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I’ve Got My License, Now What?

I’ve Got My License, Now What?. Quick Start for new SAR Hams Chris Wong N6JGC Dave Hodgson KG6TCJ Randy Jenkins KA6BQF. Overview. Radios Systems – Equipment, Transmission Modes Bands – Frequencies, Technician Class License Handheld Radio Operations - Knobs, Buttons, Offsets, Tone

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I’ve Got My License, Now What?

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  1. I’ve Got My License, Now What? Quick Start for new SAR Hams Chris Wong N6JGC Dave Hodgson KG6TCJ Randy Jenkins KA6BQF

  2. Overview • Radios Systems – Equipment, Transmission Modes • Bands – Frequencies, Technician Class License • Handheld Radio Operations - Knobs, Buttons, Offsets, Tone • Working with repeaters – Input, Output, Encode/Decode • Antennas - Base station, Mobile, HT, SWR • Power supplies – AC, DC, Regulated, Switching, Car power • Batteries - Alkaline, LiON, NiCad, NiMH • How to Communicate - Operating courtesy, protocols • Nets - NTS, ARES/RACES, Club, Ragchew • Ham Communities - Clubs, Public Service, Field Day

  3. Radio Systems • Radio equipment varies based on frequencies and mode of transmission but all have basic components • Transmitter, Receiver, Line, Antenna • Data – analog, digital • Transmission Mode, Frequency Band

  4. Common Transmission Types • Analog • AM (amplitude modulation) • FM (frequency modulation) • SSB (single side band) • CW (continuous wave) • ATV (amateur TV) • SSTV (slow scan TV) • Digital (commonly tones transmitted over analog - AM, FM, SSB) • AMTOR, PACTOR, RTTY • PSK31 • FSK • Packet (AX.25) • APRS • Applications of radio communication • Terrestrial • Line-of-site • Atmospheric bounce • EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) • OSCAR (Satellite) • QRP (Low Power)

  5. Ham Equipment • Voice Modes • Handhelds – VHF, UHF • Mobile – VHF, UHF, HF • Digital Modes • Packet – TNC, Sound Cards, Computers • APRS – Trackers, TNC, Computers, GPS • RTTY/PACTOR/PSK31 – Multimode Controller, HF Radio • Visual Mode • ATV – Camera, Controller, Transceiver (VHF) • SSTV – Camera, Controller, Transceiver (HF, VHF) • Internet Ham Radio • Echolink, WIRES – HF, VHF, UHF

  6. Technician Class License • Bands • HF - 80M, 40M, 15M • CW only except 10M (SSB) • VHF/UHF – 6M and above • Generally voice (phone) and data (digital)

  7. FCC Band Plan

  8. Power On/Off Button or volume knob Squelch Knob – older style analog Button – usually by accessing menu (combination of keys) Set Frequency Direct entry Rotate dial Set increment Offset (based on bandwidth) VHF standard 600Hz + or – UHF standard 5MHz + or – Encode/Decode Tone (PL) Frequency in Hz Code (Letter/Number) By changing offset Transmit power Function + X (combination of keys) Memory – Store/Recall Function + X (combination of keys) Reverse Usually a button or combination of keys Basic Handheld Radio Operations(what, when, how)

  9. Open Squelch Button Rotate squelch knob Simplex Switch Speaker/Mic jack Adapter sometimes required Push-to-talk (PPT) Keying up – wait before talking Paging Function + X (combination of keys) ARTS Function + X (combination of keys) LCD display Signal strength Channel/Frequency Battery voltage/health Distance from mic 2 to 4 inches Background noise (wind) Holding radio Body coupling Body signal attenuation Antennas Rubber Duck Whip Efficiency compromises Basic Handheld Radio Operations(cont’d)

  10. Using Repeaters • Receive on one frequency and retransmit on another (usually within same band) • Simultaneous; audio signal transferred • Output (what you receive – usually displayed on radio in receive mode) • Input (+ or – from your receive freq) • Control frequency • Offset or split (usually indicated by +/-) • Conventions established by bandwidth; coordinated • Odd split or manual • Encode/Decode Tone (PL) • Some repeater will not open up unless the code is correct • Repeaters may not always transmit the tone on the output • Repeater Components • Receiver • Transmitter • Controller • Phone patch • Antenna system • Duplexer

  11. Using Repeaters (cont’d) • Cross band • 440/2M • Voting receivers • Select highest signal strength signal to process • Antennas pointed in different directions • Multiple receivers (look for different PLs on same frequency pair) • Same site • Different site • Linked repeaters • Tied together via links (usually different band – conventional, MW, fiber) • Echolink, WIRES • Digipeaters • Used for digital communications • Packet, APRS • Receive data, then quickly retransmit • Intelligence built into TNC to avoid collisions • Open vs. Closed Repeaters

  12. Antennas • Antenna types • Base station, mobile, handheld • Mast mounted • Vehicle – hole in roof, magnetic mount, rack mount • HT - Rubber ducks, whips, sticks • To radiate, you need transmitting leg and a reflecting leg • Vertical & ground plane • Antenna efficiency (high to low) • Base station -> Vehicle -> HT • Gain • Antenna designed to more efficiently radiate • Generally, more gain is better • As gain increase, angle of radiation decreases • Antenna tuning • Efficiency is improved if “reflected” power • SWR – Standing Wave Ratio • Common Homebrew • J-Pole • Quarter-wave

  13. Batteries

  14. Batteries (cont’d)

  15. Power Supplies • AC • Conventional • Switching • Automobile 12VDC systems • Voltage regulators • Noise filters • Negative ground • Fusing both leads • Current (amperes) limited through cigarette lighter plug • Power Inverters • Convert 12VDC to 120VAC • Watch the watts • Can drain your battery

  16. How to communicate • Clear communication • Plain text, clear pronunciation, slow and steady • Codes as needed for situation • Phonetics as needed • Thinking before keying up and talking • Plan message in head; write down the facts • Efficient with words • Avoid the “uhh”, “umm” • Protocols • Usually start with call – To Call Sign >> From Call Sign • Emergency traffic always has priority • Don’t be a doofus – How do I get there?, 5min reporting, Side conversations, Net Control syndrome • Check in with Net Control/IC periodically, especially if you have been quiet • Power Settings • FCC requires only using levels needed to reach the other station in order to reduce interference

  17. Common Local Nets • Club • Sponsored by ham radio club usually on a club repeater • NTS – National Traffic System • Radiogram service free of charge • Emergency Service • Simplex or on club repeater • ARES – Sponsored by ARRL • RACES – Usually sponsored by County EOS • Public Service • Support of big events needing communications • Bike Rides • Marathons • Red Cross, Salvation Army • Ragchew • ID at the appropriate intervals as required by the FCC • Don’t monopolize, be courtesy • Allow breaks in between transmissions for others wanting to make contacts

  18. Ham Communities(where to go for help) • ARRL • http://www.arrl.org • Ham Radio Clubs/Repeater Clubs • Good for meeting new folks • Regular meetings, breakfasts • Public service activities • Field Day • Commute nets • Internet • Yahoo Groups

  19. Questions? • Resources • Marin Amateur Radio Club • http://www.w6sg.net/ • East Bay Amateur Radio Club • http://www.eastbayarc.org/ • Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club • http://www.mdarc.org/ • Silverado Amateur Radio Society • http://www.napasars.org/ • ARRL • Search for local ham clubs – there are just too many to list here

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