PAARA
has member education responsibilities. This is a new column to help new hams
and "I knew but can't remember so well days". If you have a question,
others probably just haven't got around to asking the same. Send questions to
Vic, or PAARAgraphs. We will try to find an answer. Please remember this is for
beginning ham level)
Q.
In a magazine article about satellites, the author used letters to describe
various types of operating "modes". What do those letters mean?
A.
"Mode" is used not only to describe modulation types, such as AM, FM,
SSB, and CW, but also to describe operating frequency bands on satellites. Some
amateur satellites are single channel FM repeaters only, but many use
transponders, which receive an entire band of frequencies and repeat them back
on another part of the spectrum. To simplify describing transponders, a series
of letters has been assigned to indicate the frequency bands in use.
Dual-Band Modes
Mode
A: Uplink 2m, Downlink 10m
Mode
B: Uplink 70cm, Downlink 2m
Mode
J: Uplink2m, Downlink 70cm
Mode
K: Uplink 15m, Downlink 10m
Mode
L: Uplink 23cm, Downlink 70cm
Mode
S: Uplink 70cm, Downlink 13cm
Mode
T: Uplink 15m, Downlink 2m
Single-Band Modes
Mode
V: 2m (145 MHz)
Mode
U:7Ocm (435MHz)
Mode
L:23cm (12GHz)
Mode
S:13cm (24GHz)
Mode
C:6cm (5.6GHz)
Mode
X:3cm (10GHz)
Mode
K:l.5cm(24GHz)
Example:
If you're using a dual-band mode A satellite, you must talk on 2 meters and
listen on 10 meters
Some
of the modes are duplicated in the two lists. The words "Single-Band"
or "Dual-Band" will generally prefix those modes, such as Single-Band
Mode S, for instance: In addition, some satellites operate in more than one
mode, such as DualBand Mode KA indicating uplink 15m, downlink 10m, as well as
uplink 2m, Downlink 1Om. Modes are being worked out now, for the launch of
Phase 3D satellite. This ambitious project will accommodate uplinks on 15m,12m,
2m, 70cm, 23cm, 13cm, and 6cm. Downlinks will be on 2m, 70cm, 13cm, 3cm, and
1.5 cm. In addition, both analog, and digital sub-bands are planned for all
bands except 15m and 12m, which will be analog only.
Q.
I'm really confused after reviewing the charts for satellite modes. I thought
letters like x, K, and Ka had something to do with police radar detectors.
A.
In the early days of microwave electronics, some bands were issued letter
designators. These are somewhat standardized, but by no means are they fully
standardized It's unfortunate That satellite modes using microwave bands could
end up using the same letter combinations to indicate different things. A good
source of information regarding frequency designators is at
http://www.advantix.com/neuhaus/fccindex/letter.html. There you'll find Three
different, but similar, charts. Still others exist as well. Amateur radio
operators would normally use the RSGB standards, which include some overlaps.
To avoid confusion, it's best to refer to the amateur bands by frequency, such
as 1.2Ghz or by wavelength, such as 13 cm.
See Beginner’s page 5
Beginner’s from page
4
band
Designation Frequency (MHz)
L 1,000
- 2,000
S 2,000
- 4,000
C 4,000
-8,000
x 8,000-12,000
Ku 12,000-18,000
K 18,000-26,500
Ka 26,5000-40,000
Q 33,000
- 50,000
U 40,000-60,000
Q
I just received my new call sign and bought a two meter HT. I can't figure out
how to use the HT for Single Side Band
A
Most handie-talkies are FM only. The weak signal modes (SSB and CW) require
radios designed specifically for those modes.
There are a few HT's, such as those made by Tokyo HyPower, which are
used in
From
the May, 2000 issue of "PAARAgraphs", newsletter of the
KN
The meeting was called to order by Pat
at 6:40 PM.
All present introduced themselves.
TREASURER'S
REPORT –
The treasurer was absent so there was
no report.
REPEATER
REPORT –
Gordon,
KB2UB
There has been some jamming activity on
the Hauppaugue Repeater. Everyone was reminded that the best way to deal with
jammers is to ignore them.
VE
REPORT –
There were no applicants. Four VE’s
were available at the session.
WAG
REPORT –
Bob,
W2FPF
No Activity. Bob reported that the QCWA
president was petitioning the ARRL to push for only two classes of license,
Technician and Extra.
HOUSE
REPORT –
Pat
KE2LJ
Pat reported that he had a discussion
with Councilman Leonard Simons from the Town of
It appears that Northrop Grumman does
not want to spend any money on moving the trailer to the Plant 14 area. In
particular they are balking at pouring concrete for the tower base and guys. We
might be able to work around this.
Pat
has submitted the necessary form to the FAA to determine if a light is
necessary on the tower. A reply indicates that the case is under advisement.
A question was asked about the status
of the
NEW
BUSINESS
Discussed the Holiday Party that will
be held at the N/G cafeteria at 5:00 PM on December 20. It will be catered by
the N/G cafeteria staff who will charge $7.75 per person. The club will
subsidize the party so that members and guests will be charged $5.00. A motion
to authorize paying $310.00 to the N/G caterer was approved.
ELECTION:
Bob, W2FPF was the election chairman.
The following slate was elected for the year 2001:
President – Pat Masterson, KE2LJ
Vice President – Gordon Sammis, KB2UB
Treasurer – Ted Placeck, KD2UB
Secretary – Peter Rapelje, N2PYV
Two Year Board Members:
Zack Zilavy, W2PUE
Dave Ledo, AB2EF
Hank Niemczyk,
W2ZZE
GRUMMAN
AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
MINUTES OF
GENERAL MEETING 11/15/00
By Pete, N2PYV
PROGRAM
Marty, NN2C gave an interesting
presentation describing his trip to
Radio Society of
NETS
Forty
Meters: 7.289 at
7:30 AM EST Sundays.
20 meters: 14.275 at
12 noon Wednesdays.
Two Meters: 146.745 at 8:30 PM EST Thursdays.
145.33
at 8:45 PM Thursdays
145.33 at 9:00 PM EST
Mondays
(ARES/RACES)
VE EXAMS
For information on new VE Exams see write up by Bob, W2ILP
in February newsletter, page 2.
MEETINGS
General
Meetings of the GARC are held on the third Wednesday of each month, at
Melville, at 6:30 PM. All who are interested in Amateur Radio are invited to
attend. Board meetings are held eight days before the General Meeting and GARC
members are invited to attend, but please call Pat Masterson, KE2LJ, at
218-6746 to confirm place and time of meeting
Directions and a map for getting to
the Melville meeting site are available on the Club Web site,
www.qsl.net/wa2lqo.
Review from page 1
In the “bending” characteristics of
the ionosphere. For example. a station in
talking to
The F - region is the very thickest
region of thc ionosphere, which makes the F region special. It is the only
layer of the
ionosphere that is subdivided into two parts, the F I layer and the F2 layer.
During the day the F region ionizes at different rates, due to it's thickness.
As a result, two characteristic changes occur: 1 ) during the day, the region
splits up and 2) at night the two layers slowly recombine. The F2 layer is the
most important of the
two. During the daylight hours, the F2 layer forms. The F2 layer is on top of
the Fl layer (making it situated closer to the
sun). As a result of being closer to the sun, it comes into contact with more
of the UV and X ray energy. Because of this, the F2 layer becomes more ionized
than
the F 1 layer. When night settles in, the F 1 layer quickly loses its energy
while the F2 layer loses its energy much more slowly--
usually at the lowest point right before sun-up.
It is the F2 layer of the ionosphere
that provides the capacity of the ionosphere to reflect radio energy (this is
why the F2 layer is more important to HF communications.). Some of the
properties of the F-2 layer include reflecting radio signals up to distances of
2500 miles (single hop) and extend to globe-circling "long-path"
communications. F-region ionization is always greatest when the sun is
directly overhead (as are all Ionospheric layers). F2 radiation is also
directly related to UV radiation: thc greater the UV, the greater the
ionization (note that this means the greater the UV above the cloud cover, and
is irrelevant when considered at a "ground level"). Thus, in the
summer F region propagation is greatest and in the winter it is least.
The F layer is not very important. for most
practical purposes. It can be very effective when it occurs though. On the V H
F bands F-layer propagation, better known as F-skip, provides exceptional
communication range and clarity. For instance, a station in Inverness may be
speaking on a local simplex frequency when all of a sudden a station from
usually is caused
by a temperature inversion where the normally cooler temperatures aloft are
warmer than those below.)
D Layer
The D layer is
not very interesting. During the daylight hours it serves to absorb most energy
belowr about 7 MHz. During the night hours, it totally disappears,
making 80 meters (3.5 MHz) once again useable. It quickly reaches full
ionization soon after sun-up, and almost immediately loses its energy after the
sun goes down. It does nothing in the way of reflecting signals--as far as
science knows.
(from "Share
Tales," newsletter of the Sky High Amateur Radio Club Newsletter, Peter
Holmes-Ray, KA4TDK, ed.)
KN
DON'T LEAVE YOUR SPOUSE OR HEIRS IN
A SHACK LURCH
BY REV. JIM MCCHESNEY, WAOPFV, FROM BADGER
STATE SMOKE SIGNALS
So don't put it off. Make up your Inventory, and leave your family or friends some clear instructions. I've asked a friend to sell my gear, with some of the proceeds to go to my radio club and the rest to my wife. You might want to help
the ARRL Foundation or the Courage Handi-Hams or some other ham groups. Make
your death mean something. A form you can use is printed on this page. Use it
as a model for your own forms.
To be certain that your wishes for the disposal of your station and related equipment are respected and followed, those instructions should be written Into your will. A letter of Instruction form should be filled out and attached to your will.
Remember, to be of any use, the inventory form must be updated on a regular basis.