Lesson 13
Coordinate Systems Picking back up with phase angles. Designers need to be able to display and understand the phase angle of a circuit. That circuit would contain resistance, inductive and/or capacitive reactance. The display is done using polar coordinates. Let’s look at figure E5-1 which could be on your exam. This two-dimensional chart shows rectangular […]
Lesson 12
Circuit Types There are many ways to combine electronic parts to make circuits. Let’s focus on three components. First will be an inductor, indicated by the letter L. In a circuit it stores energy in a magnetic field. We’ll also use a capacitor, C, which stores energy as an electric charge. Finally, we’ll mix in […]
Lesson 7
Propagation Propagation is the term for how your radio signal moves through the air. It’s the behavior of the waves as they travel. Let’s go back to your Technician level studies and refresh on some terms. An electromagnetic wave travels at a right angle to the electric and magnetic fields. The component fields of an […]
Lesson 8
Leveraging Propagation Two areas of HF signal transmission are sky wave and ground wave propagation. How signals refract across the sky, and over the ground. Sometimes seeing how that might happen can help you leverage propagation. One way to do that is through computer software. The VOACAP software is a free Windows tool for modeling […]
Lesson 6
Digital Modes Digital modes in amateur radio are amazingly popular. We’re starting our review with a basic digital term, and then getting into modulation modes. When you think of many digital modes, you think of radios connected to computers. Winlink is a service that you can use to send email via digital amateur radio. If […]
Lesson 5
Contesting and DX Operating International communications are an encouraged part of the FCC rules. That means operating DX, which is an abbreviation for distant signals. DX defined for continental US hams is any signal that originates outside that area. DX stations typically are in higher demand. Sometimes a DX station will transmit on one frequency […]
Lesson 4
Satellite Operations A good place to start a review of satellite operations is with the hardware. An amateur satellite typically is described as “cubesat.” These are built by radio clubs and university groups. Cubesats get launched as an add-on to commercial rocket payloads. The Artemis 1 mission even took a few cubesats to the moon. […]
Lesson 3
Operating Internationally It’s fun to take your amateur radio mobile, and that includes operating on ships and planes. With some special rules of course. What do you need to do to operate a ham radio station aboard a ship or aircraft? Its operation must be approved by the master of the ship or the pilot […]
Lesson 1
Welcome to Lesson 1 of the Amateur Extra license course. In Lesson 1, like the Technician and General courses, the initial lesson’s focus is on the FCC rules related to your license level. 20 questions from this lesson will appear on the exam. Operating Standards and Frequency Privileges As an Amateur Extra, you will get […]
Lesson 2
Operating Rules Amateur Extra operators are asked to be subject matter experts in many ways. This includes station operating rules we will cover in this section. If you have experienced Winlink, you are familiar with a message forwarding system. You send a digital message over RF to another station, and it forwards it down the […]
