PSRG Wiki - User contributions [en]

Software Defined Radio

2017-11-18T20:32:19Z

KI7LBE: add category

== Introduction ==
Computers and amateur radio have a long history. Computer-controlled radios are ubiquitous and digital modes are becoming more and more a part of RF communication. Software-defined radio is another way computers are intersecting with radio.

== Definition ==
SDRs are devices where software replaces some portion of the signal-processing chain traditionally performed by hardware. One could also say that SDRs perform digital signal processing on radio waveforms.

It is important to differentiate computer-controlled radios from software-defined radios. Most computer-controlled radios are traditional radios that allow the operator to use a computer (rather than inputs on the radio) to select frequency, toggle filters, and perform other actions.

== Links ==
* [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-qbjtI3w2EeSkJLpJR_VICCRoA7JsuB7/view?usp=sharing Slides from November 2017 PSRG Educational Gathering]
* [http://cubicsdr.com/ Cubic SDR]
* [https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ RTL-SDR]

[[Category:Educational_Gatherings]]

Software Defined Radio

2017-11-18T20:31:10Z

KI7LBE: create page

Activities for Amateur Radio operators

2017-11-18T20:03:30Z

KI7LBE: add link to Software Defined Radio

Amateur Radio operators in the United States have expansive privileges at all license levels. That means you are able to transmit on many frequencies (each with different characteristics) and use a wide array of equipment. If you are recently licensed or an experienced operator looking for a new way to use your license and equipment, you will find something interesting here:

* [[I want to Upgrade my License; where do I find Study Materials online? | Upgrade your license class]]
* Become a [[Volunteer Examiner]]
* [[Operating Awards | Earn awards based on your recorded contacts]]
* HF DXing, including [[Contesting]]
* Participate in [[Emergency Communications]]
* Learn about [[Software Defined Radio]]
* Study [[Solar Weather | solar weather]]
* Build your own equipment from kits or components you supply
** [[Build an Antenna]]
* Participate in social nets ([http://k7lwa-ins.blogspot.com/ Insomniac Net], [[Nine O'Clock Net]], etc.)
* [[Do I have to learn Morse Code? | Learn Morse code]]
* Listen to [http://www.amsat.org/ satellites] or the International Space Station
* Use your computer to communicate over RF using digital modes ([http://www.westseattlearc.org/organizer/puget-sound-digital-hams/ Puget Sound digital hams])
* [http://www.arrl.org/field-day Field Day]
* [[Automatic Packet Reporting System | APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System)]]
* Decode images from weather satellites
* Make contacts beyond your local area using Voice Over IP ([[:Category:VoIP|VoIP]]) technologies like: [[IRLP]], [[Echolink]], [[All-star]]
* Learn about repeater operations (PSRG technical committee info?)

Solar Weather

2017-06-20T16:28:03Z

KI7LBE: /* Links */ add NOAA link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

== Introduction ==
Believe it or not, activity on the Sun effects the [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#Propagation | propagation of radio waves]] here on Earth. While disturbances are rarely noticeable for local communications using VHF/UHF bands, operators using frequencies in the HF range pay close attention to energy levels in the Earth's ionosphere.

== The Solar Cycle ==
Solar activity follows a cycle that is about eleven years long. That is, there are eleven Earth years between the points of the cycle where we observe the lowest number of sunspots, solar flares, ejection of solar material, etc.

[[File:Sunspot_Numbers.png|600px|thumb|left|400 year sunspot history]]

== Current Conditions ==
We are currently in the downward side of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_24 solar cycle number 24] which reached two peaks: the first in 2011 and another peak in 2014. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_23 Solar cycle 23] reached a minimum around the year 2002.

=== What does that mean for amateur radio operators? ===
For users of VHF/UHF frequencies (30 MHz and up), it does not mean much. For users of HF transceivers, you may notice changes in your ability to hear and be heard on certain bands.

== Further Information ==

== Links ==
* [http://spaceweather.com/ Space Weather]
* [http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html Solar conditions]
* [http://www.solarham.net/ SolarHam]
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkXjdDQ-db0xz8f4PKgKsag Tamitha Skov YouTube channel]
* [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/space-weather-enthusiasts NOAA's Space Weather Dashboard]

Operating Awards

2017-06-14T20:52:59Z

KI7LBE: /* Introduction */ typo

== Introduction ==
A popular part of amateur radio is collecting contacts in a log. Some operators will collect contacts for credit toward one or more awards. Awards may take quite a long time to earn which is very different than [[Contesting | contests]] which may last only a few hours.

== Examples of Awards ==
* Worked All States
* Worked All Continents
* Worked All Zones
* DX Century Club
* VHF/UHF Century Club
* Summits on the Air
* Islands on the Air

== External Links ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operating_award Amateur radio operating award article] on Wikipedia
* [http://www.arrl.org/awards Awards portal on the ARRL website]

Operating Awards

2017-06-08T17:35:14Z

KI7LBE: create page; initial draft

== Introduction ==
A popular part of amateur radio is collected contacts in a log. Some operators will collect contacts for credit toward one or more awards. Awards may take quite a long time to earn which is very different than [[Contesting | contests]] which may last only a few hours.

== Examples of Awards ==
* Worked All States
* Worked All Continents
* Worked All Zones
* DX Century Club
* VHF/UHF Century Club
* Summits on the Air
* Islands on the Air

== External Links ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operating_award Amateur radio operating award article] on Wikipedia
* [http://www.arrl.org/awards Awards portal on the ARRL website]

Activities for Amateur Radio operators

2017-06-08T17:26:24Z

KI7LBE: add some links

Amateur Radio operators in the United States have expansive privileges at all license levels. That means you are able to transmit on many frequencies (each with different characteristics) and use a wide array of equipment. If you are recently licensed or an experienced operator looking for a new way to use your license and equipment, you will find something interesting here:

* [[I want to Upgrade my License; where do I find Study Materials online? | Upgrade your license class]]
* Become a [[Volunteer Examiner]]
* [[Operating Awards | Earn awards based on your recorded contacts]]
* HF DXing, including [[Contesting]]
* Participate in [[Emergency Communications]]
* Study [[Solar Weather | solar weather]]
* Build your own equipment from kits or components you supply
** [[Build an Antenna]]
* Participate in social nets ([http://k7lwa-ins.blogspot.com/ Insomniac Net], [[Nine O'Clock Net]], etc.)
* [[Do I have to learn Morse Code? | Learn Morse code]]
* Listen to [http://www.amsat.org/ satellites] or the International Space Station
* Use your computer to communicate over RF using digital modes ([http://www.westseattlearc.org/organizer/puget-sound-digital-hams/ Puget Sound digital hams])
* [http://www.arrl.org/field-day Field Day]
* [[Automatic Packet Reporting System | APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System)]]
* Decode images from weather satellites
* Make contacts beyond your local area using Voice Over IP ([[:Category:VoIP|VoIP]]) technologies like: [[IRLP]], [[Echolink]], [[All-star]]
* Learn about repeater operations (PSRG technical committee info?)

Solar Weather

2017-06-01T15:00:57Z

KI7LBE: /* Links */ add Skov channel

All-star

2017-05-30T22:59:04Z

KI7LBE: link to other AllStar article

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
[[Category:VoIP]]
== What is All-star? ==
Like [[Echolink]] and [[IRLP]], All-star is a network using VoIP to link amateur radio stations over the Internet.

== How can I start using All-star? ==
You can register your call-sign and email address on the [https://allstarlink.org/ AllStar Link Network] website and then access the network via the WebTransceiver or the Telephone Portal. Once you have created an account, [[AllStar|follow these steps]].

== Links ==
* [https://allstarlink.org/ AllStar Link Network]

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-26T21:21:31Z

KI7LBE: /* Dipole */ add definition

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=#-meter Band=
Amateur radio operators use the wavelength of certain frequency bands as shorthand when referring to parts of the radio spectrum they use.
160-meter band = 1.8 to 2.0 MHz
80-meter band = 3.5 to 4.0 MHz
60-meter band = 5 Mhz (organized in to five channels)
40-meter band = 7.0 to 7.3 MHz
30-meter band = 10.1 to 10.15 MHz
20-meter band = 14.0 to 14.35 MHz
17-meter band = 18.068 to 18.168 MHz
15-meter band = 21.0 to 21.45 MHz
12-meter band = 24.89 to 24.99 MHz
10-meter band = 28.0 to 29.7 MHz
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
1.25-meter band = 222.0 to 225 MHz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

= Dipole =
A dipole antenna. Typically refers to long wire antennas used on HF bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna Wikipedia article on dipole antennas]

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
[[Echolink]] is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using [[:Category:VoIP |Voice over IP (VoIP)]] technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer_Examiner#Volunteer_Examiner_Coordinator|Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-26T21:18:02Z

KI7LBE: /* #-meter Band */ reformat

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=#-meter Band=
Amateur radio operators use the wavelength of certain frequency bands as shorthand when referring to parts of the radio spectrum they use.
160-meter band = 1.8 to 2.0 MHz
80-meter band = 3.5 to 4.0 MHz
60-meter band = 5 Mhz (organized in to five channels)
40-meter band = 7.0 to 7.3 MHz
30-meter band = 10.1 to 10.15 MHz
20-meter band = 14.0 to 14.35 MHz
17-meter band = 18.068 to 18.168 MHz
15-meter band = 21.0 to 21.45 MHz
12-meter band = 24.89 to 24.99 MHz
10-meter band = 28.0 to 29.7 MHz
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
1.25-meter band = 222.0 to 225 MHz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
[[Echolink]] is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using [[:Category:VoIP |Voice over IP (VoIP)]] technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer_Examiner#Volunteer_Examiner_Coordinator|Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-26T20:39:24Z

KI7LBE: /* VEC */ add link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
[[Echolink]] is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using [[:Category:VoIP |Voice over IP (VoIP)]] technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer_Examiner#Volunteer_Examiner_Coordinator|Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

Volunteer Examiner

2017-05-26T20:39:00Z

KI7LBE: add Volunteer Examiner Coordinator section

== What is a VE? ==
When you took your first license exam (or [[I want to Upgrade my License; where do I find Study Materials online? | took an exam to upgrade]]), a group of volunteer examiners ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VE |VEs]]) that administered the test and helped to forward your results to the FCC. Volunteer examiners are amateur radio operators just like you who hold an accreditation that allows them to oversee the process for licensing new hams and awarding license upgrades.

Many operators see becoming a VE an opportunity to "pay it forward" by expanding the community of amateur radio enthusiasts.

== How to Become a VE ==
=== Eligibility ===
Any person at least 18 years old whose amateur license has never been revoked or suspended is eligible to become a Volunteer Examiner. You must also hold a General or Extra class license.

=== Procedure ===
It's an open book test! The ARRL requires only an application and a 40-question review form. The [http://www.arrl.org/become-an-arrl-ve ARRL website] has all of the details and forms.

== Volunteer Examiner Coordinator ==
The FCC delegates the preparation and organization of VEs to a short list of organizations called Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. The ARRL and Laurel VEC are the major VECs for our area.

== Links ==
* [http://www.arrl.org/become-an-arrl-ve Become an ARRL VE]
* [https://www.laurelvec.com/ The Laurel VEC] can help you become a VE
* [http://www.arrl.org/ve-manual ARRL VE Manual]
* [https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service/volunteer-examiner-coordinators List of VECs]

How do I find Ham Fests, Conferences, and/or Swap Meets?

2017-05-26T15:50:59Z

KI7LBE: finalize links, remove category

=== Introduction ===
The "ham fest" is a great opportunity to socialize and browse a plethora of [[What Radio(s) should I buy? | used radio gear and brand new gadgets]].

=== Local Resources ===
* [http://www.scarcwa.org/ham_fest.shtm Stanwood - Camano Amateur Radio Club Ham Fest]
* [http://www.mikeandkey.org/flea.htm Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club Electronics Show and Flea Market]
* [https://www.seapac.org/ SEA-PAC in Oregon]
* [http://commacademy.org/ Communications Academy]
* [http://www.microhams.com/mhdc/ MicroHAMS Digital Conference]

=== Other Major Events ===
* [http://hamvention.org/ Dayton Hamvention]
* [http://www.hamcation.com/ Orlando Hamcation]

=== Even More ===
* [http://www.n7cfo.com/amradio/hf/hf.htm Pacific Northwest Hamfairs & Events]

Build an Antenna

2017-05-26T15:44:33Z

KI7LBE: finish links - remove category

== Introduction ==
You may have already upgraded your [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough? |handheld radio]] with an after-market antenna but there is much more you can do to increase performance and add some extra capabilities to your portable radio.

== Project Ideas ==
Building an antenna for your [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#.28numeral.29-.28Centi-.29Meter_Band |dual-band]] ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]]/[[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]) FM transceiver is a great project to undertake. They require a lot less room than giant HF antennas and can greatly improve your operating range and even allow you to participate in other activities such as satellite communications and radio direction finding.

=== Slim Jim ===
Roll-up and go with a portable slim jim antenna.
* [http://www.freewebs.com/wacral/Build%20a%20roll%20up%20portable%202m.pdf Roll Up Slim Jim Antenna plans] ''PDF Document''

=== J-Pole ===
Ready to increase your range? Get a J-Pole up high and find out how far you can transmit.
* [http://www.eham.net/articles/2418 A Simple 2-meter copper pipe "J" pole]

=== Tape Measure Yagi ===
Yagi antennas provide directional gain that omnidirectional whips cannot.
* [http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tape-Measure-Antenna/ The Tape Measure Antenna]
* [http://w6nbc.com/articles/2011-12QSTtapemeasure.pdf A 2m and 70cm Portable Tape Measure Beam] ''PDF document''

== Further Reading ==
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.html Understanding Antennas For The Non-Technical Ham]
* [http://www.antenna-theory.com/ Antenna Theory website]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071639586/ Practical Antenna Handbook]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/087259694X/ ARRL Antenna Book]

Build an Antenna

2017-05-26T15:42:55Z

KI7LBE: /* Slim Jim */ better link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
== Introduction ==
You may have already upgraded your [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough? |handheld radio]] with an after-market antenna but there is much more you can do to increase performance and add some extra capabilities to your portable radio.

== Project Ideas ==
Building an antenna for your [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#.28numeral.29-.28Centi-.29Meter_Band |dual-band]] ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]]/[[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]) FM transceiver is a great project to undertake. They require a lot less room than giant HF antennas and can greatly improve your operating range and even allow you to participate in other activities such as satellite communications and radio direction finding.

=== Slim Jim ===
* [http://www.freewebs.com/wacral/Build%20a%20roll%20up%20portable%202m.pdf Roll Up Slim Jim Antenna plans] - ''PDF Document''

=== J-Pole ===
Ready to increase your range? Get a J-Pole up high and find out how far you can transmit.
* [http://www.eham.net/articles/2418 A Simple 2-meter copper pipe "J" pole]

=== Tape Measure Yagi ===
Yagi antennas provide directional gain that omnidirectional whips cannot.
* [http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tape-Measure-Antenna/ The Tape Measure Antenna]
* [http://w6nbc.com/articles/2011-12QSTtapemeasure.pdf A 2m and 70cm Portable Tape Measure Beam] ''PDF document''

== Further Reading ==
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.html Understanding Antennas For The Non-Technical Ham]
* [http://www.antenna-theory.com/ Antenna Theory website]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071639586/ Practical Antenna Handbook]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/087259694X/ ARRL Antenna Book]

Build an Antenna

2017-05-26T15:40:55Z

KI7LBE: /* Slim Jim */

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
== Introduction ==
You may have already upgraded your [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough? |handheld radio]] with an after-market antenna but there is much more you can do to increase performance and add some extra capabilities to your portable radio.

== Project Ideas ==
Building an antenna for your [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#.28numeral.29-.28Centi-.29Meter_Band |dual-band]] ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]]/[[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]) FM transceiver is a great project to undertake. They require a lot less room than giant HF antennas and can greatly improve your operating range and even allow you to participate in other activities such as satellite communications and radio direction finding.

=== Slim Jim ===
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/slimjim.html Slim Jim Antenna plans]

=== J-Pole ===
Ready to increase your range? Get a J-Pole up high and find out how far you can transmit.
* [http://www.eham.net/articles/2418 A Simple 2-meter copper pipe "J" pole]

=== Tape Measure Yagi ===
Yagi antennas provide directional gain that omnidirectional whips cannot.
* [http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tape-Measure-Antenna/ The Tape Measure Antenna]
* [http://w6nbc.com/articles/2011-12QSTtapemeasure.pdf A 2m and 70cm Portable Tape Measure Beam] ''PDF document''

== Further Reading ==
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.html Understanding Antennas For The Non-Technical Ham]
* [http://www.antenna-theory.com/ Antenna Theory website]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071639586/ Practical Antenna Handbook]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/087259694X/ ARRL Antenna Book]

Automatic Packet Reporting System

2017-05-23T21:59:26Z

KI7LBE:

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
== Introduction ==
APRS allows amateur radio operators to send telemetry data such as GPS location coordinates, weather station information, and text messages. Hikers use APRS as they explore back country, [[Emergency Communications]] coordinators can use it to visualize the positions of stations, and commuters use it to track the location of their vehicles (or members of a group of vehicles that want to stay together on a longer trip.) Once you start experimenting you may find your own specialized use for APRS. It is just one of many [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators]] that you may find interesting as you explore the hobby.

== Getting Started ==
* Licensing requirements
* etc.

== Equipment ==
* Radios with built-in APRS functionality
* Terminal Node Controller

== External Links ==
* [https://aprs.fi/ APRS.fi - Google Maps-based tracker]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System APRS article on Wikipedia]
* [http://www.arrl.org/automatic-packet-reporting-system-aprs APRS at ARRL]
* [https://github.com/PhirePhly/aprs_notes Collection of technical APRS notes on GitHub]

Build an Antenna

2017-05-23T18:28:16Z

KI7LBE: add project links

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
== Introduction ==
You may have already upgraded your [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough? |handheld radio]] with an after-market antenna but there is much more you can do to increase performance and add some extra capabilities to your portable radio.

== Project Ideas ==
Building an antenna for your [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#.28numeral.29-.28Centi-.29Meter_Band |dual-band]] ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]]/[[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]) FM transceiver is a great project to undertake. They require a lot less room than giant HF antennas and can greatly improve your operating range and even allow you to participate in other activities such as satellite communications and radio direction finding.

=== Slim Jim ===
Roll-up and go with a portable slim jim antenna.

=== J-Pole ===
Ready to increase your range? Get a J-Pole up high and find out how far you can transmit.
* [http://www.eham.net/articles/2418 A Simple 2-meter copper pipe "J" pole]

=== Tape Measure Yagi ===
Yagi antennas provide directional gain that omnidirectional whips cannot.
* [http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tape-Measure-Antenna/ The Tape Measure Antenna]
* [http://w6nbc.com/articles/2011-12QSTtapemeasure.pdf A 2m and 70cm Portable Tape Measure Beam] ''PDF document''

== Further Reading ==
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.html Understanding Antennas For The Non-Technical Ham]
* [http://www.antenna-theory.com/ Antenna Theory website]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071639586/ Practical Antenna Handbook]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/087259694X/ ARRL Antenna Book]

All-star

2017-05-23T17:23:01Z

KI7LBE: fix typo

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
[[Category:VoIP]]
== What is All-star? ==
Like [[Echolink]] and [[IRLP]], All-star is a network using VoIP to link amateur radio stations over the Internet.

== How can I start using All-star? ==
You can register your call-sign and email address on the [https://allstarlink.org/ AllStar Link Network] website and then access the network via the WebTransceiver or the Telephone Portal.

== Links ==
* [https://allstarlink.org/ AllStar Link Network]

What Radio(s) should I buy?

2017-05-23T17:21:37Z

KI7LBE: add some links

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
=== Introduction ===
As the old saying goes, "Ask ten hams which radio to buy and you will get 11 answers." It really depends on which [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators|parts of the hobby interest you the most.]] Rag-chewing on VHF/UHF repeaters? Amateur Satellites? Chasing DX on the HF bands? Let your interests guide you.

=== Your First Transceiver ===
Many newly-licensed Technicians start with an [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough?|all-in-one, mobile radio called a "Handie-Talkie" or HT for short.]] This allows most operators to monitor and transmit to at least a few repeaters in their area. If your budget allows, your first radio can be brand new. If you remain active in the hobby, it can be a good investment. (Even if you find that you do not use your equipment as frequently as you thought, the resale value on gently-used gear is quite good.)

Another way to get your hands on your first radio is to enter the used market. There are websites like [http://qrz.com QRZ.com], [https://swap.qth.com/ QTH.com], and [http://ebay.com eBay] that other amateur radio operators use to sell equipment. [[How do I find Ham Fests, Conferences, and/or Swap Meets?|Ham fests and other radio club events]] are also a great way to find equipment and try before you buy.

=== What Next? ===
* Improve your range by using a VHF/UHF mobile rig
* Add digital capabilities to your station
* One or more of the many [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators]]

=== Upgrade your license; upgrade your gear ===
A Technician license restricts you to [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency|VHF]] and [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency|UHF]] (with some exceptions) frequencies. Upgrading to higher license classes allows you to operate on the [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#HF|high frequency bands ("HF bands")]]. Operating on these additional frequencies requires new equipment.

What should I learn First, Second, Third...?

2017-05-23T17:11:31Z

KI7LBE: add a link

While there are [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators | multitudes of aspects of the hobby]] to entice you, there are a few basics that are handy to learn, and you can pick these things up whether or not you have earned your ticket. (Just remember: if you have a radio before you have a license, it is illegal to use the PTT button, unless a licensed ham is controlling the operation.)

These are a few basics that will come in handy:

* '''LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!''' The book-learning for your test is critical, but there's also no substitute for monitoring frequencies and hearing how hams interact. Being familiar with terminology, etiquette, and the technology itself will make it much easier to jump in on the action once you are licensed. One simple trick to try is to "ghost" a conversation, by saying to yourself (or silently) what you would say when keying up your radio--before you ever do key it up.
* '''Learn how repeaters work'''. Most hams these days begin their journey on FM repeaters on the 144-148MHz (2 meter) and/or 440-450MHz (70cm) bands. Knowing your way around your local repeaters will set you up to get into the hobby and begin exploring it.
* Speaking of repeaters, learn '''where the ones in your area are'''. [[How to Find Repeater Info | There are lots of resources for this]], from smartphone apps to your favorite search engine, to the trusty ARRL Repeater Directory (via paper or electrons). Once you have the repeaters [[What information do I actually ''program'' into my radio, and why? | programmed into your radio]] or scanner, you can quickly get a feel for the character of each one. Some repeaters are silent just about all the time, and others are lively around the clock. The repeater guides won't tell you which are which--so back to the first point: listen and learn!
* Start thinking about '''[[What Radio(s) should I buy? | how you want to set up your station]]'''--at home, in the vehicle, "foot-mobile," wherever, and then explore the various pages of this wiki or the abundant other online resources to learn more.
* [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)|'''Find an "elmer"''']] (an experienced ham mentor). This one isn't always easy -- some folks are introverts and would rather learn on their own. But if you want to work with an elmer, a little time on a repeater (if you're licensed!) or at a club, will give you a great boost in learning the ropes.

== Links ==
* [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators]]
* [https://www.repeaterbook.com/ Repeater Book - a free resource for finding amateur radio repeaters]

Solar Weather

2017-05-23T15:41:42Z

KI7LBE: fill in more details

File:Sunspot Numbers.png

2017-05-23T15:37:10Z

KI7LBE: add license information

This figure summarizes sunspot number observations. Since c. 1749, continuous monthly averages of sunspot activity have been available and are shown here as reported by the Solar Influences Data Analysis Center, World Data Center for the Sunspot Index, at the Royal Observatory of Belgium. These figures are based on an average of measurements from many different observatories around the world. Prior to 1749, sporadic observations of sunspots are available. These were compiled and placed on consistent monthly framework by Hoyt & Schatten (1998a, 1998b).

The most prominent feature of this graph is the c. 11 year solar magnetic cycle which is associated with the natural waxing and waning of solar activity.

On longer time scales, the sun has shown considerable variability, including the long Maunder Minimum when almost no sunspots were observed, the less severe Dalton Minimum, and increased sunspot activity during the last fifty years, known as the Modern Maximum.

This figure was prepared by Robert A. Rohde and is part of the Global Warming Art project.

This file is licensed under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.]

Solar Weather

2017-05-23T15:34:17Z

KI7LBE: /* Current Conditions */

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

== Introduction ==
Believe it or not, activity on the Sun effects the [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#Propagation | propagation of radio waves]] here on Earth. While disturbances are rarely noticeable for local communications using VHF/UHF bands, operators using frequencies in the HF range pay close attention to energy levels in the Earth's ionosphere.

== The Solar Cycle ==
Solar activity follows a cycle that is about eleven years long. That is, there are eleven Earth years between the points of the cycle where we observe the lowest number of sunspots, solar flares, ejection of solar material, etc.

[[File:Sunspot_Numbers.png|600px|thumb|left|400 year sunspot history]]

== Current Conditions ==
We are currently in the downward side of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_24 solar cycle number 24] which reached two peaks: the first in 2011 and another peak in 2014. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_23 Solar cycle 23] reached a minimum around the year 2002.

== Further Information ==

== Links ==
* [http://spaceweather.com/ Space Weather]
* [http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html Solar conditions]
* [http://www.solarham.net/ SolarHam]

Solar Weather

2017-05-23T15:27:59Z

KI7LBE: /* The Solar Cycle */

File:Sunspot Numbers.png

2017-05-23T15:26:04Z

KI7LBE: This figure summarizes sunspot number observations. Since c. 1749, continuous monthly averages of sunspot activity have been available and are shown here as reported by the Solar Influences Data Analysis Center, World Data Center for the Sunspot Index,...

Solar Weather

2017-05-23T14:41:30Z

KI7LBE: /* The Solar Cycle */

Do I need a huge antenna on my roof, or a Big Tower in my backyard?

2017-05-22T22:20:19Z

KI7LBE: add some links

No!

That said, getting a good antenna up is important. It's more important than having a lot of power, especially for [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]] and [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]. But it doesn't necessarily have to be overly large, nor on a big tower.

The universe of antennas (should that be "antennae?") is a large one, and they come in pretty much all shapes and sizes. Odds are that there's one that will fit your needs, regardless of your operational requirements and constraints.

One of the biggest antenna challenges comes for those who live in apartments or in any place subject to covenants about antenna construction. (The good news on that last point is that the [https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/555 Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017], if passed, will prohibit HOAs and the like from preventing hams from putting up antennas, if that prohibition makes communication impossible). There are, however, a lot of clever "stealth" antennas that can work even in very restrictive environments.

VHF and UHF are line-of-sight bands, so you need, theoretically, a good clear path free of high obstructions between you and the repeater or the individual ham you want to communicate with. The antenna itself can be of modest size; a popular 2m/440 [[Build an Antenna |J-Pole design]] has as its longest element a piece a little under 5' in length.

Once you have picked an antenna, you'll often need to experiment with its exact placement, but the upside of that is that you may well be able to find a good spot that isn't on top of your roof (or equivalent height on a tower).

"Tower" can also take different forms. Some hams have had good results with simple aluminum flagpoles as the supports for lightweight antennas (though if you go that route, it's a good idea for the flagpole to be braced against something sturdy partway up, rather than free-standing. But it's also worth pointing out that the wind load on a 2m/440 [[Build an Antenna |J-Pole]] is less than that of the flag for which the pole was designed.

If you want to put up a rotatable HF beam antenna, then you do need a tower or at least a stout roof structure on which to mount the rotator and antenna. Most beginning hams don't put up this kind of antenna, so it's less a requirement than something to aspire to!

== Links ==
* [[Build an Antenna]]

Build an Antenna

2017-05-22T22:17:28Z

KI7LBE: create first draft

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]
== Introduction ==
You may have already upgraded your [[Is a Walkie-Talkie ("HT") enough? |handheld radio]] with an after-market antenna but there is much more you can do to increase performance and add some extra capabilities to your portable radio.

== Project Ideas ==
Building an antenna for your [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#.28numeral.29-.28Centi-.29Meter_Band |dual-band]] ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VHF:_Very_High_Frequency |VHF]]/[[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#UHF:_Ultra_High_Frequency |UHF]]) FM transceiver is a great project to undertake. They require a lot less room than giant HF antennas and can greatly improve your operating range and even allow you to participate in other activities such as satellite communications and radio direction finding.

=== Slim Jim ===
Roll-up and go with a portable slim jim antenna.

=== J-Pole ===
Ready to increase your range? Get a J-Pole up high and find out how far you can transmit.

=== Tape Measure Yagi ===
Yagi antennas provide directional gain that omnidirectional whips cannot.

== External Links ==

== Further Reading ==
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.html Understanding Antennas For The Non-Technical Ham]
* [http://www.antenna-theory.com/ Antenna Theory website]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071639586/ Practical Antenna Handbook]
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/087259694X/ ARRL Antenna Book]

Volunteer Examiner

2017-05-22T20:58:58Z

KI7LBE: add some content

== What is a VE? ==
When you took your first license exam (or [[I want to Upgrade my License; where do I find Study Materials online? | took an exam to upgrade]]), a group of volunteer examiners ([[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VE |VEs]]) that administered the test and helped to forward your results to the FCC. Volunteer examiners are amateur radio operators just like you who hold an accreditation that allows them to oversee the process for licensing new hams and awarding license upgrades.

Many operators see becoming a VE an opportunity to "pay it forward" by expanding the community of amateur radio enthusiasts.

== How to Become a VE ==
=== Eligibility ===
Any person at least 18 years old whose amateur license has never been revoked or suspended is eligible to become a Volunteer Examiner. You must also hold a General or Extra class license.

=== Procedure ===
It's an open book test! The ARRL requires only an application and a 40-question review form. The [http://www.arrl.org/become-an-arrl-ve ARRL website] has all of the details and forms.

== Links ==
* [http://www.arrl.org/become-an-arrl-ve Become an ARRL VE]
* [https://www.laurelvec.com/ The Laurel VEC] can help you become a VE
* [http://www.arrl.org/ve-manual ARRL VE Manual]

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T19:11:43Z

KI7LBE: /* EchoLink */ add link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
[[Echolink]] is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using [[:Category:VoIP |Voice over IP (VoIP)]] technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T19:03:15Z

KI7LBE: /* Elmer */ fix link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [[How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T19:02:43Z

KI7LBE: /* Elmer */ add link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham. [How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)]]

<div id="EmComm"></div>

=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T19:01:37Z

KI7LBE: /* Net */ add link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham.

<div id="EmComm"></div>
=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater. There is more information in the [[What is a Radio Net?]] article.
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T19:00:40Z

KI7LBE: /* Propagation */ add link

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham.

<div id="EmComm"></div>
=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna. For more information, see the [[Solar Weather]] article.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

Emergency Communications

2017-05-22T18:58:47Z

KI7LBE: add link

=== Introduction ===
Emergency Communications is a [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators | common entry point]] for many in to the hobby of amateur radio. Many groups exist at the national/international level which are backed by many local chapters staffed with amateur radio operators like you. When infrastructure like telephone service, cellular communications, cable TV, and broadband internet go offline a prepared amateur radio operator can receive and transmit information useful to the survival of themselves and others.

=== More Information ===
Events like Cascadia Rising and Seattle ACS exercises help amateur radio operators gain and sharpen emergency communications skills so they can be prepared when emergency strikes.

=== Take Action ===
See the article on [[How do I find an Emergency Preparedness Group to join?]] to learn how you can get involved with EmComm locally.

=== External Links ===
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_emergency_communications Wikipedia article on Amateur radio emergency communications]
* [http://commacademy.org/ Communications Academy]'s 20th Anniversary is next year. Save the date (April 14 & 15, 2018)!

Are there Public Service Events I can participate in?

2017-05-22T18:51:22Z

KI7LBE: add links

=== Use your license to serve the community! ===
Volunteering your services as an amateur radio operator to help your community in good times and bad. Hams lend their time, experience, and equipment to numerous events around the area. Some examples are parades, marathons, and demonstrations. Many hams are also active in [[Emergency Communications]] groups such as [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#ARES | ARES]] or [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#RACES | RACES]] that activate during natural disasters.

=== Calendar of Events ===
The [[Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club]] has an updated [http://www.mikeandkey.org/pubserve.htm list of public service events in the Puget Sound area].

New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology

2017-05-22T18:50:56Z

KI7LBE: /* RACES */

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

An excellent companion to this article is our list of [[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]!

=(numeral)-(Centi-)Meter Band=
Examples:
6-meter band = 50.0 to 54.0 MHz
2-meter band = 144.0 to 148.0 Mhz
70-centimeter band = 420.0 to 450.0 MHz

[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf U.S. Ham Band Chart]

=10-minute Rule=
FCC Requirement: give your FCC Amateur Call Sign every 10 minutes or less, during a conversation, AND at the End of the Conversation.
[http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/11318896686/ham-radio-identification-operating-regulations More at Tymkrs.tumblr.com]
[http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=124 more at W5YI.org]

=73=
"So long!", typically used at end of a Ham conversation ("QSO")

= Alphabet and Codes =
Ham radio operators use a ton of jargon on the air. You will even see the same codes used on the Internet where hams frequent.
The [http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets Amateur Radio Wiki maintains a list] of commonly used shorthand:
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Phonetic_Alphabet Phonetic Alphabet]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Morse_Code Morse Code]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Code]
and more!

=AGM Battery=
AGM (absorbed glass mat) is a special design glass mat designed to wick the battery electrolyte between the battery plates. AGM batteries contain only enough liquid to keep the mat wet with the electrolyte and if the battery is broken no free liquid is available to leak out.
[https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/gel-vs-agm.html More at BatteryStuff.com]

=Analog=
A less common definition is radio receiver and transmitter implementations that are based on digital signal processing, but may transmit or receive analog radio transmission standards, for example FM radio.
[http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html More at ExplainThatStuff.com]

=APRS=
[[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data are ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System More on APRS at Wikipedia.org]
[http://aprs.org/ More at APRS.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=APRS More at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=ARES=
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
[http://www.arrl.org/ares More on ARES at ARRL.org]

=ARL (ref. NTS): ARRL Numbered Radiograms=
Numbered messages have been established for some of the more common texts sent during emergencies and holiday seasons. When this common text can be used, an ARL NUMBER is substituted for the text and sent. The delivering station reads the actual text to the address, not the ARL NUMBER.
The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that "ARL" is included in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals or words.
[http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 More at NTS.EMA.ARRL.org]
[http://texastrafficnet.org/training.asp\#t12 More at TexasTrafficNet.org]
[http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf More on Public Service abbreviations at ARRL.org]

=ARRL: Amateur Radio Relay League, ("The League")=
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. ARRL’s underpinnings as Amateur Radio’s witness, partner and forum are defined by five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.
[http://arrl.org The ARRL web site]

=Balun=
an electrical device that converts between a balanced signal (two signals working against each other where ground is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal working against ground or pseudo-ground).
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balun More at Wikipedia.org]

=Band=
In telecommunication, a band—sometimes called a frequency band—is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (VLF) to extremely high frequencies (EHF). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.

=Band Plan=
[[file:Band-Allocation-Chart.png|350px|thumb|left]]
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each band plan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.

[https://www.wwara.org/WWARA_BAND_PLAN_2016_07_06.pdf What's the Band Plan for Western Washington Amateur Radio?]
[http://wwara.org/ WWARA.org web site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandplan More about Bandplan at Wikipedia.org]

=Base Station (aka "fixed station")=
A fixed ground station, usually using utility power and one or more external antennas.
An amateur radio station is a radio station designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary field stations.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_station More on Amateur Radio Station at Wikipedia.org]
An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is referred to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connect the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories.

=California Condor Connection (massively linked repeater system)=
[http://www.condor-connection.org/ the Condor Connection web site]

=Call Sign (FCC-assigned)=
An amateur operator's call sign is composed of a prefix, a separating numeral and a suffix. The prefix can be composed of letters or numbers, the separating numeral is one from 0 to 9, and a suffix is from one to four characters, usually letters… Prefix (within ITU assigned range) Separating numeral. Suffix.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_call_signs More on Amateur Radio Call Signs at Wikipedia.org]

=Coax (cable)=
Coaxial Shielded Cable, used for Antenna connections or jumper connections between RF components such as a transceiver and antenna tuner

=Conventional Radio=
Conventional system is the most basic radio communications system. Conventional, as its name implies, refers to a "traditional" method of frequency utilization. Conventional radios operate on fixed channels and each user group is permanently assigned a fixed frequency or a set of frequencies.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Conventional.htm More at About2wayRadio.com]

=Cross-band Repeater=
Cross-band repeating is a relatively inexpensive means for extending the range of handheld radios.
Many mobile-type dual-band radios (VHF/UHF) can receive signals on one band, and simultaneously re-transmit on the other band. With the proper settings, a dual-band FM mobile can "repeat", for example, signals heard from a VHF repeater at some distance away, to a UHF handie-talkie carried by an Operator inside a building, or down in a ravine, as well as in the other direction.
[http://www.cvarc.org/tech/crossband.html More at CVARC.org]

=CW=
"Continuous Wave" aka Morse Code transmission

=Decibel=
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
(in general use) a degree of loudness: "his voice went up several decibels"

=Digital Radio=
Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as MPEG2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme.
Examples:
*[http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx More on D-Star from Icom, Inc.]
*[https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/ More on System Fusion from Yaesu/Vertex]
*[http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf More on DMR from Motorola]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio More on Digital Radio at Wikipedia.org]

=Dipole=

=D-Star=
D-Star is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.

=Duplex=
simultaneous transmission and reception;
e.g. Landline or Cellular Telephone
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_(telecommunications) More on Duplex Communications at Wikipedia.org]

=EchoLink=
EchoLink is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolink More on EchoLink at Wikipedia.org]
[http://echolink.org/-http://echolink.org/]

=Elmer=
An experienced Ham who helps a New Ham.

<div id="EmComm"></div>
=EmComm=
[[Emergency Communications]]

=EME=
Earth-Moon-Earth radio-signal reflection, aka "Moon-Bounce"

=Evergreen Intertie=
The Evergreen Intertie is an interconnected group of amateur radio repeaters located in the Northwestern United States. FM repeaters operating in the VHF and UHF bands are interconnected (linked) by full duplex UHF radios. The network is open to all licensed amateurs, and access codes are available. Note-This is not true anymore,linking is done via IRLP. Please verify. The EI website is woefully out of date.
[http://www.evergreenintertie.org/ More at EvergreenIntertie.org]

=FCC=
The [https://www.fcc.gov/ Federal Communications Commission] is a government agency of the United States that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

=FEMA=
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.
[http://www.fema.gov/ More at FEMA.gov]
Specific to [[#EmComm|EmComm]]: ICS online Education and Testing [[#ICS|(see "ICS")]]

[http://training.fema.gov/is/nims.aspx More on ICS Training and Resources at FEMA.gov]

=Field Day=
Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
[http://www.arrl.org/field-day ARRL Field Day]

=FL-Digi=
A suite of free software programs for sending/receiving digital information via Narrow-Band frequencies, including repeaters.
A collection of cross-platform applications for digital signals used on the amateur radio bands.
[[#NBEMS| see NBEMS]]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/ More on FL-Digi at W1HKJ.com site]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ Download FL-Digi programs here]

=Half-Duplex=
(of a communications system or computer circuit) allowing the transmission of signals in both directions but not simultaneously.
During a radio conversation using a repeater, such as on UHF or VHF frequencies, the repeater is operating in Full-Duplex, meaning it is Transmitting on one frequency, and simultaneously receiving on another frequency. The 2 (or more) Ham Operators are each either Transmitting or Receiving, but not simultaneously.

=Ham Radio: What Is Ham Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com]

=HF=
"High Frequency", refers to frequencies between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

=HT=
"Handie-Talkie", a hand-held radio.

<div id="ICS"></div>
=ICS: Incident Command System=
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System More on ICS at Wikipedia.org]
[https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources More on ICS at FEMA.gov]
[[#FEMA| see also FEMA]]

=IRLP=
The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Radio_Linking_Project More on IRLP at Wikipedia.org]
[www.IRLP.net More on IRLP at IRLP.net]

=Machine=
ham jargon for a Radio Repeater
"I’m hearing you through the machine just fine!"

=Mag-Mount Antenna (magnetic-mount, i.e. non-permanent base)=

=Message Form=

=Mobile Station=

=Morse Code (aka "CW")=
Morse code is a method of sending text messages by keying in a series of electronic pulses, usually represented as a short pulse (called a "dot") and a long pulse (a "dash"). The code was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1840s to work with his invention of the telegraph, the first invention to effectively exploit electromagnetism for long-distance communication. The early telegrapher, often one who was at a railroad station interconnected with others along miles of telegraph pole lines, would tap a key up and down to send a succession of characters that the receiving telegrapher could read from tape (later operators learned to read the transmissions simply by listening). In the original version, the key down separated by a pause (key up) from the next letter was a dot (or, as it sounded to the telegrapher, a "dit") and the key down quickly twice in succession was a dash (a "dah" or "dit-dit"). Each text character was represented by a dot, dash, or some combination.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code More on Morse Code at Wikipedia.org]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=CW More on CW at Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NBEMS=
Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software (NBEMS) is an Open Source software suite that allows amateur radio operators to reliably send and receive data using nearly any computer (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and any analog radio without requiring a dedicated digital infrastructure or specialized modem hardware. NBEMS works on both VHF/UHF FM and on HF.
[http://www.arrl.org/nbems NBEMS at the ARRL site]
[http://w1hkj.com/ More software at W1HKJ.com]
[https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Download FL-digi programs from SourceForge.net]

=NBEMS: digital modes on voice channels=
[http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/ More at KB9UKD.com]
[http://hfradio.org.uk/html/digital_modes.html Examples of Digital Modes]
[http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/radio-sounds.html Listen to Audio of various Digital Modes]
[http://wb8nut.com/digital/ More at WB8NUT.com]
[http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Modes/ More at W1HKJ on Fldigi]
[http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide Signal Identification Guide]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amateur_radio_modes List of Amateur Radio Modes]
[http://www.dxzone.com/dx23702/digital-modes-samples.html Digital Modes Samples]
[http://www.arrl.org/digital-data-modes More at ARRL.org on Digital Data Modes]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNZBuxIbWM0 some Digital Modes on YouTube.com]
[http://www.w4cn.org/about-ham-radio/digital-modes More at W4CN.org on Digital Modes]

=Net Control Station=
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.

=Net=
an organized, often scheduled, group conversation on a frequency or repeater
[http://www.mikeandkey.org/nets.htm Local Net schedule on Mike & Key site]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net More on Wikipedia]
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Nets More on Amateur-Radio-Wiki.net]

=NTS: National Traffic System=
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the US and Canada.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System National Traffic System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

=Omni-Directional=

=Portable Station=

=Power-Supply=

=Propagation=
To amateur radio operators, propagation describes the different ways that RF energy (radio waves) spread from the transmitting antenna.
[http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html View current solar conditions]

=Pro-Words=
"Procedure Words". Amateur Radio operators use the R-S-T Signal Reporting System. [http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html A chart explaining each component.]

=Q-Code=
Telegraph operators developed a type of shorthand when they used Morse code. Today radio operators will use the same codes in voice transmissions.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Codes_and_Alphabets#Q-Code Q-Codes at the Amateur Radio Wiki]

=RACES=
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radio service that can be activated during an emergency that would allow previously-registered stations to operate when others would not be allowed. RACES is a part of [[Emergency Communications]].

=Radio: What Is Radio?=
[http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm More at HowStuffWorks.com on Radio]

=REACT=
"Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams" is a service concerned with [[Emergency Communications]] specific to a locale.
[http://reactintl.org/ REACT International]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Emergency_Associated_Communication_Teams REACT article on Wikipedia]

=Repeater=
Radio transceivers operating on VHF/UHF frequencies usually require line of sight between antennas for a contact to be made. To extend the operating range of a radio, a repeater does exactly that... repeats a signal it receives from a very convenient location such as a the top of a high-rise building or a high-elevation location like the top of a prominent hill.

=Sealed Lead-Acid Battery=
A VRLA battery (valve-regulated lead-acid battery), more commonly known as a sealed battery or maintenance free battery, is a type of lead-acid rechargeable battery. Due to their construction, they can be mounted in any orientation, and do not require constant maintenance.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery More at Wikipedia.org]=

=Simplex=
Simplex: direct between 2 or more radios, no repeater involved.
Simplex communication is a communication channel that sends information in one direction only. A "duplex" communication channel requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication]

=Spectrum=
In telecommunication, a band - sometimes called a frequency band - is a specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very low frequencies (vlf) to extremely high frequencies (ehf). Each band has a defined upper and lower frequency limit.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radio+spectrum More at Dictionary.Reference.com]

=Talk-Around=
"TA": commercial radios use "Talk-Around" to refer to bypassing the repeater, i.e., Simplex Communication, direct radio-to-radio. Generally a "TA" switch on the radio itself.

=Trunking Radio=
The concept of "trunking" is taken from telephone company technology and practice. It refers to the sharing of common "resources" among a number of different users on the same system without overhearing or interfering with each other’s conversations. "Trunked" takes advantage of the probability that in any given number of user units, not everyone will need "resources" access at the same time. Therefore with a given number of users, fewer discrete "resources" are required.
[http://www.about2wayradio.com/Trunked.htm More on Trunked Radio at About2WayRadio.com]

=UHF: Ultra High Frequency=
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_high_frequency More on UHF at Wikipedia.org]

=Vancouver Island Ham Network=
aka "Island Trunk System"
[http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/ The Vancouver Island Trunk System site]

=VE=
[[Volunteer Examiner]]

=VEC=
[[Volunteer Examiner Coordinator]]

=Vertex Digital Protocol=

=Vertical Antenna=

=VHF: Very High Frequency=
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding wavelengths of ten to one meters.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency More on VHF at Wikipedia.org]

=VLF: Very Low Frequency=
Very low frequency or VLF is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz and corresponding wavelengths from 100 to 10 kilometres, respectively.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency More on VLF at Wikipedia.org]

=WIN System: Western Intertie Network System=
The WIN System is a series of 71 linked, or "Intertied" repeaters; most are 440, or UHF repeaters, but we have some 2-meter and 220 repeaters as well, that cover a great deal of California, 16 States, and four Countries around the world. The WIN System is owned and operated by Shorty, K6JSI, with a lot of help from the faithful WIN System membership.
The WIN System is an OPEN Repeater system. It is not a Closed or a Private system.
We like to call it a ‘member supported’ system. We encourage all hams to stop in and get acquainted. However it is the membership that keeps the WIN System ‘on the air.’ Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to get involved with a growing, vibrant group, on the leading edge of technology.

[http://www.winsystem.org/ More at WinSystem.org]

=Winlink 2000=
Winlink 2000 is a versatile digital network messaging technology that allows radio operators to send e-mail messages over HF, VHF or UHF frequencies to other radio operators, and virtually every e-mail address available.
[http://www.winlink.org/ More at Winlink.org]

=WWARA=
[https://www.wwara.org/index.php Western Washington Amateur Relay Association]: provides Frequency Coordination for the Western Washington region.

=XYL=
"Ex Young Lady", often refers to The Wife or Female Partner.

=Yagi Antenna=
a highly directional radio antenna made of several short rods mounted across an insulating support and transmitting or receiving a narrow band of frequencies.
[http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Yagi_antenna Yagi Antenna article on Amateur Radio Wiki]

=YL=
"Young Lady"

Build an Antenna

2017-05-22T18:22:11Z

KI7LBE: add category

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

How to Operate on a Radio Net

2017-05-22T18:21:34Z

KI7LBE: minor formatting changes

[[What is a Radio Net? | Nets]] can be a great way to get used to keying up your radio and talking (or if you're hard-core, punching out CW!) And if you're not entirely new to the hobby, they're a great way to become familiar with structured communications.

Here are a few tips to make this easy:

*'''LISTEN FIRST!''' This should actually be Tips 1 through 5 (or 10). There is no substitute for listening for a little while to get familiar with how nets work. There's very little technical challenge to operating on a net, so a bit of time listening will pay big dividends when it's time to check in.
*'''[[New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology#Net_Control_Station | Net Control]] is in charge'''. Technically, every net has a net control. (Some ragchew groups seem like nets in that they take turns and meet on a regular schedule, but these are not, strictly speaking, nets. They are round-tables, "skeds," or just organically-evolved group chats). The net control station, sometimes abbreviated NCS, runs the show. They take checkins at the beginning, or in some cases they run a roll call list. Then, as the net progresses, they invite participants to speak. The nature of what a given participant says depends on the nature of the net. For a social/ragchew net, in general the topic is not fixed, and a net participant may report in on anything they wish to share.
*'''[[Emergency Communications | Emergency or priority traffic]] takes precedence''' over everything else. If a social net is running and then a localized or widespread emergency occurs, the NCS calls a halt to any non-essential traffic and facilitates the emergency or priority communications. If you are not part of the emergency traffic, it's time to go to listen-only mode.
*'''[[New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology#Net_Control_Station | NCS]] may ask for certain stations''' for specific reasons. For example, in a social net, the NCS may give priority to stations with weak signals, or stations that are mobile and may move out of range of the repeater soon. In a public service net (such as support for a road race or parade), the NCS will call on specific stations based on the needs of the event. If a runner needs medical help at Mile 15, the NCS is likely to call for a station close to Mile 15, for example.
*If you check in to a net, it is good practice '''not to leave until the net is over'''. For social nets, this is more a matter of courtesy than of strict necessity. '''For service or emergency nets, this is crucial.''' If you are part of an emergency net and leave early, at best NCS may not be able to get to you when they need you, and at worst they may assume something has happened to you, and try to get help to you.
*Related to the previous--if you're on battery power, '''consider how much battery life you have before you check in'''. If your battery is on its last legs and you don't have a backup, don't check into the net (except possibly as an "i/o" on a social net).
*'''Social net "in and out:"''' on social/ragchew nets, it is not uncommon for some hams to give an "in and out" checkin. This is the radio equivalent of saying a quick hello without joining a conversation. The "i/o" checkin is the one exception to the practice of staying on until the net ends. For a social net, it's not expected that i/o stations will necessarily monitor through the entire net.

'''Pileups'''

This term originated on the HF bands, where a desirable station (such as a rare DX station) is running a frequency, and many other stations "pile up" on each other, vying for the desired station's attention. Pileups often occur during nets, too, especially when the NCS is calling for all checkins or comments rather than running an explicit roll call. Here are a few tips for dealing with pileups.
*'''Be patient.''' You might not "win" the pileup, and in fact, many other stations may get called before you do. Don't be discouraged--this happens to everyone at one time or another.
*'''Check for doubles'''. A couple of effective ways to do this are to key up, say "This is," unkey to check for a double, and then proceed with your callsign if there is no double. A similar method is to use your prefix, e.g. "N7," unkey, then if there isn't a double, proceed with your full callsign. Note: you will sometimes be "punished" for this good practice by being "beaten" by other stations who check in with their whole call. But you get Ham Radio Karma Points for checking for doubles and being patient.

'''You could be the NCS, too!'''

If you have listened to nets, and especially if you have checked in, you should consider taking a turn as the net control station. It is excellent practice, many NCS stations find it a lot of fun, and you never know when, in an emergency, you might be the most qualified person to run a net!

Main Page

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__NOTOC__
==Welcome to the [https://web.psrg.org/ Puget Sound Repeater Group] [[What is a Wiki?|<span style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">''Wiki''</span>]]==

Here we will curate fantastic information for, and by, the ham community.
If you would like to contribute or make edits, please [[Special:CreateAccount|create an account]] or [[Special:UserLogin|login]] using your FCC call-sign.

Are you ready to contribute to the wiki but don't know where to start? See the list of [[:Category:Articles needing attention | '''articles needing attention.''']]

----
==== Popular articles ====
* [[New Ham Operator FAQ and Terminology|'''New Ham Operator Terminology''']] -- [[File:Cone-128_32x32.png|16px]] (Usable, though still Under Construction)
* '''[[New Ham FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]]''' -- [[File:Cone-128_32x32.png|16px]] (Usable, though still Under Construction)
* '''[[Activities for Amateur Radio operators]]'''
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==== Repeater Features ====
* [[DVR_Playback|DVR Playback: Learn how to test your audio signal using the PSRG repeaters Digital Voice Recorder]]
* [[QTH|Site Tour: View some pictures of the PSRG repeater QTH]]
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==== Baofeng Features ====
* [[Baofeng:_Disable_Roger_Beep|Disable the 'roger beep']]
* [[Baofeng:_Disable_Site_Alarm_Transmit|Disable Site Alarm Transmit]]
* [[Baofeng_Manual_Programming|How to Program from the keypad (no computer needed)]]
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==== Yaesu Features ====
* [[Yaesu:_Disable_Wires|Learn how to ''disable'' WIRES]]
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'''[[:Category:Educational_Gatherings | See a list of all Educational Gatherings]]'''
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==== External Resources ====
* A good site for visualizing the wind/weather is [https://www.windytv.com/?47.621,-122.170,10 '''WindyTV.com'''].
* If you're new to the hobby and just got a Chinese HT, be sure to [http://miklor.com/ '''check out Miklor.com'''].
* Learn more about the hobby by subscribing to some [[Amateur Radio Media | '''amateur radio podcasts and YouTube channels''']].

How do I find Ham Clubs near me?

2017-05-22T18:11:53Z

KI7LBE: add WWDXC

As with so many things these days, a search engine can be your first stop to find a local ham club.

If you're in the Seattle area, here are some excellent local clubs. And there's nothing preventing you from joining more than one--indeed, many local hams do just that.

* The [http://psrg.org '''Puget Sound Repeater Group'''] meets at the Salmon Bay Cafe in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.
* The '''[[Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club]]''' is another very active Puget Sound-area club. Their meetings are in Renton.
* The [http://www.westseattlearc.org '''West Seattle Amateur Radio Club'''] is another lively Seattle-area group.
* The [http://www.wwdxc.org/ '''Western Washington DX Club'''] are interested in making long-distance contacts and radio contesting.

Nine O'Clock Net

2017-05-22T18:09:22Z

KI7LBE: add related articles section

[[Category:Articles needing attention]]

== Introduction ==
Each day at 09:00 and 21:00 there’s a certain excitement in the air, as a number of die-hard PSRG members gather around their radios for the Nine O'clock net. Then the moment arrives, "Time for Net!" The mystery that is the Nine O’clock net has begun. If you are looking to catch a friendly conversation for your first on-air contact (or your one-hundred-first) try the Nine O'clock net! It is a frequently the first on-air experience of newly-licensed operators.

== Procedure ==
The Nine O'Clock Net is a directed, social net. The [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#Net_Control_Station | net control station]] will ask for check-ins and take a few to start. Then, the fun begins as net control calls each operator in turn and they have three minutes to talk about the night's topic (if any) or anything else they want to say.

== Related Articles ==
* [[What is a Radio Net?]]

What is a Radio Net?

2017-05-22T18:08:19Z

KI7LBE: add some links

A net is kind of like a meeting, or a directed conference call, on the air. It meets either on a pre-arranged schedule (such as Seattle's [[Nine O'Clock Net]] on the PSRG repeater) or ad-hoc, such as during or after an emergency.

Nets are directed, meaning a station acts as the [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#Net_Control_Station | net control operator]]. They function much like a police or fire dispatcher or an air traffic controller: they have the "big picture" of what's going on, they keep track of who has checked in, they indicate when it's a given station's turn to talk, and so forth.

Nets meet for many different purposes:
*'''"Ragchew"''' or social nets meet purely for the enjoyment of it. Hams share stories of what's going on in their days, insights about the hobby, etc. The [[Nine O'Clock Net]] is a social net.
*'''[[Are there Public Service Events I can participate in? | Public service]]''' nets provide logistical support for non-emergency events such as road races, parades, etc.
*'''[[Emergency Communications | Emergency organization]]''' nets often meet on a regular basis to pass information relevant to the organization, and to check the function of radio equipment. They're also useful for keeping folks from getting rusty on net procedures.
*'''Emergency''' nets are called when an actual emergency has occurred, to provide communications support in the emergency situation.

Ragchew and [[Are there Public Service Events I can participate in? | public service]] nets are a great way to get more familiar and comfortable with local hams and with operating procedures. They're a good stepping-stone to emergency communications, for those hams wishing to get involved with that side of the hobby.

== Related Articles ==
* [[How do I find Radio Nets?]]

How do I find an Elmer? (an Experienced Ham to help me Learn and Practice)

2017-05-22T17:28:39Z

KI7LBE: add Internet option

An [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#Elmer | Elmer]] -- a very archaic but still commonly-used term -- is, simply put, a ham radio mentor. As with any endeavor, it's often easiest to learn and explore under the guidance of a person who has a lot of experience in the activity. '''The good news is that a great many hams love Elmering newcomers.''' Still, how best to find one?

* On-air is a good way, '''if you already have your license and are comfortable talking'''. However, it may be that part of what you want from your Elmer is to help you get over mic fright, or you need some help with studying to get your ticket.
* A '''local ham [[How do I meet other Hams? | radio club]]''' is a great way to meet an Elmer. Most, if not all, clubs are very welcoming of new members or potential members, and most of them welcome folks who don't yet have their tickets. Look up the meeting schedule for your local club and come to a meeting. The [http://psrg.org'''Puget Sound Repeater Group'''] welcomes any existing or prospective member at its meetings, which are listed right on the home page.
* You may opt to use the '''Internet''' as your elmer. There are many resources online that can get you up to speed. See the [[Amateur Radio Media]] article for a curated list of podcasts and YouTube channels.

Automatic Packet Reporting System

2017-05-22T17:25:52Z

KI7LBE: flesh out the introduction

I want to Upgrade my License; where do I find Study Materials online?

2017-05-22T17:11:33Z

KI7LBE: add some links

If you are indeed upgrading, rather than getting your first ticket, then it may be that the resource you used to get licensed in the first place is still the right place to go. But here are a few good resources to check out anyway:

* [http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/ ARRL License Manuals]
* [http://www.nc4fb.org/wordpress/ Free Amateur Radio License Self-Study Programs at NC4FB.com]
* [https://hamstudy.org/ Ham Study]
** Free Practice Tests and Flash Cards
** Log in and it can track your progress across devices. Works great from mobile devices, too.
* [http://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/ No-Nonsense Study Guides by KB6NU Dan Romanchik]
* Slides for [https://www.qrz.com/db/kl7wm KL7WM] Daniel's classes are available at [http://www.tukwilaradioclub.org/ Tukwila Radio Club] in the Training Roadmap section.

== Ready to upgrade? ==
When you are ready to attempt the exam, you will need to find a group of [[New_Ham_Operator_FAQ_and_Terminology#VE |VEs]] to administer your upgrade test. The [[Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club]] website maintains a list of VE sessions in the area. Remember that when you pass you can use your new privileges immediately!

What is ''Earth-Moon-Earth'' communications?

2017-05-22T17:07:12Z

KI7LBE: add a link

EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) or "moonbounce" is one of the most unusual propagation modes, but it does really work, provided you have the right equipment.

The reason we can see the Moon, obviously, is that it is reflective of the visible-light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. But it turns out that it is reflective of RF, as well, and hams have used this property to make contacts with other similarly-equipped operators.

As you might imagine, EME is not a quick and easy mode to get involved with. It requires creating an *extremely* directional signal, with a decent amount of power to boot. An omnidirectional antenna, such as a J-Pole, would never radiate anywhere near enough of a signal to the Moon to have any hope of a readable reflected signal. EME arrays consist of phased multi-element yagi-style arrays, or large dishes, mounted on a system that allows the array to be turned to "follow" the Moon as the Earth rotates.

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%E2%80%93Moon%E2%80%93Earth_communication'''Wikipedia EME article'''] gives a nice overview of this exotic communication mode.

EME is just one of the many [[Activities for Amateur Radio operators]] that you might experiment with as you learn more about the hobby.

Solar Weather

2017-05-22T16:59:22Z

KI7LBE: /* Introduction */ add link