introtohamradio-n5asa.pps

8/14/2019 IntroToHamRadio-N5ASA.pps

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Introduction to Ham

Radio

Wireless Technology It is still aviable mode of Communication!


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Introduction to Ham Radio

Welcome

I Hope this Presentation will Spark an interest to

you in this Great & Rewarding Hobby!

To the World of Ham Radio!


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"Hello!" Not surprisingly, it was the first word

to be heard over the radio some 100 years ago

Listen to Fessenden's first voice transmission onDecember 23, 1900he says, "Hello! Test, 1, 2, 3, 4. Is it snowing

where you are Mr. Thiessen?"


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From the time he was a young boy, Canadian ReginaldFessenden was fascinated with the idea oftransmitting voice.Upon hearing his uncle describe Alexander GrahamBell's demonstration of the telephone, the 10 year-oldreportedly asked, "Why do they need wires?"

He then spent much of his life trying to figure it out.


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WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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Amateur radio is a hobby that has beenaround almost as long as radio itself.

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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Amateur radio operators, usually referred toas Hams, are people with an interest inradio design and communication.

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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More importantly, they provide thecommunity with a vital resource in theevent of an emergency or natural disaster.

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?

Hurricane Katrina Aug 28, 2005


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WHAT IS HAM RADIO?

SEE LEARNING

IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT .


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WHAT IS HAM RADIO?

A Great Hobby & Just Plain FUN!


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Who's the Typical Ham?


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Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of life -- moviestars, missionaries, doctors, students, politicians, truck driversand just plain folks! Sometimes you get to meet them as wellas talk to them on the air.


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They are all ages, sexes,income levels andnationalities.

They say Hello to the worldin many languages andmany ways. But whetherthey prefer Morse code onan old brass telegraph key,voice communication on ahand-held radio, orcomputerized messagestransmitted via satellite .

They all have an interest inwhat's happening in theworld, and they use radioto reach out.


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Ham with a small solar powered Radio makesfriends over the radio with another ham inLithuania.

A Ham uses a handheld radio for vital emergency

communications.



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An Ohio teenager uses his computer to

upload a digital chess move to an orbitingspace satellite, where it's retrieved by afellow chess enthusiast in Japan.



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An aircraft engineer in Florida participating in a "DXcontest" swaps his call sign and talks to hams in 100different countries during a single weekend.

In California, volunteers save lives as part of theirinvolvement in an emergency response.

And from his room in Chicago, a ham's pocket-sized hand-held radio allows him to talk to friends in the Carolinas.



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Hams enjoy operating their own two-way radio station to talk to people allover the world or in their owncommunity.

Today, Hams are more likely to talkinto a microphone or use high techdigital techniques.



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In the early days of radio a century ago this wasdone using the "dits" and "dahs" of Morse code.

Hams can be found bouncing signals off the moon,using satellites or using the computer in theirhobby.

Many Hams simply like to Ragchew", the Hamterm for sitting back and having a longconversation with another Ham.



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Amateur radio is not only a hobby.Thousands of Hams are involved in essential public

service .



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We provide communications after natural disasters,such as tornadoes, floods or earthquakes, when all

the other lines of communications are down.



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We bring with us our own power generators and equipment sothat we are completely independent .

We maintain our emergency equipment in readiness so that wecan move to an area in trouble with the minimum of delay.



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Hams have been active in many communityactivities, providing communication duringHurricanes and tornados and the forest fires &

earthquakes.



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What's the Appeal of Ham Radio?

Some hams are attracted by the ability tocommunicate across the country, around theglobe, or even with astronauts on space missions.

Others may like to build and experiment withelectronics. Computer hobbyists enjoy usingAmateur Radio's digital communicationsopportunities.

Wh ' h A l f H R di ?


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Those with a competitive streak enjoy "DX contests," where theobject is to see how many hams in distant locations they cancontact.

Some like the convenience of a technology that gives themportable communication.

Mostly we use it to open the door to new friendships over the airor through participation in one of more than 2000 Amateur Radioclubs throughout the country.


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Although hams get involved for many reasons, they all havein common a basic knowledge of radio technology andoperating principles, and pass an examination for the FCClicense to operate on radio frequencies known as the"Amateur Bands."

These bands are radio frequencies reserved by the FederalCommunications Commission (FCC) for use by hams atintervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the wayup into extremely high microwave frequencies.



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What is There to Do?

Experimenting - Electronics &Antennas Lots and lots of kits to build HF is more tolerant of wiring

techniques

Try a homebrew transmitter (QRP!) Make your own antennas Antenna modeling software and

courses


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New Modes Try CW, its fun !

SSB is a natural Digital Modes

RTTY and PSK

PACTOR and WinLinkSSTV


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DX-ing and Contests DXCC, WAZ, IOTA programs

DX-peditions: operations from rarelocations

Contests are good exercise

Contest calendars for listingsAll sizes, modes, and coverageGreat for chasing awardsEspecially good for learning propagation

h h


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Award Programs or WallpaperChasing K1BV Awards Directory, >3000

awards WAS and County Hunting

Specialty awards: regional, mode,band Special events


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Awards



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Do I Have to Learn Morse Code?

Not any more!

While many hams LIKE to use Morse code, it isnot required for your entry level license.

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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Amateurs can operate their equipment in homes,cars, boats, office buildings, even on bicycles andHorses or Backpacking in the woods.

The necessary equipment consists of atransmitter and receiver, an antenna (which canbe as simple as a length of wire), and amicrophone.

The transmitter and receiver are often combined(called a transceiver) and may be small enoughto fit in a shirt pocket or large enough to occupya desk.

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?

WHAT IS HAM RADIO?


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WHAT IS HAM RADIO?

A Typical Station Set-up

How do Radio Signals reach around the world?


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Amateur radio satellites are orbiting the globeand provide another way for Hams to talk to eachother. Signals are even bounced off the moon bysome Hams.

Television has not been neglected and there aretwo types. Slow scan television uses simpleequipment to transmit single pictures. ATV oramateur television allows live video to be sentover the air, just the same as with commercialtelevision.



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Radio signals are a form of light waves, just at adifferent frequency.

Like light, radio travels in straight lines. If you cansee a place from your station, you will be able toget a signal there.

That is one reason why many antennas are veryhigh up; you can see more from there.

Radio is different from light because it bends moreeasily and can to a certain extent penetrate solidobjects.



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This is the reason that you can often talk to places,which fairly close, that you cannot see.

Since the earth is curved, it doesnt seemreasonable that a radio wave that starts off fromyour house in a straight line could reach the otherside of the world.



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The trick is to bounce the radio waves off a layer,Hundreds of miles above us, called the ionosphere.Think of it as a Big Mirror in the sky!

This is quite possible using certain frequencies,typically below 30 MHz. The signal bounces backdown to earth, often thousands of miles away andmay then bounce back to the ionosphere and backto earth and so on.



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This property of the ionosphere is a blessing forHams who can then talk to people on the other sideof the globe.

This doesnt happen with all frequencies and Hams

learn that there are particular frequencies as well asparticular times of the day, of the year.

During certain times of the sunspot cycle when wein America can easily talk to the Russians, theAustralians or Hams in India.

We call this Phenomenon Propagation !




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What is Propagation ?The Ionosphere

F2

F1

E

D

UV

Ground Wave



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What is Propagation ?

The Ionosphere

50 to 500 miles up D, E, F1 and F2 layers Effect of solar radiation (UV)

MUF Skip or Hops




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What is Propagation Like ?

The Sun UV ionizes the upper layers, raises

MUF MUF tends to follow the sun More sunspots = Higher MUF

A and K indices from WWV and NOAA Solar cycle, minimum in 2005/2006 Solar flares and other disturbances




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What is Propagation Like ?How do Radio Signals reach around the world?



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High-bands and Low-bands High: 20 - 10 meters (14 -28 MHz)

Highest open band is best20 and 17 widest coverage now15, 12, and 10 mostly in southerlydirections

Low: 160 - 30 meters (1.8 - 10 MHz)Absorption high in the day, low at nightWatch at sunset and sunrise




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Skip Zone Results from ground-wave versus

sky-wave Sky-wave depends on MUF and signal

angle Up to 200 miles on 40-meters 30- and 40- meters can go long 60-meters is good transition band 80- and 160-meters are solid at night


Why Do You Need a


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Why Do You Need aLicense?

Although the main purpose of Amateur Radio is fun,it is called the "Amateur Radio Service" because italso has a serious face.

The FCC created this "Service" to fill the need for apool of experts who could provide backup duringemergencies. In addition, the FCC acknowledged theability of the hobby to advance the communicationand technical skills of radio, and to enhanceinternational goodwill.

This philosophy has paid off. Countless lives havebeen saved where skilled hobbyists act asemergency communicators to render aid, whetherit's during an earthquake in Italy or a hurricane in

the U.S.


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The necessary equipment consists of a transmitterand receiver (or transceiver), an antenna (which canbe as simple as a piece of wire), a microphoneand/or a Morse code key.

For more complex communication specializedequipment is required, The cost of equipment varieswidely depending on which modes the amateurwants to use. One can get on the air for as little as$150.00 with used equipment.

Because of the variety of equipment and the modesavailable, it is possible to spend a fortune or a fancyHam station. However, it is certainly not necessaryto spend a lot of money to enjoy the hobby.

How Much Does it Cost?

How Much does equipment Cost?


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Once you have your first license, most hams find itbest to start with simple equipment and grow overtime.

It usually costs less than $200 to get your own firstradio and start saying Hello. Many ham radio fleamarkets are held all over the country that sell goodused equipment for even less.

q p


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Wh t i th ARRL?


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What is the ARRL?

The ARRL is the primary source of information about what isgoing on in the ham radio world. It provides books, news,support and information for individuals and clubs, specialoperating events, all sorts of continuing education classes and

other benefits for its members.

Being a member of the ARRL is important for hams!

How do I become a Ham?


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ow do beco e a a ?

If you would like to step into the world of Ham Radio,choose one of the following steps, or pick all three to speedthings along:

Find and join a supportive amateur radio club near you.

Some clubs are specifically set up as "mentor" clubs to helppeople get into the hobby. "help for newcomers".

Join the ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio.

There are many benefits of membership that will help yougrow as an Amateur Radio operator.

Introduction to Ham Radio


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Welcome to the World of Ham Radio!

This presentation was made for individuals thatknows little or nothing about Ham Radio (AmateurRadio). So I hope it served its purpose.

Good Luck in getting your Ham Radio License.

Some of the resources on this PowerPointpresentation ca me from the ARRL w ebsite atwww.arrl.org & www.hello-radio.org and variouslocations on the world wide web.

This PowerPoint was created byLarry N5ASAwww.n5asa.com

July 2006
http://www.arrl.org/http://www.hello-radio.org/http://www.arrl.org/http://www.hello-radio.org/http://www.n5asa.com/http://www.n5asa.com/http://www.hello-radio.org/http://www.hello-radio.org/http://www.hello-radio.org/http://www.arrl.org/

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