordless telephone from
a nearby transmitter?” (the telephone is inadvertently acting as a radio
receiver)
iii. “What is a logical first step when attempting to cure a radio frequency
interference problem in a nearby telephone? (install an RF filter at the
telephone)
iv. “What should you do first if someone tells you that your station’s transmissions
are interfering with their radio or TV reception?” (Make sure that your station
is functioning properly and that it does not cause interference to your own
television)
v. “Which of the following may be useful in correcting a radio frequency
interference problem?” (Snap-on ferrite chokes, low-pass and high-pass filters,
band-reject and band-pass filters)
vi. “What should you do if a ‘part 15’ device in your neighbor’s home is causing
harmful interference to your amateur station?” (Work with your neighbor to
identify the offending device, politely inform your neighbor about the rules that
require him to stop using the device if it causes interference, and check your
station and make sure it meets the standards of good amateur practice.)
vii. “What could be happening if another operator reports a variable high-pitched
whine on the audio from your mobile transmitter?” (Noise on the vehicle’s
electrical system is being transmitted along with your speech audio.)
viii. “What might be the problem if you receive a report that your audio signal
through the repeater is distorted or unintelligible?” (Your transmitter may be
slightly off frequency, your batteries may be running low, you could be in a bad
location)
ix. “What is a symptom of RF feedback in a transmitter or transceiver?” (Reports
of garbled, distorted, or unintelligible transmissions)
x. “What does the acronym ‘BER’ mean when applied to digital communications
systems?” (Bit Error Rate)
SUBELEMENT T8 – Modulation modes; amateur satellite operation, operating activities,
non-voice communications – [4 Exam Questions - 4 Groups]
T8A – Modulation modes; bandwidth of various signals
T8B - Amateur satellite operation; Doppler shift, basic orbits, operating protocols
T8C – Operating activities; radio direction finding, radio control, contests, special event stations,
basic linking over Internet
T8D – Non-voice communications; image data, digital modes, CW, packet, PSK31
a. Modulation:
i. Amplitude Modulation:
1. AM
2. SSB
a. good for weak signal and DX
b. narrower bandwidth, 3kHz
c. 10m and higher: USB. 15m and lower: LSB.
ii. Frequency Modulation
1. FM b/w is between 5-15kHz
2. useful for VHF/UHF repeaters
3. Packet (digital modes)
iii. CW
1. Morse Code – straight key, keyer, computer
2. Narrowest b/w, 150 Hz
iv. FSTV (fast-scan TV, NTSC) b/w=6MHz
b. Space Stations & Satellites
e.
8.
i. Anyone can use satellites or talk to the ISS as long as you have privileges on the
uplink freq
ii. Important to use minimum power to talk to them
iii. Used for talking to hams all over the world, packet radio use, some satellites
have beacons
iv. Track with special software
v. Doppler Shift – “an observed change in signal frequency caused by relative
motion between the satellite and the earth station” (train horn example)
vi. “mode U/V” – uplink: 440, downlink 2m
vii. “spin fading” – caused by rotation of the satellite and its antennas
viii. “LEO” – Low Earth Orbit
c. Practices:
i. Radio Direction Finding:
1. Used to find interference and jamming
2. Can use a directional antenna (yagi, Doppler, body fade)
ii. Contests (use minimum information needed for QSO)
iii. Grid Locators “A letter-number designator assigned to a geographic location”
iv. 1x1 calls: “for operations in conjunction with an activity of spcial significance
to the amateur community”
v. Telecommand: <1W, identify with a label indicating licensee’s name, callsign
and address on the transmitter
vi. Repeater directories (VoIP, IRLP)
vii. Digital/data (gateways, Packet, PSK31, MFSK, APRS, PSK, parity bits)
9. SUBELEMENT T9 – Antennas, feedlines - [2 Exam Questions - 2 Groups]
T9A – Antennas; vertical and horizontal, concept of gain, common portable and mobile antennas,
relationships between antenna length and frequency
T9B - Feedlines; types, losses vs. frequency, SWR concepts, matching weather protection,
connectors
a. Beam – uni-directional antenna (also quad, yagi, dish)
b. Verticals – electric field is perpendicular to the Earth
c. Dipoles – can be mounted horizontal or vertical - strongest signal broadside to the
antenna
d. “rubber duck” – not very efficient
e. Wavelength: (make antenna longer to resonate at lower frequencies and vice versa)
i. 1/4 wave vertical for 145 MHz = 19”
ii. 1/2 wave dipole for 6m = 112”
f. Impedance matching (usually 50 ohms) Connectors:
i. >400 MHz works well with Type N connectors
ii. HF: PL-259/SO-239 connectors
iii. Weatherproof! Make sure they’re tight!
10. SUBELEMENT T0 – AC power circuits, antenna installation, RF hazards – [3 Exam
Questions - 3 Groups]
T0A – AC power circuits; hazardous voltages, fuses and circuit breakers, grounding, lightning
protection, battery safety, electrical code compliance
T0B – Antenna installation; tower safety, overhead power lines
T0C - RF hazards; radiation exposure, proximity to antennas, recognized safe power levels,
exposure to others
a. 30V – lowest voltage for dangerous electric shock
b. Current flowing through body heats tissue, disrupts electrical functions of cells, causes
involuntary muscle contractions
c. Grounds:
i. AC plug: Green = Ground
ii. ground everything
iii. grounds as short and direct as possible – avoid sharp bends
iv. ground it all at one point
d.
e.
f.
g.
v. Tower grounds: 8’ ground rods for each tower leg, bonded to tower and other
rods
Capacitors (like in power supplies) can store charge even when unplugged
Make sure gear will clear all power lines by 10’ in case of antenna/tower collapse
Follow local electrical codes!
Exposure:
i. Max permissible exposure limit happens around 50MHz (bodies absorb more or
less RF at different frequencies)
ii. RF = non-ionizing radiation, can cause RF burns
iii. VHF past 50W is unsafe
iv. Distance from person to antenna, duty cycle, frequency
v. FCC OET Bulletin 65 – field strength measurements