THE WEEKEND AMATEUR RADIO COURSE TECHNICIAN WORKBOOK Your Name________________________________________________________ THE WEEKEND AMATEUR RADIO COURSE 14 KIMBERLY DRIVE ESSEX JUNCTION, VT 05452 802-879-6589 1 ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK This workbook is intended to give you a head start on your upcoming amateur radio class. It would be downright tough, if not impossible, to pass the tests in the classroom without a little open-book work ahead of time. This workbook was written by your teacher to help you get started in your studies. The workbook supports the Gordon West Technician Class book. This book is optional for this course. The supplied On-Line course has all the information you need to prepare for class day. However, some students prefer a book and work book to a computer screen! The material which you need to know for the test is divided up into 15 sections to make it easy to study. Do one or two sections each evening. In each section, FIRST read the outline. All of the information you need to know is in this outline. Then, go to the indicated pages in the Technician Class Book and read through each of the questions in the section. Get familiar with the concepts and the correct answers to the questions. Feel free to jot down notes in your book, but do it next to where the answer is given. Leave the questions and distractors free of marks. If you do this, you can test yourself on each question later on by covering up the answer with a piece of heavy paper. Next, fill in the answers to the questions in your workbook. The workbook questions are not exactly the questions that will be on your actual exam. They were chosen to help you learn the concepts and to help make you a better ham! You should not have a problem finding the answers to the questions! Don’t worry if you have a couple of questions left blank where you just can’t seem to find the right answer. We will cover them in class. If you don‘t have enough time, do as many of the sections as possible – the more, the better. Your goal is to become familiar with the material. It is normal for you not to understand some of the technical material found in your book. Please continue to read and review it, even if you don't understand all of it. I will teach EVERYTHING in class, but I've found that if you read it first, you will learn it faster in class. DON'T stay up nights worrying about the course. It is supposed to be FUN! Just do the homework and let your teacher worry about teaching it to you! So, let’s get started! I think you are going to have a lot of fun! See you in class! Mitch 2 1. YOUR LICENSE and CALL SIGN Purpose of Amateur Radio: Noncommercial communication, especially in emergencies Advancement of the radio art Advancing communication and technical skills Providing trained operators and technicians Enhance international goodwill Amateur Station is in the Amateur Service using equipment to communicate Amateur Radio Service is intended for personal use and not pecuniary interest FCC makes and enforces the radio rules in the U.S. and possessions 3 Classes of License: Technician, General Amateur Extra You cannot transmit until your license information shows up in the FCC database License term is 10 years After 10 years, license expires and you can no longer transmit Within 2 years (grace period) of expiration you can renew license You cannot transmit during the grace period until you renew your license After the grace period, you will have to take the tests over Call sign is a unique identifier given to all radio stations U.S. Call signs always start with W or A or N or K Call signs starting with anything else are other countries US Amateur Radio Call signs: 1-2 letters, a number, then 1-3 letters Special 1x1 Call Sign: 1 letter, a number, 1 letter - for special events Call signs not in the above formats are for other services U.S. Call signs are issued in sequential order Vanity call sign – replaces original assigned call sign Can be requested by any amateur Technician can request a 1x3 call sign (i.e. K1XXX) Extra can request even shorter call sign Club call sign – requested on behalf an organization of at least 4 members Only the Club call sign trustee can request a club vanity call sign Special Event 1x1 call sign – (i.e. W1A) short call sign issued for a special event Identify with call sign at end of conversation (sign off) and also every 10 minutes Identify by just saying your call sign – nothing else Identify in English and use ITU phonetic alphabet to clarify letters Special rules for transmitting to radio controlled models: No on-air identification given A label with call sign, name and address is affixed to the transmitter Maximum power for radio control is 1 watt A Tactical Call Sign is a descriptor to identify your function in an event There are no rules requiring how a tactical call sign is used A tactical call sign must not sound like another U.S. or foreign call sign You still MUST give your FCC call sign every 10 minutes 3 Your License and Call Sign... continued A Self-assigned indicator is a descriptor used after your Call Sign You may use a self-assigned indicator to clarify your location or function For example KD1XX / KL7 would indicate that you are in Alaska You can use “/”, slash, stroke or slant for the indicator Indicators of /KT, /AG, /AE during an upgrade are required, others optional ITU is International Telecommunication Union – a United Nations Agency They divide the world into 3 regions to help manage frequencies regionally U.S. and North America are in ITU Region 2 – some U.S. territories in other regions Communications are permitted to any country who doesn't object Currently there are no restrictions with communicating with hams in other nations International Communications are restricted to comments of a personal nature International Third Party Communications are restricted to specific countries Unlicensed person is a third party - restricted to countries allowing third party traffic Places where your FCC license is valid: U.S. and all territories and possessions Ships flying the U.S. flag in International Waters Operation from other countries allowed when reciprocal agreements permit it A ship flying a non-U.S. flag is considered a foreign country Communications to U.S. military stations only permitted on Armed Forces Day Review the questions and answers on pages 33-50. 1. Who issues your ham license? ________________________________________________ 2. What age limit to become a ham? _____________________________________________ 3. What has to happen before you transmit?_______________________________________ 4. Licenses are normally issued for how many years? ______________________________ 5. What is a "Grace Period" and how long is it?_____________________________________ 6. U.S. call signs begin with which letters? ________________________________________ 7. You must give your call sign when? ___________________________________________ 8. What is a tactical call sign?_____________________________________________________ 9. Why would you use a self-assigned indicator?__________________________________ 10. What does the ITU do? ______________________________________________________ 11. Why is a 1x1 call sign used? __________________________________________________ 12. Where is your FCC license valid?: _____________________________________________ 4 2. CONTROL OPERATORS and THE RULES Licensee holds the license and assures station be operated in accordance with FCC rules Control operator is designated by the licensee to be responsible for its transmissions All transmitting stations require a control operator Control op must have license in FCC database or have a valid reciprocal license Usually the licensee and control operator are the same person Both Control Operator and Licensee responsible for transmissions The FCC assumes the licensee is the control operator unless the log shows otherwise Control point: is the location where control operator function takes place Three types of control: local, remote, automatic Local control: simple control of an HT or radio with microphone or key Remote control: control from a distant point using radio, telephone or computer Automatic control: no control op - a controller makes decisions; i.e. Repeater, APRS Operating privileges are determined by the license class of the control operator If you operate at a higher class station, you can only use your privileges If you operate at a lower class station, sign the station call sign and your call sign When using a satellite or repeater, you must have privileges on the uplink/input The originating station is responsible for his/her transmissions – not the repeater Amateur radio operator may not get paid to operate an amateur station A classroom teacher is permitted to demonstrate amateur radio Amateur Radio Regulations found in Part 97 of the FCC rules Normal business communications not permitted on amateur radio Regular business communications should use other services Communications to employer, employees or for own business not allowed FCC rules DO allow communications for bulletins, demos and amateur training List of amateur equipment for sale allowed on air - but not on a regular basis Broadcasting: transmission intended for the general public Broadcasting only allowed for code practice, bulletins and emergencies Amateur radio not permitted to be used for news gathering Unless these communications directly relate to immediate safety Music is prohibited, except if incidentally transmitted from a space station 5 Control Operators and The