Technician License Class Gordon West Technician Class Manual Pages 70-101

1. Technician License ClassGordon West Technician Class ManualPages 70-101 Presented by Heart Of Texas Amateur Radio Club (HOTARC) Your First Radio

2. Getting on the air! Your First Radio

3. Have Fun! Your First Radio

4. SSB and CW HF (“shortwave”) 6 meters Call CQ three times followed by call-sign. CQ CQ CQ … this is KC5NT KC5NT KC5NT over... Talking on FM vs. “Other” Modes • FM • Primarily on 2 meters • Handi-talkies and mobile radios • Simply announce your call-sign. • This is KC5NT... Your First Radio

5. Band Plans…the BIG Picture! Your First Radio

6. Band Plans…a bite-sized chunk The two-meter amateur band plan in the U.S. Your First Radio

7. Station Equipment • Microphone converts sound waves to an electrical signal. • Transmitter magnifies the signal and sends a high-voltage signal to an antenna. • A receiver amplifies a weak signal from an antenna so it can be heard on a speaker. • Headphones could be used in place of a speaker to help you hear in a noisy area. • An amplifier can be used to increase the output of a small, 5-watt radio to 500 watts or more. Your First Radio

8. Transceiver = Transmitter + Receiver Your First Radio

9. T4C02 (pg 70) • What is used to convert sounds from our voice into radio signals? • Transmitter • Receiver • Speaker • Antenna Your First Radio

10. T5A01 (pg 70) • What does a microphone connect to in a basic amateur radio station? • The receiver • The transmitter • The SWR Bridge • The Balun Your First Radio

11. T4C01 (pg 71) • What is used to convert radio signals into sounds we can hear? • Transmitter • Receiver • Microphone • Antenna Your First Radio

12. T5A02 (pg 71) • Which piece of station equipment converts electrical signals to sound waves? • Frequency coordinator • Frequency discriminator • Speaker • Microphone Your First Radio

13. T4C03 (pg 71) • What two devices are combined into one unit in a transceiver? • Receiver, transmitter • Receiver, transformer • Receiver, transistor • Transmitter, deceiver Your First Radio

14. T5A04 (pg 71) • What could you use in place of a regular speaker to help you copy signals in a noisy area? • A video display • A low pass filter • A set of headphones • A boom microphone Your First Radio

15. T5A03 (pg 71) • What is the term used to describe what happens when a microphone and speaker are too close to each other? • Excessive wind noise • Audio feedback • Inverted signal patterns • Poor electrical grounding Your First Radio

16. T5B01 (pg 72) • What may happen if a transmitter is operated with the microphone gain set too high? • The output power will be too high • It may cause the signal to become distorted and unreadable • The frequency will vary • The SWR will increase Your First Radio

17. T5B03 (pg 72) • What is one way to select a frequency on which to operate? • Use the keypad or VFO knob to enter the correct frequency • Turn on the CTCSS encoder • Adjust the power supply ripple frequency • All of these answers are correct Your First Radio

18. T5B05 (pg 72) • What is a way to enable quick access to a favorite frequency on your transceiver? • Enable the CTCSS tones • Store the frequency in a memory channel • Disable the CTCSS tones • Use the scan mode to select the desired frequency Your First Radio

19. T5B02 (pg 73) • What kind of information may a VHF/UHF transceiver be capable of storing in memory? • Transmit and receive operating frequency • CTCSS tone frequency • Transmit power level • All of these answers are correct Your First Radio

20. T5B07 (pg 73) • What is the purpose of the buttons labeled "up" and "down" on many microphones? • To allow easy frequency or memory selection • To raise or lower the internal antenna • To set the battery charge rate • To upload or download messages Your First Radio

21. T5B10 (pg 73) • What is the purpose of the "step" menu function found on many transceivers? • It adjusts the transmitter power output level • It adjusts the modulation level • It sets the earphone volume • It sets the tuning rate when changing frequencies Your First Radio

22. T5B08 (pg 73) • What is the purpose of the "shift" control found on many VHF/UHF transceivers? • Adjust transmitter power level • Change bands • Adjust the offset between transmit and receive frequency • Change modes Your First Radio

23. T5B11 (pg 74) • What is the purpose of the "function" or "F" key found on many transceivers? • It turns the power on and off • It selects the autopatch access code • It selects an alternate action for some control buttons • It controls access to the memory scrambler Your First Radio

24. T5B04 (pg 74) • What is the purpose of the squelch control on a transceiver? • It is used to set the highest level of volume desired • It is used to set the transmitter power level • It is used to adjust the antenna polarization • It is used to quiet noise when no signal is being received • Turn up the squelch knob (“give it more juice”) to stop the flow of noise; loosen it and you’ll hear all the background noise. Your First Radio

25. T5B09 (pg 74) • What does RIT mean? • Receiver Input Tone • Receiver Incremental Tuning • Rectifier Inverter Test • Remote Input Transmitter Your First Radio

26. T5B06 (pg 74) • What might you do to improve the situation if the station you are listening to is hard to copy because of ignition noise interference? • Increase your transmitter power • Decrease the squelch setting • Turn on the noise blanker • Use the RIT control Your First Radio

27. Batteries Your First Radio

28. T7A01 (pg 75) • What is a good thing to have when operating a hand–held transceiver away from home? • A selection of spare parts • A programming cable to load new channels • One or more fully charged spare battery packs • A dummy load Your First Radio

29. T4C06(pg 75) • Which of the battery types listed below offers the longest life when used with a hand-held radio, assuming each battery is the same physical size? • Lead-acid • Alkaline • Nickel-cadmium • Lithium-ion Your First Radio

30. Comparing Battery Technologies Your First Radio

31. T4C09(pg 75) • What is required to keep rechargeable batteries in good condition and ready for emergencies? • They must be inspected for physical damage and replaced if necessary • They should be stored in a cool and dry location • They must be given a maintenance recharge at least every 6 months • All of these answers are correct Your First Radio

32. T4C08 (pg 76) • What battery type on this list is not designed to be re-charged? • Nickel-cadmium • Carbon-zinc • Lead-acid • Lithium-ion Your First Radio

33. T4C07 (pg 76) • What is the nominal voltage per cell of a fully charged nickel-cadmium battery? • 1.0 volts • 1.2 volts • 1.5 volts • 2.2 volts Your First Radio

34. T4C10 (pg 76) • What is the best way to get the most amount of energy from a battery? • Draw current from the battery as rapidly as possible • Draw current from the battery at the slowest rate needed • Reverse the leads when the battery reaches the 1/2 charge level • Charge the battery as frequently as possible Your First Radio

35. T0A09 (pg 76) • What is one way to recharge a 12-volt battery if the commercial power is out? • You cannot recharge a battery unless the power is back on • Add water to the battery • Connect the battery to a car's battery and run the engine • Take your battery to the utility company for a recharge Your First Radio

36. T5A05 (pg 76) • What is a good reason for using a regulated power supply for communications equipment? • To protect equipment from voltage fluctuations • A regulated power supply has FCC approval • A fuse or circuit breaker regulates the power • Regulated supplies are less expensive Your First Radio

37. T4C05 (pg 77) • What device is used to increase the output of a 10 watt radio to 100 watts? • Amplifier • Power supply • Antenna • Attenuator Your First Radio

38. Getting on the air! Your First Radio

39. T3A01 (pg 79) • Which of the following should you do when selecting a frequency on which to transmit? • Call CQ to see if anyone is listening • Listen to determine if the frequency is busy • Transmit on a frequency that allows your signals to be heard • Check for maximum power output Your First Radio

40. T7A07 (pg 79) • What is a popular operating activity that involves contacting as many stations as possible during a specified period of time? • Contesting • Net operations • Public service events • Simulated emergency exercises Your First Radio

41. T3A03 (pg 79) • How do you indicate you are looking for any station with which to make contact? • CQ followed by your callsign • RST followed by your callsign • QST followed by your callsign • SK followed by your callsign • Think of the phrase “CQ” as the same as saying “calling any station.” Your First Radio

42. T3A08 (pg 80) • What is the meaning of the procedural signal "CQ"? • Call on the quarter hour • New antenna is being tested (no station should answer) • Only the called station should transmit • Calling any station • But, we don’t use “CQ” on an FM station, like a local 2-meter repeater. There, just say your call sign, and wait. It will have the same effect. Your First Radio

43. T3C03 (pg 80) • What should you do before responding to another station’s call? • Make sure you are operating on a permissible frequency for your license class • Adjust your transmitter for maximum power output • Ask the station to send their signal report and location • Verify the other station’s license class Your First Radio

44. T3A04 (pg 80) • What should you transmit when responding to a call of CQ? • Your own CQ followed by the other station’s callsign • Your callsign followed by the other station’s callsign • The other station’s callsign followed by your callsign • A signal report followed by your callsign Your First Radio

45. T3A10 (pg 80) • What brief statement is often used in place of "CQ" to indicate that you are listening for calls on a repeater? • Say "Hello test" followed by your call sign • Say your call sign • Say the repeater call sign followed by your call sign • Say the letters "QSY" followed by your call sign Your First Radio

46. T3C01 (pg 81) • What is the proper way to break into a conversation between two stations that are using the frequency? • Say your call sign between their transmissions • Wait for them to finish and then call CQ • Say "Break-break" between their transmissions • Call one of the operators on the telephone to interrupt the conversation Your First Radio

47. T3C04 (pg 82) • What rule applies if two amateur stations want to use the same frequency? • The station operator with a lesser class of license must yield the frequency to a higher-class licensee • The station operator with a lower power output must yield the frequency to the station with a higher power output • No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of any station and neither has priority • Station operators in ITU Regions 1 and 3 must yield the frequency to stations in ITU Region 2 Your First Radio

48. T3C07 (pg 82) • What should you do if you hear a newly licensed operator that is having trouble with their station? • Tell them to get off the air until they learn how operate properly • Report them to the FCC • Contact them and offer to help with the problem • Move to another frequency Your First Radio

49. T7A04 (pg 82) • What would be a good thing to have when operating from a location that includes lots of crowd noise? • A portable bullhorn • An encrypted radio • A combination headset and microphone • A pulse noise blanker Your First Radio

50. T8B09 (pg 83) • Why should casual conversation between stations during a public service event be avoided? • Such chatter is often interesting to bystanders • Other listeners might overhear personal information • Idle chatter may interfere with important traffic • You might have to change batteries more often • “Traffic” is a term we use to describe messages exchanged during communications events. So, “heavy traffic” means lots of messages were exchanged. Your First Radio