WELCOME TO AMATEUR RADIO

• Background• Radio Spectrum• Frequencies• Modes

v1.102 © essexham.co.uk

What is Amateur Radio?• Amateur Radio is for self-training and experimentation

• It is non-commercial (no advertising)

• Amateur Radio is a recreational activity that promotes:

• Technical Innovation• Development of Skills• International Friendship

• The Foundation Licence is the first of three UK levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Full

History of Amateur Radio• Dates back over 100 years

• The London Wireless Club, now the RSGB launched one hundred years ago

• Amateurs were heavily involved with reception of enemy messages in World War II

• Originally used Morse code, followed by voice

• Used to save lives in the 1953 floods

• Played an important part in the 1982 Falklands War

Amateur Radio Today• Over 2.5 million licenced amateurs worldwide

• The top countries are Japan, the US, Germany and the UK

• Amateurs use voice, Morse code, data, images and video, plus Internet links

• Worldwide activities such as contests, Dxpeditions and JOTA

• Emergency services (RAYNET)

• Access to space with amateur satellites and the International Space Station

Amateur Radio Activities• Making friends• Experimentation• Field Days• Contests & Competitions• Collecting QSL Cards• Rallies• ‘Nets• Training

The Radio Spectrum

• Broadcast radio and TV• Mobile phones• Emergency Services• Military• Aviation• Maritime• Space exploration

• Businesses / taxis• Satellites / GPS• Wi-fi and Bluetooth• Baby monitors• Cordless phones• CCTV / Security• PMR / Walkie-talkies

Frequency Allocation

HF: 3MHz to 30MHz

VHF: 30MHz to 300MHz

UHF: 300MHz to 3000MHz

Source: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Amateur Allocation• Amateurs have several

frequency bands that we are allowed to use

• The table is published in “Foundation Now” (and with the exam)

• Some frequencies are shared with “primary users”

• We cannot cause interference with other services

Example: VHF Band• Generally used for “local”

communications

• We share the VHF band with many other users

• Our allocation is 144 to146MHz

• Refer to the table in your “Foundation Now” book

Frequency & Wavelength• Amateurs refer to bands by frequencies and wavelength

• A VHF frequency of 145MHz has a wavelength of 2 metres

Frequency & Wavelength (2)

• As the frequency rises, the wavelength is reduced

Frequency & Wavelength (3)

HF:

7MHz = 40m

14MHz = 20m

VHF:

145MHz = 2m

UHF:

430MHz = 70cms

Modes and Modulation

Modulation (More on this later…)

• FM

• AM

• CW

• SSB

• FSK / PSK

SSTVVoice DataMorse (CW)

Summary• Bands

• HF: 3 to 30MHz

• VHF: 30 to 300MHz

• UHF: 300MHz to 3000MHz

• Spectrum

• We have to share frequencies

• Use the tables provided!

• Frequency and Wavelength• The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength• Use the conversion chart provided!

WELCOME TO AMATEUR RADIO

Any questions?

essexham.co.uk/train