Welcome to B.A.R.K.’s TECHNICIAN CLASS

1. Welcome to B.A.R.K.’sTECHNICIAN CLASS About Ham Radio # 1

2. Some famous people have been also ham radio operators. The King of Jordan was an avid ham operator, Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, Chet Atkins, Ronnie Milsap and perhaps the best ham radio advocate was newsman Walter Cronkite. Current celebrity hams include musicians Joe Walsh and Patti Lovelace, baseball star Joe Rudi and New York Governor George Pataki . Cronkite produced an excellent video explaining what ham radio is all about.

3. Intro to Ham Radio So what exactly is ham radio? It’s a hobby. A FUN hobby! There are over 680,000 hams in the United States. Alaska has 3,500 licensed operators. There are 62 amateur radio licensees in Bethel.

4. Intro to Ham Radio What can you do with an amateur radio license? Emergency Communications Track/Text other operators online (APRS) Echolink/IRLP (VOIP) Satellite Operations (AMSAT) Electronics/software experiments Communicate World-Wide via: -PSK 31 -Radio Teletype -Voice (AM, FM, Single Sideband) -Morse Code

5. Intro to Ham Radio Amateur radio operators are often called “hams”. We’re not sure where the term came from. Some say it’s from old operators showing off their stations. Vaudeville actors were also called hams. The official definition of a amateur radio operator is: Persons who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. The official definition of an amateur radio station is: A station in an Amateur Radio Service consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communications.

6. Intro to Ham Radio In the United States the Amateur Radio Service is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, (FCC) under Part 97 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). World-wide regulation of the radio spectrum is enforced by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The ITU has divided the world into three regions, North and South America are in region 2.

7. Intro to Ham Radio The ITU Regions

8. Intro to Ham Radio The FCC has divided the United States into 10 call districts. Alaska is located in area #7.

9. Intro to Ham Radio Amateurs in the United States can communicate with any amateur in any country whose administration has not notified the ITU that it objects to such communications. If you travel, you can also operate your station in a foreign country in which the United States has a reciprocal operating agreement. Make sure to get prior permission!

10. Intro to Ham Radio • FCC issued Amateur Radio License: • Valid for 10 years. • 2.Two year grace period. • 3.You may not operate • during the grace period. • 4.No age requirements. • 5. New licensees may not • operate until their name and • call sign appear in the Universal • Licensing System (ULS) database.

11. Intro to Ham Radio Three levels of licenses: Technician- 35 question element 2 exam General- 35 question element 3 exam Extra- 50 question element 4 exam A passing grade for each exam is 70%. (You must answer 26 of the 35 questions correctly). Learning morse code is no longer required! All exams are administered by 3 Volunteer Examiners (VE’s). The VE’s must accredited by a Volunteer Exam Coordinator (VEC) AND hold a valid license at least one level above the exam being administered.

12. Intro to Ham Radio There are many different aspects to ham radio, and every interest has a unique organization. The Amateur Radio Relay League is considered the National organization in the United States. The Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) primarily focuses on emergency preparedness. The AMSAT organization is comprised of satellite operations enthusiasts.

13. Intro to Ham Radio Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (Races). Amateur operators working with civil emergency services. Although Morse code skills are no longer a license requirement, the FIST organization is dedicated to the preservation of Morse code skills. The Quarter Century Wireless Assn. (QCWA) is comprised of amateurs who have been licensed for more than 25 years.

14. Intro to Ham Radio The Radio Emergency Amateur Communications Team Was formed after hurricane Katrina and is dedicated to providing emergency communications. The Six Meter International Radio Klub is for the six meter (magic band) enthusiasts. 10 – 10 International promotes the use of the 10 meters (28 MHz) band.

15. Intro to Ham Radio QRP International is a group of amateurs who enjoy The challenge of operating low power equipment ( 5 Watts or less). The Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society combines the historical preservation of lighthouses and amateur radio. Every year they set up portable radio stations in lighthouses. The Tuscon Amateur Packet Radio club specializes In developing and promoting digital communications.

16. There are many other national ham radio organizations! Off Road Hams Islands On the Air Motorcycle Hams RV Owners

17. Alaska Ham Clubs SPARC (Nome)

18. And of course…….

19. Web Site- AL7YK.ORG

20. Intro to Ham Radio Many hams enjoy Dx Expeditions. A DX Expedition is a group of hams who travel to remote, exotic areas of the world and set up hams radio stations. These expeditions often take several years to arrange, especially to receive permission for a radio station from the host country. The DX Expedition are VERY popular to work because of their rare call signs. Marquesas Islands

21. This DX Expedition made over 60,000 contacts in a week. They also got stuck on the island due to an unexpected storm.

22. Intro to Ham Radio Contesting…..

23. Balloon Experiments

24. Fox Hunts Radio direction finding techniques have been used by Amateurs to locate sources of radio-frequency interference to Amateur or other radio communications systems. RDF-equipped Amateurs help authorities locate downed civilian aircraft in rugged terrain by tracking the aircraft's ELT. "Fox"-hunting is a recreational activity where a group of Amateurs use their RDF equipment to locate one or more of their members who are transmitting from secret locations. Fox-hunting is both great fun and good practice for honing one's RDF skills.

25. More Activities…… Youth Activities include the Jamboree On the Air every October and the ARRL Kid’s Day

26. International Space Station

27. More Activities…… Courage Center Handiham System Ham Radio & technology for people with disabilities. The Courage HANDI-HAM System was "born" in Rochester, Minnesota in 1967; the idea of Ned Carman, W0ZSW. Ned worked for a clinic, and, in the course of his work, would visit people with severe physical disabilities. As he spoke with his clients, who often had few opportunities to leave their homes, he realized that Amateur Radio would be the perfect hobby for them. Here was a hobby that could open a window to the world! A person with the most severe disabilities could stand as an equal with fellow hams in the world of Amateur Radio!

28. ARRL Field Day ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada.  Each year over 35,000 amateurs gather with their clubs, friends or simply by themselves to operate. ARRL Field Day is not a fully adjudicated contest, which explains much of its popularity.  It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, most groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities.  It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to local elected community leaders, key individuals with the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

29. Working towards awards such as WAS 5 Band, DXCC, Gold Fists Certificate and Century Club Night Owl

30. Let’s Review ! These are actual Element 2 test questions….

31. T1A01 For whom is the Amateur Radio Service intended?A. Persons who have messages to broadcast to the publicB. Persons who need communications for the activities of their immediate family members, relatives and friendsC. Persons who need two-way communications for personal reasonsD. Persons who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest

32. T1A01 (D)For whom is the Amateur Radio Service intended?A. Persons who have messages to broadcast to the publicB. Persons who need communications for the activities of their immediate family members, relatives and friendsC. Persons who need two-way communications for personal reasonsD. Persons who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest

33. T1A02 What agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States?A. FEMAB. The ITUC. The FCCD. Homeland Security

34. T1A02 (C) What agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States?A. FEMA B. The ITUC. The FCCD. Homeland Security

35. T1D01 With which countries are FCC-licensed amateur stations prohibited from exchanging communications?A. Any country whose administration has notified the ITU that it objects to such communicationsB. Any country whose administration has notified the United Nations that it objects to such communicationsC. Any country engaged in hostilities with another countryD. Any country in violation of the War Powers Act of 1934

36. T1D01 (A)With which countries are FCC-licensed amateur stations prohibited from exchanging communications?A. Any country whose administration has notified the ITU that it objects to such communicationsB. Any country whose administration has notified the United Nations that it objects to such communicationsC. Any country engaged in hostilities with another countryD. Any country in violation of the War Powers Act of 1934

37. T1C08 What is the normal term for an FCC-issued primary station/operator license grant?A. Five yearsB. LifeC. Ten yearsD. Twenty years

38. T1C08 (C) What is the normal term for an FCC-issued primary station/operator license grant?A. Five years B. LifeC. Ten yearsD. Twenty years

39. T1C09 What is the grace period following the expiration of an amateur license within which the license may be renewed?A. Two yearsB. Three yearsC. Five yearsD. Ten years

40. T1C09 (A) What is the grace period following the expiration of an amateur license within which the license may be renewed?A. Two yearsB. Three years C. Five years D. Ten years

41. T1C11 If your license has expired and is still within the allowable grace period, may you continue to operate a transmitter on amateur service frequencies?A. No, transmitting is not allowed until the ULS database shows that the license has been renewedB. Yes, but only if you identify using the suffix "GP"C. Yes, but only during authorized netsD. Yes, for up to two years

42. T1C11 (A)If your license has expired and is still within the allowable grace period, may you continue to operate a transmitter on amateur service frequencies?A. No, transmitting is not allowed until the ULS database shows that the license has been renewedB. Yes, but only if you identify using the suffix "GP"C. Yes, but only during authorized netsD. Yes, for up to two years

43. T1A10 What is the FCC Part 97 definition of an amateur station?A. A station in an Amateur Radio Service consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communicationsB. A building where Amateur Radio receivers, transmitters, and RF power amplifiers are installedC. Any radio station operated by a non-professionalD. Any radio station for hobby use

44. T1A10 (A)What is the FCC Part 97 definition of an amateur station?A. A station in an Amateur Radio Service consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communicationsB. A building where Amateur Radio receivers, transmitters, and RF power amplifiers are installedC. Any radio station operated by a non-professionalD. Any radio station for hobby use

45. Thank you! About Ham Radio # 1