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abbreviations for CW, 240–244
adjustable passband, 149
allwave receiver, 2
alternator whine, 230
Amateur Radio, overview of, 3–6
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), 256
amateur teleprinting over radio (AMTOR), 91–93
American Radio Relay League (ARRL), 3
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), 17, 80
amplified automatic level control (AALC), 99
amplitude modulation (AM), 18–20
analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, 93–94
antenna:
broadside, 211–212
coaxial, 202–203
corner reflector, 217
dipole, 199–200
dish, 215–216
effective radiated power of, 207
efficiency of, 197–199
end-fire, 210–211
for shortwave listening, 54
forward gain of, 208–209
front-to-back ratio of, 209
front-to-side ratio of, 209–210
half-wave, 199–201
helical, 216–217
horn, 215
indoor transmitting, 225
J pole, 201
longwire, 211
loopstick, 204
parasitic, 212–214
phased, 210–212
power gain of, 207–208
quad, 214
random wire, 60–61
vertical, 201–203
Yagi, 213–214
zepp, 200–201
antenna tuner (transmatch), 54, 144–145, 154–156, 184–185, 221
antipode, 50
anti-VOX system, 98
ARRL Operating Manual, 227, 256
aspect ratio, 103
atmospheric noise, 171–172
audio filtering, 36
audio-frequency-shift keying (AFSK), 79
audio passband filter, 149
Aurora Australis, 13
Aurora Borealis, 13
auroral propagation, 13–14
automatic frequency control (AFC), 86
automatic gain control (AGC), 153
automatic level control (ALC), 87, 98
automatic noise limiter (ANL), 149
automatic repeat request (ARQ), 88, 92
auto-tune function, 148
average forward current, 158
B
backfeed, 169–170
backward error correction (BEC), 92
backup generators, 165–170
balanced modulator, 21
ball mount, 187
balun, 221
band scanning, 148
bandspread control in receiver, 43
baseband spectrum monitor, 67
basement as ham station location, 142–143
baud, 79
Baudot code, 79–80
beat-frequency oscillator (BFO), 27
binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), 83–84
birdies, 28
bits per second (bps), 76
blanking pulse, 104–105
bridge rectifier circuit, 159–160
broadband amplifier, 154
broadside array, 211–212
bulletin-board system (BBS), 95–96
C
capacitive coupling, 207
capacitor-input filter, 161
carbon-monoxide detector, 168–169
carrier, unmodulated, 19
ceramic filter, 150
Cassegrain dish feed, 215–216
channel scan, 148
characteristic impedance, 218, 220–221
choke-input filter, 161
circuit efficiency, 19
circular polarization, 10
Citizens Band (CB), 6–8
clarifier, 251
coaxial antenna, 202–203
coaxial cable, 218–219
code practice from W1AW, 76
coherent communications, 38
combustion generators, 165–170
contesting, 247–249
Continental code, 16
continuous receive coverage, 147
continuous waves (CW), 3, 75–79, 240–246
conventional dish feed, 215–216
converters for VLF, 63–64
corner reflector antenna, 217
coronae, 173
cosmic noise, 170
counterpoise, 206–207
current surge in antenna, 156
D
data redundancy in MFSK, 88
dead band delusion, 228
dead spot, 11
delta tuning, 149
desensitization, 150
detector:
for AM, 32
for CW, 32
for FM, 33–34
for FSK, 32
for PM, 33–34
for SSB, 35–36
deviation in FM and PM, 23–24
dielectric, 218–219
DigiPan software, 66–67, 84–86, 157
digipeater, 94–95
digital frequency display, 147
digital interface equipment, 156–157
digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, 93–94
dipole antenna, 199–200
direct-conversion receiver, 27–28
directivity plots, 208
director in parasitic array, 213–214
dirty electricity, 65–72
discriminator, 34
dish antenna, 215–216
distortion, in AM, 18–19
dots and dashes, 3
double-conversion receiver, 28
double sideband (DSB), 21
dual-diversity reception, 37–38
dual VFOs, 148
duplexer, 102
DX Century Club, 250
DXing, 250–253
dynamic range of receiver, 26–27, 151
E
E layer, 12
earth-ionosphere waveguide, 58
earth-moon-earth communications, 15
effective ground, 208
effective radiated power (ERP), 207
efficiency of antenna, 197–199
efficiency of circuit, 19
electrical ground, 205–206
electrical system for fixed ham station, 139–142
electromagnetic fields, 8–9
electromagnetic interference (EMI), 205
electromagnetic pulse (EMP), 175–176
electromagnetic spectrum, 8–9
elliptical polarization, 10
emergency preparedness, 256
end-fire array, 210–211
envelope compression, 99
envelope detection, 32
external noise, 170–176
extremely high frequency (EHF), table, 9
F
F layer, 12
F1 layer, 12
F2 layer, 12
facsimile (FAX), 106–107
fast-scan television (FSTV), 103–105
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 6
feed lines, 217–224
fidelity, 20
Field Day contest, 194
first floor as ham station location, 143–146
fixed-station ham radios, 146–152
flywheel tuning, 147
forward error correction (FEC), 88, 91
forward gain of antenna, 208–209
frame, in television image, 103
freebanders, 7
frequency display, digital, 147
frequency-division multiplexing, 38
frequency hopping, 39
frequency modulation (FM), 22–24, 100–103, 238–240
frequency multiplier, 24
frequency-shift keying (FSK), 17–18, 79
frequency sweeping, 40
frequency synthesizers, 23
frequency versus wavelength, 44
front end of receiver, 26, 31, 150
front-to-back ratio of antenna, 209
front-to-side ratio of antenna, 209–210
full break-in operation, 148
full quieting, 231
full-wave rectifier circuits, 159–160
fundamental frequency, 68
G
galactic noise, 170
gallium-arsenide field-effect transistor (GaAsFET), 27
generators, backup, 165–170
geodesic arc, 50
geomagnetic storm, 57
great circle route, 50
grey line, 51–52
ground:
electrical, 205–206
radio-frequency, 145–146, 206–207
ground loops, 206
ground-mounted vertical antenna, 202
ground-plane antenna, 202–203
ground systems, 205–207
H
half-wave antennas, 199–201
half-wave rectifier, 159
Hallicrafters SX-130 receiver, 43–44
ham radio frequency bands, 44–54
graph of, 132
proposed new, 137
shorter than 2 meters, 135–137
table of, 53
2 meters, 134–135
6 meters, 132–133
10 meters, 130–131
12 meters, 128–130
15 meters, 126–128
17 meters, 124–126
20 meters, 123–124
30 meters, 122
40 meters, 119–121
60 meters, 118–119
75 meters, 115–117
80 meters, 115–117
160 meters, 113–114
ham radio license classes:
Advanced, 112–113
current, 109–112
discontinued, 112–113
Extra, 111–112
General, 111
Novice, 112
Technician, 109–111
Technician Plus, 112
ham radio license renewal, 112
hams, definition of, 2
HamScope software, 67, 84–86, 157
handshaking, 88
harmonic suppression, 152
heavy portable operation, 184–185
helical antenna, 216–217
heterodyne detection, 32
HF mobile operation, advantages of, 181
HF portable operation, advantages of, 189–190
high-frequency (HF)
definition of, 1
table, 9
horizontal polarization, 10
horn antenna, 215
I
idle insertion, 89
image rejection, 151
impedance bridge, 155
impulse noise, 174
indoor transmitting antenna, 225
inductive loading, 179
intelligibility, 19
intermediate frequency (IF), 28, 31–32
intermodulation distortion (IMD), 30, 86–87
intermodulation spurious response attenuation, 151
International Morse Code, 16
ionosphere, 11–13
isolation switch, 169–170
J
jamming signal, 53
junction field-effect transistor (JFET), 30
K
key, telegraph, 77
keyboard keyer, 77–78
L
ladder line, 220–221
libration fading, 15–16
license classes, ham radio:
Advanced, 112–113
current, 109–112
discontinued, 112–113
Extra, 111–112
General, 111
Novice, 112
Technician, 109–111
Technician Plus, 112
license renewal, ham radio, 112
lid, 229–230
light portable operation, 184–185
linear amplifier, 139–140, 152–154
line-of-sight waves, 10–11
local oscillator (LO), 27
long-path signal, 50
Long Range Navigation (LORAN), 113
Longwave Club of America (LWCA), 63
longwave coverage, 147
longwire antenna, 211
loopstick antenna, 204
loss resistance in antenna, 179, 198–199
lower sideband (LSB), 19–21, 96–97
lowest usable high frequency (LUHF), 59
low frequency (LF), table, 9
low-frequency experimental radio (lowFER), 61–63
lowpass filter, 156
M
magnetic mount, 180
main tuning control in receiver, 43
mark frequency in FSK, 32
maximum usable frequency (MUF), 13, 55–56
maximum usable low frequency (MULF), 59
mechanical filter, 150
medium frequency (MF), table, 9
memory, programmable, 148
meteor scatter propagation, 14–15
mixer, 27
mixing products, 30
MMTTY software, 81–82
mobile antenna considerations, 179
mobile band options, 177–182
mobile operation, 5–6, 177–184
mobile power options, 182–184
moonbounce propagation, 15
Morse code, 3, 16–17, 75–79, 240–246
Morse code requirement, past, 77
multimeter, 140
MultiMode software, 83
multiple-frequency-shift keying (MFSK), 88–90
multiplexing, 38–39
N
narrowband frequency modulation (NBFM), 23–24, 101
negative feedback, 98
node, in packet radio, 94–95
noise, external, 170–176
noise-canceling antenna, 70–72
noise limiter, 173
noise quieting, 151
non-CW text modes, operation in, 246–247
notch filter, 149–150
O
open dipole antenna, 199–200
open repeater, 102
open wire, 219–221
operation of a ham station:
AMTOR, 246–247
contest, 247–249
CW, 240–246
DX, 250–253
FM, 238–240
MFSK, 246–247
PSK31, 246–247
QRP, 254–255
rag-chew, 253–254
RTTY, 246–247
SSB, 232–238
optical scanner, 106
overmodulation, 98
P
packet radio, 93–96
packet radio bulletin board system (PBBS), 95–96
paddle for keyer, 77–78
panoramic reception, 149
parallel-wire line, 219–222
parasitic arrays, 212–214
parasitic element, 212–213
peak inverse voltage (PIV), 158–159
penumbra of sunspot, 54–55
phase cancellation, 175
phase modulation (PM), 22–24
phase opposition, 11
phased arrays, 210–212
phase-shift keying (PSK), 67, 83–87
phasing harness, 210
phasing system, 210
phonetic alphabet, 232–233
picket fencing, 11
pirates, 7
polarization of EM wave, 10
portable antenna considerations, 186–187
portable band options, 184–190
portable operation, 184–193
portable power options, 190–193
portable whip antenna, 188
power adapter plug, 184
power gain of antenna, 207–208
power supplies, 158–165
power-supply filtering, 160–161
power transformers, 158
power transistor, 162
precipitation noise, 172–173
precision readout, 147
preselector, 31
product detector, 35–36
programmable memory, 148
propagation of radio waves, 10–16
pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM), 24–25
pulse-code modulation (PCM), 25–26
pulse-duration modulation (PDM), 24–25
pulse-interval modulation (PIM), 25
pulse-width modulation (PWM), 24–25
push to talk (PTT), 97–98
Q
Q multiplier, 150
QRO mobile operation, advantages of, 182–183
QRO portable operation, advantages of, 191–192
QRP mobile operation, advantages of, 183–184, 254–255
QRP portable operation, advantages of, 192–193, 254–255
quad antenna, 214
quarter-wave vertical antenna, 201–203
R
radials in antenna system, 202–203, 206–207
radiation patterns, 208
radiation resistance, 154, 179, 197–199
radio-frequency (RF) carrier, 18
radio-frequency (RF) ground, 145–146, 206–207
radio-frequency (RF) spectrum, 8–9
radio noise, 46
Radio Shack stores, 73
radio-wave propagation, 10–16
rag chewing, 253–254
random wire antenna, 60–61
raster, 103
ratio detector, 34
receiver incremental (or offset) tuning (RIT), 148, 251
rectangular response, 148
rectifier diodes, 158–159
rectifier circuits:
full-wave, 159–160
half-wave, 159
repeater, 101–103, 180–181, 238–239
rectangular response, 32
reflector in parasitic array, 213–214
regenerative receiver, 42
regulator chip, 162
retracing, 104
reverse-bias voltage, 159
RigBlaster Pro interface, 81, 157
ringing in audio filter, 36
ripple suppression, 161
RST system, 230–232
S
Saint Elmo’s fire, 173
selective squelching, 37
selectivity of receiver, 26
semi break-in operation, 148
sensitivity of receiver, 26–27
short-path signal, 50
shortwave band, definition of, 1, 41
shortwave broadcast bands, 44–54
graph of, 53
table of, 45
11 meters, 52
13 meters, 51
15 meters, 51
16 meters, 50
19 meters, 50
22 meters, 49
25 meters, 49
31 meters, 48–49
41 meters, 48
49 meters, 47–48
60 meters, 46–47
75 meters, 46
90 meters, 46
120 meters, 45–46
shortwave listening (SWL), 41–57
shortwave radio, definition of, 1
shortwave receiver, 2
signal-plus-noise-to-noise ratio, 26
signal reporting, 230–232
signal-to-noise ratio, 26
simplex, 101
simplex teleprinting over radio (SITOR), 91
SINAD (signal to noise and distortion), 151
single-conversion receiver, 28–29
single sideband (SSB), 7, 20–22, 96–100, 232–238
skip zone, 47
sky waves, 11–13
slope detection, 33
slow-scan television (SSTV), 105–106
small backup generators, 165–170
small loop antenna, 60–62
solar flares, 56–57
solar noise, 171
space frequency in FSK, 32
speech clipping, 100
speech compression, 98–99
split-band duplex, 247
split-frequency mode, 252
squelch sensitivity, 151
squelch threshold, 36–37
squelching, 36–37
solar flares, 14
solar noise, 15
sporadic-E propagation, 12
spread spectrum, 39–40
standing-wave ratio (SWR), 153, 185, 223–224
standing waves, 223–224
step-down transformer, 158
step-up transformer, 158
sunspot cycle, 55–56
sunspots, 54–57
superheterodyne receiver, 28–29
super high frequency (SHF), table, 9
surface waves, 11
surge protector, 140
synchronized communications, 38
T
telegraph key, 77
teleprinter, 79–80
television:
fast-scan, 103–105
slow-scan, 105–106
terminal node controller (TNC), 93
time-division multiplexing, 38
time-shifting communications, 93
tone squelching, 102
transceiver for ham radio, 3–5
transformer, power, 158
transient suppressor, 140, 163–164
transmatch, 54, 144–145, 154–156, 184–185, 221
transmission lines, 217–224
transmit/receive (T/R) switch, 88
transmitter offset, 251
tropospheric bending, 13
tropospheric ducting, 13
tropospheric propagation, 13–14
tropospheric scatter (troposcatter), 13
tubular line, 220–221
twinlead, 222
U
UHF mobile operation, advantages of, 180
UHF portable operation, advantages of, 187–189
ultra high frequency (UHF), definition of, 2
umbra of sunspot, 54–55
uninterruptible power supply (UPS), 163
unmodulated carrier, 19
upper floors as ham station location, 146
upper sideband (USB), 19–21, 96–97
V
velocity factor, 199
vertical antenna, 201–203
vertical polarization, 10
very high frequency (VHF):
definition of, 2
table, 9
very low frequency (VLF), table, 9
voice-mode expressions in ham radio, 235–237
voltage doubler, 160
VHF mobile operation, advantages of, 180
VHF portable operation, advantages of, 187–189
VibroKeyer Deluxe, 78
VLF converters, 63–64
voice-operated transmission (VOX), 97–98
voltage regulation, 162
volt-ohm-milliammeter (VOM), 140
W
waveguide, 223
waveguide propagation, 58
wavelength versus frequency, 44
weight control for CW, 150
wideband frequency modulation (WBFM), 24, 101
words per minute (wpm), 16, 75–76
working DX, 250–253
W1AW code practice, 76
XYZ
Yagi antenna, 213–214
Zener diode, 162
zepp antenna, 200–201
3.139.83.199