Amateur Radio Licensure Week 1: Introduction Seth Price, N3MRA New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology February 6, 2016

Introductions Tell us your: –Name –Major/background/etc. –License class (if any) –What you hope to gain from this course

Course Outline 1.1/25Introduction to Ham Radio 2.2/1FCC Rules and Regulations 3.2/8Operating Modes 4.2/22Basic Electronics 5.2/29Advanced Electronics 6.3/7Antenna Design and Propagation 7.3/21Operating Practices 8.4/11Remaining Questions? Exam TBD!

What is Amateur Radio? Emergency communications –ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) –Skywarn (Weather related) –Search and rescue –Reporting drunk drivers Fun stuff –DXing (talking to foreign countries) –Contesting (talking to as many other stations as possible) –Paper-chasing (winning awards such as worked all states)

How is Amateur Radio Different? Less restrictive operation More frequencies (channels and bands) Higher power is allowed More modes to communicate –CW, PSK-31, SSB, AM, FM, SSTV, etc. Free to talk, no third party provider –No annoying Verizon army following you around

With Privilege Comes Responsibility FCC License is required because amateur radio operators can: –Accidentally interfere with other services –Talk around the world and into space –Build equipment So that’s why you are here: to pass the exams and get licensed!!

Licensing Structure Three classes of licensure –Technician: VHF/UHF –General: + HF –Amateur Extra: + Additional HF No more Morse Code requirement –Not required, but still fun to know

Licensing Structure Everyone except representatives of a foreign government are permitted to get a license –There is no minimum age! The license allows you to operate in the United States and countries with a reciprocal agreement

Licensing Structure Call signs are issued sequentially –Vanity calls can be requested –1x1 call signs available for special events Your license is good as soon as it is in the FCC ULS database. Until then, you can operate with your new privileges: –New Generals: sign /AG, as in N3MRA/AG –New Extras: sign /AE as in N3MRA/AE Licenses must be renewed: –Every 10 years

Test Format Multiple choice format –Options A-D Random selections from question pool –Specific number of questions from each “category” Checked by three Volunteer Examiners (VE) TechnicianGeneralExtra Total Questions35 50 # Correct to Pass26 37

FCC Forms NCVEC Form 605 CSCE: Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination –This says you are licensed operator and you may begin transmitting as soon as your license appears in the FCC database! –Good for 365 days for upgrade purposes

Test Session Required: –Two forms of ID (one must be photo ID) –$15 test fee Allowed: –Simple calculator –Pens, pencils Not allowed: –Computer or online devices

Volunteer Examiners Duties –Run exam session, check exams, etc. Requirements –Must be at least 18 years old –Can only run exams for license levels below theirs (General is needed to give Technician exam, etc) –Non-US citizens must hold a US amateur radio license of appropriate level –Cannot have had his or her amateur radio license revoked or suspended –Can only receive compensation for preparing, processing, administering and coordinating an examination for an amateur radio license

Other VE/Exam notes Volunteer Examination Coordinator (VEC) –Entered into an agreement with FCC to coordinate amateur radio license exams –Maintain question pools –Accredit VEs Exam sessions –VEs cannot administer exams to close relatives –At least three VEs are required to hold exam session (also called VE Team) –All VEs must be present during exam –VEs can lose their license if they violate the rules! –Exams graded immediately

Other Exam notes If you pass, the VEs: –They send your application packet to the FCC –Issue you a CSCE If you don’t pass the VEs: –Give you your application packet back –Often offer you the opportunity to try again VEs cannot give you your score!!!

Increased Privileges = Increased Responsibilities Worldwide communication means: –MANY people can hear you –You become an ambassador of sorts for the United States New operating modes/bands mean: –Signals must remain within band edges –More potential for interference –Increased safety considerations

Modes of Operation FM: Frequency Modulation AM: Amplitude Modulation SSB: Single Sideband CW: Continuous Wave (Morse Code) SSTV: Slow Scan TV PSK-31: Phase Shift Keying (31 Hz) Just to name a few….

Sounds of Amateur Radio Conversation with the Space Shuttle Challenger: AA3O to W0ORE in 1980s Multipath CW from Japan CW bouncing off an aurora

Radios Three types –Receiver: can only hear –Transmitter: can only speak –Transceiver: can do both! “The big 3” manufacturers –Yaesu –Icom –Kenwood

A Typical Radio Station Required Equipment –Power supply –Transceiver –Antenna Other things you’ll see –Amplifier –Antenna Tuner –Key/Microphone –Terminal Node Controller (TNC) –Computer –Headphones

RF Definitions RF: Radio frequency Mode: Way of conveying information RF Carrier: The radio signal sent from transmitter to receiver Modulation: The process of overlaying signals onto an RF Carrier Bandwidth: The amount of space (frequency) a signal occupies

Frequency Definitions Frequency: How fast the RF carrier is oscillating Wavelength: How far a wave travels before it repeats Band: A group of frequencies

Frequency Definitions Part II HF: High Frequency (1 MHz to 30 MHz) VHF: Very High Frequency (30 MHz to 300 MHz) UHF: Ultra High Frequency (300 MHz and beyond)

Frequency Notes Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) –1 Hz means 1 cycle per second Commonly used prefixes: –kHz is 1000 Hz –MHz is Hz –GHz is Hz

Frequency, Wavelength and Band Related by: f = c/w –f is frequency –c is speed of light (3x10 8 m/s) –w is wavelength Example: 440MHz (in Assignment)

Ham Speak Ham radio operators often use “Q” signals to say common things: –QRZ?: Who is calling me? –QTH: Geographic location of transmitter –QSY: Change frequencies –QSO: A contact or conversation –QSL: Acknowledgement –QRM: Interference –QRS: Slow down (CW) –QRQ: Speed up (CW) –QRV: I’m ready to receive messages

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References html The ARRL Instructor’s Manual for Technician and General License Courses, 4 th Ed., The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 2006.