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Understanding Amateur Radio Equipment: Knobs, Buttons, and Functions

Learn how to use the various knobs and buttons on your amateur radio equipment with this comprehensive guide. From selecting the proper antenna and frequency to adjusting mic gain and setting the RF power control, this manual covers it all.

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Understanding Amateur Radio Equipment: Knobs, Buttons, and Functions

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  1. Chapter 5 Amateur Radio Equipment

  2. Chapter 5 Transmitters & Receivers You are sitting in front of your radio now what? What do all those knobs and buttons do? Read your Manual! 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  3. Transmitters & Receivers Getting Ready Steps • Turn rig (radio) on • Select Band • Select Proper Antenna for Band • Select Frequency • VFO, Memory, Direct Entry Keypad • VFO Tuning increment 1kHz, 100, 10, 1Hz • Select Transmit Mode • USB/LSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY • Turn off RIT/Clarifier Ctrl • Set RF Power Control • Select receive filter • 2.4 kHz for SSB, 500 Hz or less for CW • Speech Processor “OFF” • Listen to insure a clear frequency • Ask“Is this frequency in use?” several times • Press (Ant) Tune Button to ready Transmitter • Check Mic Gain for proper meter reading 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  4. Radio Controls • Mic Gain – sets mic sensitivity • ALC set to avoid distortion • AF Gain – Audio Freq. or Volume control • Squelch/RF Gain – Quiet backbround noise/Sets receive sensitivity (may be separate controls) • ATT – Attenuator reduces receiver sensitivity in programmed steps • Pre-Amp – Boosts receive sensitivity, also raises noise floor, seldom used below 12 Meters • RIT/Clar – Receiver Incremental Tuning, separates your receive from your transmit freq. • XIT – moves transmit frequency independent of receive • Shift – moves your receive pass-band to reduce adjacent freq. interference • Metering • S-Meter – S1-9 +20, 30 • Power – Tx watts or % • SWR - <2.0 desired • ALC – <full deflection 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  5. Radio Controls • Twin PBT – Pass band tuning, changes the upper and lower edge of your receiver pass-band to reduce interferance • Notch – Auto or Manual filters out unwanted frequencies, Hetrodyne • Noise blanker – Reduces noise like ignition noise • Noise Reduction – Quiets of softens the receive signal • VOX – Voice Operated Transmit (hands free) • VOX gain, Anti-VOX, Delay • VFO A/B – Selects between either VFO • Split – Transmit on A VFO and receive on B or reverse • Memory – Select Memory mode for Frequency selection • AGC – Auto Gain Control • Slow, Medium, Fast (CW) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  6. Digital Modes • CW - on / off keying most basic digital mode RTTY – Radio Teletype, was one of the first digital modes – 5 bit Baudot code, only upper case letter and figures, 100% duty Cycle • PSK-31 – Phase Shift Keying at 31 Baud, replaced RTTY as the most popular digital mode, very low power and easy on your transmitter (Soundcard) • Digipan, Fldigi, Ham Radio Deluxe - DM780 • FT8, JT65, JT9 – Low power weak signal 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  7. Digital Modes • Packet – Keyboard to Keyboard Mode • Simplex Channels (145.01 to 145.09 MHz) • AX.25 protocol • ARQ – Automatic Repeat Request (Error Correction) • HF uses 300 baud, VHF/UHF uses 1200 baud on 2 meters and 9600 baud on higher bands • TNC – Hardware (Terminal Node Controller) encodes an decodes Packet data • Digipeaters – Digital Repeaters, store and forward information, retransmits similar to a voice repeater but not simultaniously • Winlink Gateway email (W4LCO 145.030) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  8. Digital Modes • Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) using packet mainly on 2-Meters 144.390 MHz • Interfaces GPS with Packet to send beacons with station coordinates • Local features such as repeaters, hamfests, operating events, etc. • Voice Alert; shows frequency received stations are monitoring (with Kenwood radio) • Home stations use software like Aprsis32 (Free) which uses OpenStreetMap to show station’s exact location • Some GPS’s interface with radios to show station locations on the GPS’s map display 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  9. Digital Modes • D-Star – Icom incantation of digital voice/data radios • Runs on VHF/UHF Simplex or Repeater • Also has analog FM for compatibility • Can connect to reflectors via the internet for long distance contacts • DMR • Commerical used by Hams 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  10. Digital Mode Equipment • TNC – Terminal Node Controller (Packet) • Kantronics – KPC-3+ (1200 baud only) $200 • Kantronics – Kam XL (HF 300, 1200, & 9600) $420 • MFJ-1270X – MFJ TNC-x KISS mode TNC $125 • Byonics – TinyTrack IV KISS TNC assembled $75 • Computer Interface to Radio • RigBlaster (West Mountain Radio) Several models • Some use computer sound for audio, some have built-in sound cards • Signalink USB – Most popular interface, has built-in soundcard $85 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  11. Power Supplies • Power Supplies: • Convert 120V AC to 13.8V DC to power radios • Rated by voltage and current, 13.8V 20A, 13.8V 30A, etc. • Regulation is important, no load to max load should have very small voltage change if any • Allow at least a 25% safety margin above what the radio draws • Linear (Heavy, very reliable, more expensive) • Switching (like computer P.S., light weight, very popular, lower price) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  12. Power Supplies • Linear (Heavy, very reliable, more expensive) • Switching (like computer P.S., light weight, very popular, lower price) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  13. Generators • Generators: • Use sine wave output inverting type (BEST) • Voltage must be well regulated • Power tools don’t require clean output or good regulation • Vary in capacity from 500 Watts on up to several Kilowatts (KW) • Smaller generators 120V only • Larger Generators also have 230V output 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  14. Batteries • Three basic groups: • Disposable or Primary – use once then recycle (Alkaline AAA, AA, 9V, etc.) Can be refrigerated to extend life but don’t freeze them • Rechargeable or Secondary - can be recharged many times (NiMH, NiCd, LiON, etc.) • Storage – used for long term energy storage, can be recharged many times (SLA, AGM, NiCd), usually higher capacity than other types, rated in Ampere Hours (AH) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  15. Batteries • HT’s use a variety of types: • Battery Rating in mAh milliamp hours • Different type chargers for each type battery • NiCad (develop memory if not proper charged and discharged) • NiMH have better amp hour rating than NiCad • Lithium Ion – like laptop computers, long battery life 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  16. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) • All hams experience RFI • Hams can receive RFI from various devices • Arc Welders, Electric Motors, Plasma TVs, Over the horizon Radar, Baby monitors, electric fences, Switch power supplies • Transmitters • Low Pass filters to reduce harmonics and frequencies above 30 MHz, Common Mode Chokes on Coax, Grounding • TV’s & other devices • High Pass filter to pass the TV frequencies and block the lower ham frequencies • Ferrite beads or clamp on ferrite chokes on power leads or speaker leads to remove RF currents • Direct Detecting – from strong signals (Fundamental Overload) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  17. RFI • Insure your own home is RF clean • Use proper grounding (National Electric Code) • Insure you station equipment is tuned properly • Get signal reports from friends • Assure your station is sounding good • Not over driven, mic gain or speech processor set to hot • Use good engineering practices when installing your equipment (wire size, fuses, power disconnects) • Mobiles (don’t want flying object is case of accident) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  18. RFI • Part 15 Rules • Unlicensed devices (unintentional radiators) • May NOT cause interference to a Licensed Station • MUST ACCEPT interference caused by a properly operated Licensed Station • Owner of the unlicensed device is responsible for fixing interference • Although you may assist in isolation, DO NOT FIX a problem for the owner 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  19. RF Grounding • RF Grounding = Radio Grounding • Keep all the radio equipment at the same RF voltage • Not a substitute from AC safety ground • Bond all metal enclosures to a common ground BUS • #8 or larger solid wire to 8’ ground rod • Keep ground wire lengths short, no loops • ½” copper pipe makes good ground buss • NEC requires all ground rods to be bonded to svc entrance ground 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  20. Radios: Handi Talkies (HT) Yaesu FT-60R Dual Band $144.95 Yaesu FT-270R 2-meter (splash proof) $139.95 Yaesu FT-250R 2-meter $126.95 Yaesu VX-8DR Dual Band w/APRS $340.95 (rebate) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  21. Radios: Handi Talkies Kenwood TH-D72a Dual band with APRS & GPS $450 Icom IC-V80-Sport 2-meters $98 Icom IC-92AD Dual Band with D-Star $480 Kenwood TH-K20a 2-meters $135 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  22. Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Yaesu FT-1900R 2-meter (55W) $160 Yaesu FT-7900R Dual Bander $324 Yaesu FT-2900R 2-meter 75W $190 Yaesu FT-8800R Dual Bander $430 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  23. Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Kenwood TM-281a 2-meter 65W $143 Kenwood TM-D710G Dual Bander 50W w/APRS, Packet& GPS $640 Kenwood TM-V71a Dual Bander 50W $365 Yaesu FTM-400DR Dual Bander 50Ww/C4FM, APRS, GPS$590 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  24. Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Icom ID-5100A Dual Bander 50W D-Star Touchscreen $725 Icom IC-2300 2-meter 65W $190 Icom IC-V8000 2-meter 75W $219 Icom ID-880H-05 Dual Bander 50W W/D-Star $420 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  25. Radios: HF + Yaesu FT-450D $750 Yaesu FTDX1200 $1,370 Yaesu FT-897D HF with VHF/UHF $980 Yaesu FT-857D HF with VHF/UHF $790 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  26. Radios: HF + Icom IC-7200 HF + 6-meters USB computer interface $890 Icom IC-7410 HF + 6-meters, USB computer Interface, $1,525 Icom IC-718 HF + 6-meters $640 Icom IC-7100 Mobile HF + 6m, 2m, 70cm D-Star, USB computer Interface $1,275 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  27. Radios: HF + Kenwood TS-2000 Complete Shack in a Box HF + VHF/UHF & satellite $1,430 Kenwood TS-590S HF + 6-meters $1,260 Kenwood TS-480SAT HF + 6-meters Separate Control Head $920 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

  28. Questions? 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5

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