Transcript OPERATING PRACTICE

Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Course
(8) Operating Practice
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
1
Q-Codes
• Q-Codes are a form of abbreviation used during a CW contact.
However some have come into use for normal voice contacts.
• A question mark after a Q-Code means a question.
• For international and amateur means see table in Book/Handout.
Recall the meaning and the reason for use of the Q codes:
QRL, QRM, QRN, QRP, QRT, QRZ, QSB, QSL, QSO, QSY, QTH.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
2
Abbreviations
CQ
GENERAL CALL TO ALL STATIONS
DE
FROM (THIS IS)
DX
LONG DISTANCE *
R
RECEIVED
RST
READABILTY, SIGNAL STRENGTH, TONE
SIG
SIGNAL
UR
YOUR
WX
WEATHER
* Very subjective - assume any place outside of my continent
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
3
RST Signal Reporting
RST:- Readability Strength Tone
READABILITY
1
2
3
4
5
Unreadable
Barely Readable, occasional word distinguishable
Readable with Considerable difficulty
Readable with practically no difficulty
Perfectly Readable
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
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Signal Reporting-2
SIGNAL
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Faint, Signals barely perceptible
Very Weak Signals
Weak Signals
Fair Signals
Fairly Good Signals
Good Signals
Moderately Strong Signals
Strong Signals
Extremely Strong Signals
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
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Signal Reporting-3
TONE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Extremely Rough Hissing Noise
Very Rough Note. No Trace of Musicality
Rough, low-pitched note. Slightly Musical
Rather Rough note. Moderately Musical
Musically modulated note
Modulated note. Slight trace of whistle
Near Good Note. Smooth ripple
Good Note. Just a trace of ripple
Purest Note
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
6
Operational Advantages of
Transmission Modes
• CW (Continuous Wave) [usually Morse]. CW mode has a
narrow bandwidth and greater range for a given transmitter
power. CW will in 99% of cases make a contact in poor
conditions when other modes fail.
• SSB (Single Side Band) Good for voice transmission over long
distance. Ensure that on the receiver that the bandwidth is set
for SSB reception - 2.0kHz or 2.4kHz filter.
• FM. (Frequency Modulation). Has the shortest range and
maximum (Wide) bandwidth. For shorter range transmissions it
offers high quality speech.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
7
Set-ups for Other Modes
PTT
FROM SOUND CARD
Rx Audio
TRANSCEIVER
INTERFACE
Tx Audio
PTT
FROM I/O PORT
Rx Audio
MODEM
TRANSCEIVER
Tx Audio
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
8
Other Operating Modes
• PSK31 is a narrow band transmission mode suitable for
either data or text on HF; similar modes are PACTOR,
AMTOR, and RTTY. Look for these modes around .070 to .100
on the 14 or 21 MHz bands.
• SSTV Slow Scan Television is like facsimile and can transmit
pictures over a HF or VHF voice channel, with a 2.4kHz
bandwidth. The pictures are generated either by computer or
video camera. Look for these around .230.
• FSTV Fast Scan TV needs a wide bandwidth and is therefore
only suitable for VHF or UHF - mainly on 23cms now.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
9
QTH & QSL Information
• The starting point for UK stations is the RSGB Callbook which
lists most UK calls.
• Country prefixes can be found in the Callbook or the useful
prefix guide published by the RSGB.
• Overseas callsign information can be found either on
QRZ.com, or Buckmaster, which are USA Internet sites.
• There is a very good CD “The Flying Horse Callbook” which is
available from the RSGB.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
10
QSL Cards
Sending and Receiving QSL cards:• QSL cards are known as the final courtesy of a QSO.
• Most stations like to send and receive cards.
• If you become interested in awards then you are required to be
in possession of the cards confirming the contacts.
• NOTE: e-QSLs are not accepted for most awards.
• Two routes are available to exchange cards - via a QSL Bureau,
OR Direct to the station.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
11
QSL Card Bureau
OVERSEAS BUREAUS
RSGB HQ
PO BOX
1773
VOLUNTEER
RSGB
Sub-Managers
UK Amateur Community
who have lodged Stamped
Addressed Envelopes with
relevant Sub-Manager
RSGB
MEMBER’S
CARDS
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
12
Common Country Prefixes
• Country prefixes were allocated by international conference in 1923.
• There may be more than one prefix per country.
• Remember:EI
F
I
JA
PA
VE
VK
W or K
ZL
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Eire - Irish Republic
France
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
Canada
Australia
USA
New Zealand
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
13
Contests and Awards
• Love them or loathe them Contests are here to stay.
– HINT: Use contests to help with awards.
• Awards; DXCC is the top award followed by IOTA
– DXCC basic is 100 countries confirmed by receipt of QSL card.
• IOTA (Islands On The Air) award administered by the RSGB.
– IOTA was created over 30 years ago
• IOTA is an amateur radio award programme requiring contacts
with island stations world-wide.
• About 18 separate awards are available, which also require cards.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
14
Amateur Satellites
• Most Amateur Satellites orbit the earth in a
short timespan. ie. less than 24 hours. Thus
each satellite will complete several orbits per
day.
Satellite
MINIMUM
150 kms
• Depending upon the relative position of the
satellite to earth each appearance above the
horizon will be of a short duration
• Some satellites have elliptical orbits to
maximise time above the horizon.
• To communicate with the satellite each
station shall have a clear line of sight path.
Orbit
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
• Satellites have limited power, derived from
solar panels. Excessive Uplink Powers can
result in wasteful and unfair use of the
satellites limited power
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
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Satellite Operating
ONE WAY PATH
Satellite
DOWNLINK
UPLINK
TRANSMITTTER
RECEIVER
• Uplink and downlink frequencies are often in different amateur bands.
For example: uplink on 70cms, and downlink on 2m.
• Transmitting Stations need to receive both up and downlink frequencies.
• Movement of the satellite in relation to earth will cause the Receive frequency
to change. This is called Doppler Shift, and needs to be allowed for.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society
Intermediate Licence Course
Carl G3PEM
Slide Set-5
(8) Operating Practice
16