Ham Radio For Dummies

by Ward Silver

Ham Radio For Dummies®

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Copyright © 2004 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2004101969

ISBN: 0-7645-5987-7

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8

1B/RV/RR/QX/IN

About the Author

Ward Silver NØAX has been a licensed ham since 1972 at the age of 17. Ward’s experiences in ham radio contributed greatly to a 20-year career in broadcasting and as an electrical engineer and programmer, developing instrumentation and medical electronics. In 2000, he turned to teaching and writing as a second career. He is currently adjunct faculty with Seattle University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department, concentrating on laboratory instruction. You can find his monthly columns and articles in QST magazine and in the biweekly e-mail newsletter, “The Contester’s Rate Sheet”. He is the author of the ARRL’s online course, “Antenna Design and Construction” as well as Two-Way Radios & Scanners For Dummies. His ham radio interests include multi- operator and low-power (QRP) contesting, DX-ing, and antenna design. He is the author of “NØAX’s Radio Puzzler” (a collection of quizzes and puzzles), and co-author (with K7LXC) of “HF Tribander Performance - Test Methods & Results” and “HF Vertical Performance - Test Methods & Results.” He is the winner of the 2003 Bill Orr Technical Writing Award.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my all-ham family — my wife Nancy W7FIR and sons Webster KD7FYX and Lowell KD7DQO — who frequently see little of Dad except the back of his head as he hammers away at the keyboard creating another article or chapter. And dedicated as well to my own ham radio Elmers: Bill KJ7PC, Randy WB9FSL, Jerry WAØACF, and Danny K7SS who helped me turn “Can I?” into “I did!” Thanks, one and all!

Author’s Acknowledgments

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the American Radio Relay League for providing a number of excellent graphics and for its extensive Web site that provides so much value to many hams around the world. I also thank the administrators of eHam.net, QRZ.com, and AC6V.com Web portals for providing many useful links and extensive archives. All these organizations and the creators of the many other Web sites referenced in this book exemplify the best of ham spirit.

Also supporting me in many ways were the members of the Western Washington DX Club W7DX, the Vashon-Maury Island Radio Club W7VMI, and many great friends all over the world that share a deep friendship and appreciation of the magic of radio; you know who you are.

Thank you and Very 73.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Project Editor: Christopher Morris

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Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

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Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : What Is Ham Radio All About?

Chapter 1: Getting Acquainted with Ham Radio

Tuning In Ham Radio Today

Roaming the World of Ham Radio

Communicating with Ham Radio

Building a Ham Radio Shack

Chapter 2: Getting a Handle on Ham Radio Technology

Fundamentals of Radio Waves

Basic Ham Radio Gadgetry

Ham Radio on the Air

Dealing with Mother Nature

Chapter 3: Finding Other Hams: Your Support Group

Radio Clubs

The ARRL

Specialty Organizations and Clubs

Online Communities

Hamfests and Conventions

Part II : Wading through the Licensing Process

Chapter 4: Figuring Out the Licensing System

The Amateur Service: An Overview

Becoming Licensed: Individual License Classes

Understanding Call Signs

The Volunteer Licensing System

Chapter 5: Studying for Your License

Demystifying the Test

Finding Resources for Study

Finding a Mentor

Mastering Morse Code

Chapter 6: Taking the Test

Finding a Test Session

Signing Up for a Test

The Big Day

Chapter 7: Obtaining Your License and Call Sign

Completing Your Licensing Paperwork

Finding Your New Call Sign

Registering with the FCC Online

Picking Your Own Call Sign

Maintaining Your License

Part III : Hamming It Up

Chapter 8: Making Contact

Listen, Listen, Listen!

Tuning In a Signal

Deciphering a QSO

Q-Signals

Making a Call

Chapter 9: Casual Operating

Operating on FM and Repeaters

Chewing the Rag

Pounding Brass — Morse Code

Receiving Messages Afloat and Remote

Chapter 10: Operating with Intent

Joining an Emergency Organization

Preparing for an Emergency

Operating in an Emergency

Providing Public Service

Operating on Nets

Handling Traffic

Chapter 11: Specialties

DX-ing

Taking Part in Radio Contests

Chasing Awards

QRP: Low-Power Operating

Getting Digital

Operating via Satellites

Seeing Things — Image Transmissions

Part IV : Building and Operating a Station That Works

Chapter 12: Getting on the Air

Setting Goals for Your Station

Choosing a Radio

Choosing an Antenna

Supporting Your Antenna

Computers in the Shack

Buying New or Used Equipment

Upgrading Your Station

Chapter 13: Organizing Your Shack

Designing Your Ham Shack

Building in RF and Electrical Safety

Grounding Power and RF

Chapter 14: Housekeeping (Logs and QSLs)

Keeping a Log

Selecting a QSL Card

Sending and Receiving QSLs

Chapter 15: Hands-On Radio

Acquiring Tools and Components

Maintaining Your Station

Overall Troubleshooting Tips

Troubleshooting Your Station

Troubleshooting Your Home and Neighborhood

Building Equipment from a Kit

Building Equipment from Scratch

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 16: Ten Secrets for Beginners

Listening, Listening, Listening

Buddying Up

Knowing Your Equipment

Following the Manufacturer’s Recommendations

Trying Different Things

Nobody Knows Everything

Practicing Courtesy

Joining In

Getting Right Back in the Saddle

Relax, It’s a Hobby!

Chapter 17: Ten Secrets of the Masters

Listening, Listening, Listening

Learning What’s Under the Hood

Reading History

Having a Sharp Axe

Practicing Makes Perfect

Paying Attention to Detail

The Problem Ain’t What You Don’t Know

Antennas Make the Difference

A Decibel Is a Decibel Is a Decibel

Ham Radio Is a Lifetime of Learning

Chapter 18: Ten First Station Tips

Being Flexible

Looking and Learning

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Used-Equipment Bargains

Building Something!

Being Well-Grounded

Saving Money by Building Your Own Cables

Building Step-by-Step

Finding the Weakest Link

Being Comfortable

Chapter 19: Ten Easy Ways to Have Fun on the Radio

Listening for People Having Fun and Joining In

Special Events and Contests Are Looking for You!

Making Up Your Own Contest

Sending a Radiogram, Ma’am

Joining the Parade

Going Somewhere Cool

Squirting a Bird

Learning a New Lingo

Shortwave Listening (SWL-ing)

Visiting a New Group

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Give Back to Ham Radio

Preparing Yourself for Emergencies

Preparing Your Community for Emergencies

Volunteering in Your Club

Performing Public Service Assistance

Experimenting

Participating in On-the-Air Monitoring

Acting as a Product Tester or QSL Manager

Representing Amateur Radio

Being an Elmer

Making Lifelong Friendships

Part VI : Appendixes

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: The Best References

Web Portals

Operating References

Technical References

Amateur Magazines

Vendors

Appendix C: Morse Code

Introduction

A mateur or ham radio has been around for nearly a century. In that time, it’s grown, branched, morphed, and amplified itself into a worldwide community of licensed hams tickling the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its practitioners range in age from preschoolers to septuagenarians. Ham radio’s siren call attracts those who have never held a microphone as well as deep technical experts who grew up with a soldering iron and computer.

You may have come across ham radio in any number of ways: in movies such as Frequency or Contact, in books (the comic book hero TinTin is a ham), from seeing them in action performing emergency communications services, or maybe from a friend or relative who enjoys the hobby. Interestingly enough, ham radio has room for all of these activities. Yes, even a mad scientist or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just like you.

The storied vision finds the ham bent over a glowing radio, surrounded by all manner of electronic gadgets and flicking meters, tapping out messages on a telegraph key or speaking into a large, round, silvery microphone. Today’s ham has many more options than that to try! While the traditional shortwave bands are still crowded with ham signals hopping around the planet, hams now transmit data and pictures through the airwaves, use the Internet, lasers, and microwave transmitters, and travel to unusual places high and low to make contact.

Simply stated, ham radio provides the broadest and most powerful wireless communications capability available to any private citizen anywhere in the world. Because the world’s citizens are craving ever-closer contact, ham radio is attracting attention from people like you. The hobby has never had more to offer and shows no sign of slowing its expansion into new wireless technologies. Did I say wireless? Think Extreme Wireless!

About This Book

I wrote Ham Radio For Dummies for beginning hams. If you just became interested in ham radio, you find plenty of information here to explain what the hobby is all about and how to go about joining the fun by discovering the basics and getting a license.

If you already received your license, congratulations! This book helps you change from a listener to a doer. Any new hobby, particularly a technical one, can be intimidating to newcomers. By keeping Ham Radio For Dummies handy in your radio shack, getting your radio on the air and making contacts is easy. I cover the basics of getting a station put together properly and the fundamentals of on-the-air behavior. Use this book as your personal radio buddy and soon you’ll sound like a pro!

Conventions Used in This Book

To make the reading experience as clear and uncluttered as possible, I use a consistent presentation style. Here are the conventions:

Italics note a new or important term.

Web site URLs (addresses) are indicated with a monospace font.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book I made some assumptions about you. You don’t have to know a single thing about ham radio or its technology to enjoy Ham Radio For Dummies. And you definitely don’t need to be an electrical engineer to enjoy this book.

But I ask two things of you: You have an interest in ham radio and that you know how to use a computer well enough to surf the Web. Due to the complicated and extensive nature of ham radio, I couldn’t include everything in this book (otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to lift it). However, I steer you in the direction of additional resources to check out, including Web sites.

How This Book Is Organized

Ham Radio For Dummies has two major sections. Parts I and II are for readers getting interested in ham radio and preparing to get a license. Parts III and IV explain how to set up a station, get on the air, and make contact with other hams.

The Ham Radio For Dummies Web site, at www.dummies.com/go/hamradio, offers a list of Web resources and more information on the technical aspects of this wonderful hobby.

Part I: What Is Ham Radio All About?

If you don’t know much about ham radio, start reading this part. You get the ham radio big picture. Then I send you on a tour of the various radio technologies necessary to get you on the air. I round out this first part with an overview of the ham community: clubs and organizations.

Part II: Wading through the Licensing Process

The four chapters in Part II take you every step of the way through the process of getting a ham radio license. I explain the overall licensing system, including the types of licenses and the volunteers that administer the exams. Then I move on to studying, including Morse code, for your exam. Finally, I discuss the actual exam process so you know what to expect when the time comes. Part II concludes with what to do after you pass your test.

Part III: Hamming It Up

The sky is the limit, but first you have to learn to fly. Part III is where you delve into the fundamentals of ham radio operating. Then you get down to the brass tacks of basic operation, including how to make that elusive first contact! I cover the different kinds of casual operating and then get into some of the popular specialties of the hobby, including public service and emergency communications.

Part IV: Building and Operating a Station That Works

Part IV takes you through the basics of setting up and using a suitable station. I cover the different kinds of ham radio equipment and how to acquire what you need to get your station up and running. Ham radios take a little maintenance and troubleshooting, and I devote a chapter to these topics.

Part V: The Part of Tens

Familiar to all For Dummies readers, this part is where the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of the ages is boiled down into several condensed lists. I cover the tips and secrets of ham radio along with general guiding principles for successful ham radio operation.

Part VI: Appendixes

If you come across an unfamiliar term, turn to the glossary. I have also collected a long list of excellent references — both online and off — for you to find and use.

Icons Used in This Book

Ham Radio For Dummies includes icons that point out special information. Here are the icons I use and what they mean:

This icon points out easier, or shorter, ways of doing something.

This icon signals when I show my techy side. If you don’t want to know the technical details, skip paragraphs marked with this icon.

Whenever I could think of a common problem or “oops,” you see this icon. Before you become experienced, getting hung up on some of these little things is easy.

This icon lets you know that some safety rules or performance issues are associated with the topic of discussion. Watch for this icon to avoid common gotchas.

This icon points out information that you need to remember to enjoy your ham radio experience.

Where to Go from Here

If you’re not yet a ham, I highly recommend that you find your most comfortable chair and read through Parts I and II. You discover the basics about ham radio and solidify your interest. For the licensed ham, browse through Parts III and IV to find the topics that most interest you. Take a look through the appendixes, as well, to find out what information is secreted away back there for when you need it in a hurry. And for more technical material — and a list of Web resources — try the Ham Radio For Dummies Web site. For all my readers, welcome to Ham Radio For Dummies and I hope to meet you on the air some day!

Part I

What Is Ham Radio All About?

In this part . . .

Get ready to dive into the details of a terrific hobby and service. In this part, you take a quick peek at Ham Radio Land, formally known as the Amateur Radio Service. I start by describing what ham radio is like today — you will be surprised at its breadth and technical sophistication. You get a peek at the many ways in which hams actually communicate and why. Then I show you what most hams have in an actual radio shack.

Ham radio puts a technical face on many of its facets, so you get a quick refresher or introduction to the technology of radio. Then I explain the basic gadgets of ham radio, explain radio waves, and touch on how radio depends on the natural environment.

You certainly don’t have to know everything about ham radio by yourself because a lot of other hams are out there to lend a hand. In fact, helping others is one of the long-standing traditions of ham radio, so I show you how to find a local club and join a ham radio organization: you can find a large or small club, or one that caters to your general interest and special purpose. They’re just what you need to get in-depth knowledge about your own interests. You also get an introduction to hamfests and the many ham radio gatherings. You are not alone!

Chapter 1

Getting Acquainted with Ham Radio

In This Chapter

Becoming a part of ham radio

Traversing the world of ham radio

Making a contact with ham radio

Constructing a ham radio shack

H am radio invokes a wide range of visions. Maybe you have a mental image of a ham radio operator (or ham) from a movie or newspaper article. But hams are a varied lot — from go-getter emergency communicators to casual chatters to workshop tinkerers. Everyone has a place, and you do, too.

Hams use all sorts of radios and antennas on a wide variety of frequencies to communicate with other hams across town and around the world. They use ham radio for personal enjoyment, for keeping in touch with friends and family, for emergency communications, and for experimenting with radios and radio equipment. They communicate using microphones, telegraph or Morse keys, computers, cameras, lasers, and even their own satellites.

Hams meet on the air and in person. Ham radio clubs and organizations are devoted to every conceivable purpose. They have special ham radio flea markets and host conventions, large and small. Hams as young as six years old and centenarians have been hams since before ham radio licenses. Some have a technical background, but most do not. One thing all these diverse individuals do have, however, is an interest in radio that can express itself in many different ways.

Ham: Not just for sandwiches anymore

Everyone wants to know the meaning of the word “ham,” but as with many slang words, the origin is murky. Theories abound, of course, ranging from the initials of an early radio club’s operators to the use of a meat tin as a natural sound amplifier. Out of the many possibilities, this theory condensed from the American Radio Relay League’s (ARRL) Web site seems the most believable:

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!