1. Radio Merit Badge
JOTA 2012

2. Counselor Information
Mr. Steve Back
Amateur Radio Extra Class Operator
Call sign: WB2OGY
Authorized Volunteer Examiner (VE) with W5YI and ARRL
COR for Venture Crew 73, chartered by the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society
Phone: 2

3. Example Slide Worksheet Clue Some stuff Some more stuff
The number in this circle
matches a section on your worksheet.
Use this clue to fill in your worksheet as we go. 3

4. Radio Merit Badge
Section 1 - Radio Basics

5. Section 1 Topics What is Radio? Types of Radio Services Regulations
Call Signs & Identification
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Radio Frequency Assignments
Propagation 5 5

6. What is Radio ? 1
A way to electronically communicate from one place to another without wires.
Used in
FM radios
Walkie talkies TV
Cell phones
Wi-Fi
BlueTooth 6 6

7. Types of Radio Service Broadcast Commercial Radio Hobby Radio
One-way transmissions to the public.
Commercial Radio
Two-way communication
Local agencies and private companies
Hobby Radio
Communicate with others or control models.
Amateur Radio
Family Radio Service (walkie-talkies) 7

8. NOAA Weather Radio Broadcast radio service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Continuous Weather Forecasts & Warnings
Essential for boating, hiking and camping.
Most Ham radios can also receive this.
Specific Area Alert Encoding (SAME) 8

9. Local and DX Stations Local station DX station2b
Local station
Located in the same country or region
DX station
Located outside the country or region 9

10. Two-Way Radios Radios that both send (transmit) and receive messages.
Examples
Walkie-talkies
Amateur Radio
Citizen Band Radio (CB)
Cell phones
Fire, police, aviation, marine, military 10 10

11. Regulation of Radio FCC (USA) ITU (Other Countries)2b
FCC (USA)
Federal Communication Commission
Set Frequency Assignments in US.
Issues Licenses & Call Signs.
Enforces Radio Laws in the US.
ITU (Other Countries)
International Telecommunication Union
Meets every few years.
Sets International Frequency assignments.
Assigns prefixes to countries. 11

12. Radio Call Signs 1c
A short identification which shows you have a license to transmit
Indicates station’s identity and country of origin
Assigned by the FCC in US
Broadcast Call Signs
WSB, KDKA, KORA, WNBC
Ham Call Signs
WW3Y, KB3BOY, WW9Y, N3YVH, JA1ABC 12

13. Some Call Sign Prefixes
W, K, N, A
United States
VE, VO, XJ
Canada XE
Mexico PY
Brazil G
Great Britain F
France I
Italy
4X, 4Z
Israel JA
Japan ZL
New Zealand 13

14. Station Identification Rules
Broadcasters
Once per hour.
Amateurs
Every ten minutes
At end of a conversation. 14 14

15. Radio Waves 3
Electromagnetic energy
Travels at the speed of light 15

16. Radio Waves 3 16

17. Frequencies (One Hertz is one cycle per second)3
DC Power
AC Power
Audio (Sound) LF MF
HF or Shortwave
VHF
UHF
Microwave
Visible Light
0 Hertz (goes in one direction only)
60 Hertz (Hz)
100 Hz to 20 KHz ( ,000 Hz)
kHz (30, ,000)
.3-3 MHz (300,000-3,000,000)
3-30 MHz (3,000,000-30,000,000)
MHz (30,000, ,000,000)
300-3,000 MHz (well, you get the idea)
Frequencies above 500 MHz
THz (400,000, ,000,000 MHz) 17

18. Radio Frequency Assignments
AM Broadcast Radio
FM Broadcast Radio
Short Wave Broadcast
Television Broadcast
CB Radio
Police Radio
Amateur Radio
kHz
MHz
MHz
Channel 2 = MHz
27 MHz
MHz
3.5, 7.5, 10, 15, 21, 30, 50, 146 MHz
80, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 meters
Freq=C/meters
C=300,000,000 or
Freq (MHz)= 300/meters 18

19. The Electromagnetic Spectrum3b
Medium Frequency (MF)
High Frequency (HF)
Very High Frequency (VHF)
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) 19

20. How High Frequency (HF) Radio Waves Travel (Propagation)20

21. VHF & UHF Propagation 2a
VHF and higher frequency waves are limited to line of sight 21

22. VHF Propagation with Repeaters
Range of very high frequency waves can be extended with a repeater 22

23. NIST WWV and WWVH 2a
Provides accurate frequencies, time, and HF propagation forecasts.
WWV & WWVH transmit on 5,10,15 and 20 MHz
WWV is in Ft Collins, Colorado WWVH is in Kauai, Hawaii
Propagation info can be used to determine from where in the world signals can be received 23

24. Section 2 - Amateur Radio
Radio Merit Badge
Section 2 - Amateur Radio

25. Section 2 Topics What is Amateur Radio? Amateur Radio Licenses
Types of Amateur Stations
Amateur Radio Activities
Q Signals and Abbreviations
Emergency Procedures
Call Signs and Station Identification
Phonetic Alphabet
Making and Logging Contacts 25

26. What is Amateur Radio? A type of two-way hobby radio
Cannot be used for profit.
A place to learn about radio!
Also known as “Ham Radio”.
An important part of disaster response.
A lot of fun! 26 26

27. Why does the FCC have an Amateur Radio Service?
Volunteer service
International goodwill
Experimentation
Communication skills
Self-training
Emergency communication 27

28. Amateur Radio License Classes
Technician Class
General Class
Extra Class 28 28

29. Technician Class License
Entry level license.
35 question multiple choice test
Full VHF & UHF privileges,
Radio merit badge covers half of the test!
Books available with all the possible questions and answers.
Practice tests can be found at:
QRZ web page: 29 29

30. Who gives Amateur Radio Exams?
Volunteer Examiners (VEs) give the exams for the FCC.
Exams and free study classes are given by local radio clubs
The Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society
The Atlanta Radio Club
Lots of other information on ham radio can be found at the ARRL web page: 30

31. Amateur Radio Activities
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) DX
Contests
Service at parades & special events
Emergency communication
Skywarn
Camping communications 31

32. Ham Radio Station Types
Handheld radios (HT)
Base station radios
Mobile radios
Repeaters
Which kind of radio is best? 32

33. Repeaters Receive on one frequency and transmit on another.
Usually in the VHF and UHF bands
Allow much longer range for small radios.
Located on mountains, towers, buildings and in space.
MHz
Input
MHz
Output
MHz
Output
MHz
Input 33

34. Q Signals & Amateur Terms
QRM
Man-made interference
QRN
Natural noise or interference
QRP
Low Power (< five watts)
QRS
Slow down Morse code speed
QRT
Quitting - off the air
QSB
Signal is fading
QSL
Acknowledge receipt (card)
QSO
Conversation ("cue-so")
QSY
Change frequency
QTH
Location (think H for Home)
Log
Record of QSOs CW
Morse code (means Continuous Wave) DX
Distant (foreign stations) CQ
Calling any station ("seek you") OM
Old man (male ham) YL
Young lady (female ham)
Rig
Radio
Shack
Room the radio is in HI
Laugh in Morse code
73, 88
Best regards, love and kisses 34

35. Emergency Radio Calls Speak clearly and give complete information
"MAYDAY" or "EMERGENCY“
May need to find high ground
Morse code SOS
di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit 35 35

36. Call Signs & Station Identification Rules
Initially assigned by FCC
Can be changed later (vanity call sign)
Station Identification
Every ten minutes
At the end of a conversation.
When audio conditions are poor, use phonetic call letters. 36 36

37. Phonetic Alphabet Letter Pronunciation A Alfa (AL fah) N1d
Letter
Pronunciation A
Alfa (AL fah) N
November (no VEM ber) B
Bravo (BRAH VOH) O
Oscar (OSS cah) C
Charlie (CHAR lee) P
Papa (pah PAH) D
Delta (DELL tah) Q
Quebec (keh BECK) E
Echo (ECK oh) R
Romeo (ROW me oh) F
Foxtrot (FOKS trot) S
Sierra (see AIR rah) G
Golf (GOLF) T
Tango (TANG go) H
Hotel (hoh TELL) U
Uniform (YOU nee form) I
India (IN dee ah) V
Victor (VIK tah) J
Juliet (JEW lee ETT) W
Whiskey (WISS key) K
Kilo (KEY loh) X
X Ray (ECKS RAY) L
Lima (LEE mah) Y
Yankee (YANG key) M
Mike (MIKE) Z
Zulu (ZOO loo) 37

38. Calling and Answering CQ38 38

39. Log Book Essentials
9a2 39

40. Radio Merit Badge
Section 3 - Radio Theory

41. Section 3 Topics Conductors and Insulators
Types of Electrical Circuits
Schematic Diagrams
Electronic Components and Symbols
Radio Safety
Block Diagrams of Radios
How Radio Carries Information 41

42. Conductors & Insulators
Conductors conduct (carry) electricity.
Most Metals
Many Liquids
Insulators insulate (don’t carry) electricity.
Air
Most Rubber and Plastics
Most Ceramics
Wood and cloth (when dry) 42 42

43. Types of Electrical Circuits
Closed Circuit
Circuit is complete.
Electricity flows
Open Circuit
Circuit is incomplete.
Electricity doesn’t flow.
Short Circuit
Circuit is complete through an unplanned shortcut.
Electricity flows where it shouldn’t!
Dangerous – parts can get hot, start fires or even explode! 43

44. Schematic Diagram 5a
Shows how to build a radio from components. 44

45. Schematic Symbols 5d 45 Fuse
Contains a thin wire which is made to melt which protects the rest of the circuit from damage if there is too much current from a short circuit.
Battery
Stores electric energy.
Resistor
Resists the flow of electric current, reducing its flow.
Variable resistor
Like a regular resistor, but adjustable. For example, the volume knob on your stereo.
Earth ground
A connection between the equipment (radio) and the earth, usually through a copper pipe driven into the soil.
Chassis ground
A connection of the negative side of the electronic circuit to the chassis, or steel frame, of the equipment. 45

46. Schematic Symbols (cont)5d
Capacitor
Gets and stores an electric charge. Lets alternating current (AC - like in your house) flow but stops direct current (DC - like from a battery).
Variable capacitor
Same as a regular capacitor, but adjustable.
NPN transistor
Amplifies a current.
PNP transistor
Coil
Also called a choke, it works the opposite of a capacitor. It lets DC flow but stops AC.
Tube
A vacuum tube made of glass with wire filaments inside. Amplifies a current. It has been replaced by transistors in most home equipment, but is still found in some high power radio transmitters. 46

47. Schematic Symbols (cont)5d
Antenna
Sends radio frequency signals into the air.
SPST switch
Single-pole single-throw switch. Has two positions, on and off. Like most light switches
DPDT switch
Double-pole double-throw switch. A double-throw switch has three positions. It can switch one input to one of two outputs - sort of like the switch you put on your television to switch between watching TV and playing your video game. The double-pole means it can switch a pair of inputs to either of two pairs of outputs. 47

48. Radio Safety Electrical shock can hurt or kill6
Electrical shock can hurt or kill
Some parts of a radio are dangerous with the power off
Radio Frequency (RF) energy can burn
Strong RF radiation can be unhealthy
Make sure antennas can't touch any power lines
Ground radio and antenna to protect from lightning
Follow safety procedures when working on towers and roofs 48 48

49. Simple Radio Block Diagram
Antenna
Microphone
Transceiver
Amplifier
Tuner
Shows how station components are connected together.
Key/Paddle
TNC
Computer 49

50. How Radios Send and Receive Information4
Microphone
Audio or Digital signal input
Transmitter
Creates an RF “carrier”
Modulates the carrier
Receiver
Receives a radio signal
Demodulates the carrier
Transceiver
Both a transmitter and receiver in one box
Amplifier
Increases RF signal power
Tuner
Matches transmitter to antenna
Feed line
Provides path to antenna
Antenna
Radiates RF signal
Key or Paddle
For sending Morse code
TNC (Terminal Node Controller)
Microphone
Transceiver
Amplifier
Tuner
Key/Paddle
TNC
Computer 50

51. How Radio Waves Carry Sound or Information4 FM AM PM 51

52. Continuous Wave (CW) The Oldest Digital Mode4
Works by simply turning the transmitter on and off in a pattern called Morse Code. 52

53. “CW” or Morse Code 4
No longer required to know, but still popular among ham radio operators. Needs less power and bandwidth than other ‘modes”. 53 53

54. Section 4 - Real World Applications
Radio Merit Badge
Section 4 - Real World Applications

55. Section 4 Topics Careers in Radio Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Radio Navigation 55 55

56. Radio Careers Broadcasting Technical Operators Announcer/Personality8
Broadcasting
Announcer/Personality
Station Manager/Program Director/ Music Director
Technical
Computer Network Engineer
Radio Engineer
Radio Technician
Cellular Phone Technician
Operators
Public Safety Dispatcher
Military Radio Operator
Marine and Aircraft 56 56

57. ARES / RACES ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Health and welfare
Work with government, NGO (Red Cross, Salvation Army), and support services
When activated, you are still a civilian
RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Work with local, state, and federal government only
When activated, you work for the government (Restricted)
When activated, mission participants are covered by government insurance 8 57 57

58. Radio Navigation 8
Establishment of a direction from a transmitted radio signal
Used by aircraft and ships for navigation
Used during search and recovery operations
Finding the “black box” after an airplane crash
Locating a lost skier after an avalanche
HAMs hold challenge games called “fox hunts”
Requires
Radio receiver tuned to the transmit frequency
A special directional antenna 58

59. Section 5 - Other Sources of Information
Radio Merit Badge
Section 5 - Other Sources of Information

60. Amateur Radio Organizations
Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL)
Governing organization for amateur radio
QRZ.COM
Ham call sign database
Practice exams
Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS)
Venture Crew 73 60