Authors: H. Ward Silver
ISBN-13: 9780764559877, ISBN-10: 0764559877
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
Date Published: April 2004
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Ward Silver is an electrical engineer who’s been a licensed ham for 31 years. He is a contributing editor and columnist for QST, a monthly magazine for ham operators.
It’s time we cleared the air about ham radio. If you think of it as staticky transmissions sent by people in the middle of nowhere, think again. Today’s ham radio goes beyond wireless to extreme wireless, Operators transmit data and pictures, use the Internet, laser, and microwave transmitters, and travel to places high and low to make contact. In an emergency or natural disaster, ham radio can replace downed traditional communication and save lives. Whether you’re just getting turned on to ham radio or already have your license, Ham Radio for Dummies helps you with the terminology, the technology and the talknology. You discover how to:
Written by Ward Silver, an electrical engineer, Certified Amateur Radio License Examiner, and columnist for QST, a monthly magazine for ham operators, Ham Radio for Dummies gives you the info you need to delve into the science or dive into the conversation. It explains how you can:
Complete with a glossary and ten pages of additional suggested resources, Ham Radio for Dummies encourages you to touch that dial and take that mike.
CUL. (That’s Morse Code for “see you later.”)
Introduction | 1 | |
About This Book | 1 | |
Conventions Used in This Book | 2 | |
Foolish Assumptions | 2 | |
How This Book Is Organized | 2 | |
Icons Used in This Book | 4 | |
Where to Go from Here | 5 | |
Part I | What Is Ham Radio All About? | 7 |
Chapter 1 | Getting Acquainted with Ham Radio | 9 |
Tuning In Ham Radio Today | 10 | |
Roaming the World of Ham Radio | 15 | |
Communicating with Ham Radio | 16 | |
Building a Ham Radio Shack | 16 | |
Chapter 2 | Getting a Handle on Ham Radio Technology | 19 |
Fundamentals of Radio Waves | 19 | |
Basic Ham Radio Gadgetry | 22 | |
Ham Radio on the Air | 25 | |
Dealing with Mother Nature | 26 | |
Chapter 3 | Finding Other Hams: Your Support Group | 29 |
Radio Clubs | 29 | |
The ARRL | 33 | |
Specialty Organizations and Clubs | 37 | |
Online Communities | 41 | |
Hamfests and Conventions | 44 | |
Part II | Wading through the Licensing Process | 49 |
Chapter 4 | Figuring Out the Licensing System | 51 |
The Amateur Service: An Overview | 51 | |
Becoming Licensed: Individual License Classes | 54 | |
Understanding Call Signs | 58 | |
The Volunteer Licensing System | 59 | |
Chapter 5 | Studying for Your License | 61 |
Demystifying the Test | 61 | |
Finding Resources for Study | 62 | |
Finding a Mentor | 65 | |
Mastering Morse Code | 67 | |
Chapter 6 | Taking the Test | 71 |
Finding a Test Session | 71 | |
Signing Up for a Test | 73 | |
The Big Day | 74 | |
Chapter 7 | Obtaining Your License and Call Sign | 79 |
Completing Your Licensing Paperwork | 79 | |
Finding Your New Call Sign | 81 | |
Registering with the FCC Online | 84 | |
Picking Your Own Call Sign | 86 | |
Maintaining Your License | 88 | |
Part III | Hamming It Up | 89 |
Chapter 8 | Making Contact | 91 |
Listen, Listen, Listen! | 91 | |
Tuning In a Signal | 93 | |
Deciphering a QSO | 103 | |
Q-Signals | 106 | |
Making a Call | 107 | |
Chapter 9 | Casual Operating | 117 |
Operating on FM and Repeaters | 118 | |
Chewing the Rag | 131 | |
Pounding Brass--Morse Code | 137 | |
Receiving Messages Afloat and Remote | 142 | |
Chapter 10 | Operating with Intent | 145 |
Joining an Emergency Organization | 146 | |
Preparing for an Emergency | 149 | |
Operating in an Emergency | 152 | |
Providing Public Service | 156 | |
Operating on Nets | 157 | |
Handling Traffic | 159 | |
Chapter 11 | Specialties | 165 |
DX-ing | 165 | |
Taking Part in Radio Contests | 178 | |
Chasing Awards | 187 | |
QRP: Low-Power Operating | 189 | |
Getting Digital | 193 | |
Operating via Satellites | 203 | |
Seeing Things--Image Transmissions | 206 | |
Part IV | Building and Operating a Station That Works | 209 |
Chapter 12 | Getting on the Air | 211 |
Setting Goals for Your Station | 211 | |
Choosing a Radio | 215 | |
Choosing an Antenna | 225 | |
Supporting Your Antenna | 236 | |
Computers in the Shack | 243 | |
Buying New or Used Equipment | 246 | |
Upgrading Your Station | 246 | |
Chapter 13 | Organizing Your Shack | 249 |
Designing Your Ham Shack | 249 | |
Building in RF and Electrical Safety | 258 | |
Grounding Power and RF | 260 | |
Chapter 14 | Housekeeping (Logs and QSLs) | 263 |
Keeping a Log | 263 | |
Selecting a QSL Card | 265 | |
Sending and Receiving QSLs | 266 | |
Chapter 15 | Hands-On Radio | 269 |
Acquiring Tools and Components | 269 | |
Maintaining Your Station | 275 | |
Overall Troubleshooting Tips | 276 | |
Troubleshooting Your Station | 277 | |
Troubleshooting Your Home and Neighborhood | 283 | |
Building Equipment from a Kit | 288 | |
Building Equipment from Scratch | 288 | |
Part V | The Part of Tens | 291 |
Chapter 16 | Ten Secrets for Beginners | 293 |
Listening, Listening, Listening | 293 | |
Buddying Up | 293 | |
Knowing Your Equipment | 293 | |
Following the Manufacturer's Recommendations | 294 | |
Trying Different Things | 294 | |
Nobody Knows Everything | 294 | |
Practicing Courtesy | 294 | |
Joining In | 295 | |
Getting Right Back in the Saddle | 295 | |
Relax, It's a Hobby! | 295 | |
Chapter 17 | Ten Secrets of the Masters | 297 |
Listening, Listening, Listening | 297 | |
Learning What's Under the Hood | 297 | |
Reading History | 297 | |
Having a Sharp Axe | 298 | |
Practicing Makes Perfect | 298 | |
Paying Attention to Detail | 298 | |
The Problem Ain't What You Don't Know | 298 | |
Antennas Make the Difference | 298 | |
A Decibel Is a Decibel Is a Decibel | 299 | |
Ham Radio Is a Lifetime of Learning | 299 | |
Chapter 18 | Ten First Station Tips | 301 |
Being Flexible | 301 | |
Looking and Learning | 301 | |
Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket | 302 | |
Used-Equipment Bargains | 302 | |
Building Something! | 302 | |
Being Well-Grounded | 302 | |
Saving Money by Building Your Own Cables | 303 | |
Building Step-by-Step | 303 | |
Finding the Weakest Link | 303 | |
Being Comfortable | 303 | |
Chapter 19 | Ten Easy Ways to Have Fun on the Radio | 305 |
Listening for People Having Fun and Joining In | 305 | |
Special Events and Contests Are Looking for You! | 305 | |
Making Up Your Own Contest | 306 | |
Sending a Radiogram, Ma'am | 306 | |
Joining the Parade | 306 | |
Going Somewhere Cool | 306 | |
Squirting a Bird | 307 | |
Learning a New Lingo | 307 | |
Shortwave Listening (SWL-ing) | 307 | |
Visiting a New Group | 307 | |
Chapter 20 | Ten Ways to Give Back to Ham Radio | 309 |
Preparing Yourself for Emergencies | 309 | |
Preparing Your Community for Emergencies | 309 | |
Volunteering in Your Club | 310 | |
Performing Public Service Assistance | 310 | |
Experimenting | 310 | |
Participating in On-the-Air Monitoring | 310 | |
Acting as a Product Tester or QSL Manager | 311 | |
Representing Amateur Radio | 311 | |
Being an Elmer | 311 | |
Making Lifelong Friendships | 311 | |
Part VI | Appendixes | 313 |
Appendix A | Glossary | 315 |
Appendix B | The Best References | 329 |
Web Portals | 329 | |
Operating References | 330 | |
Technical References | 335 | |
Amateur Magazines | 339 | |
Vendors | 340 | |
Index | 341 |