Technician License Class

1. Technician License Class Chapter 1 Welcome to Amateur Radio

2. What is Amateur Radio? • Amateur (or Ham) Radio is a personal radio service authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). • To encourage the advancement of the art and science of radio. • To promote the development of an emergency communication capability to assist communities when needed. • To develop a pool of trained radio operators. • To promote international good will by connecting private citizens in countries around the globe. • Through ham radio, you will become an ambassador for your community and your country.

3. Beginnings of Ham Radio • 1901-1902: Marconi sends first transatlantic wireless message • 1910 Interstate Commerce Commission adds control of Telephone, Telegraph and WIreless • 1912: First Amateur Radio license issued • 1934: FCC formed to manage the fray of experimenters, broadcasters, news services, etc. • 1934: Amateur Service created • 1950s and 1960s were a technical revolution in communications • 1961: First Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR) launched • 70s saw repeaters developed, 80s and 90s brought microprocessors and the meld of computers and radio

4. Ham Radio Today • Pure RF (Both voice & Morse code) • Internet to RF and vice versa • Wireless data networks • Position reporting systems • Slow and fast scan television • Satellite E-mail systems • Satellite voice relay systems • ISS • Earth-Moon-Earth • Meteor Scatter • Public Service

5. King Hussein JY1 (SK) Queen Noor JY1NH Gary Shandling KD6OY Priscilla Presley N6YOS Patti Loveless KD4WUJ Dick Rutan KB6LQS Jeanna Yeager KB6LQR King Juan Carlos EA0JC Susan Helms KC7NHZ Lance Bass KG4UYY Who’s That Voice on the Other End?

6. What Do Hams Do? • Communicate • Participate • Experiment • Build • Compete • Serve their communities • Life-long learning

7. What Makes Ham Radio Different? • There are many unlicensed radio services available. • Ham radio is authorized: • Fewer restrictions. • More frequencies (channels or bands to utilize). • More power (to improve range and quality). • More ways to communicate. • It’s free to operate your radio.

8. With More Privileges Comes More Responsibility • Because ham radios are much more capable and have the potential of interfering with other radio services. • Because ham radios have unlimited reach. They easily reach around the globe and into space. • FCC authorization is required to ensure the operator is qualified to operate the ham radio safely, appropriately and within the rules and regulation – that is why you are here.

9. Steps to Obtaining Your Ticket • Study the material in the Ham Radio License Manual. • Review the questions in the back of the book • Take interactive practice exams. • Pass a 35-question multiple choice test. • Questions pulled directly from the question pool. • Need to answer 26 questions correctly. • No Morse code is required

10. Steps to Obtaining Your Ticket • Study the material in the Ham Radio License Manual. • Review the questions in the back of the book • Take interactive practice exams. • Pass a 35-question multiple choice test. • Questions pulled directly from the question pool. • Need to answer 26 questions correctly. • No Morse code is required

11. Using the Question Pool • Turn to HRLM page 11-1 • Actual exam questions are listed • There are 10 sub-elements (T1-T0) • There are 35 sections (T1A – T0C) • Exam will consist of 1 question from each section

12. Online Practice Exams • Go to http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/ • On the left side of the screen check the “Technician” button • Press the “Take Exam” button. • After completing the test, review the results • Look up answers to wrong questions • Ensure you clearly understand the underlying course material • Spend an hour a day studying.

13. Conventions and Resources • HRLM is only ½ of the course material • Website http://www.arrl.org/hrlmhas several support links • Organized by HRLM Chapter • Further explanation of concepts • Includes Glossary and Supplement Material • Look for italics in HRLM, these are important words – Use the Glossary or website or ask questions in class if you don’t understand them

14. Testing Process • Exam session will be scheduled for the class • Later exams may be found at http://www.arrl.net/examsearch • Two forms of ID required, one with photo • Know your SSN • $15 Fee • 35 Question Exam administered by other Hams • CSCE issued to successful candidates • MAKE SURE THE INFO IS CORRECT BEFORE YOU SIGN

15. Amateur Radio Clubs • Opportunity to socialize, learn & help each other out • Some Local Clubs and Organizations • Hampton Public Service Team (HPST) • Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK) • Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (PARC) • Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (MPARC) • Chesapeake Amateur Radio Society (CARS) • Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club (VBARC)

16. T1A01 – Which of the following is a purpose of the Amateur Radio Service as stated in the FCC rules and regulations? A. Providing personal radio communications for as many citizens as possible B. Providing communications for international non-profit organizations C. Advancing skills in the technical and communications phases of the radio art D. All of these choices are correct

17. T1A10 -- What is the FCC Part 97 definition of an amateur station? A. A station in an Amateur Radio Service consisting of apparatus necessary for carrying out radio communications B. A building where Amateur Radio receivers, transmitters, and RF power amplifiers are installed C Any radio station operated by a non-professional D. Any radio station for hobby use

18. T1A02 -- Which agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio service in the United States? A. FEMA B. The ITU C. The FCC D. Homeland Security

19. The National Association for American Radio • The national level organization representing amateur radio • ARRL has four core missions: • Public Service • Advocacy • Education • Membership

20. Why join the ARRL? • Since 1914 the American Radio Relay League has represented the interests of Radio Amateurs before the FCC and Congress. • While there is room for policy debate, those who do not support the ARRL have virtually no voice in matters concerning ham radio. • Also, the QST magazine is an excellent educational tool, full of interesting articles and fun projects.

21. Your Background • Are you an experienced CB, FRS, GMRS, Marine, Military, Public Service, Business or Commercial Radio Operator? • Do you have a basic, intermediate or advanced understanding of electricity and electronics? • The electrical rules don’t change here…only the rules of the particular service • We will be studying the Amateur Radio Service, so what you know about the rest probably doesn’t apply

22. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • On-air activities provide incentive to get on the radio. • Learn about propagation as you search for specific stations on various bands. • Improve operating skills. • Fun!

23. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • DX’ing. • Contacting stations far away – a tradition since the first days of radio. • On HF, means contacting stations in other countries. • You would be surprised what constitutes another country! • On VHF/UHF, means contacting stations outside your normal coverage area.

24. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Awards. • Can get certificates or plaques for certain operating achievements. • a.k.a. – Collecting “wallpaper”.

25. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Awards. • DX Century Club (DXCC). • Contacting 100 different entities (countries).

26. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Awards. • Worked All States (WAS). • Contacting all 50 states.

27. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Awards. • VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC). • Contacting 100 grid squares on VHF/UHF.

28. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Awards. • Worked All Indiana (WAI). • Contacting all 92 Indiana counties.

29. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Contesting. • Try to make as many contacts as possible during a specific time period. • May be limited to specific bands and/or modes. • NEVER any contests on 60m, 30m, 17m, or 12m. • Must accurately exchange specific information as efficiently as possible. • Excellent way to improve emergency operating skills.

30. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Contesting. • Operating in a VHF or UHF contest is different than chatting on your local FM repeater. • Use weak-signal techniques. • CW and/or SSB modes. • VHF/UHF multi-mode transceiver. • Horizontally-polarized antennas.

31. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Contesting. • ARRL Sweepstakes. • State QSO Parties. • Some REALLY strange awards. • VHF/UHF contests. • RTTY contests. • CQ World Wide DX Contest. • Contest calendars. • http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal

32. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Contesting.

33. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Contesting.

34. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • ARRL Field Day. • Set up a portable multi-station operation using emergency power and make as many contacts as you can in a 24-hour period. • Any station in North America can participate • Largest operating event of the year. • Like a contest except no awards. • Just bragging rights. • 4th full weekend in June. • June 27-28, 2015.

35. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • ARRL Field Day. • Some groups concentrate on setting up under emergency conditions. • Some groups concentrate on making as many contacts as possible. • Some groups use Field Day as a social event. • Lots of food!!!

36. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • ARRL Field Day.

37. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Fox Hunting. • Many amateurs participate in hidden transmitter hunts. • Fox hunting is fun. • Fox hunting is good training for real-world situations. • Stuck transmitters. • Interference & jamming. • Search and rescue (SAR). • ELT’s & EPIRB’s.

38. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques DX’ing, Awards and Contesting. • Special Events. • Special event stations operate for a short period of time to commemorate some event or activity. • Not longer than 15 days. • 1x1 call sign.

39. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques Special Modes. • Video. • Slow Scan TV (SSTV) • Sending snap-shot pictures. • Amateur TV (ATV) • Similar to commercial analog TV. • NTSC.

40. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques Special Modes. • Meteor scatter and moonbounce. • Meteor scatter. • Bounce signals off ionized trails behind meteors. • Trails last up to several seconds. • Contacts of more then 1,000 miles away possible. • Primarily 6m. • Point antenna north. • Moonbounce. • a.k.a. – EME (earth-moon-earth). • Contacts up to 12,000 miles away possible.

41. Special Activities, Modes and Techniques Special Modes. • Radio control. • Telecommand. • Normally 50 MHz. • 1W maximum power output. • No on-air identification required. • Label with call, name, & address.

42. Questions?