You can be a lifesaver while you make new friendsFind out about ham radio, prepare for your license, and join the fun!Hams do cool things like talking to folks around the world and helping with communications during emergencies. If hamming it up sounds like fun, here's the scoop, including licensing requirements and how to set up a station. And if you're already licensed, this book will help you start sounding (and feeling) like a pro!The Dummies Way * Explanations in plain English * "Get in, get out" information * Icons and other navigational aids * Tear-out cheat sheet * Top ten lists * A dash of humor and funDiscover how to: * Understand ham jargon * Communicate on the air * Prepare for the license exam * Set up a radio shack * Help in an emergency or natural disaster * Be a ham on the goAuthor Biography: Ward Silver is an electrical engineer who's been a licensed ham for 31 years. He is a contributing editor and columnist for QST, a monthly magazine for ham operators.

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Silver, H. Ward

by Ward Silver

John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated

Hungry Minds, Incorporated

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

For Dummies

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (trade), Hoboken, NJ, 2004

--For dummies, Indianapolis, Ind, Indiana, 2004

United States, United States of America

--For dummies, Hoboken, NJ, ©2004

New York, New York State, 2004

Hoboken, 2011

1, US, 2004

mexmat -- 49

lg58891

producers:
PDFlib Personalization Server 5.0.1 (COM/Win32) unlicensed

{"edition":"1","isbns":["0764559877","0764573195","9780764559877","9780764573194"],"last_page":387,"publisher":"Wiley","series":"For dummies"}

Includes Web and bibliographical references (p. [329]-340) and index.

Team DDU
Ham Radio for Dummies 1
Cover 1
Table of Contents 14
Introduction 24
About This Book 24
Conventions Used in This Book 25
Foolish Assumptions 25
How This Book Is Organized 25
Part I: What Is Ham Radio All About? 26
Part II: Wading through the Licensing Process 26
Part III: Hamming It Up 26
Part IV: Building and Operating a Station That Works 26
Part V: The Part of Tens 27
Part VI: Appendixes 27
Icons Used in This Book 27
Where to Go from Here 28
Part I: What Is Ham Radio All About? 30
Chapter 1: Getting Acquainted with Ham Radio 32
Tuning In Ham Radio Today 33
Using electronics and technology 33
Operating a ham radio: Making contacts 35
Joining the ham radio community 36
Roaming the World of Ham Radio 38
Communicating with Ham Radio 39
Building a Ham Radio Shack 39
Chapter 2: Getting a Handle on Ham Radio Technology 42
Fundamentals of Radio Waves 42
Frequency and wavelength 43
The radio spectrum 44
Basic Ham Radio Gadgetry 45
Miscellaneous gadgets 46
Ham Radio on the Air 48
Dealing with Mother Nature 49
Chapter 3: Finding Other Hams: Your Support Group 52
Radio Clubs 52
Finding and choosing a club 53
Participating in a club 54
Getting involved 55
The ARRL 56
ARRL's benefits to you 57
ARRL's benefits to the hobby 58
ARRL's benefits to the public 59
Specialty Organizations and Clubs 60
Handi-Hams 61
AMSAT 61
TAPR 62
Young Ladies' Radio League - the YLRL 62
QRP clubs: ARCI, AmQRP, and G-QRP 63
Online Communities 64
Reflectors 65
Newsgroups 66
Portals 66
Hamfests and Conventions 67
Finding hamfests 67
Finding conventions 69
Part II: Wading through the Licensing Process 72
Chapter 4: Figuring Out the Licensing System 74
The Amateur Service: An Overview 74
Frequency allocations 75
Becoming Licensed: Individual License Classes 77
Technician class 78
General class 79
Amateur Extra class 79
Grandfathered classes 80
Understanding Call Signs 81
The Volunteer Licensing System 82
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) 82
Volunteer Examiners (VEs) 83
Chapter 5: Studying for Your License 84
Demystifying the Test 84
Finding Resources for Study 85
Finding licensing classes 86
Books, software, and videos 87
Online 87
Finding a Mentor 88
Mastering Morse Code 90
Chapter 6: Taking the Test 94
Finding a Test Session 94
Signing Up for a Test 96
Public exams 96
Exams at events 96
Private exams 96
The Big Day 97
What to bring with you 97
Taking the written exam 98
Passing the Morse code test 100
Chapter 7: Obtaining Your License and Call Sign 102
Completing Your Licensing Paperwork 102
Finding Your New Call Sign 104
Registering with the FCC Online 107
Picking Your Own Call Sign 109
Maintaining Your License 111
Part III: Hamming It Up 112
Chapter 8: Making Contact 114
Listen, Listen, Listen! 114
Listening on the different bands 115
Understanding sub-bands and band plans 115
Tuning In a Signal 116
Morse code (CW) 117
Single-sideband (SSB) 118
FM 119
Radioteletype (RTTY) and data signals 120
Listening on HF 121
Listening on VHF and UHF 123
Deciphering a QSO 126
Chewing the rag 126
Meeting on nets 127
Contesting and chasing DX 128
Q-Signals 129
Making a Call 130
Failing to make contact 132
Breaking in is not hard to do 134
Having a QSO 134
Calling CQ 137
The long goodbye 138
Chapter 9: Casual Operating 140
Operating on FM and Repeaters 141
Finding a repeater 141
Using tone access and DCS 145
Using simplex 146
Setting up your radio 147
Contacts, FM style 148
Open and closed 149
Repeater features 150
Chewing the Rag 154
Knowing where to chew 155
Knowing when to chew 157
Pounding Brass - Morse Code 160
Copying the code 161
Sending Morse 161
Code by computer 163
Making and responding to Morse code calls 164
Making Morse code contacts (CW) 164
Morse code (CW) clubs 165
Receiving Messages Afloat and Remote 165
Chapter 10: Operating with Intent 168
Joining an Emergency Organization 169
ARES and RACES 170
Preparing for an Emergency 172
Knowing who 172
Knowing where 172
Knowing what 172
Knowing how 174
Operating in an Emergency 175
Reporting an accident or other incident 175
Making and responding to distress calls 177
Supporting emergency communications outside your area 178
Providing Public Service 179
Weather monitoring 179
Parades and sporting events 180
Operating on Nets 180
Handling Traffic 182
Getting started 184
Handling a piece of traffic 184
Delivering the message 186
Sending a message 186
Chapter 11: Specialties 188
DX-ing 188
DX-ing on the shortwave bands 189
Tuning for DX 190
DX-ing on the VHF/UHF bands 197
Taking Part in Radio Contests 201
Types of contests 202
Operating in contests 203
Calling CQ 207
Submitting a log 208
Being polite 208
Learning about contesting 209
Chasing Awards 210
Finding awards and special events 210
Getting the contacts 211
Applying for awards 212
QRP: Low-Power Operating 212
Getting Digital 216
Radioteletype (RTTY) 216
TOR modes - AMTOR, PACTOR 218
Packet 219
PSK modes 221
Amateur WLAN and high-speed data 222
APRS 223
Operating on the digital modes 225
Operating via Satellites 226
Satellite basics 226
Accessing the satellites 227
Seeing Things - Image Transmissions 229
Slow-scan television (SSTV) and Facsimile (Fax) 230
Fast-scan television 231
Part IV: Building and Operating a Station That Works 232
Chapter 12: Getting on the Air 234
Setting Goals for Your Station 234
Goals and personal resources 234
Choosing a Radio 238
HF or shortwave radios 239
VHF and UHF radios 245
Making a selection 247
Choosing an Antenna 248
HF antennas 248
VHF/UHF antennas 253
Mobile and portable antennas 254
Feedline and connectors 256
Supporting Your Antenna 259
Antennas and trees 259
Masts and tripods 260
Towers 260
Is it a rotor or rotator? 262
Radio accessories 263
Computers in the Shack 266
PC or Mac or ? 266
Digital modes 267
Radio control 268
Hardware considerations 268
Buying New or Used Equipment 269
Upgrading Your Station 269
Chapter 13: Organizing Your Shack 272
Designing Your Ham Shack 272
Keeping a shack notebook 272
Building in ergonomics 273
Ham shack examples 276
Mobile and portable station examples 279
Building in RF and Electrical Safety 281
Basic safety 281
Lightning 282
RF exposure 282
First aid 283
Grounding Power and RF 283
Grounding for AC and DC power 283
Grounding for RF signals 284
Chapter 14: Housekeeping (Logs and QSLs) 286
Keeping a Log 286
Updating your little black radio book 286
Keeping your log on a computer 287
Selecting a QSL Card 288
Sending and Receiving QSLs 289
QSL-ing direct 289
Sending via managers 290
Bureaus and QSL services 290
QSL-ing electronically 291
Chapter 15: Hands-On Radio 292
Acquiring Tools and Components 292
Maintenance tools 293
Repairing and building tools 295
Components for repairs and building 297
Maintaining Your Station 298
Overall Troubleshooting Tips 299
Troubleshooting Your Station 300
RF problems 300
Operational problems 302
Troubleshooting Your Home and Neighborhood 306
Dealing with interference to other equipment 306
Dealing with interference to your equipment 308
Building Equipment from a Kit 311
Building Equipment from Scratch 311
Part V: The Part of Tens 314
Chapter 16: Ten Secrets for Beginners 316
Listening, Listening, Listening 316
Buddying Up 316
Knowing Your Equipment 316
Following the Manufacturer's Recommendations 317
Trying Different Things 317
Nobody Knows Everything 317
Practicing Courtesy 317
Joining In 318
Getting Right Back in the Saddle 318
Relax, It's a Hobby! 318
Chapter 17: Ten Secrets of the Masters 320
Listening, Listening, Listening 320
Learning What's Under the Hood 320
Reading History 320
Having a Sharp Axe 321
Practicing Makes Perfect 321
Paying Attention to Detail 321
The Problem Ain't What You Don't Know 321
Antennas Make the Difference 321
A Decibel Is a Decibel Is a Decibel 322
Ham Radio Is a Lifetime of Learning 322
Chapter 18: Ten First Station Tips 324
Being Flexible 324
Looking and Learning 324
Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 325
Used-Equipment Bargains 325
Building Something! 325
Being Well-Grounded 325
Saving Money by Building Your Own Cables 326
Building Step-by-Step 326
Finding the Weakest Link 326
Being Comfortable 326
Chapter 19: Ten Easy Ways to Have Fun on the Radio 328
Listening for People Having Fun and Joining In 328
Special Events and Contests Are Looking for You! 328
Making Up Your Own Contest 329
Sending a Radiogram, Ma'am 329
Joining the Parade 329
Going Somewhere Cool 329
Squirting a Bird 330
Learning a New Lingo 330
Shortwave Listening (SWL-ing) 330
Visiting a New Group 330
Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Give Back to Ham Radio 332
Preparing Yourself for Emergencies 332
Preparing Your Community for Emergencies 332
Volunteering in Your Club 333
Performing Public Service Assistance 333
Experimenting 333
Participating in On-the-Air Monitoring 333
Acting as a Product Tester or QSL Manager 334
Representing Amateur Radio 334
Being an Elmer 334
Making Lifelong Friendships 334
Part VI: Appendixes 336
Appendix A: Glossary 338
Appendix B: The Best References 352
Web Portals 352
Operating References 353
Public service 354
Digital modes 355
DX-ing resources 355
Contesting 356
Satellites 357
Mobile operation 358
Technical References 358
General 358
Electronics 359
Antennas 359
VHF/UHF/microwave 360
Propagation 361
Amateur Magazines 362
Vendors 363
Index 364
Team DDU 1

<p><p>it&#8217;s Time We Cleared The Air About Ham Radio. If You Think Of It As Staticky Transmissions Sent By People In The Middle Of Nowhere, Think Again. Today&#8217;s Ham Radio Goes Beyond Wireless To Extreme Wireless, Operators Transmit Data And Pictures, Use The Internet, Laser, And Microwave Transmitters, And Travel To Places High And Low To Make Contact. In An Emergency Or Natural Disaster, Ham Radio Can Replace Downed Traditional Communication And Save Lives. Whether You&#8217;re Just Getting Turned On To Ham Radio Or Already Have Your License, <i>ham Radio For Dummies</i> Helps You With The Terminology, The Technology <u>and</u> The Talknology. You Discover How To&#58; <ul> <li>decipher The Jargon And Speak The Language <li>buy Or Upgrade Your Equipment, Including The All-important Antennas <li>build A Ham Radio Shack, Complete With The Rig, A Computer, Mobile/base Rig, Microphones, Keys, Headphones, Antennas, Cables And Feedlines <li>study For Your License, Master Morse Code, Take The Test And Get Your Call Sign <li>understand The Basics Of Ragchews (conversations), Nets (organized On-air Meetings) And Dx-ing (competing In Contacts To Make Contacts) <li>keeping Logs With The Vital Statistics, Including Time (in Utc Or World Time), Frequency, And Call Sign </ul> <p> Written By Ward Silver, An Electrical Engineer, Certified Amateur Radio License Examiner, And Columnist For <i>qst</i>, A Monthly Magazine For Ham Operators, <i>ham Radio For Dummies</i> Gives You The Info You Need To Delve Into The Science Or Dive Into The Conversation. It Explains How You Can&#58; <ul> <li>tune In To The Most Common Types Of Signals, Including Morse Code (cw), Single-sideband (ssb), Fm,radioteletype (rtty), And Data Signals <li>break In, Introduce Yourself, Converse, And Say Or Signal Goodbye <li>communicate While Traveling (ham Radio Goes Where Mobile Phones Go Dead) <li>register With An Emergency Organization Such As Ares And Races <li>help In Emergencies Such As Earthquakes, Wildfires, Or Severe Weather <li>pursue Your Special Interests, Including Contacting Distant Stations, Participating In Contests, Exploring The Digital Modes, Using Satellites, Transmitting Images, And More </ul> <p> Complete With A Glossary And Ten Pages Of Additional Suggested Resources, <i>ham Radio For Dummies</i> Encourages You To Touch That Dial And Take That Mike. <p> Cul. (that&#8217;s Morse Code For &#8220;see You Later.&#8221;)</p>

It's time we cleared the air about ham radio. If you think of it as staticky transmissions sent by people in the middle of nowhere, think again. Today's ham radio goes beyond wireless to extreme wireless, Operators transmit data and pictures, use the Internet, laser, and microwave transmitters, and travel to places high and low to make contact. In an emergency or natural disaster, ham radio can replace downed traditional communication and save lives. Whether you're just getting turned on to ham radio or already have your license, Ham Radio for Dummies helps you with the terminology, the technology and the talknology. You discover how to: Decipher the jargon and speak the language Buy or upgrade your equipment, including the all-important antennas Build a ham radio shack, complete with the rig, a computer, mobile/base rig, microphones, keys, headphones, antennas, cables and feedlines Study for your license, master Morse code, take the test and get your call sign Understand the basics of ragchews (conversations), nets (organized on-air meetings) and DX-ing (competing in contacts to make contacts) Keeping logs with the vital statistics, including time (in UTC or World Time), frequency, and call sign Written by Ward Silver, an electrical engineer, Certified Amateur Radio License Examiner, and columnist for QST, a monthly magazine for ham operators, Ham Radio for Dummies gives you the info you need to delve into the science or dive into the conversation. It explains how you can: Tune in to the most common types of signals, including Morse Code (CW), single-sideband (SSB), FM, Radioteletype (RTTY), and data signals Break in, introduce yourself, converse, and say or signal goodbye Communicate while traveling (ham radio goes where mobile phones go dead) Register with an emergency organization such as ARES and RACES Help in emergencies such as earthquakes, wildfires, or severe weather Pursue your special interests, including contacting distant stations, participating in contests, exploring the digital modes, using satellites, transmitting images, and more Complete with a glossary and ten pages of additional suggested resources, Ham Radio for Dummies encourages you to touch that dial and take that mike. CUL. (That's Morse Code for "see you later.")

You can be a lifesaver while you make new friends Find out about ham radio, prepare for your license, and join the fun! Hams do cool things like talking to folks around the world and helping with communications during emergencies. If hamming it up sounds like fun, here's the scoop, including licensing requirements and how to set up a station. And if you're already licensed, this book will help you start sounding (and feeling) like a pro! The Dummies Way Explanations in plain English ""Get in, get out"" information Icons and other navigation

2009-07-20