Chapter 6: Communicating With Other Hams Flashcards
What is the FCC Part 97 definition of a space station?
An Amateur station located more than 50 km above the Earth’s surface.
Describe the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
A radio service using amateur stations and frequencies for emergency management or civil defense communications. it is also an emergency service using amateur operators certified by a civil defense organization as being enrolled in that organization.
What amateur radio stations may make contact with an amateur radio station on the International Space Station (ISS) using 2 meter and 70 cm band frequencies?
Any amateur holding a Technician or higher-class license.
Who may be the control operator of a station communicating through amateur satellite or space station?
Any amateur whose license privileges allow them to transmit on the satellite uplink frequency.
What is the common repeater frequency offset in the 2 meter band?
Plus or minus 600 kHz.
What is the national calling frequency for FM simplex operations in the 2 meter band?
146.520 MHz
What is a common repeater frequency offset in the 70 cm band?
Plus or minus 5 MHz
What is an appropriate way to call another station on a repeater if you know the other station’s call sign?
Say the station’s call sign, then identify with your call sign.
How should you respond to a station calling CQ?
Transmit the other station’s call sign followed by your call sign.
What is meant by “repeater offset?”
The difference between a repeater’s transmit frequency and its receive frequency.
What is the meaning of the procedural signal “CQ?”
Calling any station.
What brief statement indicates that you are listening on a repeater and looking for a contact?
Your call sign.
What is a band plan, beyond the privileges established by the FCC?
A voluntary guideline for using different modes or activities within an amateur band.
What term describes an amateur station that is transmitting and receiving on the same frequency?
Simplex
What is a guideline for choosing an operating frequency for calling CQ?
- listen first to be sure that no one else is using the frequency
- ask if the frequency is in use
- make sure you are in your assigned band
What is the most common use of the “reverse split” function of a VHF/UHF transceiver?
Listen on a repeater’s input frequency.
if you can hear another station on the input, then you do not need the repeater and should shift to simplex
What term describes the use of a sub-audible tone transmitted along with normal voice audio to open the squelch of a receiver?
Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS).
If a station is not strong enough to keep a repeater’s receiver squelch open, what might allow you to receive the station’s signal?
Listen on the repeater input frequency.
What could be the reason you are unable to access a repeater whose output you can hear?
- improper transceiver offset
- the repeater may require a proper CTCSS tone from your transceiver
- the repeater may require a proper DCS tone from your transceiver
What type of tones are used to control repeaters linked by the Internal Relay Linking Project (IRLP) protocol?
Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF)
How can you join a digital repeater’s “talk group?”
Program your radio with the group’s ID or code.
What is a “talk group” on a DMR digital repeater?
A way for groups of users to share a channel at different times without being heard by other users on the channel.
Which Q signal indicates that you are receiving interference from other stations?
QRM
Which Q signal indicates that you are changing frequency?
QSY
Why are simplex channels designated in the VHF/UHF band plans?
So that stations within mutual communications range can communicate without tying up a repeater.
Where may a SSB phone be used in the amateur bands above 50 MHz?
In at least some portion of all these bands.
Describe a linked repeater network.
A network of repeaters where signals received by one repeater are repeated by all the repeaters.
When do the FCC rules NOT apply to the operation of an amateur station?
Never, FCC rules always apply.
What is meant by “NCS” used in the net operations?
Net Control Station
What should be done when using voice modes to ensure that voice messages containing unusual words are received correctly?
Spell the words using a standard phonetic alphabet.
What do RACES and ARES have in common?
Both organizations may provide communications during emergencies.
What does the term “traffic” refer to in net operations?
Formal messages exchanged by net stations.
What is an accepted practice to get the immediate attention of a net control station when reporting an emergency?
Begin your transmission by saying “Priority” or “Emergency” followed by your call sign.
What is an accepted practice for an amateur operator who has checked into a net?
Remain on frequency without transmitting until asked to do so by the net control station.
What is a characteristic of good traffic handling?
Passing messages exactly as received.
Are amateur station control operators ever permitted to operate outside the frequency privileges of their license class?
Yes, but only if necessary in situations involving the immediate safety of human life or protection of property.
What information is contained in the preamble of a formal traffic message?
The information needed to track the message.
What is meant by “check,” in reference to a formal traffic message?
The number of words or word equivalents in the text portion of the message.
What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)?
Licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service.
What is a use for the scanning function of an FM transceiver?
To scan through a range of frequencies to check for activity.
What might be a problem if you receive a report that your audio signal through the repeater is distorted or unintelligible?
- your transceiver is slightly off frequency
- your batteries are running low
- you are in a bad location
What telemetry information is typically transmitted by satellite beacons?
Health and status of the satellite.
What is the impact of using too much effective radiated power on a satellite uplink?
Blocking access by other users.
What are provided by satellite tracking programs?
- maps showing the real-time position of the satellite track over earth
- the time, azimuth, and elevation of the start, maximum altitude, and end of a pass
- the apparent frequency of the satellite transmission, including effects of Doppler shift
What mode of transmission is commonly used by amateur radio satellites?
SSB
FM
CW/data
What is a satellite beacon?
A transmission from a satellite that contains status information.
What are inputs to a satellite tracking program?
The Keplerian elements.
With regard to satellite communications, what is Doppler shift?
An observed change in signal frequency caused by relative motion between the satellite and the earth station.
What is meant by the statement that a satellite is operating in mode U/V?
The satellite uplink is in the 70 cm band and the downlink is in the 2 meter band.
What causes spin fading of a satellite signals?
Rotation of the satellite and it antennas.
What do the initials LEO tell you about an amateur satellite?
The satellite is in a Low Earth Orbit.
Who may receive telemetry from a space station?
Anyone who can receive the telemetry signal.
What is a good way to judge whether your uplink power is neither too low nor too high?
Your signal strength on the downlink should be about the same as the beacon.
What method is used to locate sources of noise interference of jamming?
Radio Direction Finding
What would be useful for a hidden transmitter hunt?
A directional antenna.
What operating activity involves contacting as many stations as possible during a specified period?
Contesting
What is good procedure when contacting another station in a radio contest?
Send only the minimum information needed for proper identification and the contest exchange.
What is a grid locator?
A letter-number designator assigned to a geographic location.
How is access to some IRLP nodes accomplished?
By using Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals.
What is meant by Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as used in amateur radio?
A method of delivering voice communications over the internet using digital techniques.
What is the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP)?
A technique to connect amateur radio systems, such as repeaters, via the internet using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
How might you obtain a list of active nodes that use VoIP?
- subscribing to an on line service
- From an on line repeater lists maintained by the local repeater frequency coordinator
- from a repeater directory
What must be done before you may use the EchoLink system to communicate using a repeater?
You must register your call sign and provide proof of license.
What type of transmission is indicated by the term “NTSC?”
An analog fast scan color TV signal.
What best describes Digital Mobile Radio (DMR)?
A technique for time-multiplexing two digital voice signals on a single 12.5 kHz repeater channel.
