Irving Amateur Radio Club Inc.
Below you will find some information that will help you explore the amateur radio world.
Irving Amateur Radio Club Inc. has created a Scouting page on our website. www.irvingarc.org/radioscouting.html. It has several links to amateur radio and how it is involved in scouting.
After you have participated in the event, please take a few moments to provide us with some feedback. Thank for you attending and we hope you enjoyed the event. Comments, suggestions, or questions maybe left by visiting http://www.irvingarc.org/scountfeedback.html.
Irving Amateur Radio Club Inc. www.irvingarc.org We have a General Meeting once a month on the 4th Thursday. Check the website for location and times. You are always welcome to join us and learn more about amateur radio.
Links to places to study for tests: www.hamtestonline.com www.qrz.com www.w5yi.com www.hamuniversity.com www.arrl.org
Places to purchase a radio: www.hamradio.com www.maintradingcompany.com/ www.hamcity.com www.universal-radio.com www.aesham.com www.gigaparts.com
Types of radios: Many new licensees start with a handheld radio which can range in price from $60 single band 2 meter to $400 dual or triband 144/440/220. There are also mobile radios that can be used in you car on your house. These range from a $150 single band 2 meter to $800 for a dual band 144/440.
There are several different ways amateur radio is used in the community. These are just a few of them: public service events (bike rides, runs, parades), storm spotting, public utility outages, emergency communications for disasters, and the most important - having fun and making new friends.
If you ever have any questions, or are looking for more information on amateur radio, please visit the Irving Amateur Radio Club website www.irvingarc.org and send us an e-mail.
The links and radio types provided above are for information only. The IARC Inc. does not endorse any site or recommend any type or brand of radio. Morse Code Interpreter Strip
The Morse Code interpreter strip designates those who are proficient in Morse Code and denotes their availability for emergency communications and other types of supporting communication for Scouting and the community. Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of Morse Code by: 1. Carrying on a five-minute conversation in Morse Code at a speed of at least 5 words per minute. 2. Copying correctly a two-minute message sent in Morse Code at a minimum of 5 words per minute. Copying means writing the message down as it is received. 3. Sending a 25 word written document in Morse Code at a minimum of 5 words per minute. These requirements closely match those of other interpreter strips, which can be found at http://bit.ly/interpreter-strip
Patch Design The dots and dashes spell out the message M-O-R-S-E
Ordering BSA Supply, 1-800-323-0736 Morse Code Interpreter Strip #615120
Amateur Radio Phonetics AMATEUR RADIO How to make a voice contact.
OPERATOR'S GUIDE to Alpha Juliett Sierra Invitation to another station: Bravo Kilo Tango (CQ means CALLING): JOTA Charlie Lima Uniform CQ Jamboree Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) is an annual event Delta Mike Victor CQ Jamboree in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all Echo November Whiskey CQ Jamboree over the world contact each other by means of Foxtrot Oscar X-ray This is K2BSA amateur radio. Scouting experiences are ex- Golf Papa Yankee This is Kilo 2 Bravo Sierra Alpha changed and ideas are shared, thus contributing Hotel Quebec Zulu Kilo 2 Bravo Sierra Alpha to the world of Scouting. JOTA is a worldwide standing by event. JOTA is held the third full weekend in India Romeo October. Units may operate for 48 hours or any Contact is made: When another station responds, it is part thereof, from Saturday 00.00 until Sunday Example: important to first correctly understand and write down 24.00 local time. It is for members of the World My name is Bill. Spelled Bravo India Lima Lima the call sign. This will take some effort when its signal Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), is hard to understand. When the other station finishes Signal Report respond with: and also for members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Readability Signal Strength (their call sign) this is K2BSA. 1-Unreadable 1-Barely Perceptible Your signal report is 5 by 9. 2-Barely readable 2-Very weak My name is (say your first name) 3-Readable with difficulty 3-Weak Spelled (spell your name phonetically) 4-Readable with little effort 4-Fair We are a Scout Troop station 5-Perfectly readable 5-Fairly good Our QTH is Irving Texas 6-Good How Copy? 7-Moderatley strong 8-Strong OVER. 9-Extremely strong Write down names, signal reports, QTH, etc. Talk Example: normally. Your Signal Report is 5 by 9 The exchanges typically include: Some special Signals you may hear: • Name QRM Man made interference • Location (QTH) QRN Natural interference (Static) • Scout Rank • Hobbies For more Amateur Radio QRP Low power QRZ Who is calling me? • Age information, please contact: QSB Your signals are fading Irving Amateur Radio Club Inc. QSL 1. Acknowledge receipt PO Box 153333 2. A contact card Practice how you would answer questions in these Irving, TX 75015-3333 QTH Location areas and, also, questions you would like to ask. Say www.irvingarc.org 73 Best wishes “OVER” each time you are finished talking. prepared by YL Young Lady MOST IMPORTANT... HAVE FUN! Bill Wetherill - N2WG OM Old Man Third-party operation: The Amateur’s Code The Morse Code Characters (How They Sound) Even though you do not have an Amateur Radio The Radio Amateur is: license, you may participate in communication between two Amateur Radio stations as a third- CONSIDERATE... never knowingly operates in party. The operation of the station you are using such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others. must remain under the direct supervision and control of a licensed operator. In general, this means you may do whatever this operator is li- LOYAL... offers loyalty, encouragement and sup- censed to do as long as he/she is right beside you. port to other amateurs, local clubs and the This does not apply to communication with sta- American Radio Relay League, through which tions outside of United States territory. In that Amateur Radio in the United States is repre- case, unless there is an established agreement sented nationally and internationally. Letters and Numbers between the two governments, third-party com- PROGRESSIVE... with knowledge abreast of sci- munication is not allowed. A list of countries ence, a well-built and efficient station and op- A: di-dah S: di-di-dit with which we have agreements can be found at eration above reproach. B: da-di-di-dit T: dah
1. What is your favorite thing to do in scouts 2. What rank are you 3. What is your troop/pack 4. How long have you been a scout 5. Are you going to try to get your Eagle 6. Why did you join the scouts 7. What city do you live in 8. What state / country were you born in 9. What have you learned in merit badge class 10. What is the last merit badge you earned 11. What did you have to do to earn it 12. What was the first merit badge you earned 13. How many merit badges have you earned 14. What is the next merit badge are you going to try to earn 15. What is your favorite thing in school 16. Who is your favorite teacher 17. What grade are you in 18. What is your favorite car 19. What is your favorite pet 20. What is your favorite food 21. What is your favorite drink 22. What do you like to do for fun/hobby 23. What are you going to do for the summer / what did you do for the summer 24. Do you know anyone that is a ham radio operator 25. How many scouts are in the merit badge class 26. Did you go to the National Scout Jamboree or have you ever been to one 27. Have you lived in any other states 28. Have you lived in another country 29. Have you visited another country 30. What to you what to do when you graduate from high school / college 31. What is your favorite sport 32. What is your favorite team 33. What kind of music do you listen to 34. Who is your favorite band/singer 35. What is your favorite movie 36. Who is your favorite actor/actress 37. What is your favorite video game 38. What is your favorite TV show 39. Do you play sports What sport 40. Do you have brothers or sisters 41. What is your least favorite thing in school 42. Why are you taking radio merit badge 43. What camps have you been to 44. What is your favorite color 45. How many scouts in your troop/pack iPhone/iPad/iPod
Satellite Tracker StarWalk http://tiny.cc/fj55dw http://tiny.cc/wv45dw
Pocket Sat Starmap Pro http://tiny.cc/1e45dw http://tiny.cc/wh45dw
GoSatWatch http://tiny.cc/5a45dw
QR Reader iPhone http://tiny.cc/no65dw
Android
PrediSat SatTrack http://tiny.cc/me55dw http://tiny.cc/mb55dw
SatelliteAR HamSatDroid http://tiny.cc/j845dw http://tiny.cc/2345dw
Google Sky Map http://tiny.cc/i165dw
QR Reader Android http://tiny.cc/um65dw Phonetic Alphabet and Morse Code
Character Morse Code (CW) Phonic Pronunciation A • – Alpha Al-fah B – • • • Bravo Brah-voh C – • – • Charlie Char-lee D – • • Delta Dell-tha E • Echo Eck-oh F • • – • Foxtrot Foks-trot G – – • Gulf Golf H • • • • Hotel Hoh-tel I • • India In-dee-ah J • – – – Juliet Jew-lee-ett K – • – Kilo Key-loh L • – • • Lima Lee-mah M – – Mike Mike N – • November No-vem-ber O – – – Oscar Oss-cah P • – – • Papa Pah-pah Q – – • – Quebec Keh-beck R • – • Romeo Row-me-oh S • • • Sierra See-air-rah T – Tango Tang-go U • • – Uniform You-nee-form V • • • – Victor Vik-tah W • – – Wiskey Wiss-key X – • • – X-Ray Ecks-ray Y – • – – Yankee Yang-key Z – – • • Zulu Zoo-loo 1 • – – – – One Wun 2 • • – – – Two Too 3 • • • – – Three Tree 4 • • • • – Four Fow-er 5 • • • • • Five Fife 6 – • • • • Six Six 7 – – • • • Seven Sev-en 8 – – – • • Eight Ait 9 – – – – • Nine Nin-er 0 – – – – – Zero Zee-ro
RST
Readability
1 Unreadable 2 Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable 3 Readable with considerable difficulty 4 Readable with practically no difficulty 5 Perfectly readable.
Signal Strength
1 Faint signal, barely perceptible. 2 Very weak signals 3 Weak signals 4 Fair signals 5 Fairly good signals 6 Good signals 7 Moderately strong signals 8 Strong signals 9 Extremely strong signals
Tone
1 Sixty cycle a.c. or less, very rough and broad 2 Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad 3 Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered 4 Rough note, some trace of filtering 5 Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated 6 Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation 7 Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation 8 Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation 9 Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind
Common Q Signals
Signal Question Answer, Advice or Order QRG Will you indicate my exact frequency in kilocycles? Your frequency is ... kc. QRH Does my frequency vary? Your frequency varies. The tone of your transmission is ... QRI How is the tone of my transmission? 1. Good. 2. Variable. 3. Bad. QRJ Are you receiving me badly? Are my signals weak? I cannot receive you. Your signals are too weak. QRK What is the legibility of my signals (1 to 5)? The legibility of your signals is ... (1 to 5). QRL * Are you busy? I am busy (or busy with....). Please do not interfere. QRM * Are you being interfered with? I am being interfered with. QRN * Are you troubled by static? I am troubled by static. QRO * Must I increase power? Increase power. QRP * Must I decrease power? Decrease power. QRQ * Must I send faster? Send faster ... (words per min.). QRS * Must I send more slowly? Transmit more slowly ... (w.p.m.). QRT * Must I stop transmission? Stop transmission. QRU * Have you anything for me? I have nothing for you. QRV * Are you ready? I am ready. QRW Must I advise ... that you are calling him on ... kc? Please advise ... that I am calling him on ... kc. QRX * When will you call again? I will call you again at ... hours (on ... kc.). QRZ * By whom am I being called? You are being called by ... QSA What is the strength of my signals (1 to 5)? The strength of your signals is ... (1 to 5). QSB * Does the strength of my signals vary? The strength of your signals varies. QSD Is my keying correct? Are my signals distinct? Your keying is incorrect; your signals are bad. QSG Must I transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time? Transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time. QSK * Shall I continue the transmission of all my traffic? necessary. QSL * Can you acknowledge receipt? I am acknowledging receipt. QSM Shall I repeat the last telegram I sent you? Repeat the last telegram you sent me. QSO * Can you communicate with ... directly (or through...)? I can communicate with ... direct (or through...). QSP Will you relay to ...? I will relay to ... free of charge. QSV Shall I send a series of VVV....? Send a series of VVV. QSX Will you listen for ... (call sign) on ... kcs? I am listening for ... on ... kcs. QSY * wave? Change to ... kc. without changing type of wave. QSZ Shall I send each word or group twice? Send each word or group twice. QTA Shall I cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent? Cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent. QTB Do you agree with my word count? I do not agree with your word count; I shall repeat the first letter of each word and the first figure of each number. QTC How many telegrams have you to send? I have ... telegrams for you or for .... QTH * What is your position (location)? My position (location) is .... QTR What is the exact time? The exact time is .... QST * General call preceeding a message address to all amateurs and A.R.R.L. Members. This is in effect "CQ ARRL". QRRR Official A.R.R.L. "land SOS." A distress call for emergency use only.
Presented in the table below are some common Q-Codes used by radio amateurs.
These codes were found on the inside cover of a 1965 ARRL Amateur Radio Station Log Book.
Q Codes marked with an " * " are the most commonly used today.
A question is indicated by the use of the interrogation sign, " ? ", after the Q signal.
UTC Time Conversion Chart
UTC EDT/AST CDT/EST MDT/CST PDT/MST PST 0000* 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 0100 2100 2000 1900 1800 1700 0200 2200 2100 2000 1900 1800 0300 2300 2200 2100 2000 1900 0400 0000* 2300 2200 2100 2000 0500 0100 0000* 2300 2200 2100 0600 0200 0100 0000* 2300 2200 0700 0300 0200 0100 0000* 2300 0800 0400 0300 0200 0100 0000* 0900 0500 0400 0300 0200 0100 1000 0600 0500 0400 0300 0200 1100 0700 0600 0500 0400 0300 1200 0800 0700 0600 0500 0400 1300 0900 0800 0700 0600 0500 1400 1000 0900 0800 0700 0600 1500 1100 1000 0900 0800 0700 1600 1200 1100 1000 0900 0800 1700 1300 1200 1100 1000 0900 1800 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 1900 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 2000 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 2100 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 2200 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 2300 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 2400* 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600
Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) is the time at the zero or reference meridian. Time changes one hour with each of 15 degrees in longitude. The five time zones in the US Proper and Canada roughly follow these lines.
* 0000 and 2400 are interchangeable. (2400 is associated with the day of the day ending, 0000 with the day just starting.)
MA
NH RI ITU-9
CT
(MDC)
EMA
NJ
ME
1 NLI
DE
NNJ MD
SNJ ITU-11
WMA
PR: KP4 VI: KP2 VT
ENY
NY
NNY
EPA zone boundaries. zone
3
2 Dashed lines mark ITU
VA
SFL
NC
WNY
PA
WPA
SC
WCF
FL
WV
NFL ITU-4
4
OH
GA
KY
8
MI ITU-8
IN AL
TN
9 IL
MS Map
WI
AR tates
LA
MO S
IA
MN ITU-7
NTX orked All orked WAS
OK W ARRL Headquarters 860-594-0200 (Fax 860-594-0259) [email protected] 860-594-0259) (Fax 860-594-0200 Headquarters ARRL [email protected] Publication Orders 860-594-0300 Membership/Circulation Desk Amateur Radio Getting Started in Exams Wide Web on the World ARRL 1-800-326-3942 (860-594-0355) Toll-Free 1-888-277-5289 (860-594-0338) Toll-Free www.arrl.org/ 1-888-277-5289 (860-594-0355) Toll-Free [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
STX
KS
SD
ND
TX
NE
5 ITU-3
WTX
KH6
CO ARRL
(PAC)
MT
NM
WY ITU-61 ITU-10
HI and Pacific:
7 UT ITU-2
AZ
ID
EWA
AK: ITU-1
KL7
NV
WA
ORG
SDG
OR
WWA
LAX
SJV
SV CA
SB 6
EB
SCV
SF Copyright © 2005 by the American Radio Relay League, Inc All Rights Reserved. rev 11-09 American Radio Relay League, Inc Copyright © 2005 by the ARRLWASmap02 ITU-6
120˚ 51 82 70˚ 61 92 80˚ 50˚ 50 71 02 110 ˚ U.S. Grid Square Map 50˚ 81 12 60 91 22 100˚ 90˚ 12 41 70 59 70 01 32 02 31 60 89 80 11 42 52 82 92 21 50 69 62 72 62 72 79 90 21 82 92 02 32 42 52 11 40 58 79 00 31 41 12 22 91 01 30 69 88 68 89 10 51 61 71 81 20 59 78 99 20 71 81 91 41 51 61 10 49 57 78 09 30 40 01 11 21 31 90 00 39 68 67 88 19 50 60 70 80 29 58 77 98 29 70 80 90 40 50 60 19 48 56 77 08 39 49 00 10 20 30 99 09 38 67 66 87 Washington 18 59 69 79 89 28 57 76 76 97 28 79 89 99 49 59 69 18 47 66 55 07 38 48 09 19 29 39 98 08 37 65 86 17 58 68 78 88 27 56 75 96 27 78 88 58 68 17 46 54 75 06 37 98 08 18 28 38 48 07 36 65 64 85 16 47 57 North Dakota 87 97 26 55 74 CN 95 26 67 77 67 77 16 45 74 05 36 Montana 87 97 07 17 27 37 47 57 06 35 Maine 64 63 84 15 46 56 86 96 25 54 94 25 66 76 15 44 73 Oregon 35 76 86 96 46 56 66 05 63 04 45 06 16 26 36 95 34 62 83 14 55 Minnesota 85 24 FN 53 93 24 DN65 75 EN 65 75 14 Vermont 43 New Hampshire 72 03 34 85 95 05 15 25 35 45 55 04 33 62 61 82 Idaho 44 94 52 13 54 64 Wisconsin 74 84 23 71 92 23 74 84 54 64 13 42 Massachusetts 61 02 33 94 04 14 24 34 44 03 New York 32 40˚ 60 81 12 43 53 South Dakota 83 93 22 51 70 91 22 63 73 63 73 12 41 Rhode Island 60 40˚ 01 32 Wyoming 83 93 03 13 23 33 43 53 Michigan 02 31 Connecticut 69 80 11 42 52 82 92 21 50 79 90 21 62 72 62 72 11 40 69 00 31 82 92 02 12 22 32 42 52 01 30 68 89 10 41 91 Pennsylvania 20 59 99 51 61 Nebraska Iowa 71 81 New Jersey 49 78 20 71 81 51 61 10 88 09 30 91 01 11 21 31 41 Ohio 00 39 58 19 40 50 Illinois 80 90 29 77 98 29 60 70 60 70 19 Delaware 48 87 08 Nevada 39 80 90 00 10 20 30 40 50 09 Maryland 38 57 18 49 59 89 99 28 76 97 28 Utah 69 79 18District of Columbia 47 07 38 79 89 99 49 59 69 Indiana 08 37 86 17 48 Colorado 09 19 29 39 98 27 56 96 27 58 68 78 88 West Virginia 17 46 06 37 78 88 58 68 07 36 85CM 47 98 08 18 28 38 48 97 Virginia 55 95 California 16 57 Kansas 87 26 45 26 67 77 Missouri 67 77 16 84 05 36 87 97 47 57 06 35 54 15 46 07 17 27 37 Kentucky 96 25 94 25 56 66 76 86 15 44 04 35 DM76 86 56 66 05 34 83 45 96 06 16 26 36 46EM 95 FM 93 14 55 Tennessee 85 North Carolina 24 43 24 65 75 65 75 14 82 03 34 85 95 45 55 04 33 13 44 New Mexico 05 15 25 35 94 23 92 Arizona 54 Arkansas 84 42 23 64 74 Oklahoma 64 74 13 02 33 84 94 44 54 03 32 12 43 04 14 24 34 93 22 91 22 53 83 South Carolina 41 01 63 73 63 73 12 32 83 93 43 53 02 31 30˚ 90 11 42 03 13 23 33 Alabama 92 21 30˚ 21 52 62 72 82 11 40 00 31 72 62 Georgia 30 10 41 82 92 02 12 22 32 42 52 01 20 51 Mississippi 81 91 20 49 30 61 71 Louisiana 71 10 81 91 41 51 61 00 39 120˚ 40 01 11 21 31 90 29 70˚ 29 50 60 Texas 80 19 39 70 60 70 49 80 90 30 40 50 09 59 00 10 20 99 28 69 79 89 18 38 79 89 59 69 08 48 99 09 19 29 39 49 98 58 68 88 17 78 88 68 78 Florida 07 47 98 08 28 38 48 58 57 DL 18 87 97 67 EL 77 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Kilometers 77 87 97 67 06 07 17 27 37 47 57 96 56 66 86 0 100 200 300 400 Miles 76 76 05 86 96 56 66 95 110 ˚ 06 16 26 36 46 75 85 Albers Equal Area Projection - Conterminous USA 55 65 80˚ 100˚ 45 ICOM America, Inc. • 2380 - 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 • Customer Service: 425-454-7619 ©2002, ICOM America, Inc. The ICOM logo is a registered trademark of ICOM, Inc. AM-5024 10/02 90˚ www.icomamerica.com Major VHF/UHF Contests Mid January, Full Weekend U.S. Grid Square Map ** ARRL VHF Sweepstakes Hawaii 160˚ 158˚ 156˚ Early March, Full Weekend AL92 BL02 BL12 BL22 ARRL International DX Contest Phone 22˚ Early April, Spring Sprint–144 MHz AL BL AL91 BL01 BL11 BL21 Early April, Spring Sprint–222 MHz Alaska 21˚ Early April, Spring Sprint–432 MHz Pacific Ocean 140˚ AL90 BL00 BL10 BL20 Early May, Spring Sprint–50 MHz 160˚ BQ 20˚ 11 61 91 01 Mid May, Full Weekend 7181 71 81 91 01 11 21 31 41 51 61 CQ National Fox Hunting Weekend 70˚ 40 10 70˚ 50 00 AK BK 60 90 AK99 BK09 BK19 BK29 70 80 70 80 19˚ 90 00 10 20 30 40 50 60 Early June, Full Weekend 49 19 59 09 69 99 ARRL VHF QSO Party 79 89 79 89 AK98 BK08 BK18 BK28 99 09 19 29 39 49 59 69 48 18 58 08 68 98 Mid June, Full Weekend, 78 88 78 88 98 08 18 28 38 48 58 68 SMIRK 6 meter QSO Party 47 17 57 07 67 97 77 87 77 87 97 07 17 47 57 67 Mid/Late June, Full Weekend 46 27 37 16 56 06 66 96 ARRL Field Day AP 76 86 76 86 CP 35 96 06 BP 56 66 45 16 26 36 46 15 55 05 65 95 Mid July, 75 85 75 85 34 95 05 55 65 CQ World Wide VHF Contest 44 15 25 35 45 14 54 04 64 94 74 84 33 84 94 64 74 Mid July, Full Weekend 43 04 14 24 34 44 54 13 52 53 03 42 63 93 IARU HF World Championships 73 83 32 32 83 93 63 73 22 51 42 03 13 23 33 43 53 12 52 02 41 62 92 31 Early August, Full Weekend 72 82 31 82 92 62 72 21 60˚ ARRL UHF Contest 41 02 12 22 32 42 52 11 50 51 01 40 60˚ 61 91 30 30 71 81 59 81 91 61 71 20 Mid September, Full Weekend 40 01 11 21 31 41 51 10 49 50 00 ARRL September VHF QSO Party 60 90 39 39 70 80 29 58 80 90 60 70 49 00 10 20 30 40 50 19 48 59 09 Courtesy: CQ Magazine & ARRL 69 99 38 79 89 28 57 89 99 69 79 48 09 19 49 59 18 47 58 29 39 08 68 98 37 78 88 56 88 78 27 98 68 17 46 ICOM Grid Square Tips: 08 18 28 38 48 58 57 07 36 67 97 55 77 87 26 1. Say your grid square location when 87 77 CO AO 97 67 16 45 07 17 47 57 operating on VHF & UHF bands. 56 27 37 06 35 04 66 96 54 76 86 25 14 86 76 44 96 06 56 66 15 2. Many portable GPS receivers can read out 24 55 16 26 36 46 05 34 03 65 95 Maidenhead* grid squares automatically. 34 75 85 24 13 43 44 85 95 BO 65 75 14 23 54 05 15 25 35 45 55 04 33 010203040506070800 Kilometers 02 64 94 3. Say your grid square letters phonetically. 33 74 84 23 12 43 84 74 13 0 100 200 300 400 Miles 94 04 54 64 Example: for grid 13 in region DM say “delta, 01 22 53 14 24 34 44 03 63 93 mike, one, three” on air. 32 73 83 Albers Equal Area Projection - Alaska 11 83 73 42 93 63 00 21 52 03 13 23 33 43 53 62 140˚ 4. Give your general location along with your 10 31 72 41 grid square. 20 51 160˚ 30 61 40 5. Have fun on VHF & UHF! 50 *An instrument of the Maidenhead Locator System (named after the town outside London where it was first conceived by a meeting of European VHF managers in 1980), a grid square measures 1° latitude by 2° longitude and measures approxi- mately 70 x 100 miles in the continental US. A grid square is indicated by two letters (the field) and two numbers (the square).. “ ICOM America, Inc. • 2380 - 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 • Customer Service: 425-454-7619 From ARRL source: http://www.arrl.org/locate/gridinfo.html www.icomamerica.com ©2002, ICOM America, Inc. The ICOM logo is a registered trademark of ICOM, Inc. AM-5024 10/02 **All maps except Hawaii use an Albers Equal Area Projection. The map of Hawaii is based on the grid square map information from ARRL. What is Radio Direction Finding
Radio Direction Finding, Fox Hunts, T-Hunts, Hidden Transmitter Hunts. All mean essentially the same thing: Locating and identifying the source of a radio signal. Have you ever rotated an AM broadcast radio or the antenna on broadcast TV to improve reception? Congratulations! You've already mastered the basics of RDF!
RDF activity takes place across the radio spectrum. For amateur radio use, most organized activity is on the 80 and 2 meter bands. In the United States, 2 meter FM is by far the popular choice. Participation ranges from highly competitive, all day treks through wilderness areas and involving multiple transmitters, to casual searches through suburban neighborhoods for a single "bunny box.”
Finding the Transmitter
Radio signals emanate from a single point, and all one needs to do is find that point. The usual method is by triangulation.
This can be done by one person moving around and using a directional antenna to find the relative bearing of the signal and plotting that on a map. Then, move to another spot and repeat. The minimum would be three angles of bearing, hence the ‘tri’ in triangulation. More, of course, would be better most of the time.
This is usually done by several folks with base stations and directional beam antennas, all reporting their lines of bearing to someone with a map, who draws the lines and finds the place where they intersect. That point, is of course, the point where we need to look.
Diagram of Triangulation
Directional antennas at A, B, and C are all pointing to the place where the transmitter, T, is located.
The most common directional antenna is the beam, and we usually make up three element ones out of tape measure and plastic pipe. Not fancy, but they work.
For our direction finding in our class, we will assume that the long-range direction finding has already been accomplished, and now we have to find the transmitter close by.
This is a bit more difficult. The signal will be bouncing off all sorts of things near to it, and give us false bearings. The way we combat that is twofold.
One is to use an attenuator in the line between the antenna and the radio. This cuts the strong signal down for us in steps we can easily control. The other is to move our receiver to the third harmonic of the transmitter.
This not only cuts down the signal as the harmonic is quite a bit weaker than the fundamental, but also has sharper definition between the signal coming directly from the transmitter and those that are bouncing off other things.
Another plus is that the three element beam for the 440 MHz band is only 1/3 the size of the one for the 144 MHz band. So, it is smaller, lighter, and easier to use. But, this can only be used close-in. If we had to perform the first step, we would have to use the larger 144 MHz one, and then switch once we knew we were close.
Another close in technique is to use your body as a shield. With the antenna disconnected this technique lets you get real close and the change in signal strength is noticeable when your body is in the way. Also remember too that mis-tuning the radio to be off frequency can help as well but that may be beyond where we want to go here.
Radio Direction Uses
Hams do fox hunts for fun and as a social activity, but radio direction finding has many uses in today’s world that are sometimes more serious. We can track down malicious interference from other hams, or from people who have stolen amateur equipment and use it to amuse themselves by being radio "pests". Accidental interference from malfunctioning radio equipment can also pose big problems, both for amateurs and for commercial radio systems including cell phones. Scientists are now putting radio transmitters on animals to see where they hunt and live. RDF is used to find the animal for research.
RDF has another use as it can be used to track down interference from electrical sources like arcing power lines and motors. It is also used by Military and civilian search and rescue organizations to find stranded mountain climbers or downed planes.
Radio Direction Equipment
Basic Equipment:
Radio receiver Antenna Map and compass
Advanced Equipment:
Doppler scanner Attenuator GPS Unit
22 Things You Can Do With Amateur Radio: Technology That’s as Cool as You Want to Make it
Expand Your World
1. Talk around the world without the Internet or cell phones. Use your own “Internet” when the “other one” is down. 2. Send your voice, text and pictures to unusual places, both near and far. 3. Create your own network of ham radio friends and send instant text messages without cell phones. 4. Meet awesome people from all over the U.S. and around the world, on-the-air and in person at ham radio events.
Explore Amateur Radio
5. Talk through satellites or with astronauts on board COmmunicate the International Space Station. Via Satellites! 6. Send messages in code—learn Morse code. 7. Be a signal sleuth, “Fox” hunt for hidden radio signals, and with GPS—GeoFox! 8. Investigate the many new combined radio-Internet communication techniques. 9. Try a new sport—Radiosport: Compete-on-the-air for awards and fun! 10. Send a message around the world using less electricity than a nightlight.
Put Radio to Work
11. Become a weather spotter and help your community prepare for weather events. 12. Use Amateur Radio to control models, robots, or even drones. 13. Support recovery efforts in emergencies. 14. Earn badges and patches through Scouting programs and participate in worldwide radio events.
The national association for ARRL AMATEUR RADIO ® (Continued from front) 15. Use your radio for community service! Provide communications for a bike race or a marathon. 16. Track your friends, pets, or wildlife using your ham radio. 17117. Take ham radio along when you go hiking or camping. You’ll never be out of contact with ham radio! 18. Collect weather and fl ight data by releasing and tracking a high-altitude balloon. 19. Learn how radio is used to explore space.
Go Beyond the Menu: Create Technology
20.Do it yourself, build and test your own gear. 21. Experiment with new software applications for radio, or create your own. 22. Learn the radio science that powers cell phones, Bluetooth and all of the hottest wireless technologies.
Find out what other young hams are up to at: www.arrl.org/youth There are over 700,000 Amateur Radio (otherwise known as “ham”) operators in the United States and 3 million worldwide. To get your Amateur Radio License you’ll need to take a 35-question, multiple choice exam. Anyone—of any age—can be on-the-air as an Amateur Radio operator!
Adventure is Waiting...
The national association for ARRL AMATEUR RADIO ® 225 Main Street • Newington, CT USA 06111 (860) 594-0200 •www.arrl.org