Ham Radio For Dummies

If you're interested in ham radio or have already joined the fun, make sure you know the frequency privileges of your license; ham radio Q signals; and ham radio repeater channel spacings and offsets. Keep your radio emergency frequencies handy — and if you need amateur radio information, a variety of Web sites are available.






>


>


Ham Radio Emergency-Frequency Reference Chart


Take steps to prepare yourself in case of an emergency, so you can communicate on your ham radio. Fill out the emergency frequencies and names of leaders in your area and keep this reference chart handy:







































Net or ActivityNameFrequencyTimes
Local Emergency Net


Local Emergency Net


State Emergency Net


Regional Service Net


Regional Service Net






>



>


>


Ham Radio Frequency Privileges: Technician Class, General Class


A frequency privilege is the permission granted by your ham radio license to use a particular group of frequencies. Of the three ham radio licenses permitted today (General, Technician, and Amateur Extra), two class privileges are represented below:


Technician-class frequency privileges


A Technician-class license (Tech license) is how nearly every ham starts. The Tech-licensee is granted access to all 17 ham bands with 50 MHz or higher frequencies.













































BandFrequencies (In MHz)ModeNotes
80 Meters3.525 - 3.600CW200-watt limit
40 Meters7.025 - 7.125CW200-watt limit
15 Meters21.025 - 21.200CW200-watt limit
10 Meters28.100 - 28.300CW, RTTY, Data200-watt limit

28.300 - 28.500CW, Phone, Image200-watt limit
Above 50 MHz

All amateur privileges

General-class frequency privileges


A general-class license makes all the important frequencies on the HF bands available:































































BandFrequencies (in MHz)Mode
160, 60, 30 MetersAll amateur privileges
80 Meters3.525 - 3.600CW, RTTY, Data

3.800 - 4.000CW, Phone, Image
40 Meters7.025 - 7.125CW, RTTY, Data

7.175 - 7.300CW, Phone, Image
20 Meters14.025 - 14.150CW, RTTY, Data

14.225 - 14.350CW, Phone, Image
15 Meters21.025 - 21.200CW, RTTY, Data

21.275 - 21.450CW, Phone, Image
17, 12, 10 MetersAll amateur privileges
Above 50 MHzAll amateur privileges




>



>


>


Ham Radio Q Signals


Amateur ham radio operators use Q signals (or Q codes) as shorthand to speed up non-voice communication. Each Q signal represents information: advice, an answer, or a call for action. You turn the signal into a question by adding a question mark right after the Q signal. This list of common Q signals shows the meanings of the codes as they'd appear with and without a question mark:



















































































Q SignalMeaning
QRLIs the frequency busy? The frequency is busy. Please do not
interfere.
QRMAbbreviation for interference from other signals.
QRNAbbreviation for interference from natural or man-made
static.
QROShall I increase power? Increase power.
QRPShall I decrease power? Decrease power.
QRQShall I send faster? Send faster (WPM).
QRSShall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (__WPM).
QRTShall I stop sending? Stop sending.
QRUHave you anything more for me? I have nothing more for
you.
QRVAre you ready? I am ready.
QRXStandby.
QRZWho is calling me?
QSBAbbreviation for signal fading.
QSLReceived and understood.
QSOAbbreviation for a contact.
QSTGeneral call preceding a message addressed to all
amateurs.
QSXI am listening on ___ kHz.
QSYChange to transmission on another frequency (or to ___
kHz).
QTHWhat is your location? My location is ____.




>



>


>


Common Ham Radio Repeater Channel Spacings and Offsets


A ham radio repeater station is an amateur station that retransmits the signals of other stations. The difference between the repeaters' input frequency (the frequency for listening for your signal) and the output frequency (the frequency you listen to) is called the repeater offset. The combination of the two is the repeater pair. Each input or output channel is separated by the same frequency, the channel spacing, so each pair leapfrogs its neighbor.


This list shows the most common output frequencies and repeater offsets to try.


























































BandOutput Frequencies of Each Group (In MHz)Offset from Output to Input Frequency
6-meters51.62 - 51.98- 500 kHz

52.5 - 52.98

53.5 - 53.98
2-meters (there is a mix of 20 and 15 kHz channel spacing)145.2 - 145.5- 600 kHz

146.61 - 147.00- 600 kHz

147.00 - 147.39+ 600 kHz
220 MHz223.85 - 224.98- 1.6 MHz
440 MHz (local options determine whether inputs are above or
below outputs)
442 - 445 (California repeaters start at 440 MHz)+ 5 MHz

447 - 450- 5 MHz
1296 MHz1282 -1288- 12 MHz




>



>


>


Useful Ham Radio Web Sites


Ham radio users can tap into an abundance of online information from a variety of Web sites. These amateur-radio Web sites have details about ham radio contests, equipment, technical information, and tips on operating a ham radio.











































URLOrganization and Use
www.arrl.orgAmerican Radio Relay League (ARRL): Many useful regulatory,
educational, operating, and technical items and links
www.ac6v.comGeneral-interest Web site with many links on all phases of ham
radio
www.qrz.comCall sign lookup service and general-interest ham radio
portal
www.eham.netNews, articles, equipment swap-and-shop, product reviews,
mailing lists
href="http://www.hfradio.org/propagation.html">www.hfradio.org/propagation.htmlReal-time information on propagation and solar data
www.tapr.orgTucson Amateur Packet Radio: Information on all popular digital
data modes
www.amsat.orgRadio Amateur Satellite Corp: Main site for information on
amateur satellites
href="http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal">www.hornucopia.com/contestcalContest calendar and log due dates
www.arrl.org/tis/ARRL Technical Information Service: Technical articles,
literature, and vendor searches




>






>
dummies


Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ham-radio-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

No comments:

Post a Comment