amateur-alphabet
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| - | - In the UK and some other countries “/A” is added after the callsign if an operator is transmitting from a fixed location that is not their permanent location given in their licence. It is not taken as seriously as it used to be, and in practice you will probably never hear it. | + | - In the UK and some other countries “**/A**” is added after the callsign if an operator is transmitting from a fixed location that is not their permanent location given in their licence. It is not taken as seriously as it used to be, and in practice you will probably never hear it. |
| - | - ATNO is an All Time New One, and refers to the first time you contact a country on any frequency or mode. If you have worked the country before, but perhaps have never worked it in CW on 10 metres, you may want to get the station in your log even if there are hundreds of people calling them. Sometimes, DXpeditions will say they are specifically looking to give ATNOs towards the end of their time in the DX location in order to cut down the number of people calling them. | + | - **ATNO** is an All Time New One, and refers to the first time you contact a country on any frequency or mode. If you have worked the country before, but perhaps have never worked it in CW on 10 metres, you may want to get the station in your log even if there are hundreds of people calling them. Sometimes, DXpeditions will say they are specifically looking to give ATNOs towards the end of their time in the DX location in order to cut down the number of people calling them. |
| - | - Auroral propagation is important on 6 metres and above. Signals sound fuzzy and indistinct, although SSB can be understood and CW signals lose their clean tone. Usually, reports are given as “5 & 9 aurora” on SSB, and “59A” instead of “599” in CW. It is referred to as Au in writing. As it is the aurora that the signals are ‘bouncing’ off, antennas have to be pointed east of north in the UK, and European stations also point roughly north. Periods of radio aurora rarely coincide with visual auroras, but both are more common during periods of high sun activity. You will also hear auroral effects on the lower bands but it is not the aurora that is making the propagation possible. | + | - **Auroral propagation** is important on 6 metres and above. Signals sound fuzzy and indistinct, although SSB can be understood and CW signals lose their clean tone. Usually, reports are given as “5 & 9 aurora” on SSB, and “59A” instead of “599” in CW. It is referred to as Au in writing. As it is the aurora that the signals are ‘bouncing’ off, antennas have to be pointed east of north in the UK, and European stations also point roughly north. Periods of radio aurora rarely coincide with visual auroras, but both are more common during periods of high sun activity. You will also hear auroral effects on the lower bands but it is not the aurora that is making the propagation possible. |
| - | - If a signal is arriving via the north pole, it will often show signs of ‘Arctic flutter’, rapid fading that gives the signal a distinct tone. This is often the case with signals heard in the UK from KL7 (Alaska) and VE7 (British Columbia) on the low bands. | + | - If a signal is arriving via the north pole, it will often show signs of ‘**Arctic flutter**’, rapid fading that gives the signal a distinct tone. This is often the case with signals heard in the UK from KL7 (Alaska) and VE7 (British Columbia) on the low bands. |
| - | - The ARRL (American Radio Relay League – sometimes referred to by American hams as ‘the League’) was founded in 1914 to represent American radio amateurs, although they also have a presence in Canada. Their headquarters are in Newington, Connecticut, | + | - The **ARRL** (**American Radio Relay League** – sometimes referred to by American hams as ‘the League’) was founded in 1914 to represent American radio amateurs, although they also have a presence in Canada. Their headquarters are in Newington, Connecticut, |
| - | - AOS = Acquisiton of Signal. This is when you can first hear a satellite which is just coming up over your horizon and approaching your station. | + | - **AOS** = **Acquisiton of Signal**. This is when you can first hear a satellite which is just coming up over your horizon and approaching your station. |
| ====== B ====== | ====== B ====== | ||
| - | - Beacons are stations that transmit all the time so that people can judge propagation. They will often append a “/B” to their callsign. Every amateur band has a section reserved for such stations and you should never transmit in these sub-bands as you would be interfering with the beacon signals. For information on the International Beacon Project see there. | + | - **Beacons** are stations that transmit all the time so that people can judge propagation. They will often append a “/B” to their callsign. Every amateur band has a section reserved for such stations and you should never transmit in these sub-bands as you would be interfering with the beacon signals. For information on the International Beacon Project see there. |
| - | - The “BFO” (Beat Frequency Oscillator) was what used to be needed when listening to SSB and CW signals on old receivers. It is outdated now but you may come across it in old radio books and magazines, or on older and antique radios. | + | - The “**BFO**” (**Beat Frequency Oscillator**) was what used to be needed when listening to SSB and CW signals on old receivers. It is outdated now but you may come across it in old radio books and magazines, or on older and antique radios. |
| - | - The Bureau (abbreviated to ‘buro’ in CW) refers to the QSL bureau system run by nearly all national societies. Members send all their outgoing QSL cards in one parcel to the bureau, which then similarly sends all the cards for one country in one package. Incoming cards are distributed by the Bureau to individual managers all over the country, who then send them to individual amateurs who have deposited envelopes with them. This system is obviously much cheaper for the amateurs who use it, as they do not have to send cards individually to each other, saving envelopes and postage costs. The RSGB QSL Bureau is free to members, but can be accessed by non-members for a fee. | + | - The **Bureau** (abbreviated to ‘**buro**’ in CW) refers to the QSL bureau system run by nearly all national societies. Members send all their outgoing QSL cards in one parcel to the bureau, which then similarly sends all the cards for one country in one package. Incoming cards are distributed by the Bureau to individual managers all over the country, who then send them to individual amateurs who have deposited envelopes with them. This system is obviously much cheaper for the amateurs who use it, as they do not have to send cards individually to each other, saving envelopes and postage costs. The RSGB QSL Bureau is free to members but can be accessed by non-members for a fee. |
| - | - ‘Beam’ refers to any antenna which has more than one element, and offers gain over a dipole. The earliest beam was the Yagi (developed by the Japanese engineers Shintaro Uda and Hidetsugu Yagi – although the latter was the one who applied for the patent and got the name recognition) consisting of a driven element in the middle, with a director (shorter) in front, and a reflector (longer) behind the driven element. More (or fewer) reflectors and directors can be added, and there are many different ways of configuring beam antennas (see Spiderbeam, Hexbeam, Moxon beam). | + | - ‘**Beam**’ refers to any antenna which has more than one element, and offers gain over a dipole. The earliest beam was the Yagi (developed by the Japanese engineers Shintaro Uda and Hidetsugu Yagi – although the latter was the one who applied for the patent and got the name recognition) consisting of a driven element in the middle, with a director (shorter) in front, and a reflector (longer) behind the driven element. More (or fewer) reflectors and directors can be added, and there are many different ways of configuring beam antennas (see Spiderbeam, Hexbeam, Moxon beam). |
| - | - ‘Backscatter’ occurs occasionally to HF signals, allowing communication between two stations who would otherwise be in each other’s dead zone. It has one similarity with Sporadic E (usually written Es) in that both stations would be pointing directional antennas away from the direction of the other station. | + | - ‘**Backscatter**’ occurs occasionally to HF signals, allowing communication between two stations who would otherwise be in each other’s dead zone. It has one similarity with Sporadic E (usually written Es) in that both stations would be pointing directional antennas away from the direction of the other station. |
| ====== C ====== | ====== C ====== | ||
| - | - Every radio amateur has a unique callsign which usually consists of a prefix, a number, and a suffix, although the prefix may be a number followed by a letter then another number as in 7X7 (Algeria) or 4X4 (Israel). There are exceptions to this rule (a recent one in 2014 was 7QAA) but they are relatively uncommon. The callsign should never be referred to as the ‘handle’, | + | - Every radio amateur has a unique |
| - | - The “Carrier” refers to the unmodulated part of an AM or FM transmission (what you hear when there is no voice), or is the signal itself that is used to send Morse code. In Single Sideband, this carrier is suppressed so that the transmitted power all goes into the modulated (voice) part of the signal. | + | - The “**Carrier**” refers to the unmodulated part of an AM or FM transmission (what you hear when there is no voice), or is the signal itself that is used to send Morse code. In Single Sideband, this carrier is suppressed so that the transmitted power all goes into the modulated (voice) part of the signal. |
| - | - “Chirp” is the result of an unstable RF oscillator in a CW transmission. It is called this as it sounds similar to the chirping of birds, and is not something you would normally want. If you give a report to an operator whose signal is chirping, you may add the letter C after the RST report (as in “599C”). It used to be a characteristic of many signals from Eastern Europe in the days of the Iron Curtain, as many operators built their own transmitters from whatever they could scrape together, and did not have the necessary equipment to make sure the chirp did not happen. | + | - “**Chirp**” is the result of an unstable RF oscillator in a CW transmission. It is called this as it sounds similar to the chirping of birds, and is not something you would normally want. If you give a report to an operator whose signal is chirping, you may add the letter C after the RST report (as in “599C”). It used to be a characteristic of many signals from Eastern Europe in the days of the Iron Curtain, as many operators built their own transmitters from whatever they could scrape together, and did not have the necessary equipment to make sure the chirp did not happen. |
| - | - Contests are highly competitive events organised by a variety of groups and organisations in amateur radio. They are normally held at weekends and are not allowed by a gentleman’s agreement to use the so-called WARC bands (see there). The object is usually to work as many stations as possible, often within a 48-hour period (eg from 00.00 on Saturday until 23.59 on Sunday), but the rules vary and can involve European stations working non-Europeans, | + | - “**CHIRP**” |
| - | - CQ is used for a general call, and means you are open to being contacted by anyone who can hear you. You may be more specific if you want to contact one country or continent only (eg “CQ DL” or “CQ Asia”), and you may just want to contact anyone outside your own continent (as in “CQ DX”). If you hear a European station calling CQ DX, you should not reply to them from the UK. Israeli amateurs (4X4 or 4Z4 callsigns) also do not want calls from Europe if they call “CQ DX” but are looking for stations further afield than that. In CW, it is common to call “CQ NA” specifically for North America, and “CQ SA” for South America. Stations taking part in contests will call “CQ contest” in SSB and “CQ test” in CW. Do not return their call unless you can give them the correct contest report, which varies according to the contest (see there). | + | - **Contests** are highly competitive events organised by a variety of groups and organisations in amateur radio. They are normally held at weekends and are not allowed by a gentleman’s agreement to use the so-called WARC bands (see there). The object is usually to work as many stations as possible, often within a 48-hour period (eg from 00.00 on Saturday until 23.59 on Sunday), but the rules vary and can involve European stations working non-Europeans, |
| - | - CQ Magazine is published in the USA and is dedicated to people who like to operate their stations. In other words, it is less concerned with the technical aspects of the hobby, and more with operating your station for DX hunting, contests etc. They themselves run a few important contests during the year: The CQ Worldwide SSB and CW contests, held on the last full weekend in October and November respectively, | + | - **CQ** is used for a general call, and means you are open to being contacted by anyone who can hear you. You may be more specific if you want to contact one country or continent only (eg “CQ DL” or “CQ Asia”), and you may just want to contact anyone outside your own continent (as in “CQ DX”). If you hear a European station calling CQ DX, you should not reply to them from the UK. Israeli amateurs (4X4 or 4Z4 callsigns) also do not want calls from Europe if they call “CQ DX” but are looking for stations further afield than that. In CW, it is common to call “CQ NA” specifically for North America, and “CQ SA” for South America. Stations taking part in contests will call “CQ contest” in SSB and “CQ test” in CW. Do not return their call unless you can give them the correct contest report, which varies according to the contest (see there). |
| + | - **CQ Magazine** is published in the USA and is dedicated to people who like to operate their stations. In other words, it is less concerned with the technical aspects of the hobby, and more with operating your station for DX hunting, contests etc. They themselves run a few important contests during the year: The CQ Worldwide SSB and CW contests, held on the last full weekend in October and November respectively, | ||
| - “CW” is how most amateurs refer to Morse code. It stands for “Continuous Wave” as it is this wave that is interrupted to form the Morse signals. | - “CW” is how most amateurs refer to Morse code. It stands for “Continuous Wave” as it is this wave that is interrupted to form the Morse signals. | ||
| - Cluster is the expression for a website where people upload information on DX stations they have just heard, together with the frequency and any other relevant information. This is called ‘spotting’ on the cluster and sometimes a DX station will ask if you can ‘spot’ them. One of the first clusters was DX Summit, run by a group in Finland (new.dxsummit.fi), | - Cluster is the expression for a website where people upload information on DX stations they have just heard, together with the frequency and any other relevant information. This is called ‘spotting’ on the cluster and sometimes a DX station will ask if you can ‘spot’ them. One of the first clusters was DX Summit, run by a group in Finland (new.dxsummit.fi), | ||
| - | - ClubLog is an online logbook along the lines of Logbook of the World (see there). Set up by Michael Wells, G7VJR, this site is a goldmine of information on your own log (countries worked, confirmed, needed etc.) and worldwide statistics based on the thousands of logs that have been uploaded to it. You can upload your log to ClubLog and then provide a link to your log on the web so that people can confirm whether they are in your log or not. Many DXpeditions (see there) upload their logs daily to ClubLog to provide this service to the many people who call and work them. ClubLog also runs the OQRS QSL service (see there). | + | - **ClubLog** is an online logbook along the lines of Logbook of the World (see there). Set up by Michael Wells, G7VJR, this site is a goldmine of information on your own log (countries worked, confirmed, needed etc.) and worldwide statistics based on the thousands of logs that have been uploaded to it. You can upload your log to ClubLog and then provide a link to your log on the web so that people can confirm whether they are in your log or not. Many DXpeditions (see there) upload their logs daily to ClubLog to provide this service to the many people who call and work them. ClubLog also runs the OQRS QSL service (see there). |
| - | - CEPT is the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (the acronym is based on the French name for the organisation). They are responsible for coordinating the rules of telecommunications administrations in European countries (including the Russian Federation). Most importantly for radio amateurs, there is a ruling (T/R 61-0 - that any amateur licensed in one of their countries may operate temporarily in any of the other countries without applying for a reciprocal licence. For UK licensees this is valid only for Full licence holders (Annex 2, T/R 61-01). In addition, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and the USA have agreed to abide by the terms of the CEPT licence for holders of higher classes of licence. In all other non-CEPT countries you have to apply for a reciprocal licence (see there) to be able to operate legally, even temporarily. | + | - **CEPT** is the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (the acronym is based on the French name for the organisation). They are responsible for coordinating the rules of telecommunications administrations in European countries (including the Russian Federation). Most importantly for radio amateurs, there is a ruling (T/R 61-0 - that any amateur licensed in one of their countries may operate temporarily in any of the other countries without applying for a reciprocal licence. For UK licensees this is valid only for Full licence holders (Annex 2, T/R 61-01). In addition, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and the USA have agreed to abide by the terms of the CEPT licence for holders of higher classes of licence. In all other non-CEPT countries you have to apply for a reciprocal licence (see there) to be able to operate legally, even temporarily. |
| ====== D ====== | ====== D ====== | ||
| - | - Many amateurs refer to Germany as “DL”, as this was the most common prefix used in German callsigns for many years. Germany has been allocated the callsign block from DA to DR (DM being reserved for amateurs from the former German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, if they apply for it). The German amateur radio club is called the DARC (Deutscher Amateur Radio Club) with headquarters in Baunatal, and they publish a monthly magazine called CQ DL. | + | - Many amateurs refer to Germany as “**DL**”, as this was the most common prefix used in German callsigns for many years. Germany has been allocated the callsign block from DA to DR (DM being reserved for amateurs from the former German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, if they apply for it). The German amateur radio club is called the DARC (Deutscher Amateur Radio Club) with headquarters in Baunatal, and they publish a monthly magazine called CQ DL. |
| - | - DX started off by being the morse abbreviation for ‘distance’, | + | - **DX** started off by being the morse abbreviation for ‘distance’, |
| - | - A DXpedition usually consists of a group of two or more amateurs who travel to a rare country (or nowadays ‘entity’) to activate it for amateurs who need it for DXCC or IOTA award purposes. The country may be an obscure island (such as Lord Howe, Kerguelen etc.), or one where there are few or no licensed amateurs at the moment (such as Iran, Ethiopia etc.). | + | - A **DXpedition** usually consists of a group of two or more amateurs who travel to a rare country (or nowadays ‘entity’) to activate it for amateurs who need it for DXCC or IOTA award purposes. The country may be an obscure island (such as Lord Howe, Kerguelen etc.), or one where there are few or no licensed amateurs at the moment (such as Iran, Ethiopia etc.). |
| - | - D-Star is a proprietary digital radio system, introduced by the Japanese manufacturer ICOM, and can therefore primarily only be accessed using ICOM equipment. It involves a network of repeaters, all (inter-) connected via the internet, whereby the user is automatically signed in to the system in a similar way to what happens when switching on a mobile phone. Many people object to the system tying them to ICOM equipment, and refuse to become involved with it for that reason. | + | - **D-Star** is a proprietary digital radio system, introduced by the Japanese manufacturer ICOM, and can therefore primarily only be accessed using ICOM equipment. It involves a network of repeaters, all (inter-) connected via the internet, whereby the user is automatically signed in to the system in a similar way to what happens when switching on a mobile phone. Many people object to the system tying them to ICOM equipment, and refuse to become involved with it for that reason. |
| - | - DXCC is the DX Century Club, an award issued by the ARRL for amateurs who have proof of establishing two-way communication with 100 or more ‘entities’. This proof can be either QSL cards (see there) or confirmed contact on LotW. Entities used to be known as ‘countries’ but not all of them are countries as such (some are islands, or enclaves within countries). It is probably the most prestigious award that an amateur can earn, and there are endorsement stickers to be added to the original award (a paper certificate) for every 50 entities worked between 100 and 250, with additional rules above that number. In all, there are currently 340 entities on the DXCC list. | + | - **DXCC** is the DX Century Club, an award issued by the ARRL for amateurs who have proof of establishing two-way communication with 100 or more ‘entities’. This proof can be either QSL cards (see there) or confirmed contact on LotW. Entities used to be known as ‘countries’ but not all of them are countries as such (some are islands, or enclaves within countries). It is probably the most prestigious award that an amateur can earn, and there are endorsement stickers to be added to the original award (a paper certificate) for every 50 entities worked between 100 and 250, with additional rules above that number. In all, there are currently 340 entities on the DXCC list. |
| - | - The D layer is one of the ionospheric layers which affect radio waves and stretches roughly from 60 to 90km above the earth. It is responsible for absorbing most radio waves at 10 MHz and below during the day, but loses its ionisation rapidly after sunset. | + | - The **D layer** is one of the ionospheric layers which affect radio waves and stretches roughly from 60 to 90km above the earth. It is responsible for absorbing most radio waves at 10 MHz and below during the day, but loses its ionisation rapidly after sunset. |
| - | - The DXCC Most Wanted List is compiled by asking active Dxers to list the entities they need in numerical order. The number one most wanted entity at the moment is P5 (North Korea) and the least wanted (or rather, needed) is Italy! | + | - The **DXCC** Most Wanted List is compiled by asking active Dxers to list the entities they need in numerical order. The number one most wanted entity at the moment is P5 (North Korea) and the least wanted (or rather, needed) is Italy! |
| - | - A ‘dupe’ is someone whom a DX station has worked before on that band and mode (eg 20 metres CW), or someone you have worked before in the same contest. The idea is to avoid being a ‘dupe’ to anybody by checking before you call them. In CW, the DX station will simply reply “QSO B4” (“I have worked you before on this band and in this mode”), so avoid wasting time and simply reply ”SRI 73” (sorry, and best wishes). This sometimes happens in a sporadic E opening on 6 metres, where QSOs are short and fast, and it is difficult to remember whom you have worked only half an hour ago. No-one thinks badly of you if you do it; we have all done this at some time even if computer logging helps to identify dupes. | + | - A ‘**dupe**’ is someone whom a DX station has worked before on that band and mode (eg 20 metres CW), or someone you have worked before in the same contest. The idea is to avoid being a ‘dupe’ to anybody by checking before you call them. In CW, the DX station will simply reply “QSO B4” (“I have worked you before on this band and in this mode”), so avoid wasting time and simply reply ”SRI 73” (sorry, and best wishes). This sometimes happens in a sporadic E opening on 6 metres, where QSOs are short and fast, and it is difficult to remember whom you have worked only half an hour ago. No-one thinks badly of you if you do it; we have all done this at some time even if computer logging helps to identify dupes. |
| - | - DQRM (deliberate QRM – interference – of another station) is an unfortunate by-product of people having too much time and money in modern society. The phenomenon has always been with us, but seems to have taken on a life of its own in recent years, with a small group of people intent on destroying communciations between DXpeditions and the rest of the world. Various strategies have been developed by DX stations to counteract DQRM, such as frequently changing their transmit frequency by a few kHz, but the best advice to everyone else is to ignore DQRM, even if it can be extremely frustrating and annoying at times. | + | - **DQRM** (deliberate QRM – interference – of another station) is an unfortunate by-product of people having too much time and money in modern society. The phenomenon has always been with us, but seems to have taken on a life of its own in recent years, with a small group of people intent on destroying communciations between DXpeditions and the rest of the world. Various strategies have been developed by DX stations to counteract DQRM, such as frequently changing their transmit frequency by a few kHz, but the best advice to everyone else is to ignore DQRM, even if it can be extremely frustrating and annoying at times. |
| - | - dB is a decibel, a relative value for measuring sound or power. Named after the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, the decibel is one tenth of a Bel, a logarithmic measure whereby 3 dB roughly equates to a doubling of a sound. S-meters on transceivers are calibrated up to S9 (loud), then in dB above that. So, when someone gives you a report of being “5 & 9 plus 10dB”, you really are loud. If the needle on the S meter goes completely over to the right, then you can be told you are “pinning the needle”, or “coming in like a local”. | + | - **dB** is a **decibel**, a relative value for measuring sound or power. Named after the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, the decibel is one tenth of a Bel, a logarithmic measure whereby 3 dB roughly equates to a doubling of a sound. S-meters on transceivers are calibrated up to S9 (loud), then in dB above that. So, when someone gives you a report of being “5 & 9 plus 10dB”, you really are loud. If the needle on the S meter goes completely over to the right, then you can be told you are “pinning the needle”, or “coming in like a local”. |
| - | - DF is Direction Finding, a system of triangulating the position of a transmitting station, usually by three or more widely separated receiving stations at HF, and possible from one location at VHF. | + | - **DF** is **Direction Finding**, a system of triangulating the position of a transmitting station, usually by three or more widely separated receiving stations at HF, and possible from one location at VHF. |
| ====== E ====== | ====== E ====== | ||
| - | - The E layer is one of the ionospheric layers that amateurs can refract signals from, and appears in the form of irregular ‘clouds’ at a height of 90 to 160 km. Propagation is referred to as ‘sporadic E’ and is written Es or Es. Although there are many theories concerning sporadic E, no-one really knows what causes it. In the northern hemisphere it appears around December/ | + | - The **E layer** is one of the ionospheric layers that amateurs can refract signals from, and appears in the form of irregular ‘clouds’ at a height of 90 to 160 km. Propagation is referred to as ‘sporadic E’ and is written Es or Es. Although there are many theories concerning sporadic E, no-one really knows what causes it. In the northern hemisphere it appears around December/ |
| - | - The amateur radio band 3.500 to 3.800 MHz is usually referred to as ‘eighty’ (as this is roughly the wavelength in metres of the signals at this frequency). As the United States band carries on up to 4 MHz, US amateurs often refer to this band as ‘seventy-five’. | + | - The amateur radio band 3.500 to 3.800 MHz is usually referred to as ‘**eighty**’ (as this is roughly the wavelength in metres of the signals at this frequency). As the United States band carries on up to 4 MHz, US amateurs often refer to this band as ‘seventy-five’. |
| - | - eQSL.com is a website dedicated to confirming QSOs without needing to send a QSL card. People upload their logs and, if the information more or less matches, can exchange electronic QSL cards with one another. | + | - **eQSL.com** is a website dedicated to confirming QSOs without needing to send a QSL card. People upload their logs and, if the information more or less matches, can exchange electronic QSL cards with one another. |
| - | - Echolink is an internet based amateur radio system, whereby licensed amateurs can communicate either completely over the internet (using VOIP, see there) or by using some combination of radio signals and internet links to establish contact. Many VHF repeaters all over the world are linked to Echolink and QSOs are possible at all times of the day and night from any location. The Echolink app is free to download, then you can register for and use it, after you have proved you are a legally licensed operator. | + | - **Echolink** is an internet based amateur radio system, whereby licensed amateurs can communicate either completely over the internet (using VOIP, see there) or by using some combination of radio signals and internet links to establish contact. Many VHF repeaters all over the world are linked to Echolink and QSOs are possible at all times of the day and night from any location. The Echolink app is free to download, then you can register for and use it, after you have proved you are a legally licensed operator. |
| + | - The term " | ||
| ====== F ====== | ====== F ====== | ||
| - | - The F layer is the most important layer of the ionosphere for radio communications and stretches from 150 to 500 km above the earth. In reality, there can be a splitting of this layer into F1 and F2 but the latter is responsible for most long-distance communication between 10 and 30 MHz (occasionally also up to 50 MHz). It is especially prominent during periods of high sun activity (see also the ‘sunspot cycle’). | + | - The **F layer** is the most important layer of the ionosphere for radio communications and stretches from 150 to 500 km above the earth. In reality, there can be a splitting of this layer into F1 and F2 but the latter is responsible for most long-distance communication between 10 and 30 MHz (occasionally also up to 50 MHz). It is especially prominent during periods of high sun activity (see also the ‘sunspot cycle’). |
| - | - The amateur radio band 21.000 to 21.450 MHz is usually referred to as ‘fifteen’ (as this is roughly the wavelength of the signals at this frequency in meters). | + | - The amateur radio band 21.000 to 21.450 MHz is usually referred to as ‘**fifteen**’ (as this is roughly the wavelength of the signals at this frequency in meters). |
| - | - The amateur radio band 7.000 to 7.200 MHz (in Region | + | - The amateur radio band 7.000 to 7.200 MHz (in Region |
| - | - ‘Full legal limit’ is how many US amateurs refer to the maximum permitted power output of their stations (1.5 kW). | + | - ‘**Full legal limit**’ is how many US amateurs refer to the maximum permitted power output of their stations (1.5 kW). |
| - | - Footprint refers to the area underneath a satellite where it can be heard or reached by transmitter. Obviously, the higher the satellite’s orbit, the larger the footprint will be. | + | - **Footprint** refers to the area underneath a satellite where it can be heard or reached by transmitter. Obviously, the higher the satellite’s orbit, the larger the footprint will be. |
| - | - FAI = Field Aligned Irregularity. More commonly referred to as ‘backscatter’, | + | - **FAI** = **Field Aligned Irregularity**. More commonly referred to as ‘backscatter’, |
| ====== G ====== | ====== G ====== | ||
| - | - Most amateurs refer to stations in England as ‘G’ stations, as that used to be the main callsign prefix for England. (Even 2E0XXX or M0XXX could be referred to as ‘G’ stations.) | + | - Most amateurs refer to stations in England as **‘G’ stations**, as that used to be the main callsign prefix for England. (Even 2E0XXX or M0XXX could be referred to as ‘G’ stations.) |
| - | - The Grey Line (sometimes ‘greyline’, | + | - The **Grey Line** (sometimes ‘**greyline**’, or ‘**grayline**’ in the United States) is an imaginary line that runs around the earth every day, representing roughly 30 minutes before and after sunrise and sunset. Stations who are located on this line (one at sunset, one at sunrise) will often enjoy enhanced propagation and signals will peak remarkably before dropping away completely. In the UK, it is often a good time to work New Zealand and Australia on the Low Bands. |
| - | - Green Stamps refers to US dollars. Many DX stations or their managers require you to send two or three Green Stamps ($2-$ - with your QSL (and an SAE) to cover postage and cost of printing the cards. | + | - **Green Stamps** refers to US dollars. Many DX stations or their managers require you to send two or three Green Stamps ($2-$ - with your QSL (and an SAE) to cover postage and cost of printing the cards. |
| ====== H ====== | ====== H ====== | ||
| - | - The abbreviation HF stands for High Frequency and refers to the radio spectrum between 3 and 30 MHz. In amateur radio practice it is used to refer to the bands between 14 MHz and 28 MHz (20 to 10 metre bands), the other bands either being the ‘Low Bands’ (see there), VHF or UHF (see there). | + | - The abbreviation |
| - | - HRD refers to the amateur radio software Ham Radio Deluxe, a software suite that covers many areas of computer radio control, computer logging, digital communications, | + | - **HRD** refers to the amateur radio software |
| - | - In Morse, the abbreviation HI (di di di dit di dit – or, more usually, di di di dit dit dit), means ‘I’m laughing (the same as lol in texting). Some amateurs use it when they are actually talking on the radio (or using ‘phone’ as we say), which is meaningless but WTF, it’s up to them. | + | - In Morse, the abbreviation |
| - | - Once a year in Friedrichshafen in the south of Germany on Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) the biggest amateur radio exhibition in Europe is held on the three days of the last full weekend in June: the ‘Ham Radio’. Visitor numbers in 2014 were 17,100 with over 200 exhibitors. | + | - Once a year in Friedrichshafen in the south of Germany on Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) the biggest amateur radio exhibition in Europe is held on the three days of the last full weekend in June: the ‘**Ham Radio**’. Visitor numbers in 2014 were 17,100 with over 200 exhibitors. |
| - | - In spite of the popularity of the ‘Ham Radio’ exhibition, many people find the expressions ‘radio ham’ and ‘ham radio’ to be a bit insulting, and prefer to be called ‘radio amateurs’ and talk about ‘amateur radio’. Nevertheless, | + | - In spite of the popularity of the ‘**Ham Radio**’ exhibition, many people find the expressions ‘**radio ham**’ and ‘**ham radio**’ to be a bit insulting, and prefer to be called ‘radio amateurs’ and talk about ‘amateur radio’. Nevertheless, |
| - | - An HB9CV antenna is a two-element antenna usually for VHF frequencies, | + | - An **HB9CV** antenna is a two-element antenna usually for VHF frequencies, |
| ====== I ====== | ====== I ====== | ||
| Line 220: | Line 222: | ||
| ====== Z ====== | ====== Z ====== | ||
| - | Although Americans pronounce this letter ‘zee’, most older American operators still call it ‘zed’ as it can otherwise be confused with ‘C’. In heavy QRM, the phonetic ‘Zulu’ can often be confused with ‘Juliette’ (same vowel sound) so people will say ‘Zanzibar’ or ‘Zeppelin’ to make it clear. | + | Although Americans pronounce this letter ‘**zee**’, most older American operators still call it ‘**zed**’ as it can otherwise be confused with ‘C’. In heavy QRM, the phonetic ‘**Zulu**’ can often be confused with ‘Juliette’ (same vowel sound) so people will say ‘**Zanzibar**’ or ‘**Zeppelin**’ to make it clear. |
| ====== 44 ====== | ====== 44 ====== | ||
| - | + | **44** | |
| - | used by operators in the Flora and Fauna programme instead of 73, originating in Four Four (Flora Fauna) and echoing the frequencies they use which end in 44, such as 14.244 MHz etc. | + | |
| ====== 72 ====== | ====== 72 ====== | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | often used by QRP operators instead of 73; not that the best wishes are any less, but just to show that – as with power output – less can mean more. | + | **72** |
| Line 236: | Line 237: | ||
| ====== 73 ====== | ====== 73 ====== | ||
| - | is the abbreviation carried over from the old land telegraph days meaning ‘Best Wishes’. There are many ways of saying this (‘seven three’, ‘seventy three’, ‘seventy threes’ etc.) and arguments can be heard for and against any one of them. In reality, it originated in Morse code, and was a sound (actually a prosign) rather than an actual number, so how you pronounce it is up to you. People can even be heard saying ‘Best 73s’ which is claimed by the purists to be redundant as it means ‘best best wishes’; however, we also say things such as ‘Thanks very much’, ‘Thanks very much indeed’ etc. which also mean no more than ‘Thank you’ and everyone understands it is being used to strengthen the sentiment being expressed. | + | **73** |
| ====== 88 ====== | ====== 88 ====== | ||
| | | ||
| - | + | **88** | |
| - | originally meant ‘love and kisses’ and is often used as a final word to YL operators at the end of a QSO. It is not to be taken literally, and many YLs would not find it condescending or sexist if you used it, even if it is used less frequently nowadays. Again, it can be pronounced ‘eighty eights’. | + | |
| ====== 100% ====== | ====== 100% ====== | ||
| - | An expression used by many non-native speakers of English in QSOs, as in “My QSL card 100% to you.” This probably originated in people saying “I QSL 100%”, which meant that they send a QSL card for every new station they work, 100% of them, and this then became corrupted by people who did not understand 100% of what was being said to them. | + | An expression used by many non-native speakers of English in QSOs, as in “My QSL card **100%** to you.” This probably originated in people saying “I QSL 100%”, which meant that they send a QSL card for every new station they work, 100% of them, and this then became corrupted by people who did not understand 100% of what was being said to them. |
amateur-alphabet.1685744363.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/06/02 22:19 by m0tzo