Chapter 4

COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER HAMS

4.1 Contact Basics

● Contact Contents– General Principles– Identify regularly

● Every 10 minutes and End of Contact– Make it clear when you're done transmitting

● Procedural signals– K or BK– Clear or SK

4.1 Contact Basics -cont.

● Using a frequency– No station has exclusive rights to a frequency

● Signal Reports– Readability, Strength, Tone

● 599 is best - T is only for CW

● Q Signals– Intended for CW – QRM – man made interference– QSY – change frequency

4.1 Contact Basics - cont.

● Location– “QTH”– Maidenhead Grid Locators

● EN34, EN33 in Rodchester

● Power Level– ALWAYS use the MINIMUM necessary for

communications● Appropriate topics – NO CUSSING● Signing Off - 73 - “Clear” - “Final” - 'SK'

4.1 – Advising and Assisting

● Methods and Procedures– It's easy to make mistakes

● Help the other guy correct his problem● Take advice as it's intended

● Radio and Antenna Checks – Try to give honest signal reports– Please be polite when asking for 'radio checks'

● ARRL Official Observers– Volunteers – monitor bands – advise hams

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The RST System• Signal reports when operating CW

consists of three digits representing:– Readability (ranges from 1 to 5)– Strength (ranges from 1 to 9)– Tone (ranges from 1 to 9)

• Signal reports on SSB are two digit numbers using the “RS” portion of the RST system.– A report of “59 plus 20db” indicates that

your report is 20 decibels higher than signal strength 9 on the receiver S meter.

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The RST System

9-Perfect tone, no ripple or modulation

9-Extremely strong signals

8-Near perfect tone, trace modulation

8-Strong signals

7-Near pure tone, trace of ripple7-Moderately strong signals

6-Filtered tone, trace of tipple6-Good signals

5-Filtered rectified ac5-Fairly good signals5-Perfectly readable

4-Rough note, some filtering4-Fair signals4-Readable with no difficulty

3-Rough ac tone, rectified3-Weak signals3-Readable with difficulty

2-Very rough ac, very harsh and broad

2-Very weak signals2-Barely readable

1-Sixty cycle ac or less, very rough1-Faint signals bare perceptible

1-Unreadable

ToneStrengthReadability

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Tuning Up● To avoid on-the-air interference,

connect your transmitter to a “dummy load” while you tune up.

● Once the transmitter is tuned, disconnect the dummy load and connect an antenna. Use an antenna switch to change the connection.

● If you use an antenna tuner to match your antenna with your transmitter, you may have to transmit a brief low power signal to adjust the antenna tuner circuit.

4.1 Logging and Confirming Contacts

● Logbooks no longer required but HIGHLY recommended– Computer logs very popular

● Record: – Time and date– Band – Mode – Callsign of station– Optional: name, location

● Logbooks are important in collecting QSL confirmation cards, contesting

4.2 Band Plans

● Amateur signals are grouped into 'sub-bands' depending on the modes in use

● These sub-bands are defined in the FCC rules● Within these sub-bands, there are voluntary

band plans that specify frequencies for particular activities.

● The band plans are voluntary, but they are considered good amateur practice. FCC expects them to be followed unless there is a reason not to.

Band Plans - cont.

● The 'sub-bands' divided by mode are defined in FCC rules (CW vs. phone bands)

● The 'Band Plans' are controlled by amateurs– ARRL has band plans for all amateur bands

10 Meters (28-29.7 MHz):

28.000-28.070 CW28.070-28.150 RTTY28.150-28.190 CW28.200-28.300 Beacons28.300-29.300 Phone28.680 SSTV29.000-29.200 AM29.300-29.510 Satellite Downlinks29.520-29.590 Repeater Inputs29.600 FM Simplex29.610-29.700 Repeater Outputs

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Band Plan – 2 meters144.0 145.0 146.0 147.0 148.0

OutIn OutIn Out In

RepeaterCW SSB, Weak Signal FM Simplex

UsageFrequency

OSCAR Subband144.30-144.50

Linear Translator Outputs145.10-145.20

Weak Signal SSB144.90-145.10

Repeater Inputs144.60-144.90

Linear Translator Inputs144.50-144.60

Beacons144.275-144.300

SSB Operations144.20-144.275

National SSB Calling144.200

EME & SSB144.10-144.20

General CW144.05-144.10

EME (CW)144.00-144.05

UsageFrequency

Repeater Inputs147.60-147.99

FM Simplex147.42-147.39

Repeater Outputs146.700-147.39

Repeater Outputs146.61-146.97

National FM Calling146.52

FM Simplex146.40-146.58

Repeater Inputs146.01-146.37

OSCAR Subband145.80-146.00

Misc Experimental145.50-145.80

Repeater Outputs145.20-145.50

4.3 Making a Contact

● Starting a Contact– Listen First to see if frequency is busy!

● “is the frequency in use” “QRL?(on CW)”– If busy, just say “sorry, KC0XXX clear”

– Call CQ ● “CQ CQ CQ this is KC0XXX, Kilo Charley Zero Xray Xray

Xray” ● Use phonetics where appropriate

– Repeaters don't usually need long calls- CQ's are unusual and will sometimes result in laughter

Repeaters

● Repeaters relay signals over a wide area● A duplexer allows the repeater to transmit and

receive at the same time over the same antenna

● Repeaters receive on one frequency and retransmit on another – 'offset'

● The weak received signals are retransmitted by the powerful transmitter

Repeaters

Repeaters

Repeaters

RX: 146.82

TX: 146.22

RX: 146.82

TX: 146.22

RX: 146.22

TX: 146.82

Repeater

Ham A

Ham B

Area Repeaters

Local Area RepeatersRepeater Offset Output Input ToneW0MXW - 146.82 146.22 100W0MXW - 146.625 146.025 100W0EAS + 147.255 147.825 100

W0MXW + 443.85 448.85 71.9KG0BP + 444.575 449.575 110.9

Wabasha - 146.745 146.145 136.5Owatonna - 145.49 144.89

Spring Valley + 147.105 147.705 110.9

4.3 Repeaters

● Don't be upset if repeater station you call doesn't answer– For best success wait until a conversation has

ended and then call one of the stations – Participate in local nets

4.3 Repeater Use

● Finding Repeaters– See the Band Plan for repeater input and output

bands – scan for repeaters in the output band– Find listings sorted by area

● ARRL Repeater Directory ● Minnesota Repeater Council listing

– Most repeaters today use sub-audible tones for access - “PL” (Motorola's Private Line) or CTCSS (generic Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System)

– Use listing to find tone or use radio's tone scan

Repeater ID and Control

● Time out timer – usually 3 minutes, may be less● Linked repeaters – may require special care

with timers● Control Links – audio and control signals

– 1.25 meter and 70 CM bands ● Linked networks:

– Wisconsin Interstate Network– Minnesota Superlink

Open, Special Use and Private Repeaters

● Closed – not available for public use ● Private – usually OK for public use, but privately

owned – NOTE: nearly ALL ham repeaters are private

● Special Purpose – repeaters dedicated to a special use

Autopatch

● Allows you to make phone calls through repeater

REPEATER COORDINATION

● Regional groups that coordinate repeater frequencies

● FCC gives priority to coordinated repeaters – uncoordinated repeaters are discouraged

SIMPLEX CHANNELS

● Direct radio-to-radio – no repeaters or links● Great repeater etiquette is to move off the

repeater to a simplex channel once contact is made

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Amateur Radio Internet Gateways

● Used to connect amateur stations with the internet.

● Uses the internet protocol known as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).

● Gateway stations can be used to link repeaters where two distant repeaters share signals using VoIP.

● Popular amateur VoIP linking systems are IRLP and Echolink– KØRGR operates an Echolink node on the

146.6252 meter repeater in Rochester

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Repeater Internet Linking

RepeaterHam

KØRGR/LEcholink

Node

Internet

HamVoIP

Repeater

EcholinkAccess via Internet

EcholinkNode

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VOIP MODES

● IRLP – Internet Radio Linking Project● Echolink ● WIRES II● D-STAR

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4.4 Nets

● Types of Nets– Social – very common – Traffic – handles NTS messages – Emergency & Public Service

● Emergency response● Public service events ● SKYWARN

– Most nets are DIRECTED● They have a strict process for checkins and participation

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4.5 Emergency Operations

● “When normal communications systems are overloaded, damaged, or disrupted because a disaster has occurred...an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communications needs and facilitate relief actions.”

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4.5 Emergencies...

● Guidelines:– Don't become part of the problem – you are there to

assist, not to be a first responder– Never speculate or guess – say “I don't know”– Don't give out unauthorized information– Maintain your safety– Maintain Radio Discipline – Protect Personal Information

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4.5 Distress Calls

● Voice : Mayday, Mayday, Mayday● CW SOS SOS SOS ● Identify your station● Give location and info on how to locate● State the nature of the emergency● Describe the assistance required● Give any other pertinent information

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4.5 – Distress Calls 2

● If you hear a distress call – ON ANY FREQUENCY- you may respond – Outside of the ham bands, make sure nobody else

is responding first– Inside any ham bands, SUSPEND ANY ONGOING

COMMUNICATIONS IMMEDIATELY AND HANDLE THE EMERGENCY

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4.5 Emergency Equipment

● “GO Kits”● Alternate Power Sources

– Consider using common power connectors● Handheld Transcievers

– Useful, but need support ● Extra batteries- should run on AA's● DC adapter ● Not very useful for SKYWARN

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4.5 Organizations

● RACES and ARES - – Amateur groups

● ARES is controlled by ARRL● RACES grew out of US Civil Defense, is govt. controlled● CERT Teams ● Salvation Army chapter

– Get Training ! ● NIMS ● ARRL Level 1 course

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4.6 Special Modes and Techniques

● DXING, AWARDS and CONTESTS– DX (Long Distance)

● Usually thousands of miles on HF and 6 meters● Usually much less on VHF● DX Century Club

– On VHF, usually done with SSB and CW ● Exchange grid squares – VUCC ● Use horizontal antennas for SSB and CW

– QRP – Low Power ● 'Thousand Miles per Watt

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4.6 Contests

● Numerous contests during the year– ARRL and CQ DX Contests– ARRL and CQ VHF/UHF Contests – ARRL Field Day – ARRL Sweepstakes – IARU Contests– Contests sponsored by many different groups– RARC Contests

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4.6 Special Events

● Stations set up for special events – Major historic anniversaries– FCC may assign a special callsign

● Example: W0A, K0B, etc...

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Amateur Satellite Operations• Orbiting Satellites Carrying Amateur

Radio (OSCARs) are amateur radio satellites.

• Any licensed amateur can operate through a satellite using the VHF and UHF bands.

• A satellite’s orbit is usually shaped like an ellipse.– Perigee is the closest approach to Earth– Apogee is the farthest distance from Earth– The orbit can be mathematically calculated

using Keplerian element parameters.

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Amateur Satellite Operations (Con’t)

• The Doppler effect shifts the apparent frequency of a satellite transmission due to the relative motion between the satellite and earth station.– As the satellite moves closer, the

frequency is higher.– As the satellite moves away, the

frequency is lower.

• The International Space Station (ISS) operates amateur stations in voice and packet modes.– Due to the fairly low, circular orbit, the ISS

station can only be worked 4 to 6 minutes per pass by an Earth station.

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Amateur Television (ATV)• ATV, or “fast scan television,” uses the

same standards, or frame rate, as broadcast television.

• The 70 cm band is the lowest frequency band where ATV operations is permitted.

• A cable-ready television set can receive ATV frequencies on the 70 cm band.

• Bandwidth of a TV signal with sound is 6 Mhz.

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Slow-Scan Television (SSTV)• Images are transmitter by converting

the image into transmitted audio tones.• SSTV is popular on the 20 meter HF

band using SSB emission.• Also used on the 2 meter band using

simplex or FM voice repeaters.– As a matter of courtesy, you should

request permission to use a FM repeater for SSTV communication from the repeater owner.

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VHF SSTV

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Telecommand• Telecommand operation is a one-way

transmission to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a device at a distance.– Controlled devices may be models,

amateur satellites or remote controlled amateur stations.

• FCC rules do not require identification during telecommand of a model craft.– The transmitter must contain a label

with the station call sign and licensee’s name and address.

– Maximum transmitter power is limited to 1 watt.

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SKYWARN• Weather Spotting• Requires Training

Every 2 years• Requires a 50 watt

mobile on 2 FM

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PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS

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APRS Digipeaters• Digital repeaters (digipeaters) are used

to relay digital packets of information between amateur radio stations.

• The Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) is a digital packet system for relaying geographic position reports, messages, and weather reports between amateur radio stations.– APRS digital packets may be relayed via

digipeaters, satellites, ISS, or the internet.– APRS position reports are often plotted on

computer maps for tracking and messaging.

Not on test.

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Automatic Position Reporting System

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4.6 WINLINK

● Emaill for emergencies and travellers● Uses PACTOR on HF● Uses PACKET RADIO, 802.11, or DSTAR on

VHF and above ● Users connect to Participating Mail Box

Operator (PMBO) and exchange email

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4.6 Keyboard-to-Keyboard Digital

● RTTY – Radioteletype – 1930's– 5 level Baudot code – Usually sent and received by connecting a

computer soundcard to a radio through an interface● “TOR” modes – error free – AMTOR, PACTOR● PSK31 – Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud

– Works very well in noisy or weak signal conditions

● PACKET RADIO – uses a TNC but can also be done with soundcards