General Licensing Class “G2”

General Licensing Class“G2” Presented by the Opp Amateur Radio Club Opp, AL Thursday, August 21, 2014

General Class Element 3 Course Presentation • ELEMENT 3 SUB-ELEMENTS G1 – Commission’s Rules G2 – Operating Procedures G3 – Radio Wave Propagation G4 – Amateur Radio Practices G5 – Electrical Principles G6 – Circuit Components G7 – Practical Circuits G8 – Signals and Emissions G9 – Antennas G0 – Electrical and RF Safety

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • Phone operating procedures; Procedural signals • The expression “CQ DX” usually indicates the caller is looking for any station outside his or her own country • The recommended way to break into a conversation when using phone is to say your call sign during a break between transmissions from the other stations. • USB/LSB utilization conventions • Single-Sideband (SSB) mode of voice communication is most commonly used on the High Frequency Amateur bands. • Single sideband (SSB) voice mode is a form of amplitude modulation in which one sideband and the carrier are suppressed. (Where have you heard this before?)

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • USB/LSB utilization conventions (cont) An unmodulated RF carrier requires narrow bandwidth Modulation of the carrier creates sidebands. This requires more bandwidth. Transmitter power is spread across this bandwidth

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • USB/LSB utilization conventions(cont)

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • USB/LSB utilization conventions(cont) • The carrier contains no audio information. • The sidebands contain duplicate audio information • By filtering out the carrier and one sideband, we save spectrum and concentrate our RF energy into a narrower bandwidth. SSB is therefore more efficient.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • USB/LSB utilization conventions(cont) • In single sideband (SSB) voice mode, only one sideband is transmitted. The other sideband and carrier are suppressed in single sideband (SSB) voice mode. • Less bandwidth used and high power efficiency is an advantage when using single sideband as compared to other voice modes on the HF amateur bands. • Upper Sideband is most commonly used for phone communications on the bands above 20 meters.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • USB/LSB utilization conventions(cont) • Upper Sideband is commonly used in the VHF and UHF bands. • Lower Sideband is commonly used on the 160, 75, and 40-meter bands. • Upper Sideband mode is most commonly used for voice communications on the 17 and 12-meter bands. • Most amateur stations use lower sideband on the 160, 75 and 40-meter bands because it is the current amateur practice to use lower sideband on these frequency bands.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2A • VOX operation • VOX allows “hands free” operation • The following user adjustable controls are usually associated with VOX circuitry: • Anti-VOX • VOX Delay • VOX Sensitivity [All of these choices are correct]

G2A Questions The following questions are taken directly from the Element 3 General Question Pool. These are the same questions that will appear on your test.

G2A01 Which sideband is most commonly used for phone communications on the bands above 20 meters? • Upper Sideband • Lower Sideband • Vestigial Sideband • Double Sideband

G2A02 Which sideband is commonly used on the 160, 75, and 40 meter bands? • Upper Sideband • Lower Sideband • Vestigial Sideband • Double Sideband

G2A03 Which sideband is commonly used in the VHF and UHF bands? • Upper Sideband • Lower Sideband • Vestigial Sideband • Double Sideband

G2A04 Which mode is most commonly used for voice communications on the 17 and 12 meter bands? • Upper Sideband • Lower Sideband • Vestigial Sideband • Double Sideband

G2A05 Which mode of voice communication is most commonly used on the High Frequency Amateur bands? • FM • AM • SSB • PM

G2A06 Which of the following is an advantage when using single sideband as compared to other voice modes on the HF amateur bands? • Very high fidelity voice modulation • Less bandwidth used and high power efficiency • Ease of tuning on receive • Less subject to static crashes (atmospherics)

G2A07 Which of the following statements is true of the single sideband (SSB) voice mode? • Only one sideband and the carrier are transmitted; the other sideband is suppressed • Only one sideband is transmitted; the other sideband and carrier are suppressed • SSB voice transmissions have higher average power than any other mode • SSB is the only mode that is authorized on the 160, 75 and 40 meter amateur bands

G2A08 Which of the following statements is true of single sideband (SSB) voice mode? • It is a form of amplitude modulation in which one sideband and the carrier are suppressed • It is a form of frequency modulation in which higher frequencies are emphasized • It reproduces upper frequencies more efficiently than lower frequencies • It is the only voice mode authorized on the HF bands between 14 and 30 MHz

G2A09 Why do most amateur stations use lower sideband on the 160, 75 and 40 meter bands? • The lower sideband is more efficient at these frequency bands • The lower sideband is the only sideband legal on these frequency bands • Because it is fully compatible with an AM detector • Current amateur practice is to use lower sideband on these frequency bands

G2A10 Which of the following statements is true of VOX operation? • The received signal is more natural sounding • VOX allows "hands free" operation • Frequency spectrum is conserved • The duty cycle of the transmitter is reduced

G2A11 Which of the following user adjustable controls are usually associated with VOX circuitry? • Anti-VOX • VOX Delay • VOX Sensitivity • All of these choices are correct

G2A12 What is the recommended way to break into a conversation when using phone? • Say "QRZ" several times followed by your call sign • Say your call sign during a break between transmissions from the other stations • Say "Break" "Break" "Break" and wait for a response • Say "CQ" followed by the call sign of either station

G2A13 What does the expression "CQ DX" usually indicate? • A general call for any station • The caller is listening for a station in Germany • The caller is looking for any station outside their own country • This is a form of distress call

G2…Operating ProceduresG2B • Operating courtesy • Move your contact to another frequency if you notice increasing interference from other activity on a frequency you are using. • If a net is about to begin on a frequency you and another station are using, move to a different frequency as a courtesy to the net. • If the frequency on which a net normally meets is in use just before the net begins, the proper course of action that should be taken is to ask the stations if the net may use the frequency, or move the net to a nearby clear frequency if necessary. (more from the Technician class, right?)

G2…Operating ProceduresG2B • Operating courtesy(cont) • The minimum frequency separation between CW signals to minimize interference is 150 to 500 Hz. • The minimum frequency separation between 170 Hz shift RTTY signals to minimize interference is 250 to 500 Hz. • The minimum frequency separation between SSB signals to minimize interference is approximately 3 kHz.

Bandwidth • Operating courtesy (cont)

G2…Operating ProceduresG2B • Operating courtesy(cont) • A practical way to avoid harmful interference when selecting a frequency to call CQ using phone is to ask if the frequency is in use, say your callsign, and listen for a response. • A practical way to avoid harmful interference when calling CQ using Morse code or CW is by sending "QRL? de" followed by your callsign and listen for a response.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2B • Band plans • A band plan is a voluntary guideline for band use beyond the divisions established by the FCC. • The “DX window” in a voluntary band plan is a portion of the band that should not be used for contacts between stations within the 48 contiguous United States. • When choosing a frequency for Slow-Scan TV (SSTV) operation, you should follow generally accepted band plans for SSTV operation in order to comply with good amateur practice.

A Band Plan is a voluntary guideline for using different operating modes within an amateur band. • 50.000-50.100: CW - No voice modes allowed per FCC section §97.305 • 50.060-50.080: CW/Beacon Subband • 50.100-50.300: Phone (SSB), etc. (no FM voice) • 50.100-50.125: DX Window • 50.300-50.600: All modes (simplex)50.600-50.800: Digital modes (e.g. Packet)50.800-51.000: Radio Control (R/C)51.000-51.100: "Pacific DX window" (SSB/CW)51.120-51.480: 6 Meter FM Repeater Inputs (areas w/500 KHz split)51.500-51.600: Simplex FM, 6 channels: 51.500, 51.520, 51.540, 51.560, 51.580, and 51.60051.620-51.980: 6 Meter FM Repeater Outputs (areas w/500 KHz split)52.000-52.480: 6 Meter FM Repeater Inputs (for 500 KHz and 1 MHz split) • Note: 52.525, 52.400, 52.040, and 52.020 are widely used for simplex operation with 52.525 being the "national simplex" frequency. • 52.500-52.980: 6 Meter FM Repeater Outputs53.000-53.480: 6 Meter FM Repeater Inputs and Repeater Outputs53.500-53.980: 6 Meter FM Repeater Outputs

G2…Operating ProceduresG2B • Band plans(cont) • When choosing a frequency for radio-teletype (RTTY) operation, you should follow generally accepted band plans for RTTY operation in order to comply with good amateur practice • When choosing a frequency for HF PSK operation, you should follow generally accepted band plans for PSK operation in order to comply with good amateur practice.

G2B Questions The following questions are taken directly from the Element 3 General Question Pool. These are the same questions that will appear on your test.

G2B01 What action should be taken if the frequency on which a net normally meets is in use just before the net begins? • Reduce your output power and start the net as usual • Increase your power output so that net participants will be able to hear you • Ask the stations if the net may use the frequency, or move the net to a nearby clear frequency if necessary • Cancel the net for that day

G2B02 What should be done if a net is about to begin on a frequency you and another station are using? • Move to a different frequency as a courtesy to the net • Tell the net that they must to move to another frequency • Reduce power to avoid interfering with the net • Pause between transmissions to give the net a chance to change frequency

G2B03 What should you do if you notice increasing interference from other activity on a frequency you are using? • Tell the interfering stations to change frequency since you were there first • Report the interference to your local Amateur Auxiliary Coordinator • Move your contact to another frequency • Turn on your amplifier

G2B04 What minimum frequency separation between CW signals should be allowed to minimize interference? • 5 to 50 Hz • 150 to 500 Hz • 1 to 3 kHz • 3 to 6 kHz

G2B05 What minimum frequency separation between SSB signals should be allowed to minimize interference? • Between 150 and 500 Hz • Approximately 3 kHz • Approximately 6 kHz • Approximately 10 kHz

G2B06 What minimum frequency separation between 170 Hz shift RTTY signals should be allowed to minimize interference? • 60 Hz • 250 to 500 Hz • Approximately 3 kHz • 170 Hz

G2B07 What is a band plan? • A voluntary guideline for band use beyond the divisions established by the FCC • A guideline from the FCC for making amateur frequency band allocations • A guideline from the ITU for making amateur frequency band allocations • A plan devised by a club to best use a frequency band during a contest

G2B08 What is the “DX window” in a voluntary band plan? • A portion of the band that should not be used for contacts between stations within the 48 contiguous United States • An FCC rule that prohibits contacts between stations within the United States and possessions on that band segment • An FCC rule that allows only digital contacts in that portion of the band • A portion of the band that has been set aside for digital contacts only

G2B09 What should you do to comply with good amateur practice when choosing a frequency for Slow-Scan TV (SSTV) operation? • Transmit only on lower sideband • Transmit your callsign as an SSTV image for 1 minute to ensure a clear frequency • Select a frequency in the portion of the band set aside for digital operation • Follow generally accepted band plans for SSTV operation

G2B10 What should you do to comply with good amateur practice when choosing a frequency for radio-teletype (RTTY) operation? • Call CQ in Morse code before attempting to establish a contact in RTTY • Select a frequency in the upper end of the phone band • Select a frequency in the lower end of the phone band • Follow generally accepted band plans for RTTY operation

G2B11 What should you do to comply with good amateur practice when choosing a frequency for HF PSK operation? • Call CQ in Morse code before attempting to establish a contact in PSK • Select a frequency in the upper end of the phone band • Select a frequency in the lower end of the phone band • Follow generally accepted band plans for PSK operation

G2B12 What is a practical way to avoid harmful interference when selecting a frequency to call CQ using phone? • Ask if the frequency is in use, say your callsign, and listen for a response • Keep your CQ to less than 2 minutes in length to avoid interference to contacts that may be in progress • Listen for 2 minutes before calling CQ to avoid interference to contacts that may be in progress • Call CQ at low power first and if there is no indication of interference, increase power as necessary

G2B13 What is a practical way to avoid harmful interference when calling CQ using Morse code or CW? • Send the letter "V" 12 times and then listen for a response • Keep your CQ to less than 2 minutes in length to avoid interference with contacts already in progress • Send "QRL? de" followed by your callsign and listen for a response • Call CQ at low power first; if there is no indication of interference then increase power as necessary

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications • When normal communications systems are not available, an amateur station may use any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communications when there is an immediate threat to the safety of human life or the protection of property.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications(cont) • Only a person holding an FCC issued amateur operator license may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES to assist relief operations during a disaster.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications(cont) • When the President’s War Emergency Powers have been invoked, the FCC may restrict normal frequency operations of amateur stations participating in RACES.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications(cont) • The first thing you should do if you are communicating with another amateur station and hear a station in distress break in is to acknowledge the station in distress and determine what assistance may be needed. • The location and nature of the emergency should be given to a station answering a distress transmission.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications(cont) • An amateur station is NEVER prevented from using any means at its disposal to assist another station in distress. • A control operator would be making an unidentified transmission when transmitting out of the amateur band without station identification during a life-threatening emergency. • Any frequency authorized to the control operator may be used by an amateur station to obtain assistance when in distress. • Any and/or all emission modes may be used to obtain assistance during a disaster.

G2…Operating ProceduresG2C • Emergencies, including drills and emergency communications(cont) • An amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communications needs and to facilitate relief actions during a disaster. • Whatever frequency has the best chance of communicating the distress message should be used to send a distress call. • You are never prohibited from helping any station in distress. (holy cow, more from the Technician class this is getting easy)

General Licensing Class “G2”