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FAQ of ham radio part one
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REC.RADIO.AMATEUR.MISC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (PART 1 OF 3)
Posted-By: auto-faq 3.1.1.4
Archive-name: radio/ham-radio/faq/part1
Revision: 1.7 10/23/94 20:52:50
Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions
Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a regular posting of frequently-asked questions (FAQ) about Amateur
Radio, also known as Ham Radio. It is intended to summarize some common
questions on the rec.radio.amateur.misc newsgroup and Info-Hams mail list
as well as to help beginners get started.
Please provide a copy of the FAQ to any new or soon-to-be Hams you know.
Regular FAQ postings can help save network bandwidth and maintain a good
signal-to-noise ratio in the newsgroup. However, they can't do it alone - you,
the reader, have to use them.
* If you are a new user, please print and review the FAQ articles and look at
the instructions in the news.announce.newusers newsgroup before posting any
articles. If you don't find the answer in the FAQ and you have tried
elsewhere, then you have "done your homework" and it is acceptable to ask
the question on the UseNet newsgroups. Along with your question, please
state where else you have looked for the answer so others also know that
you have done your homework.
* If you are an experienced user, please help by refraining from answering
frequently-asked questions on the newsgroup if they are already answered by
the FAQ articles. Instead, send e-mail to the user who asked the question.
(It will be helpful if you include the part of the FAQ that answers their
question, but not the whole thing.)
The FAQ cannot always prevent people from posting repetitive questions. But
even if hundreds of questions get posted, it saves you from having to answer
them hundreds of times. Also, a friendly pointer to the FAQ in your first
answer can help that person refer to the FAQ in the future. That is when we
can begin to get a real savings of network bandwidth.
To reduce the size of each article, the FAQ information is posted in 3 parts:
Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
Part 2 - Amateur Radio Organizations, Services, and Information Sources
Part 3 - Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions
Table of Contents
-----------------
Dates indicate last modification.
Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
** Table of Contents (10/94)
** Introduction to the FAQ (11/92)
* How to Contribute to the FAQ Articles (6/93)
* Please Send Questions to the Newsgroups, Not the Editors (9/94)
* Call for FAQ Editors (8/94)
* Acknowledgements (6/93)
* Notes on "Netiquette" (1/93)
** What is Amateur Radio? (11/92)
** Who can become a ham? (6/93)
** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio? (9/93)
** How much does it cost? (9/92)
** Where can I take the tests? (9/93)
** What are the tests like? (6/93)
** What can I do with a ham radio license? (5/92)
** What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license? (pre-4/92)
** I'm interested, who will help me? (11/92)
** Should I build my own equipment or antenna? (11/92)
Part 2 - Amateur Radio Organizations, Services, and Information Sources
** Where can I find Ham Radio information with a computer? (8/94)
* Mosaic, World-Wide Web, Gopher, and WAIS (8/94)
* The rec.radio.* newsgroups (2/94)
* The ARRL e-mail server (1/93)
* The KA6ETB e-mail "HAM-server" (10/94)
* The Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP) (2/94)
* Access to FTP archives via electronic mail (1/93)
* The Ham-Radio mail list: rec.radio.amateur.misc by mail (9/93)
* Telephone BBS's with Ham-related information (9/93)
* Callsign servers and geographical name servers (1/94)
* FTP access to FCC Part 97 and FCC Amateur Radio question pools (1/94)
* Lists of radio modifications and extensions (2/94)
** Can I send ARRL or W5YI electronic mail? (11/92)
** "Why doesn't the ARRL do...?" (11/92)
** What magazines are available for Ham Radio? (pre-4/92)
** How do I use the incoming and outgoing QSL bureau? (11/92)
** Are there any news groups for CAP? (11/92)
** What's the name of the QRP club that issues QRP numbers? (9/93)
** How do I become a 10-10 member? (9/93)
** How do I join MARS? (9/93)
** How do I join RACES? (pre-4/92)
** What organizations are available to help handicapped hams? (pre-4/92)
** I am looking for a specific ham, can anyone help me find him? (6/93)
** Can I post my neat new ham related program on rec.radio.amateur.misc?
(pre-4/92)
** Where can I get ham radio software for my computer? (9/93)
** Are there Dialup News services or BBSs for Amateur Radio? (4/92)
** Where can I find VE sessions in my local area? (9/93)
** Why isn't XXX available electronically? (1/94)
** I'd like to volunteer to help ham radio through electronic
information services like those mentioned in this FAQ list.
Where should I start? (2/94)
Part 3 - Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions
** What are the different US amateur classes and what can each of them do?
(pre-4/92)
** What is the best way to learn Morse Code? (10/92)
** What is the standard for measuring Morse code speed? (pre-4/92)
** What is the standard phonetic alphabet? (10/94)
** I'm confused. What do all those abbreviations mean??? (6/93)
** What do all those "tones" mean? (pre-4/92)
** Where can I learn more about Amateur Radio if I live outside the US?
(9/93)
** How can I get a "reciprocal license" if I am a licensed ham from another
country or if I am a FCC licensed ham who wants to operate in another
country (on vacation)? (9/93)
** My apartment or housing complex does not allow outdoor antennas, now what
do I do? (9/93)
** I got TVI...HELP!!! (9/93)
** On what frequencies do JPL and GSFC retransmit the shuttle audio?
(10/92)
** Can I take my HT on an airplane and operate it if I get the permission
of the captain? (4/92)
** How do I modify my current Amateur license? (9/93)
** I'm confused about XXX, should I ask the FCC? (9/93)
** Is there any information on antique radios? (pre-4/92)
** Where can I buy vacuum tubes? (9/93)
** What do I need to get started in packet radio? (9/93)
** What do I need to get started in satellite communications? (9/93)
** What is available to get started in ATV, SSTV and WEFAX? (9/93)
** What are these contests I sometimes hear, and how do I participate? (9/93)
--Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently-asked Questions------------------Part 1--
** Introduction to the FAQ
* How to Contribute to the FAQ Articles
We accept suggestions from the Amateur Radio community. Please
consider that all new contributions need to be SHORT and concise
in order to be included. If a contribution is too long, the FAQ
editors can help you find a more appropriate FTP archive or mail
server for your article.
We always accept corrections. Please allow some time (often not
the next issue of the FAQ) because the FAQ maintainers do this as
volunteers so each must give higher priority to their employers.
Send correspondence to [email protected] so that it will
reach all the FAQ coordinators: (listed in alphabetical order)
Ed Hare KA1CV [email protected] (Newington, CT, USA)
Jack GF Hill W4PPT [email protected](Brentwood, TN, USA)
Ian Kluft KD6EUI [email protected] (Santa Clara, CA, USA)
Paul Schleck KD3FU [email protected] (Omaha, NE, USA)
Chris Swartout N6WCP [email protected] (San Jose, CA, USA)
Steve Watt KD6GGD [email protected] (San Jose, CA, USA)
Rosalie White WA1STO [email protected] (Newington, CT, USA)
Derek Wills AA5BT [email protected] (Austin, TX, USA)
* Please Send Questions to the Newsgroups, Not the Editors
We wish it wasn't necessary to say this. Please don't send questions
to the editors (unless you are sending an answer with it as a
submission for the FAQ.) The proper procedure for questions on UseNet
is
1) Read the FAQ
2) if it isn't there, check other sources (see Part 2 of the FAQ
for electronic sources including Mosaic/WWW)
3) post on the newsgroup
The Internet has become an atmoshpere where questions are asked of
everyone as if they have an infinite amount of time to help. The
volunteers who maintain the FAQ do not have time to answer questions.
Some FAQ maintainers on other newsgroups have been led to believe
that no good deed goes unpunished - let's avoid bringing the same end
to this effort.
* Call for FAQ Editors
As with any volunteer effort, new volunteers are often needed. The
previous paragraph may have already given a hint about this: we need
a new editor to post the Ham Radio FAQ. Preferably this should be
someone who has enthusiasm for Ham Radio, experience with UseNet, and
the ability to work with the other editors. No single person can know
all the various aspects of this diverse hobby so the editorial review
group is intended to make a greater combination of experience.
The FAQ is currently posted with the AUTO-FAQ software, which is
written in PERL. So it would be a plus for volunteers to post the
FAQ to have PERL installed on their system and be able to use "cron"
or "at" so that postings can go unattended.
Anyone who wants to make their contribution to the Net as a volunteer
should contact [email protected].
* Acknowledgements
All questions listed as modified "pre-4/92" are entirely Diana
Carlson KC1SP's work or her editing of a contributor's work. Diana
established this FAQ and credit is due to her for founding this
project.
Thanks to Devon Bowen KA2NRC for accepting this FAQ in e-mail every
month to keep the FTP archive at ftp.cs.buffalo.edu up-to-date.
* Notes on "Netiquette"
The rec.radio.amateur.misc newsgroup and Info-Hams mail list have a
large daily volume of traffic. They can operate more efficiently if
the following netiquette guidelines are followed. Please take them
seriously.
* If you are new to UseNet, the introductory articles in
news.announce.newusers are required reading. Go to that newsgroup
now. Definitely, read the instructions there before posting
anything. Other rec.radio.amateur.* readers will appreciate it!
* Pick the right newsgroup. Use only the most specific newsgroup
for your subject. For example, a question about a homebrew antenna
only needs to be posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna. Also, don't
post to rec.radio.amateur.misc when the subject can go in another
rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroup. So, when there is a more specific
newsgroup, that's the one you want.
* When posting a followup article, ALWAYS try to minimize the number
of lines of quoted material from the original article.
* As a general rule when you try to determine whether to reply to
someone by e-mail or with a followup article, remember to "praise in
public, criticize in private." It's OK to disagree technically but
be careful not to attack the person with whom you disagree. Also,
be careful with your use of the word "you" when posting a follow-up
article. Many unnecessary flame wars have started that way.
* Use a descriptive subject. For example, a message subject of "Ham
Radio" tells the reader NOTHING about the contents of your article
since the whole newsgroup is about Ham Radio. Other examples of
subjects which are so broad that they become useless could include,
"Help," "A Question," "Antennas," or "Frequencies." Maybe "Books on
Antennas?" or "Where can I find Repeater Frequencies?" would be
better, for example. Remember, in a busy newsgroup a lot of users
decide which articles to read from the subject line alone. If you
post, don't deprive yourself of an audience!
* Before answering a question, check if the FAQ adequately answers it
or if someone else already answered it. If you have more to add,
make sure to reference either the FAQ or the related articles.
* If a user posts a question which is directly answered by the FAQ,
there is no need to post an answer - the information is already
available on the newsgroup. Instead, just send an e-mail message
which politely explains where to find the FAQ. They will probably
appreciate it if you include the answer to their question. (Don't
send a "nastygram" - that would just discourage future participa-
tion.)
* Pay attention to the size of your audience - use the "Distribution:"
header. If you leave it blank, your message will go to every civ-
ilized country in the world and occupy disk space in all news sys-
tems in all those places. If that's what you intend, that's fine
but make sure your article is relevant outside your country. (In
particular, Hams should already know there is more to the world than
just their own country.)
* If you have an item for sale, please limit the distribution area so
that, for example, an article about a radio for sale in New Jersey
won't get to California or Europe. If you wish, you may cross-post
your for-sale article to rec.radio.swap.
* Software sources should be posted to either alt.sources,
comp.sources.misc, or comp.sources.* for a specific machine type.
Software binaries should be posted to the appropriate subgroup of
comp.binaries.
** What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur Radio is a non-commercial radio communication service whose
primary aims are public service, technical training and experimenta-
tion, and communication between private persons. Amateur Radio opera-
tors are commonly called hams. Hams often communicate with each other
recreationally but also provide communications for others at public
events or in times of emergency or disaster.
** Who can become a ham?
The answer to this question differs in every country.
The answer for the USA is listed below. If your country has
a newsgroup specifically for it (i.e. UK, Australia, Germany)
the most accurate answers can be found there. See Part 2 for
the list of region-specific newsgroups.
If that doesn't help, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
may be able to help because they communicate with similar
organizations in other countries, probably including yours.
They can be reached by electronic mail or surface mail (see
Part 2.)
In the USA, anyone who is not a representative of a foreign
government can be an Amateur Radio operator. There are tests
that you must pass to get a license, however the tests are not
insurmountable. On that general level, the requirements are
probably similar in almost every country.
For more information on becoming a Ham in the USA, the ARRL
has a toll-free number where you can request information:
1-800-32-NEW-HAM (don't worry about the number being one digit
too long - the phone system ignores it.) Other information
can also be obtained from the ARRL e-mail information server in
the file called PROSPECT. Details on the server are in Part 2.
** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio?
Your local Radio Shack sells some ham radios and Amateur Radio
license books. Books can also be obtained through the mail
from ham radio organizations, such as ARRL in Newington, CT
(203-666-1541) and W5YI in Dallas, TX (1-800-669-9594). There
may be one or two ham radio stores in the local area (ie,
within 50 miles). Try looking in the Yellow Pages under Radio
Communications.
For the Novice license, get a Novice License manual, plus 5-word-per-
minute Morse code tapes, costing around $25. For the Technician lic-
ense, get a combined Novice and Technician License manual, and an FCC
Rules manual, costing around $32. The FCC Rules manual is a good idea
for Novice also, but not necessary, since the Novice License manual
contains all the FCC Rules that are required for the Novice License.
The ARRL Education Activities Department has several programs to
help amateurs (or prospective amateurs) to get started. Ask for a
"New prospect package" available free of charge, from ARRL HQ,
Educational Activities Department, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
Information on Ham Radio can also be obtained with your computer.
Part 2 of this FAQ contains a significant amount of material on
that subject.
** How much does it cost?
To take the tests for any class of amateur radio license, there is
a small charge (around $5-$6 currently) to cover copying costs and
running the testing sessions. (Due to changes in 1993, Novice tests
are under same procedures as the others.) The cost of a radio is
really dependent on what you want to do. You can make your own radio
and antenna for under $150. You can buy a used single-band radio for
$150-$300. Or you can buy a new multi-band multi-mode radio with all
the doodads for $300-$3000. I'd suggest you learn more about ham
radio, talk to local hams, find out what you want to do with ham
radio first.
** Where can I take the tests?
The Novice tests Used to be given by any two qualified hams of General
class license or above. Now all the license tests are given by
three qualified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who volunteer their time.
To locate an ARRL testing session in your area, you can contact
ARRL at 203-666-1541 x282.
See also the section "Where can I find VE sessions in my local area?"
in Part 2 because more information is available via UseNet.
** What are the tests like?
First off, come prepared to VE sessions. Bring: TWO forms of ID,
one of which has a picture on it; a calculator (if necessary); a pen
and two pencils; the applicable examination fee (around $5-$6 for
1993); the original AND a copy of your current Amateur Radio license
(if you have one); the original AND a copy of any CSCEs for tests
you've already passed (if you have any).
Each of the written tests (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced,
and Extra) are generally a multiple choice test of approximately one-
tenth of the question pool. For example, if the question pool is
approximately 300 questions, then the test will be a 30-question
test. You need to get 75% correct to pass. Note that they truncate
to determine the correct number of questions. That means for a 30
question test, you need to get 22 right, which is actually only 73.3%.
Once you've paid the small fee for Technician-Extra tests, it costs
no extra to take another test, so I'd suggest you keep taking the
next more advanced test until you fail. If you pass the written
but not the Morse code (or vice versa) for a specific class license,
you have up to one year to take the other test before you would have
to retake the written test again. Note that some VEs will not allow
you to take the written test unless you've first taken the Morse code
test.
The Morse code test is a receiving test only. The test run 5 to 7
minutes. After the test, you are given a 10-question multiple-choice
or fill-in-the-blank test. Passing grade is 7 or more. If you fail
the 10-question test, the examiner team will examine your copy sheet
to see if you have 1 minute of solid copy with no errors. For 5 wpm,
that's 25 characters, for 13 wpm, that's 65 characters, for 20 wpm,
that's 100 characters. If they can find 1 minute solid copy, you've
still passed.
Hints on Morse code tests: Generally, it will be a standard QSO
(conversation), and it MUST contain at least one of each of the
following:
26 letters A-Z, 10 numbers 0-9, comma (,), period (.), slant or
slash (/), question mark (?), double dash prosign (BT), end of
message prosign (AR), end of contact prosign (SK).
The letters count as one character, all others count as two
characters. There are a couple other prosigns which are worth
knowing, but will not be on the test, like "I'm done talking, next"
is K, "I'm done talking, back to you" is KN, "Please wait" is AS.
** What can I do with a ham radio license?
There are so many things, it's a difficult question to answer, but
here's some ideas:
* Talk to people in foreign countries.
* Talk to people (both local and far away) on your drive to work.
* Help in emergencies by providing communications.
* Provide communications in parades or walkathons.
* Help other people become hams.
* Hook your computer to your radio and communicate by computers.
* Collect QSL cards (cards from other hams) from all over the
United States and foreign countries and receive awards.
* Participate in contests or Field Day events.
* Provide radio services to your local Civil Defense organization
thru ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or RACES (Radio Amateur
Civil Emergency Service).
* Aid members of the US military by joining MARS (Military Affiliate
Radio System).
* Participate in transmitter hunt games and maybe build your own
direction-finding equipment.
* Have someone to talk to on those sleepless nights at home.
* Receive weather pictures via satellites.
* Build radios, antennas, learn some electronics and radio theory.
* Talk to astronauts in space, or use the moon to bounce signals
back to people on the Earth.
* Experiment with Amateur TV (ATV), Slow-Scan TV (SSTV), or send
still-frame pictures by facsimile.
* Experiment with amateur satellite communications.
** What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license?
The most important thing you can't do is transact business of any
kind over ham radio. Interference to other hams or services, as
well as obscene, profane or indecent language is not tolerated and
is illegal. Music and broadcasting are not allowed on ham radio.
Some personal conversations may not be appropriate to Amateur Radio.
Do you really want the whole world to hear about Aunt Mabel's
hemorrhoids?
** I'm interested, who will help me?
There are hams who are willing to become "Elmers" (mentors, helpers)
in your local area. Look around and ask local hams. Search out local
radio clubs. As well, some people have volunteered to be an Elmer
over the Usenet. A list of UseNet Elmers and their e-mail addresses
is posted to the newsgroup monthly. If anyone wants to be an Elmer,
send e-mail to
[email protected]
There is also a lot to be said for exploring on your own. Take a
look around the FTP archives and e-mail servers listed in Part 2.
There's so much out there on UseNet, you'll find plenty of things
you're interested in.
** Should I build my own equipment or antenna?
[see also rec.radio.amateur.homebrew and rec.radio.amateur.antenna]
"Homebrewing" is a fun and educational part of ham radio. It is a
thrill to build your own transmitter and put it on the air. However,
building your own receiver can be quite complicated; if you don't have
electronics experience, you may want to buy a receiver instead. Most
homebrew transmitters are QRP (transmit very low power). That's fine
for an experienced ham with a very good antenna, but a Novice ham will
just get frustrated. Your first rig, therefore should NOT be a home-
brew.
Antennas can be much simpler projects than the transceiver, though
some types are also quite involved. Most hams build their own anten-
nas for base station use and buy antennas for mobile (car) use. Most
beginner ham books describe how to build different types of antennas.
Order of difficulty, from easiest to more difficult, for some common
antennas are: wire dipole, Zepp, Yagi, Quad, and Log-Periodic. Books
from many sources, including ARRL and several Hams, discuss antennas
in depth.
When building or even understanding antennas, it is good to know the
relationship between the antenna element length and the frequency or
wavelength it is designed for. An antenna performs best at multiples
of 1/4 of that wavelength, though 5/8 wave also has beneficial qualit-
ies. The wavelength is related to the frequency with the following
formula:
wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency (in megahertz)
You do not need a huge antenna or tower like ones you may see around
your neighborhood. Large beam antennas and 40-foot towers are very
expensive. As a beginner, a simple dipole antenna is perfectly
adequate. As you gain experience (and money :-), you may want to
invest in something bigger.
If you can afford new rigs and antennas, there are many mail order
stores that advertise in ham radio magazines. If you want to buy a
used rig, the best place is at a "hamfest" (ham flea market). You
should take along an experienced ham, since some of the used equipment
may be inoperative, overpriced or poor quality. You can also answer
ads in ham magazines or posted at ham radio stores, although often, by
the time you call, the equipment has already been sold.
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