General Theory Seminar

1
General Theory Seminar

• presented by the
• Salem Amateur Radio Club
• Salem, Oregon

2
Introduction to the Course

• The purpose of this presentation is to acquaint
  those individuals with the material necessary to
  obtain their General Class Amateur Radio license.

3
Course Philosophy

• Continue the study of concepts of electricity and
  radio communications
  
• Well give you a lot of the info youll need to
  study and learn this week.
  
• Youll need some study time on your own!
• Practice and Quiz 2 3 times daily!!
• www.QRZ.com or www.AA9PW.com
• What is not covered
• Exotic modes of operation
• Material that is not on the exam

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This Presentation furnished by

• Jeff Crabill, KK7LU
• Dean Davis, KL7OR

Presentation format adapted from Dana Wade
Massengill, KU4OJ
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Materials

• Highly recommended ARRL or Gordon West General
  Class License Manual
  
• FCC Rule Book
• Both are available from the American Radio Relay
  League ARRL

6
ARRL

• Great study book
• Chapters are easy to read.
• Study book and quiz on-line DAILY!
• Consider joining the ARRL.

7
Amateur Radio Licenses

• In order of privileges
• Technician
• Element 2
• Technician w/ Morse Code
• Element 1 2
• General
• Element 3
• Amateur Extra
• Element 4

8
Elmers

• An Elmer is an experienced amateur radio
  operator who helps you get started in amateur
  radio, study for your license exams or upgrades,
  or offers any similar encouragement.
• If you dont have an Elmer to mentor you, ask
  for one.

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The 10 Sub-Elements
(6) Commission Rules (1) Circuit Components
(6) Operating Procedures (1) Practical Circuits
(3) Propagation (2) Signals and Emissions
(5) Amateur Radio Practices (4) Antennas Feed
Lines (2) Electrical Principles (5) RF Safety
There are over 400 questions in the pool. There
are 35 questions on the test. We will use well ov
er 100 real test
questions during this seminar.
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Your Job before the VE session

• Homework
• G4D G4E
• G6
• G7
• G0E
• On Line Quizzing
• www.qrz.com
• www.aa9pw.com
• www.w8mhb.com

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The General Class License

• Theory test
• 5 WPM Morse Code Test
• Opens up the world of HF (high frequency)
  world-wide communications.
  
• You may also serve as a VE!

12
G1D01 What examination elements may you prepare w
hen you hold a General class operator license?
A. None B. Elements 1 and 2 only C. Elem
ent 1 only D. Elements 1, 2 and 3
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G1D06 When may you participate as an administerin
g VE for a Technician Class operator license
examination? A. Once you have notified the FC
C that you want to give an examination
B. Once you have a Certificate of Successful
Completion of Examination (CSCE) for General
class C. Once you have prepared telegraphy and
written examinations for the Technician
license, or obtained them from a qualified
supplier D. Once you have been granted your FCC
General class or higher license and received
your VEC accreditation
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Whats this about Morse Code?

• Element 1 The Code Test
• Copy five words a minute
• Gain HF privileges.

• Still one of the most popular modes.
• More DX on CW than anywhere else.
• Ops will TX your speed.

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Why Amateur Radio?

• How the FCC Defines the Amateur Radio Service
• A refresher!

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Sec. 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and re
gulations in this part are designed to provide an
amateur radio service having a fundamental
purpose as expressed in the following
principles (a) Recognition and enhancement of
the value of the amateur service to the public
as a voluntary non-commercial communication
service, particularly with respect to providing
emergency communications. (b) Continuation and
extension of the amateurs proven ability to
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
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(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur
service through rules which provide for advancing
skills in both the communication and technical
phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existin
g reservoir within the amateur radio service of
trained operators, technicians and electronics
experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the
amateurs unique ability to enhance international
goodwill.
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Courtesy and Common Sense

• With only a few exceptions that may seem silly,
  the rules are basically common sense
  
• No music (except from NASA)
• No payment, unless you are teaching in a school
• No profanity or obscenity, no exceptions!
• In a life or property threatening emergency, just
  about anything goes.

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Restrictions

• No music.
• No business or commercial communication.
• No broadcasting
• No codes or ciphers designed to hide meanings.
• No unidentified communications.
• No harmful interference.
• No foul language!

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G1B05 Under what limited circumstances may music
be transmitted by an amateur station?
A. When it produces no dissonances or spuriou
s emissions B. When it is used to jam an illega
l transmission C. When it is transmitted on fr
equencies above 1215 MHz D. When it is an inci
dental part of a space shuttle retransmission
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G1B08 Which of the following amateur station tran
smissions is NOT prohibited by the FCC Rules?
A. The playing of music B. The use of obsce
ne or indecent words C. False or deceptive mess
ages or signals D. Retransmission of space shut
tle communications
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G1Commissions Rules

• Cant we all just get along?

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General Class Privileges on HF

• As a new General class ham, you have LOTS more
  room to operate, primarily HF.
  
• 160 10 meters
• You must know
• Frequency limits
• Power limits

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HF Privileges

• 160 Meters
• Top Band
• 1800 2000 kHz
• Right above AM broadcast
• 1500 watts
• Good winter/evening band

• 80 Meters
• 3525 3750 kHz (CW)
• 3850 4000 kHz (Voice)
• 1500 watts except
• In the old Novice subband
• 3675 3725 kHz
• 200 watts maximum

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HF Privileges

• 40 Meters
• 7025 7150 kHz (CW)
• 7225 7300 kHz (V)
• 200 watt limit in old Novice subband
• 7100 7150 kHz (CW)
• Good US/DX band at night

• 20 Meters
• 14.025 14.150 (CW)
• 14.225 14.350 (V)
• 1500 watts
• Great band for DX.
• All digital modes are here too.

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HF Privileges

• 15 Meters
• 21.025 21.200 (CW)
• 21.300 21.450 (V)
• 200 watt limit in old Novice subband
• 7100 7150 kHz (CW)
• Good DX on 15!

• 10 Meters
• 28.0 29.7 MHz
• Great DX with sunspots!
• FM repeaters at 29.62-29.68 MHz!

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HF Privileges WARC Bands

• 30 Meters
• CW/Data ONLY!
• 10.1 10.15 MHz
• 200 watt power limit!
• 17 Meters
• 18.068 18.168 MHz
• 12 Meters
• 24.890 24.990 MHz

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G1C02 What is the maximum transmitting power an a
mateur station may use on 7080 kHz?
A. 200 watts PEP output B. 1000 watts PEP o
utput C. 1500 watts PEP output D. 2000 watts
PEP output
Legal limit power 1500 Watts!
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G1C01 What is the maximum transmitting power an a
mateur station may use on 3690 kHz?
A. 200 watts PEP output B. 1000 watts PEP o
utput C. 1500 watts PEP output D. The minimu
m power necessary to carry out the desired
communications, with a maximum of 2000 watts PEP
output
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G1C04 What is the maximum transmitting power an a
mateur station may use on 21.305 MHz?
A. The minimum power necessary to carry out
the desired communications, with a maximum of
200 watts PEP output B. The minimum power neces
sary to carry out the desired communications,
with a maximum of 1500 watts PEP output
C. 1000 watts PEP output D. 2000 watts PEP ou
tput
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The new 60 Meter Band

• New allocation in 2003. First since 1979!
• Only band with strict rules.
• Upper sideband only.
• Signals are allowed on one of five specific
  frequencies.
  
• Bandwidth
• 50 watts effective radiated power (ERP) only.

• This is a secondary allocation to amateurs.
• 30 meters also.
• Others

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G1E07 What does it mean where the FCC rules say t
hat the amateur service is a secondary user and
another service is a primary user?
A. Nothing special all users of the frequency
band have equal rights to operate
B. Amateur stations are only allowed to use the
frequency band during emergencies
C. Amateur stations are allowed to use the
frequency band only if they do not cause harmful
interference to primary users
D. Amateur stations must increase transmitter
power to overcome any interference caused by
primary users
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G1E10 What protection from harmful interference c
aused by primary service users do amateur radio
stations have while operating in the 60-meter
band? A. None B. Stations in the mobile and
fixed service must not interfere with amateur
stations C. Stations in the mobile and fixed se
rvice must not interfere if an amateur station
is already on the frequency D. Stations in the
mobile and fixed service must not interfere
with amateur stations if they are located in ITU
Region 2
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Power Amplifiers

• Below 2 meters, amplifiers may need FCC
  Certification.
  
• You may build or modify ONE amplifier per
  calendar year.
  
• Needs at least 50 watt driver to reach its
  maximum design power output.
  
• Only designed for use in the Amateur bands!
• However, nothing from 24 MHz to 35 MHz!

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G1F10 What must an external RF amplifier exhibit
in order to receive a FCC grant of
certification? A. It must not be capable of ope
ration on any frequency between 24 MHz and 35
MHz B. Its wiring must be accessible to permit
modification of the amplifier
C. It must have an internal RF sensing switch
to place the amplifier in the transmit mode
D. Its manual must provide instructions for
modification of the amplifier
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Questions?