Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Intermediate Course (8) Operating Practice

1. Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Intermediate Course(8) Operating Practice

2. Q-Codes • Q-Codes are a form of abbreviation used during a CW contact. However some have come into use for normal voice contacts. • A question mark after a Q-Code means a question. • For international and amateur means see table in Book/Handout. Recall the meaning and the reason for use of the Q codes: • QRL, QRM, QRN, QRP, QRT, QRZ, QSB, QSL, QSO, QSY, QTH.

3. Abbreviations CQ GENERAL CALL TO ALL STATIONS DE FROM (THIS IS) DX LONG DISTANCE * R RECEIVED RST READABILTY, SIGNAL STRENGTH, TONE SIG SIGNAL UR YOUR WX WEATHER * Very subjective - assume any place outside of my continent

4. RST Signal Reporting RST:- Readability Strength Tone READABILITY 1 Unreadable 2 Barely Readable, occasional word distinguishable 3 Readable with Considerable difficulty 4 Readable with practically no difficulty 5 Perfectly Readable

5. Signal Reporting-2 SIGNAL 1 Faint, Signals barely perceptible 2 Very Weak Signals 3 Weak Signals 4 Fair Signals 5 Fairly Good Signals 6 Good Signals 7 Moderately Strong Signals 8 Strong Signals 9 Extremely Strong Signals

6. Signal Reporting-3 TONE 1 Extremely Rough Hissing Noise 2 Very Rough Note. No Trace of Musicality 3 Rough, low-pitched note. Slightly Musical 4 Rather Rough note. Moderately Musical 5 Musically modulated note 6 Modulated note. Slight trace of whistle 7 Near Good Note. Smooth ripple 8 Good Note. Just a trace of ripple 9 Purest Note

7. Operational Advantages of Transmission Modes • CW (Continuous Wave) [usually Morse]. CW mode has a narrow bandwidth and greater range for a given transmitter power. CW will in 99% of cases make a contact in poor conditions when other modes fail. • SSB (Single Side Band) Good for voice transmission over long distance. Ensure that on the receiver that the bandwidth is set for SSB reception - 2.0kHz or 2.4kHz filter. • FM. (Frequency Modulation). Has the shortest range and maximum (Wide) bandwidth. For shorter range transmissions it offers high quality speech.

8. PTT Rx Audio FROM SOUND CARD TRANSCEIVER INTERFACE Tx Audio PTT Rx Audio FROM I/O PORT MODEM TRANSCEIVER Tx Audio Set-ups for Other Modes

9. Other Operating Modes • PSK31 is a narrow band transmission mode suitable for either data or text on HF; similar modes are PACTOR, AMTOR, and RTTY. Look for these modes around .070 to .100 on the 14 or 21 MHz bands. • SSTV Slow Scan Television is like facsimile and can transmit pictures over a HF or VHF voice channel, with a 2.4kHz bandwidth. The pictures are generated either by computer or video camera. Look for these around .230. • FSTV Fast Scan TV needs a wide bandwidth and is therefore only suitable for VHF or UHF - mainly on 23cms now.

10. QTH & QSL Information • The starting point for UK stations is the RSGB Callbook which lists most UK calls. • Country prefixes can be found in the Callbook or the useful prefix guide published by the RSGB. • Overseas callsign information can be found either on QRZ.com, or Buckmaster, which are USA Internet sites. • There is a very good CD “The Flying Horse Callbook” which is available from the RSGB.

11. QSL Cards • Sending and Receiving QSL cards:- • QSL cards are known as the final courtesy of a QSO. • Most stations like to send and receive cards. • If you become interested in awards then you are required to be in possession of the cards confirming the contacts. • NOTE: e-QSLs are not accepted for most awards. • Two routes are available to exchange cards - via a QSL Bureau, OR Direct to the station.

12. OVERSEAS BUREAUS UK Amateur Community who have lodged Stamped Addressed Envelopes with relevant Sub-Manager RSGB HQ PO BOX 1773 VOLUNTEER RSGB Sub-Managers RSGB MEMBER’S CARDS QSL Card Bureau

13. Common Country Prefixes • Country prefixes were allocated by international conference in 1923. • There may be more than one prefix per country. • Remember:- • EI Eire - Irish Republic • F France • I Italy • JA Japan • PA Netherlands • VE Canada • VK Australia • W or K USA • ZL New Zealand

14. Contests and Awards • Love them or loathe them Contests are here to stay. • HINT: Use contests to help with awards. • Awards; DXCC is the top award followed by IOTA • DXCC basic is 100 countries confirmed by receipt of QSL card. • IOTA (Islands On The Air) award administered by the RSGB. • IOTA was created over 30 years ago • IOTA is an amateur radio award programme requiring contacts with island stations world-wide. • About 18 separate awards are available, which also require cards.

15. MINIMUM 150 kms Orbit Amateur Satellites • Most Amateur Satellites orbit the earth in a short timespan. ie. less than 24 hours. Thus each satellite will complete several orbits per day. • Depending upon the relative position of the satellite to earth each appearance above the horizon will be of a short duration • Some satellites have elliptical orbits to maximise time above the horizon. • To communicate with the satellite each station shall have a clear line of sight path. • Satellites have limited power, derived from solar panels. Excessive Uplink Powers can result in wasteful and unfair use of the satellites limited power

16. DOWNLINK UPLINK TRANSMITTTER RECEIVER Satellite Operating ONE WAY PATH • Uplink and downlink frequencies are often in different amateur bands. • For example: uplink on 70cms, and downlink on 2m. • Transmitting Stations need to receive both up and downlink frequencies. • Movement of the satellite in relation to earth will cause the Receive frequency to change. This is called Doppler Shift, and needs to be allowed for.