Transcript Radio Merit Badge - Day 1

Radio Merit Badge
JOTA 2012
Counselor Information
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Mr. Steve Back
Amateur Radio Extra Class Operator
Call sign: WB2OGY
Authorized Volunteer Examiner (VE) with
W5YI and ARRL
• COR for Venture Crew 73, chartered by
the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 770 712 9069
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Example Slide
• Some stuff
• Some more stuff
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Worksheet Clue
The number in this circle
matches a section on your
worksheet.
Use this clue to fill in your
worksheet as we go.
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Radio Merit Badge
Section 1 - Radio Basics
Section 1 Topics
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What is Radio?
Types of Radio Services
Regulations
Call Signs & Identification
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Radio
Frequency Assignments
• Propagation
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What is Radio ?
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• A way to electronically communicate
from one place to another without wires.
• Used in
– FM radios
– Walkie talkies
– TV
– Cell phones
– Wi-Fi
– BlueTooth
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Types of Radio Service
1a
• Broadcast
– One-way transmissions to the public.
• Commercial Radio
– Two-way communication
– Local agencies and private companies
• Hobby Radio
– Communicate with others or control models.
– Amateur Radio
– Family Radio Service (walkie-talkies)
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NOAA Weather Radio
• Broadcast radio service
– National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
• Continuous Weather Forecasts & Warnings
• Essential for boating, hiking and camping.
• Most Ham radios can also receive this.
• Specific Area Alert Encoding (SAME)
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Local and DX Stations
2b
• Local station
– Located in the same country or region
• DX station
– Located outside the country or region
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Two-Way Radios
1b
• Radios that both send (transmit) and
receive messages.
• Examples
– Walkie-talkies
– Amateur Radio
– Citizen Band Radio (CB)
– Cell phones
– Fire, police, aviation, marine, military
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Regulation of Radio
2b
• FCC (USA)
– Federal
Communication
Commission
– Set Frequency
Assignments in
US.
– Issues Licenses
& Call Signs.
– Enforces Radio
Laws in the US.
• ITU (Other Countries)
– International
Telecommunication
Union
– Meets every few
years.
– Sets International
Frequency
assignments.
– Assigns prefixes to
countries.
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Radio Call Signs
1c
• A short identification which shows you have
a license to transmit
• Indicates station’s identity and country of
origin
• Assigned by the FCC in US
• Broadcast Call Signs
– WSB, KDKA, KORA, WNBC
• Ham Call Signs
– WW3Y, KB3BOY, WW9Y, N3YVH, JA1ABC
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Some Call Sign Prefixes
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W, K, N, A
VE, VO, XJ
XE
PY
G
F
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4X, 4Z
JA
ZL
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
Great Britain
France
Italy
Israel
Japan
New Zealand
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Station Identification Rules
1c
• Broadcasters
– Once per hour.
• Amateurs
– Every ten minutes
– At end of a conversation.
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Radio Waves
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• Electromagnetic
energy
• Travels at the speed of
light
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Radio Waves
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Frequencies
(One Hertz is one cycle per second)
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• DC Power
• 0 Hertz (goes in one direction only)
• AC Power
• 60 Hertz (Hz)
• Audio (Sound)
• 100 Hz to 20 KHz (100 - 20,000 Hz)
• LF
• 30-300 kHz (30,000-300,000)
• MF
• .3-3 MHz (300,000-3,000,000)
• HF or Shortwave • 3-30 MHz (3,000,000-30,000,000)
• 30-300 MHz (30,000,000-300,000,000)
• VHF
• UHF
• 300-3,000 MHz (well, you get the idea)
• Microwave
• Frequencies above 500 MHz
• Visible Light
• 400-800 THz (400,000,000- 800,000,000
MHz)
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Radio Frequency Assignments
3c
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AM Broadcast Radio
FM Broadcast Radio
Short Wave Broadcast
Television Broadcast
CB Radio
Police Radio
Amateur Radio
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540 - 1600 kHz
88 - 108 MHz
5 - 22 MHz
Channel 2 = 54-60 MHz
27 MHz
450-470 MHz
3.5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 150 MHz
80, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 meters
Freq=C/meters
C=300,000,000 or
Freq (MHz)= 300/meters
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The Electromagnetic Spectrum
3b
Medium Frequency (MF)
High Frequency (HF)
Very High Frequency (VHF)
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
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How High Frequency (HF) Radio
Waves Travel (Propagation)
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VHF & UHF Propagation
2a
• VHF and higher frequency waves are
limited to line of sight
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VHF Propagation with
Repeaters
2a
• Range of very high frequency waves can
be extended with a repeater
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NIST WWV and WWVH
2a
•Provides accurate frequencies, time, and HF propagation forecasts.
•WWV & WWVH transmit on 5,10,15 and 20 MHz
•WWV is in Ft Collins, Colorado.
WWVH is in Kauai, Hawaii
•Propagation info can be used to determine from where in the world signals can be received
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Radio Merit Badge
Section 2 - Amateur Radio
Section 2 Topics
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What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur Radio Licenses
Types of Amateur Stations
Amateur Radio Activities
Q Signals and Abbreviations
Emergency Procedures
Call Signs and Station Identification
Phonetic Alphabet
Making and Logging Contacts
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What is Amateur Radio?
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A type of two-way hobby radio
Cannot be used for profit.
A place to learn about radio!
Also known as “Ham Radio”.
An important part of disaster response.
A lot of fun!
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Why does the FCC have an
Amateur Radio Service?
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Volunteer service
International goodwill
Experimentation
Communication skills
Self-training
Emergency communication
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Amateur Radio License
Classes
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• Technician Class
• General Class
• Extra Class
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Technician Class License
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Entry level license.
35 question multiple choice test
Full VHF & UHF privileges,
Radio merit badge covers half of the test!
Books available with all the possible
questions and answers.
• Practice tests can be found at:
– QRZ web page: WWW.QRZ.COM
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Who gives Amateur Radio
Exams?
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• Volunteer Examiners (VEs) give the
exams for the FCC.
• Exams and free study classes are given
by local radio clubs
– The Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society
– The Atlanta Radio Club
• Lots of other information on ham radio
can be found at the ARRL web page:
– www.arrl.org
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Amateur Radio Activities
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• Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
• DX
• Contests
• Service at parades & special events
• Emergency communication
• Skywarn
• Camping communications
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Ham Radio Station Types
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• Handheld radios (HT)
• Base station radios
• Mobile radios
• Repeaters
• Which kind of radio is best?
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Repeaters
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• Receive on one frequency and transmit on
another.
• Usually in the VHF and UHF bands
• Allow much longer range for small radios.
• Located on mountains, towers, buildings and in
space.
146.07 MHz
Input
146.67 MHz
Output
146.67 MHz
Output
146.07 MHz
Input
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Q Signals & Amateur Terms
QRM
Man-made interference
QRN
Natural noise or interference
QRP
Low Power (< five watts)
QRS
Slow down Morse code speed
QRT
Quitting - off the air
QSB
Signal is fading
QSL
Acknowledge receipt (card)
QSO
Conversation ("cue-so")
QSY
Change frequency
QTH
Location (think H for Home)
Log
Record of QSOs
CW
Morse code (means Continuous Wave)
DX
Distant (foreign stations)
CQ
Calling any station ("seek you")
OM
Old man (male ham)
YL
Young lady (female ham)
Rig
Radio
Shack
Room the radio is in
HI
Laugh in Morse code
73, 88
Best regards, love and kisses
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Emergency Radio Calls
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• Speak clearly and give complete
information
• "MAYDAY" or "EMERGENCY“
• May need to find high ground
• Morse code SOS
– di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit
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Call Signs & Station
Identification Rules
• Call Sign
– Initially assigned by FCC
– Can be changed later (vanity call sign)
• Station Identification
– Every ten minutes
– At the end of a conversation.
• When audio conditions are poor, use
phonetic call letters.
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Phonetic Alphabet
1d
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Pronunciation
Alfa (AL fah)
Bravo (BRAH VOH)
Charlie (CHAR lee)
Delta (DELL tah)
Echo (ECK oh)
Foxtrot (FOKS trot)
Golf (GOLF)
Hotel (hoh TELL)
India (IN dee ah)
Juliet (JEW lee ETT)
Kilo (KEY loh)
Lima (LEE mah)
Mike (MIKE)
Letter
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Pronunciation
November (no VEM ber)
Oscar (OSS cah)
Papa (pah PAH)
Quebec (keh BECK)
Romeo (ROW me oh)
Sierra (see AIR rah)
Tango (TANG go)
Uniform (YOU nee form)
Victor (VIK tah)
Whiskey (WISS key)
X Ray (ECKS RAY)
Yankee (YANG key)
Zulu (ZOO loo)
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Calling and Answering CQ
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Log Book Essentials
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Radio Merit Badge
Section 3 - Radio Theory
Section 3 Topics
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Conductors and Insulators
Types of Electrical Circuits
Schematic Diagrams
Electronic Components and Symbols
Radio Safety
Block Diagrams of Radios
How Radio Carries Information
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Conductors & Insulators
• Conductors conduct (carry) electricity.
– Most Metals
– Many Liquids
• Insulators insulate (don’t carry)
electricity.
– Air
– Most Rubber and Plastics
– Most Ceramics
– Wood and cloth (when dry)
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Types of Electrical Circuits
5c
• Closed Circuit
– Circuit is complete.
– Electricity flows
• Open Circuit
– Circuit is incomplete.
– Electricity doesn’t flow.
• Short Circuit
– Circuit is complete through an unplanned shortcut.
– Electricity flows where it shouldn’t!
– Dangerous – parts can get hot, start fires or even
explode!
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Schematic Diagram
5a
Shows how to build a
radio from components.
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Schematic Symbols
5d
Fuse
Contains a thin wire which is made to melt which protects the rest of the circuit from
damage if there is too much current from a short circuit.
Battery
Stores electric energy.
Resistor
Resists the flow of electric current, reducing its flow.
Variable
resistor
Like a regular resistor, but adjustable. For example, the volume knob on your stereo.
Earth
ground
A connection between the equipment (radio) and the earth, usually through a copper
pipe driven into the soil.
Chassis
ground
A connection of the negative side of the electronic circuit to the chassis, or steel frame,
of the equipment.
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Schematic Symbols (cont)
5d
Capacitor
Gets and stores an electric charge. Lets alternating current (AC - like in your house) flow
but stops direct current (DC - like from a battery).
Variable
capacitor
Same as a regular capacitor, but adjustable.
NPN
transistor
Amplifies a current.
PNP
transistor
Amplifies a current.
Coil
Also called a choke, it works the opposite of a capacitor. It lets DC flow but stops AC.
Tube
A vacuum tube made of glass with wire filaments inside. Amplifies a current. It has been
replaced by transistors in most home equipment, but is still found in some high power
radio transmitters.
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Schematic Symbols (cont)
5d
Antenna
Sends radio frequency signals into the air.
SPST
switch
Single-pole single-throw switch. Has two positions, on and off. Like most light switches
DPDT
switch
Double-pole double-throw switch. A double-throw switch has three positions. It can switch one input
to one of two outputs - sort of like the switch you put on your television to switch between watching
TV and playing your video game. The double-pole means it can switch a pair of inputs to either of
two pairs of outputs.
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Radio Safety
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• Electrical shock can hurt or kill
• Some parts of a radio are dangerous with the
power off
• Radio Frequency (RF) energy can burn
• Strong RF radiation can be unhealthy
• Make sure antennas can't touch any power lines
• Ground radio and antenna to protect from
lightning
• Follow safety procedures when working on
towers and roofs
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Simple Radio Block Diagram
Antenna
Microphone
Transceiver
Amplifier
Key/Paddle
TNC
Computer
Tuner
Shows how station
components are
connected together.
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5b
How Radios
Send and Receive Information
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Microphone
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Transmitter
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Amplifier
Tuner
Provides path to antenna
Key/Paddle
Radiates RF signal
Key or Paddle
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Transceiver
Matches transmitter to antenna
Antenna
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Increases RF signal power
Feed line
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Both a transmitter and receiver in one box
Tuner
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Microphone
Amplifier
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Receives a radio signal
Demodulates the carrier
Transceiver
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Creates an RF “carrier”
Modulates the carrier
Receiver
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Audio or Digital signal input
For sending Morse code
TNC (Terminal Node Controller)
TNC
Computer
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How Radio Waves
Carry Sound or Information
FM
AM
PM
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Continuous Wave (CW)
The Oldest Digital Mode
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• Works by simply turning the transmitter on and
off in a pattern called Morse Code.
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“CW” or Morse Code
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• No longer required to know, but still popular among ham radio
operators. Needs less power and bandwidth than other ‘modes”.
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Radio Merit Badge
Section 4 - Real World Applications
Section 4 Topics
• Careers in Radio
• Amateur Radio Emergency Service
• Radio Navigation
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Radio Careers
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• Broadcasting
– Announcer/Personality
– Station Manager/Program Director/ Music Director
• Technical
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Computer Network Engineer
Radio Engineer
Radio Technician
Cellular Phone Technician
• Operators
– Public Safety Dispatcher
– Military Radio Operator
– Marine and Aircraft
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ARES / RACES
• ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service
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– Health and welfare
– Work with government, NGO (Red Cross, Salvation Army),
and support services
– When activated, you are still a civilian
• RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
– Work with local, state, and federal government only
– When activated, you work for the government (Restricted)
– When activated, mission participants are covered by
government insurance
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Radio Navigation
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• Establishment of a direction from a transmitted
radio signal
• Used by aircraft and ships for navigation
• Used during search and recovery operations
– Finding the “black box” after an airplane crash
– Locating a lost skier after an avalanche
• HAMs hold challenge games called “fox hunts”
• Requires
– Radio receiver tuned to the transmit frequency
– A special directional antenna
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Radio Merit Badge
Section 5 - Other Sources of Information
Amateur Radio Organizations
• Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL)
– Governing organization for amateur radio
– www.arrl.org
• QRZ.COM
– Ham call sign database
– Practice exams
– www.qrz.com
• Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS)
– www.gars.org
• Venture Crew 73
– www.venturecrew73.org
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