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Amateur Radio/Getting started: Difference between revisions
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== First steps == | == First steps == | ||
* Register with [http://www.qrz.com/ qrz.com] | * Register with [http://www.qrz.com/ qrz.com] | ||
* Start a log book. Use a spreadsheet with the | * Start a log book. Use a spreadsheet with the columns shown on page 20 of the Foundation Licence Now! book. | ||
== Make that first QSO == | == Make that first QSO == | ||
See [http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/training/courses/files/handouts/cars-sample-qsos.pdf Sample QSOs] | See [http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/training/courses/files/handouts/cars-sample-qsos.pdf Sample QSOs] or [http://www.g3npf.co.uk/operating.htm A brief guide to good amateur radio operating techniques]. | ||
===Q | === Q codes === | ||
A few of the more common ones, | A few of the more common ones, (those that have to be learnt for the Intermediate Exam). There is a more thorough list at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_code Wikipedia/Q code] and at [http://www.kloth.net/radio/qcodes.php List of Q-codes]. Q-Codes can either be a question or an answer. For example QRL? would mean Is this frequency in use? Whereas a response of QRL would mean The frequency is in use. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!Q-Code!!Meaning | !Q-Code!!Meaning | ||
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| QTH||Location, usually the nearest town (H = home) | | QTH||Location, usually the nearest town (H = home) | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Abbreviations=== | === Abbreviations === | ||
There are a handful of abbreviations that you need to be aware of. | There are a handful of abbreviations that you need to be aware of. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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| R||Roger (transmission received and understood) | | R||Roger (transmission received and understood) | ||
|} | |} | ||
===RST | === RST reports === | ||
Often in a QSO the strength and quality of the signal is exchanged. For the reporting of strength and readability, and tone with Morse code the RST system is the de facto standard. a very strong totally readable signal would be described as RS59 or more commonly "5 and 9". Most rigs have a signal or S meter. | Often in a QSO the strength and quality of the signal is exchanged. For the reporting of strength and readability, and tone with Morse code the RST system is the de facto standard. a very strong totally readable signal would be described as RS59 or more commonly "5 and 9". Most rigs have a signal or S meter. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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== Repeaters == | == Repeaters == | ||
The recognised calling protocol is "This is (your callsign) listening through (repeater callsign)" http://www.ukrepeater.net/operating.htm | The recognised calling protocol is "This is (your callsign) listening through (repeater callsign)". See [http://www.ukrepeater.net/operating.htm How to use repeaters], [http://www.g3npf.co.uk/operating.htm A brief guide to good amateur radio operating techniques] or [http://www.hamuniverse.com/repeater.html A new ham's guide to repeaters]. There is a list of [[Amateur Radio/Repeaters|repeaters]] that Hackspace members can get to. | ||
== Bands and equipment == | == Bands and equipment == | ||
Some economical suggestions to help find you find your way. | |||
=== 2 m and 70 cm === | === 2 m and 70 cm === | ||
* VHF 144 to 148 MHz 2 m | * VHF 144 to 148 MHz 2 m | ||
* UHF 440 MHz 70 cm | * UHF 440 MHz 70 cm | ||
Get a Baofeng UV-5R, change the antenna to a Nagoya NA-771 and use [http://chirp.danplanet.com/projectc/chirp/wiki?Home CHIRP] with a Kenwood USB cable to program it. | Get a Baofeng UV-5R, change the antenna to a Nagoya NA-771 and use [http://chirp.danplanet.com/projectc/chirp/wiki?Home CHIRP] with a Kenwood USB cable to program it. The [http://www.uv3r.com/uv5r,html Baofeng EV-5R] site is useful. | ||
=== SDR === | === SDR === | ||
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=== Antennae === | === Antennae === | ||
Consider getting a Yagi-Uda antenna | Consider getting a Yagi-Uda antenna for the improved gain it provides. | ||
== | == Useful software == | ||
* [[ | Some of these are listed because of the difficulty with radio shadow in the urban environment. | ||
* [http://www.echolink.org/ Echo link] – to contact other amateurs around the world via the Internet or smartphone | |||
* [http://websdr.org/ WebSDR] - a Software-Defined Radio receiver connected to the internet. | |||
* [http://www.aprs.org/ APRS] and [https://aprsdroid.org/ APRSdroid] – for reporting your position to the APRS network, displaying of nearby amateur radio stations and the exchange of APRS messages. | |||
* [http://www.hamsphere.com/ HamSphere] - a virtual Ham Radio Transceiver. | |||
* [http://www.globaltuners.com/receiver/ GlobalTuners] | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
There are several online resources available to you. Our favourite is naturally our own conversations | There are several online resources available to you. Our favourite is naturally our own conversations on IRC chat #lhs-radio on chat.freenode.net (via [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=lhs-radio web browser]) and [https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/lhs-radio mailing list] but places like the reddit [http://reddit.com/r/amateurradio /r/amateurradio] web groups can also be good. | ||
* Essex Ham:[http://www.essexham.co.uk/just-got-your-licence Just got your licence?] | * Essex Ham:[http://www.essexham.co.uk/just-got-your-licence Just got your licence?] | ||
* | * Hamuniverse.com:[http://www.hamuniverse.com/setuphamstation.html Getting ready to setup and operate your first ham radio station.] | ||
[[Category:Amateur Radio]] | [[Category:Amateur Radio]] | ||
