1. PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
Chapter 2
PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES
Lauren Styles, WA6CIE
Discussion Leader
2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course

2. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES Basic Operating
HF bands are not channelized like VHF/UHF. The Variable Frequency Oscillator, VFO knob replaces the channel selector.
[FIG 2.1, Page 2-1]
VFO knob
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3. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES Basic Operating
Initiate a radio exchange (QSO) by calling “CQ.”
Calling “CQ DX” usually means “I want to talk to stations outside the country.” [G2A11]
To enter a QSO already in progress: Wait for a pause between operators’ conversation and transmit your call sign. Usually they will pause and ask you to go ahead. [G2A08]
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4. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Selecting a Frequency
Follow the band plan for the mode you have chosen. [G2B07]
Chose a frequency separation from adjacent QSOs, appropriate to your mode.
[G2B04, G2B05]
Based on Table 2.1, Page 2-3
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5. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Selecting a Frequency
Listen for a couple of minutes before transmitting.
If nothing is heard, transmit “Is This Frequency In Use” if using a voice mode. Transmit “QRL” (“Are You Busy”) if using CW. [G2B06, G2C04]
BE FLEXIBLE. Except in FCC declared emergencies, NO ONE has priority access to a frequency. [G2B01]
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6. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Selecting a Frequency
IN SUMMARY
Be sure of your license privileges.
Follow the Band Plan.
Listen before transmitting.
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7. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Band Plans
Band Plans are not specified in Part 97, but the FCC expects them to be followed as a good operating practice.
Table 2.2, Page 2-4
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8. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Band Plans
A “DX WINDOW” in a band plan is a frequency reserved for stations calling from outside the 48 states. [G2B08]
“The Considerate Operator’s Frequency Guide”
See text Page 2-17
See ARRL handout
See text Page 2-17
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9. Station Logging software 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES GOOD PRACTICES Housekeeping and Operating Support
Station logs are no longer required.
They are useful record-keeping for awards, contesting, and reminders of previous contacts.
Logs typically include information for each contact, including:
date and time
band or frequency
Callsign of the contacted station
signal report [G2D09]
Logs are useful if one is contacted by the FCC for information regarding your activities. [G2D08]
Station Logging software
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10. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MANAGING INTERFERENCE Types of Interference
There are two types of RF interference:
Harmful Interference “which seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations” [PART 97.3(a)(23)]
Harmful interference is often unintentional and not necessarily illegal.
“MALICIOUS, DELIBERATE, OR WILLFUL INTERFERENCE IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN BY THE FCC [PART (d)]
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11. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MANAGING INTERFERENCE Avoiding Interference
Use your knowledge and skills to avoid transmitting where and when you may cause interference.
Consult band plans, net schedules, propagation predictions, and calling frequencies.
Use minimum power to communicate.
Be sure your signal is clean with no spurious emissions.
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12. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MANAGING INTERFERENCE Reacting to Interference
Remember that no one owns a frequency.
Keep flexible.
Learn your receiver’s selectivity characteristics.
Learn the many methods which can minimize unwanted reception.
Propagation conditions can change during a QSO, so be ready to move to another frequency if necessary. [G2B03]
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13. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MODES
Amateurs enjoy more flexibility in our choice of frequencies and modes than any other radio service.
One of the five basic purposes of Amateur Radio is “…to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.” [PART 97.1(b)]
The invention, use, and management of different communication modes is very much part of that contribution and heritage.
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14. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MODES CW
CW = Continuous Wave, or Morse Code.
Oldest and most historic radio communication mode, going all the way back to spark gap days.
CW transmitters are technically rather simple.
The original “narrow band” mode, best for long distance and low power contacts.
Found on the lower portion of most HF bands.
FCC prohibits voice and data on these portions, but CW is permitted anywhere on any band.
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15. 2.1 HF OPERATING TECHNIQUES MODES AM and SSB Phone
The most commonly used voice mode in the HF bands is SSB (Single Side Band). [G2A05]
One advantage that SSB has over AM signals is that it uses half the bandwidth (3 KHz as opposed to 6KHZ for AM). [G2A06]
SSB differs from AM because one of the two sidebands, and the carrier are suppressed, leaving only the other sideband to transmit. [G2A07]
More efficient than AM because power is concentrated in a narrower bandwidth.
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16. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
MODES-AM and SSB PHONE
By convention, current amateur practice is to use lower sideband (LSB) on 160, 80, and 40 meters. [G2A02, G2A09]
On 20 meters and all higher frequencies, upper sideband (USB) is used.
[G2A01, G2A03, G2A04]
60 meters is a special case. Those five specified channels are designated to use upper sideband (USB) [ (h)] [G1A04]
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17. MODES-DIGITAL Digital Modes will be covered in
Session 6, Chapter 6 on May 4, 2017.
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18. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
MODES-IMAGES
Slow scan television (SSTV) uses the same bandwidth as SSB, and is permitted anywhere SSB is allowed, except 60 Meters.
Fast scan television, by nature a very wide bandwidth, is restricted to the UHF and microwave bands.
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19. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
MODES- A COMPARISON
TABLE 2.3, Page 2-8
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20. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
HF – RECEIVING
Selectivity is more important than Sensitivity.
Atmospheric noise (lightning and other natural phenomena), called QRN or “static,” is so high on the HF bands that purchasing an ultra-sensitive receiver buys you little except more noise. [G2C10]
Since the atmospheric “noise floor” is so much lower on VHF, UHF, and Microwave bands, a receive preamplifier can often be beneficial.
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21. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
HF – TRANSMITTING
PHONE
One convenience available in many HF rigs is Voice Operated Transmit (VOX).
Replacing the push to talk button (PTT), VOX allows hands-free transmitting. [G2A10]
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22. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
SIGNAL REPORTS
RST signal reports provide are a shorthand for reporting the quality of a received signal.
R: Readability, (1 to 5) = intelligibility
S: Signal Strength, (1 to 9) = S-meter reading
T: Tone (CW only) (1 to 9), steady or drifting or chirping. A “C” appended to an RST report indicates a chirpy tone [G2C07]
A new reporting parameter, Q for Quality (also 1-9) is coming into use for digital signals. Instead of an RST report, it would be called an RSQ report.
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23. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
CW PROCEDURES
Match the speed of the calling station when responding to a CQ. [G2C05]
Higher speed CW operators make use of a an Electronic Keyer, which automatically generates properly spaced dits and dahs. Some HF rigs have keyers built in. [G4A10]
Using VOX transmit control on CW, adjusted to switch back to receive between each code element, results in “Full Break-In,” where the transmitting station can receive in between every code character and element in a CW message. [G2C01]
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24. CW PROSIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS
PROSIGNS are two letters sent together as a single character. Shorthand for commonly used words and phrases.
Match your sending frequency with the other station. This is called “Zero Beating.” [G2C06]
“AR” = “End of Message.” [G2C08]
“KN” = a request for no break-ins [G2C03]
“QRS” = "slow down" [G2C02]
“QRQ” = "speed up"
“QRV” = “ready to receive messages” [G2C11]
“QSL” = “message received” [G2C09]
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25. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
EMERGENCY OPERATION
Communication to the news media is forbidden under normal circumstances.
However, in the event of an emergency:
[PART (b)] [G1B04]
“Communications directly related to the immediate safety of human life or the protection of property may be provided by amateur stations to broadcasters for dissemination to the public where no other means of communication is reasonably available.”
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26. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
A.R.E.S. & R.A.C.E.S.
ARES = Amateur Radio Emergency Service (sponsored by the ARRL)
RACES = Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (sponsored by FEMA)
RACES is mandated by [PART ]
ONLY FCC-licensed amateurs are allowed to be radio operators for RACES stations [PART (a)] [G2B09]
The FCC reserves the right to restrict the operating frequencies used by RACES stations if the President’s War Emergency Powers have been invoked. [PART (b)] [G2B10]
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27. 2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course
DISTRESS CALLS
If you hear a station in distress break into your QSO, you must immediately acknowledge the station and determine what assistance is needed. [G2B02]
The use of any frequency, mode, or power level is allowed for communication with a station in distress, regardless of license privileges. [PART ] [G2B11, G2B12]
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28. Class Session 2 Assignment
In preparation for the next class session, do the following…….
● Study Chapter 3 “Rules and Regulations”
● Study the Question Pool questions found in the ”blue boxes” in this chapter.
See you next week! 28
2017 MDARC/SATERN General Licensing Course