1 Technician Licensing Class These Power Point presentations are available to individuals who register with The W5YI Group’s HamInstructor.com program. The presentations are provided by Master Publishing and The W5YI Group and include material that is covered by U.S. and International copyrights. They are intended solely for the use of Registered Instructors using the Gordon West, WB6NOA, Technician Class, General Class, and Extra Class study manuals to teach FCC Amateur Radio Licensing Classes. Registration through HamInstructor.com constitutes a Licensing Agreement between The W5YI Group and the registered instructor under which the instructor agrees not to copy or distribute the Power Point presentations to unauthorized users.

2 Technician Licensing Class Talk to Outer Space Valid July 1, 2014 Through June 30, 2018

3 3 Amateur Radio Technician Class Element 2 Course Presentation  ELEMENT 2 SUB-ELEMENTS (Groupings) About Ham Radio Call Signs Control Mind the Rules Tech Frequencies Your First Radio Going On The Air! Repeaters Emergency! Weak Signal Propagation

4 4 Amateur Radio Technician Class Element 2 Course Presentation  ELEMENT 2 SUB-ELEMENTS (Groupings)  Talk to Outer Space! Your Computer Goes Ham Digital! Multi-Mode Radio Excitement Run Some Interference Protection Electrons – Go With the Flow! It’s the Law, per Mr. Ohm! Go Picture These! Antennas Feed Me With Some Good Coax! Safety First!

5 5 Talk to Outer Space T8B04 What a thrill to talk on your small handheld to an astronaut! It happens a lot, and with the Technician Class license or higher, you, too, can explore space with astronauts and cosmonauts.

6 6 Talk to Outer Space T8B10 Ham satellites are not geostationary, but rather in Low Earth Orbits, which reduces the amount of power we need to hear our own signals coming back. The low earth orbit also diminishes the delay echo and, depending on the satellite orbit, you could have a conversation for just a few minutes, or sometimes a few hours. Some orbits are elliptical, and as long as you and the other station can both still “see” the satellite, you are on the air!

7 7 Talk to Outer Space

8 8 T8B03 “Keps” or Keplerian data sets are updated almost continually; telling you everything about the satellite and allowing you to “find” any satellite there is – if you know how to interpret them. Modern satellite software takes all the drudgery out of this, making it almost “too easy.” Varying levels of computer control are used by satellite enthusiasts, from merely informing the operator where to generally aim a hand-held YAGI antenna, to fully controlling all the steering. Enjoy!

9 9 Talk to Outer Space T8B06 With the Keplerian elements properly inserted into your tracking program, the orbits of the satellites can be determined. These are sometimes known as “ephemeris” data, meaning they are continually changing, unlike, say, the weight of the satellite. Computer programs and websites can show you where and when an amateur satellite or the Space Station will be in range of your ham station.

10 Talk to Outer Space T8B05 The satellite beacon is a continuous faint signal that carries digitized information about the satellite itself in orbit. Ham satellite controllers can monitor the beacon with special software and check everything from the inside temperature to how fully- charged the satellite batteries are.

11 Talk to Outer Space T8B09 As you are listening to an FM or SSB satellite downlink signal, it will rapidly rise and fall in signal strength. This is called “spin fading,” and is caused by the satellite rotating in space in order to keep its solar panels from overheating. This rotation in space makes the signals fade in and out. Tracking and communicating through amateur satellites can be done with a cross-polarized satellite antenna

12 Talk to Outer Space T8B07 Ham satellite operators are constantly turning the dial during a conversation to make up for Doppler shift. If the satellite is headed towards you, the received signal may appear a few kilohertz high. As it passes overhead, the signal is right where it should be; and as it moves away from you, the signal will be several kilohertz lower. It is very noticeable using single sideband and even on FM with a dual-band handheld. Experienced satellite operators pre-store memory channels that will compensate for Doppler shift. Amazing – talking through a satellite where you can actually hear frequency changes as the signal is coming at you at the speed of light! Listen to this sound on the enclosed CD! Doppler Effect

13 Talk to Outer Space T8B08 An exciting Technician Class privilege is working ham radio satellites, called OSCARs. You will need a full-duplex, dual-band radio to give you best access to those OSCARs that transmit and receive FM signals. If the mode is “U/V” it means we transmit on the satellite uplink frequency on the 70 cm “U” band, and we listen to the satellite downlink on the 2 meter “V” band. We hope all of you will support AMSAT, the nonprofit ham radio organization that sponsors our satellite programs. Visit Frequency BandsFrequency RangeModes High Frequency MHzMode H VHF MHzMode V UHF MHzMode U L band GHzMode L S band GHzMode S C band5.8 GHzMode C X band10.4 GHzMode X K band24 GhzMode K

14 Talk to Outer Space T8B02 Each of the approximate 15 satellites in orbit may carry different uplink and downlink modes. It’s always best to run the minimum amount of power through the satellite so you don’t overload the satellite onboard electronics with a too-strong signal. If you are operating voice, and tune in your own voice echo, start pulling your power back until you noticeably fade away from the downlink. Then increase power slightly, and give a CQ and see who is hearing your transmission over 1,000-plus miles away! T8B11 We can operate digital communications through satellites and through the International Space Station. FM packet is one of the most popular digital communication systems. It is fun to receive FM packet transmissions from other hams, usually stored and forwarded, via the satellite or space station.

15 Talk to Outer Space T1A07 The way we determine the operating parameters of a distant ham satellite, or a mountaintop ham radio repeater and weather station, is through a one way transmission beaming down telemetry from its internal measuring devices.

16 Talk to Outer Space T1A13 The word “telecommand” refers to a one-way transmission to control by turning on, turning off, or modifying options of another ham radio device many miles away – sometimes thousands of miles away! Turning ON an amateur radio satellite Initiating a satellite mode change Turning OFF a distant propagation radio beacon Changing data ports on a distant mountaintop digital repeater system You get the idea – sending a telecommand signal to that mountaintop repeater tied into the internet, changing ham radio internet nodes.

17 Talk to Outer Space Element 2 Technician Class Question Pool Valid July 1, 2014 Through June 30, 2018

18 T8B04 Which amateur stations may make contact with an amateur station on the International Space Station using 2 meter and 70 cm band amateur radio frequencies? A.Only members of amateur radio clubs at NASA facilities B.Any amateur holding a Technician or higher class license C.Only the astronaut's family members who are hams D.You cannot talk to the ISS on amateur radio frequencies

19 T8B10 What do the initials LEO tell you about an amateur satellite? A.The satellite battery is in Low Energy Operation mode B.The satellite is performing a Lunar Ejection Orbit maneuver C.The satellite is in a Low Earth Orbit D.The satellite uses Light Emitting Optics

20 T8B03 Which of the following are provided by satellite tracking programs? A.Maps showing the real-time position of the satellite track over the earth B.The time, azimuth, and elevation of the start, maximum altitude, and end of a pass C.The apparent frequency of the satellite transmission, including effects of Doppler shift D.All of these choices are correct

21 T8B06 Which of the following are inputs to a satellite tracking program? A.The weight of the satellite B.The Keplerian elements C.The last observed time of zero Doppler Shift D.All of these answers are correct

22 T8B05 What is a satellite beacon? A.The primary transmit antenna on the satellite B.An indicator light that that shows where to point your antenna C.A reflective surface on the satellite D.A transmission from a space station that contains information about a satellite

23 T8B09 What causes spin fading when referring to satellite signals? A.Circular polarized noise interference radiated from the sun B.Rotation of the satellite and its antennas C.Doppler shift of the received signal D.Interfering signals within the satellite uplink band

24 T8B07 With regard to satellite communications, what is Doppler shift? A.A change in the satellite orbit B.A mode where the satellite receives signals on one band and transmits on another C.An observed change in signal frequency caused by relative motion between the satellite and the earth station D.A special digital communications mode for some satellites

25 T8B08 What is meant by the statement that a satellite is operating in mode U/V? A.The satellite uplink is in the 15 meter band and the downlink is in the 10 meter band B.The satellite uplink is in the 70 cm band and the downlink is in the 2 meter band C.The satellite operates using ultraviolet frequencies D.The satellite frequencies are usually variable

26 T8B02 How much transmitter power should be used on the uplink frequency of an amateur satellite or space station? A.The maximum power of your transmitter B.The minimum amount of power needed to complete the contact C.No more than half the rating of your linear amplifier D.Never more than 1 watt

27 T8B11 What is a commonly used method of sending signals to and from a digital satellite? A.USB AFSK B.PSK31 C.FM Packet D.WSJT

28 T1A07 What is the FCC Part 97 definition of telemetry? A.An information bulletin issued by the FCC B.A one-way transmission to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a device at a distance C.A one-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument D.An information bulletin from a VEC

29 T1A13 What is the FCC Part 97 definition of telecommand? A.An instruction bulletin issued by the FCC B.A one-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument C.A one-way transmission to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a device at a distance D.An instruction from a VEC