H. Ward Silver - Ham Radio For Dummies

2 Chapter 4 TABLE 4-1 Privileges by License Class TABLE 4-2 Relative Populations of U.S. License Classes

3 Chapter 7TABLE 7-1 Call Signs Available by License Class

4 Chapter 8TABLE 8-1 Activity Map for the HF BandsTABLE 8-2 Day/Night HF Band Use

5 Chapter 9TABLE 9-1 ITU Standard PhoneticsTABLE 9-2 Common Q-SignalsTABLE 9-3 Reporting Signal QualityTABLE 9-4 VHF/UHF CW and SSB Calling FrequenciesTABLE 9-5 Repeater Channel Spacings and Offsets

6 Chapter 11TABLE 11-1 Digital Mode Software ResourcesTABLE 11-2 RTTY ResourcesTABLE 11-3 APRS ResourcesTABLE 11-4 Popular DX Awards ProgramsTABLE 11-5 Popular Contests for BeginnersTABLE 11-6 Contest CalendarsTABLE 11-7 Popular Contest Logging SoftwareTABLE 11-8 North American QRP HF Calling FrequenciesTABLE 11-9 QRP and Portable Operating Resources

7 Chapter 12TABLE 12-1 Relative Cost ComparisonsTABLE 12-2 Relative Cost and Loss of Popular Feed LinesTABLE 12-3 Tower ManufacturersTABLE 12-4 Antenna Tuner Manufacturers

8 Chapter 16TABLE 16-1 Common Adapters

1 Chapter 1FIGURE 1-1: The FlexRadio Systems Maestro combines traditional operating contro...FIGURE 1-2: Students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology club (K2MFF) o...

2 Chapter 2FIGURE 2-1: A typical mobile FM station and a handheld transceiver with some co...FIGURE 2-2: A typical HF (shortwave) station and a station set up to use digita...FIGURE 2-3: As a radio wave travels, its fields oscillate at the frequency of t...FIGURE 2-4: The radio spectrum extends over a wide range of frequencies and wav...

3 Chapter 3FIGURE 3-1: QST , On The Air, QEX, and NCJ cover nearly every aspect of ham radi...FIGURE 3-2: The world-famous W1AW station in Newington, Connecticut.FIGURE 3-3: Derek Cohn (WBØTUA) had a blast while activating his first Park On ...FIGURE 3-4: These young hams from Europe, Africa, and Asia gathered in Bulgaria...FIGURE 3-5: CQ Communications publications cover just about every style and int...FIGURE 3-6: University of Washington students designed and built HuskySat-1, la...FIGURE 3-7: Sean Kutzko (KX9X) shows that satellite operation can be easy!FIGURE 3-8: The QRP ARCI publishes this excellent quarterly magazine featuring ...

4 Chapter 4FIGURE 4-1: ITU region map showing the world’s three administrative regions for...FIGURE 4-2: Hams are allocated “bands” of frequencies across the radio spectrum...

5 Chapter 7FIGURE 7-1: The ARRL VEC version of a CSCE form.FIGURE 7-2: The NCVEC Form 605 that is filed with the FCC. This version was rel...

6 Chapter 8FIGURE 8-1: The 80 meter band sub-band plan showing the privileges for each cla...FIGURE 8-2: Handheld (left) and mobile (right) transceivers for the VHF/UHF ban...FIGURE 8-3: Drake R-4C (left), top of the line 1970s analog receiver. The Kenwo...FIGURE 8-4: The SDRuno receiving software simultaneously showing several 20 met...FIGURE 8-5: The DXMAPS website displays contacts as soon as they are reported. ...FIGURE 8-6: Repeater directories are available online, as books, or as apps for...FIGURE 8-7: AM, USB, and LSB signals. Following the usual convention, the USB s...FIGURE 8-8: The OpenSPOT2 hotspot communicates locally on the 70 cm band and ov...FIGURE 8-9: The fldigi display with received text and a waterfall-style signal ...

7 Chapter 9FIGURE 9-1: The basic repeater system.FIGURE 9-2: Repeater input and output frequency pairs.FIGURE 9-3: Repeater allocations on the five primary VHF/UHF bands (frequencies...FIGURE 9-4: An RT Systems setup table.FIGURE 9-5: The basic IRLP system. The EchoLink system is very similar.FIGURE 9-6: An overview of the D-STAR system.FIGURE 9-7: An overview of the WIRES-X system.FIGURE 9-8: An overview of the DMR system.FIGURE 9-9: The general operating conventions on the HF bands.FIGURE 9-10: A PSK31 QSO using DigiPan software.

8 Chapter 10FIGURE 10-1: A typical personal go kit. FIGURE 10-2: An ICS-213 General Message form.FIGURE 10-3: Winlink mailbox stations using WINMOR as of September 2020. FIGURE 10-4: Elements of a typical AREDN network.

9 Chapter 11FIGURE 11-1: The WSJT-X windows during FT8 operation on 20 meters.FIGURE 11-2: RTTY tuning indicators of the MMTTY software. FIGURE 11-3: WA1LOU’s position reported by APRS.FIGURE 11-4: The WB8ELK Skytracker balloon tracked via APRS. FIGURE 11-5: An azimuthal-equidistant map centered on the Midwestern United Sta...FIGURE 11-6: DX QSL cards from (clockwise from upper left) Reunion Island, Soma...FIGURE 11-7: Participating in a contest can result in an attractive certificate...FIGURE 11-8: Special events and achievement award certificate.FIGURE 11-9: My paddle-key combo and the venerable straight key.FIGURE 11-10: The FT-817 and KX3 are two popular commercial QRP HF radios.FIGURE 11-11: KB8UIP enjoys activating peaks on the VHF bands for the Summits O...FIGURE 11-12: Competitors in a direction-finding meet use lightweight portable ...FIGURE 11-13: Pictures typical of those sent via amateur radio image modes.

10 Chapter 12FIGURE 12-1: (a) A FlexRadio Maestro control console; (b) Icom IC-7300 standalo...FIGURE 12-2: FM radios: (a) A Yaesu FT-7900A mobile and (b) a Kenwood TH-D74A h...FIGURE 12-3: An HF beam antenna for 20 through 10 meters (a) and a dual-band VH...FIGURE 12-4: Loops and dipoles are simple and effective HF wire antennas.FIGURE 12-5: Different types of feed lines. FIGURE 12-6: Mounting a rotator on a mast and on a tower.FIGURE 12-7: A simple configuration for a remotely controlled station.

11 Chapter 13FIGURE 13-1: Three popular arrangements of monitors with radios.FIGURE 13-2: Station desk and chair ergonomics should be arranged for operator ...FIGURE 13-3: A tabletop station built around laptop and tablet computers. FIGURE 13-4: A simple, uncluttered layout is effective for long periods of oper...FIGURE 13-5: A station with two main transceivers for high-performance contest ...FIGURE 13-6: Adding a second monitor provides more information to the operator....FIGURE 13-7: Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur by the author shows yo...FIGURE 13-8: Proper bonding for RF signals with a safety ground.FIGURE 13-9: Metal sheeting under equipment helps control RF picked up from you...

12 Chapter 14FIGURE 14-1: The PowerSDR software’s operator interface showing a received CW s...FIGURE 14-2: A typical paper log sheet showing basic information.FIGURE 14-3: (a) DXLab Suite is a general purpose logging program; (b) N3FJP's FIGURE 14-4: One of my QSL cards.

13 Chapter 15FIGURE 15-1: The FT-891 transceiver is designed for mobile and portable operati...FIGURE 15-2: This folding bicycle-mobile station was built by Christian Bravo, ...FIGURE 15-3: Most mobile radios have detachable lightweight control heads or fa...FIGURE 15-4: (a) A Hamstick-type mobile antenna mounted on the NØAX mobile alon...FIGURE 15-5: W6PNG operated this portable station from the Golden Gate National...FIGURE 15-6: The author operating from a campground on Emerald Island, NC.FIGURE 15-7: (a) Chuck Greeno, WA7BRL, using a Buddipole portable dipole antenn...FIGURE 15-8: Members of the St Charles Amateur Radio Club (KOØA) during the Fie...

14 Chapter 16FIGURE 16-1: A set of tools needed for routine ham station maintenance.FIGURE 16-2: The common types of crimp terminals.FIGURE 16-3: The common types of RF connectors and adapters.FIGURE 16-4: Power connectors used for ham radio equipment.FIGURE 16-5: Audio and data connectors.FIGURE 16-6: Use these tools for building or repairing electronic equipment.

15 Chapter 18FIGURE 18-1: (A) Signal bandwidth example and (B) a filter bandwidth example.FIGURE 18-2: Filter types, showing the responses of low-pass, bandpass, and hig...FIGURE 18-3: Antenna patterns: (a) Azimuthal pattern and (b) Elevation pattern.

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