Difference between revisions of "Ham radio"

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== Call Signs ==
 
== Call Signs ==
  
Call signs begin with a one- two- or three-character prefix chosen from a range assigned by the ITU to the amateur's country of operation or other internationally recognized jurisdiction.  
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Each station is assigned a call sign which is used to identify the station during transmissions.
  
The beginning of the list of call sign ranges is:
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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.
*    AAA–ALZ United States of America
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Call Sign Prefix State
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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.   
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*A - Amateur Extra Class
W0 Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
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*B - Advanced Class
W1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
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*C - Technician or General
W2 New Jersey, New York
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*D - Club, and Military Recreations Stations; and sequentially to Technician or General
W3 Delaware, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania
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  W4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
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W5 Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
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W6 California
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W7 Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Wyoming
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W8 Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia
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W9 Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
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AL0-7, KL0-7,
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NL0-7, WL0-7 Alaska
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AH6-7, KH6-7,
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NH6-7, WH6-7 Hawaii
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While the prefix uniquely identifies a country the suffix is unique for the individual. In Canada a call sign such as VE3ABC has VE3 (Ontario) as the prefix and ABC as the suffix. In the U.S the call sign N2MG has a prefix of N2 and suffix of MG. U.S. hams may also have a two letter prefix thus AB2Z is a valid call. Suffixes may also be less than three letters so you have call signs such as VE7AB in British Columbia and KH6Y in Hawaii.
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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.
 
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Call Sign Digit
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This digit is always a single numeral, 0 (zero) through 9 which usually indicates a geographical area within the continental (lower 48 contiguous) United States. For initially issued call signs, the mailing address of the licensee determines the numeral. Area digits (also between 0 and 9) of ham stations outside of the contiguous U.S. are arbitrarily assigned by the FCC. For example the area digit for American Samoa is the number 8.  
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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 ==
 
== sample test questions ==

Revision as of 22:07, 5 June 2015

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.