Ham radio
HAM Radio also known as Amateur Radio is communication on designated bands for non-commercial use.
Call Signs
Each station is assigned a call sign which is used to identify the station during transmissions.
Amateur station call signs in the US take the format of one or two letters (the prefix), then a numeral (the call district), and finally between one and three letters (the suffix). The number of letters used in the call sign is determined by the operator's license class and the availability of letter combinations.
An amateur operator with an Amateur Extra Class license can hold a call from any of the four call sign groups, either by keeping an existing call sign (indefinitely, since there is no requirement to change call sign upon license renewal), or by choosing a Group B, C or D call sign under the Vanity Licensing Program.
- A - Amateur Extra Class
- B - Advanced Class
- C - Technician or General
- D - Club, and Military Recreations Stations; and sequentially to Technician or General
During the processing of a new license application, a call sign is selected from the available list sequentially using the sequential call sign system. This system is based on the alphabetized regional-group list for the licensee's operator class and mailing address.
As of March 2010, the sequential system for Technician or General is assigning 2-by-3 formats beginning with the letter K.
sample test questions
Technician Class
Q: What does the abbreviation FET stand for?
- A: Field Effect Transistor
Q: What electrical component stores energy in an electric field?
- A: Capacitor
Q: What is meant by the term 'check' in reference to a formal traffic message?
- A: The check is a count of the number of words or word equivalents in the text portion of the message.
Q: What is meant by the term 'knife edge' propagation?
- A: Signals are partially refracted around solid objects exhibiting sharp edges.
Q: What is the characteristic appearance of a cold solder joint?
- A: A grainy or dull surface.
Q: What causes 'spin fading' when referring to satellite signals?
- A: Rotation of the satellite and its antennas.
Q: What is the term used to describe the use of a aub-audible tone transmitted with normal voice audio to open the squelch of a receiver?
- A: CTCSS
Q: Why is coaxial cable used more often than any other feedline for amateur radio antenna systems?
- A: It is easy to use and requires few special installation considerations.
