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Technician Licensing Class “T6”. Our thanks to the Plano Amateur Radio Club, Plano, Texas. Amateur Radio Technician Class Element 2. ELEMENT 2 SUB-ELEMENTS T1 - FCC Rules, station license responsibilities T2 - Control operator duties T3 - Operating practices
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Technician Licensing Class“T6” Our thanks to the Plano Amateur Radio Club, Plano, Texas
Amateur Radio Technician ClassElement 2 ELEMENT 2 SUB-ELEMENTS • T1 - FCC Rules, station license responsibilities • T2 - Control operator duties • T3 - Operating practices • T4 - Radio and electronic fundamentals • T5 - Station setup and operation • T6 - Communications modes and methods • T7 - Special operations • T8 - Emergency and Public Service Communications • T9 - Radio waves, propagation, and antennas • T0 - Electrical and RF Safety
Communications modes and methods T6A • Modulation modes, descriptions and bandwidth (AM, FM, SSB) An amateur radio station used to connect other amateur radio stations to the internet is called a gateway. PC User Internet Gateway Gateway Repeater Repeater
Communications modes and methods T6A • Modulation modes, descriptions and bandwidth (AM, FM, SSB)(cont) • Phone transmissions are voice transmissions by radio. • Single sideband (SSB) is a form of amplitude modulation.
Amplitude Modulation An unmodulated RF carrier requires narrow Bandwidth (on and off is CW) Modulation of the carrier creates sidebands. This requires more bandwidth. Transmitter power is spread across this bandwidth
AM and SSB 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.
Communications modes and methods T6A • Modulation modes, descriptions and bandwidth (AM, FM, SSB) (cont) • Upper sideband is normally used for VHF and UHF SSB communications. • The primary advantage of single sideband over FM for voice transmissions is that SSB signals use much less bandwidth than FM signals.
Communications modes and methods T6A • Modulation modes, descriptions and bandwidth (AM, FM, SSB)(cont) • Single sideband (SSB) voice modulation is most often used for long distance and weak signal contacts on the VHF and UHF bands. • Frequency Modulation (FM) is most commonly used for VHF and UHF voice repeaters. • The emission type, CW, has the narrowest bandwidth
SSB Signal 2 - 3 kHz wide FM Signal 5 - 15 kHz wide UHF Fast-Scan TV ~ 6 MHz Bandwidth T6A
Communications modes and methodsT6A • Modulation modes, descriptions and bandwidth (AM, FM, SSB)(cont) • The approximate bandwidth of a single-sideband voice signal is between 2 and 3 kHz. • The approximate bandwidth of a frequency-modulated voice signal is between 5 and 15 kHz. • The normal bandwidth required for a conventional fast-scan TV transmission using combined video and audio on the 70-centimeter band is about 6 MHz.
Communications modes and methodsT6B • Voice communications, EchoLink and IRLP • Information is transmitted between stations via the Internet using Echolink. • EchoLink allows computer-to-radio linking for voice transmission. • Any licensed amateur radio operator may operate on the Echolink system.
Communications modes and methodsT6B • Voice communications, EchoLink and IRLP(cont) • If you hear a brief tone and then a station from Russia calling CQ on a 2-meter repeater you are listening to an Internet linked DX station. • Voice over Internet Protocol is the method used to transfer data by IRLP. • IRLP is a method of linking between two or more amateur stations using the Internet.
Communications modes and methodsT6B • Voice communications, EchoLink and IRLP(cont) • You might find a list of active nodes using VoIP in a repeater directory or the Internet. • When using a portable transceiver you select a specific IRLP node by using the keypad to transmit the IRLP node numbers. • Echolink and IRLP have in common: Voice over Internet Protocol technology.
Communications modes and methodsT6C • Packet Radio is an example of a digital communications method. • Point-to-point digital message forwarding emission mode may be used by a Technician class operator in the 219 - 220 MHz frequency range. • Phase Shift Keying (PSK) • PSK31 is a low-rate data transmission mode that works well in noisy conditions. Non-voice communications - image communications, data, CW, packet, PSK31, Morse code techniques, Q signals
Communications modes and methodsT6C • Non-voice communications - image communications, data, CW, packet, PSK31, Morse code techniques, Q signals(cont) • Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) • A global positioning system receiver is required along with your normal radio for sending automatic location reports. • A standard fast scan color television signal transmission is indicated by the term NTSC.
Communications modes and methodsT6C • Non-voice communications - image communications, data, CW, packet, PSK31, Morse code techniques, Q signals(cont) • Any sending speed at which you can reliably receive is recommended when using Morse code. • A practical reason for being able to copy CW when using repeaters is to recognize a repeater ID sent in Morse code.
Communications modes and methodsT6C • Non-voice communications - image communications, data, CW, packet, PSK31, Morse code techniques, Q signals(cont) • QRM is the "Q" signal used to indicate that you are receiving interference from other stations. • QSY is the "Q" signal used to indicate that you are changing frequency.
Q-Signals Something is causing interference I am troubled by static/noise. I am running low power. I am going off the air. Who is calling me? Your signal is fading. I received the message. I will communicate with ________ directly. I am changing frequency to _____. My location is _______. QRM QRN QRP QRT QRZ QSB QSL QSO QSY QTH
Take Aways • Connect radio stations to the Internet…Gateway • Phone is voice transmission • SSB a form of AM • USB normally used for VHF & UHF SSB • SSB advantage over FM…less bandwidth • SSB used for long distance and weak signal contacts on VHF/UHF
Take Aways (cont) • FM most common on VHF/UHF repeaters • CW has narrowest bandwidth • Bandwidth of SSB… 2-3 kHz • Bandwidth of FM…5-15 kHz • Bandwidth of Fast-scan TV on 70-centimeter • … 6 mHz
Take Aways(cont) • Echolink uses the Internet • Echolink allows computer-to-radio linking for voice • Any licensed amateur can use Echolink • Echolink & IRLP have VoIP in common • Hear a tone and CQ on 2-meter repeater… • Internet linked DX station
Take Aways(cont) • VoIP method for data transfer by IRLP • IRLP links two or more stations using the Internet • Active nodes using VoIP listed in repeater directory or on Internet • Select IRLP node with keypad • Standard fast color TV…NTSC
Take Aways(cont) • Packet Radio is digital communications • 219-220 mHz for Point-to-point digital message forwarding • PSK … Phase Shift Keying • PSK31 low-rate data mode that works well in noisy conditions
Take Aways(cont) • APRS … Automatic Position Reporting System • A GPS receiver needed for APRS • Send at speed you can reliably receive • Copy CW to recognize ID sent in Morse code • QRM … receiving interference • QSY … Change frequency
Element 2 Technician Class Question PoolT6 Valid July 1, 2006 Through June 30, 2010
T6A01 What are phone transmissions? • The use of telephones to set up an amateur radio contact • A phone patch between amateur radio and the telephone system • Voice transmissions by radio • Placing the telephone handset near a radio transceiver's microphone and speaker to relay a telephone call
T6A02 Which of the following is a form of amplitude modulation? • Frequency modulation • Phase modulation • Single sideband • Phase shift keying
T6A03 What name is given to an amateur radio station that is used to connect other amateur stations to the Internet? • A gateway • A repeater • A digipeater • A beacon station
T6A04 Which type of voice modulation is most often used for long distance and weak signal contacts on the VHF and UHF bands? • FM • AM • SSB • PM
T6A05Which type of modulation is most commonly used for VHF and UHF voice repeaters? • AM • SSB • PSK • FM
T6A06 Which emission type has the narrowest bandwidth? • FM voice • SSB voice • CW • Slow-scan TV
T6A07 Which sideband is normally used for VHF and UHF SSB communications? • Upper sideband • Lower sideband • Suppressed sideband • Inverted sideband
T6A08 What is the primary advantage of single sideband over FM for voice transmissions? • SSB signals are easier to tune in than FM signals • SSB signals are less likely to be bothered by noise interference than FM signals. • SSB signals use much less bandwidth than FM signals • SSB signals have no advantages at all in comparison to other modes.
T6A09 What is the approximate bandwidth of a single-sideband voice signal? • 1 kHz • 2 kHz • Between 3 and 6 kHz • Between 2 and 3 kHz
T6A10 What is the approximate bandwidth of a frequency-modulated voice signal? • Less than 500 Hz • About 150 kHz • Between 5 and 15 kHz • More than 30 kHz
T6A11What is the normal bandwidth required for a conventional fast-scan TV transmission using combined video and audio on the 70-centimeter band? • More than 10 MHz • About 6 MHz • About 3 MHz • About 1 MHz
T6B01 How is information transmitted between stations using Echolink? • APRS • PSK31 • Internet • Atmospheric ducting
T6B02 What does the abbreviation IRLP mean? • Internet Radio Linking Project • Internet Relay Language Protocol • International Repeater Linking Project • International Radio Linking Project
T6B03 Who may operate on the Echolink system? • Only club stations • Any licensed amateur radio operator • Technician class licensed amateur radio operators only • Any person, licensed or not, who is registered with the Echolink system
T6B04 What technology do Echolink and IRLP have in common? • Voice over Internet protocol • Ionospheric propagation • AC power lines • PSK31
T6B05 What method is used to transfer data by IRLP? • VHF Packet radio • PSK31 • Voice over Internet protocol • None of these answers are correct
T6B06 What does the term IRLP describe? • A method of encrypting data • A method of linking between two or more amateur stations using the Internet • A low powered radio using infra-red frequencies • An international logging program.
T6B07 Which one of the following allows computer-to-radio linking for voice transmission? • Grid modulation • EchoLink • AMTOR • Multiplex
T6B08What are you listening to if you hear a brief tone and then a station from Russia calling CQ on a 2-meter repeater? • An ionospheric band opening on VHF • A prohibited transmission • An Internet linked DX station • None of these answers are correct
T6B10 Where might you find a list of active nodes using VoIP? • The FCC Rulebook • From your local emergency coordinator • A repeater directory or the Internet • The local repeater frequency coordinator
T6B11 When using a portable transceiver how do you select a specific IRLP node? • Choose a specific CTCSS tone • Choose the correct DSC tone • Access the repeater autopatch • Use the keypad to transmit the IRLP node numbers