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Introduction
to Amateur Radio
The Amateur Radio Service as defined by the Federal Communications Commission
is "a radio communication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication
and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized
persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without
pecuniary interest."
Five Principles of the Amateur Radio
Service:
-
Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the
public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly
with respect to providing emergency communications.
-
Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute
to the advancement of the radio art.
-
Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which
provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases
of the art.
-
Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of
trained operators, technicians and electronics experts.
-
Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international
goodwill.
An Amateur operator is a person holding a valid license to operate an amateur
radio station. In the United Sates, the Federal Communications Commission
issues amateur radio licenses.
There are five kinds, or levels, of amateur license with the following
mode and frequency privileges:
Class |
Privileges |
Novice |
Telegraphy on 3675-3725 (80 meters), 7100-7150 (40 meters) and 21,100-21,200
KHz (15 meters); telegraphy, RTTY and data on 28,100-28,300 KHz and telegraphy
and SSB voice on 28,300-28,500 KHz (10 meters); all amateur modes authorized
on 222.1-223.91 MHz (1.25 meters); all amateur modes authorized on 1270-1295
MHz (23 centimeters). |
Technician |
All amateur privileges above 50.0 MHz. Technician class licensees who
have passed a 5 words per minute code test also have HF Novice privileges. |
General |
All amateur privileges except those reserved for Advanced and Amateur
Extra class |
Advanced |
All amateur privileges except those reserved for Amateur Extra class |
Amateur Extra |
All amateur privileges |
Amateur Radio Emission Types (as defined
by the FCC):
CW (Continuous Wave) |
Morse code telegraphy. |
Data |
Computer communications modes, often called digital communications
because digital computers are used. Examples of data communications include:
RTTY, Packet, and AMTOR. |
Image |
Television facsimile communications. |
MCW (Tone modulated CW) |
Morse code telegraphy using a keyed audio tone. |
Phone |
Speech (voice) communications. |
Pulse |
Communications using a sequence of controlled signal variations |
RTTY (radio teletype) |
Direct printing telegraphy communications (received by automatic techniques).
Since digital computers are often used on RTTY, these signals are also
called digital communications. |
SS |
Spread spectrum communications in which the signal energy is spread
across a wide bandwidth. |
Test |
Transmissions containing no information |
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