KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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2016 Extra Class study guide: E1A - Operating standards

Posted: 26 Mar 2016 05:00 PM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu...m_medium=email


E1A Operating Standards: frequency privileges; emission standards;
automatic message forwarding; frequency sharing; stations aboard ships or
aircraft

When using a transceiver that displays the carrier frequency of phone
signals, the highest frequency at which a properly adjusted USB emission
will be totally within the band is 3 kHz below the upper band edge. (E1A01)
So, with your transceiver displaying the carrier frequency of phone
signals, you hear a DX stations CQ on 14.349 MHz USB. Is it legal to return
the call using upper sideband on the same frequency? No, the sidebands will
extend beyond the band edge. (E1A03)

The reason for this is that the USB signal extends from the carrier
frequency, which is the frequency that the transceiver is displaying, up 3
kHz. When you set the transceiver to 14.349 kHz, the upper sideband will
extend up to 14.352 MHz, and because the amateur radio band stops at 14.350
MHz, some of the transmission will fall outside the band.

A similar thing happens, but in reverse, when you operate lower sideband,
or LSB. When using a transceiver that displays the carrier frequency of
phone signals, the lowest frequency at which a properly adjusted LSB
emission will be totally within the band is 3 kHz above the lower band
edge. (E1A02) With your transceiver displaying the carrier frequency of
phone signals, you hear a DX station calling CQ on 3.601 MHz LSB. Is it
legal to return the call using lower sideband on the same frequency? No,
the sideband will extend beyond the edge of the phone band segment. (E1A04)

The lower sideband will extend down 3 kHz from the carrier frequency. So,
when your transceiver is set to 3.601 MHz, your signal will extend down to
3.598 MHz, which is outside the phone band.

This is also a consideration when operating CW because a CW signal occupies
a finite bandwidth. With your transceiver displaying the carrier frequency
of CW signals, if you hear a DX stations CQ on 3.500 MHz, it is not legal
to return the call using CW on the same frequency because one of the
sidebands of the CW signal will be out of the band. (E1A12)

The 60 m band is one of the oddest amateur radio bands. One of the reasons
for this is that the 60 meter band is the only amateur band where
transmission on specific channels rather than a range of frequencies is
permitted. (E1A07) Also, the carrier frequency of a CW signal that complies
with FCC rules for 60 meter operation must be set at the center frequency
of the channel, (E1A06) and the maximum bandwidth for a data emission on
60m is 2.8 kHz. (E1A14)

The rules for power output are also a bit arcane. The maximum power output
permitted on the 60 meter band is 100 watts PEP effective radiated power
relative to the gain of a half-wave dipole. (E1A05) The rules are written
this way to minimize interference between amateur radio operators, who are
secondary users of this band, and the primary users, which are primarily
government radio stations.

Some amateur radio systems automatically forward messages for other amateur
radio stations. Winlink is one such system. There is always a question of
who is responsible when an automatically-controlled station forwards a
message that violates FCC rules.

If a station in a message forwarding system inadvertently forwards a
message that is in violation of FCC rules, the control operator of the
originating station is primarily accountable for the rules violation,
(E1A08) This is very similar to the situation where a repeater is used to
send messages that violate FCC rules.

The first action you should take if your digital message forwarding station
inadvertently forwards a communication that violates FCC rules is to
discontinue forwarding the communication as soon as you become aware of it.
(E1A09) This is also similar to what a repeater control operator should do
if a repeater user is violating FCC rules.

Operating an amateur radio station on a ship or an airplane can be a lot of
fun, but there are some rules that govern this operation. For example, if
an amateur station is installed aboard a ship or aircraft, its operation
must be approved by the master of the ship or the pilot in command of the
aircraft before the station is operated. (E1A10) Any FCC-issued amateur
license is required when operating an amateur station aboard a
U.S.-registered vessel in international waters. (E1A11)

Even when operating from a ship, there must be a control operator. Any
person holding an FCC-issued amateur license or who is authorized for alien
reciprocal operation must be in physical control of the station apparatus
of an amateur station aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or
registered in the United States. (E1A13)

The post 2016 Extra Class study guide: E1A Operating standards appeared
first on KB6NUs Ham Radio Blog.


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Operating notes: Getting high on CW?

Posted: 26 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu...m_medium=email


A couple of times recently during a contact, Ive been thanked for giving
someone their CW fix for the day. The Google dictionary defines it this way:

informal

a dose of a narcotic drug to which one is addicted.

synonyms: dose; informal hit

he needed his fix

So, CW has become kind of a drug for these guys.Â*Working CW does get you
into a certain mindset that could be compared to a drug high. When
youÂ*focus on sending and receivingÂ*code, you suspendÂ*your worries and your
cares for that particular moment. In that way, CW works a lot like a drug.

Is it any wonder then that some guys get addicted to CW?


Just some of the antennas at W9SN.
Antenna farm

The other day I worked W9SN on 80m. He was just booming in. When he told me
he was using a two-element, 80 m quad antenna, it was apparent why.

I looked him up on QRZ.Com, and my jaw just dropped. He has an antenna farm
that I could only marvel at. Heres a man who really loves ham radio.
Palindromic callsigns

I may have found my next QSL challenge palindromic callsigns. A palindrome
is a word, phrase, number, or anyÂ*sequence of characters which reads the
same backward or forward.

About a week ago, I work KD3DK, and since then Ive heard AE8EA and KU4UK on
the air. I havent done any formal analysis, but there has to be thousands
of possible palindromic callsigns. EA8AE, for example. His QRZ.Com page
show a very nice quad antenna, so I bet hes very workable.

Have you worked any stations with palindromic callsigns? Do you have any
QSL cards with palindromic calls? If so, scan it and send it to me, and Ill
post it here on my blog.

The post Operating notes: Getting high on CW? appeared first on KB6NUs Ham
Radio Blog.