Technician Licensing Class T3

1
Technician Licensing ClassT3

• Presented by the
• Plano Texas Stake
• Plano, Texas
• January 13, 2007

2
Amateur Radio Technician ClassElement 2 Course
Presentation

• ELEMENT 2 SUBELEMENTS
• T1 - FCC Rules, station license responsibilities
• T2 - Control operator duties
• T3 - Operating practices
• T4 - Radio and electronic fundamentals
• T5 - Station setup and operation
• T6 - Communications modes and methods
• T7 - Special operations
• T8 - Emergency and Public Service Communications
• T9 - Radio waves, propagation, and antennas
• T0 - Electrical and RF Safety

3

Operating practices T3A

• Choosing an operating frequency
• You should listen to determine if the frequency
  is busy when selecting a frequency on which to
  transmit.
• Calling CQ
• You indicate you are looking for any station with
  which to make contact by calling CQ followed by
  your callsign.
• The meaning of the procedural signal "CQ" is
  Calling any station.
• The brief statement, simply saying your call
  sign, is often used in place of "CQ" to indicate
  that you are listening for calls on a repeater.

4
Operating practices
T3A

• Calling another station
• If you know the station's call sign, say the
  station's call sign then identify your own
  station when calling another station on a
  repeater.
• You should transmit the other stations callsign
  followed by your callsign when responding to a
  call of CQ.
• You should avoid using cute phrases or word
  combinations to identify your station because
  they are not easily understood by some operators.
• You should use the International
  Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet
  when identifying your station because the words
  are internationally recognized substitutes for
  letters.

5
ITU Phonetic Alphabet
6
Operating practices
T3A

• Test transmissions
• An illegal unidentified transmission describes a
  brief test transmission that does not include any
  station identification.
• An amateur must properly identify the station
  when making a transmission to test equipment or
  antennas.
• Station identification is required at least every
  ten minutes and at the end of every transmission.

7
Operating practices
T3B

• Use of minimum power
• An amateur must use the minimum transmitter power
  necessary to carry out the desired communication.
• This is the rule for
• Repeaters
• Simplex
• HF

8
Operating practices
T3B

• Band plans
• A band plan is a voluntary guideline, beyond the
  divisions established by the FCC for using
  different operating modes within an amateur band.
• Band Plans are voluntary guidelines for efficient
  use of the radio spectrum.
• The amateur community developed the band plans
  used by amateur radio operators.

9
A Band Plan is a voluntary guideline for using
different operating modes within an amateur band.

• 50.000-50.100 CW - No voice modes allowed per
  FCC section 97.305
• 50.060-50.080 CW/Beacon Subband
• 50.100-50.300 Phone (SSB), etc. (no FM voice)
• 50.100-50.125 DX Window
• 50.300-50.600 All modes (simplex)
  50.600-50.800 Digital modes (e.g. Packet)
  50.800-51.000 Radio Control (R/C)
  51.000-51.100 "Pacific DX window" (SSB/CW)
  51.120-51.480 6 Meter FM Repeater Inputs (areas
  w/500 KHz split) 51.500-51.600 Simplex FM, 6
  channels 51.500, 51.520, 51.540, 51.560, 51.580,
  and 51.600 51.620-51.980 6 Meter FM Repeater
  Outputs (areas w/500 KHz split) 52.000-52.480 6
  Meter FM Repeater Inputs (for 500 KHz and 1 MHz
  split)
• Note 52.525, 52.400, 52.040, and 52.020 are
  widely used for simplex operation with 52.525
  being the "national simplex" frequency.
• 52.500-52.980 6 Meter FM Repeater Outputs
  53.000-53.480 6 Meter FM Repeater Inputs and
  Repeater Outputs 53.500-53.980 6 Meter FM
  Repeater Outputs

10
Operating practices
T3B

• Repeater coordination
• The recognized frequency coordination body is in
  charge of the repeater frequency band plan in
  your local area.
• The main purpose of repeater coordination is to
  reduce interference and promote proper use of
  spectrum.

11
Operating practices
T3B

• Mode restricted sub-bands
• The 6-meter, 2-meter, and 1-1/4-meter bands
  available to Technician class licensees have mode
  restricted sub-bands.
• The only emission mode that is permitted in the
  restricted sub-band at 50.0-50.1 MHz is CW.
• The only emission mode that is permitted in the
  restricted sub-band at 144.0-144.1 MHz is CW.
• The emission modes that are permitted in the
  restricted portion of the 1-1/4-meter band are CW
  and Data.

12
FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities
T1C

• Authorized frequencies (Technician)
• The frequency, 52.525 MHz, is within the 6-meter
  band.
• The frequency, 146.52 MHz, is within the 2-meter
  band
• The frequency, 223.50 MHz is within the 1.25
  meter band.
• The frequency, 443.350 MHz, is within
  70-centimeter band
• The frequency, 1296 MHz, is within the 23
  Centimeter band
• (sorry, you need to memorize these frequencies)

13
Operating practices
T3B

• Accountability
• The transmitting station is accountable if a
  repeater station inadvertently retransmits
  communications that violate FCC rules.
• Obscene
• Ciphers not permitted
• Unidentified communications

14
Operating practices
T3C

• Courtesy and respect for others
• The proper way to break into a conversation
  between two stations that are using the frequency
  is to say your call sign between their
  transmissions.
• Proper repeater operating practice
• Monitor before transmitting and keep
  transmissions short
• Identify legally
• Use the minimum amount of transmitter power
  necessary
• All of these choices are correct

15
Operating practices
T3C

• Courtesy and respect for others (cont)
• Before responding to another stations call, make
  sure you are operating on a permissible frequency
  for your license class.
• No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive
  use of any station and neither has priority. This
  rule applies when two amateur stations want to
  use the same frequency.
• If you hear a newly licensed operator that is
  having trouble with their station you should
  contact them and offer to help with the problem.
• When circumstances are not specifically covered
  by FCC rules the general operating standard of
  good engineering and good amateur practices must
  be applied to amateur station operation.

16

Operating practices
T3A

• Sensitive subject areas
• Amateur radio operators should avoid the use of
  racial or ethnic slurs when talking to other
  stations because it is offensive to some people
  and reflects a poor public image on all amateur
  radio operators.
• These types of subjects are not prohibited
  communications while using amateur radio
• Political discussions
• Jokes and stories
• Religious preferences
• All of these choices are correct.

17
Operating practices
T3A

• Obscene and indecent language
• Indecent and obscene language is prohibited in
  the Amateur Service.
• Because it is offensive to some individuals
• Because young children may intercept amateur
  communications with readily available receiving
  equipment
• Because such language is specifically prohibited
  by FCC Rules
• All of these choices are correct
• There is no official list of prohibited obscene
  and indecent words that should not be used in
  amateur radio.

18
Operating practices
T3D

• Interference to and from consumer devices
• The owner of the television receiver is
  responsible for taking care of the interference
  if signals from your transmitter are causing
  front end overload in your neighbor's television
  receiver.
• The major cause of telephone interference is the
  telephone was not equipped with adequate
  interference protection when manufactured.
• A break in a cable television transmission line
  may result in TV interference when the amateur
  station is transmitting, or interference may
  occur to the amateur receiver.
• Receiver front-end overload is the result of
  interference caused by strong signals from a
  nearby source.

19
Operating practices
T3D

• Interference to and from consumer devices (cont)
• Receiver front-end overload is the result of
  interference caused by strong signals from a
  nearby source.

20
Operating practices
T3D

• Public relations
• RACES and ARES have in common the fact that both
  organizations provide communications during
  emergencies.

• FCC rules apply to your station when using
  amateur radio at the request of public service
  officials or at the scene of an emergency.

21
Operating practices
T3D

• Intentional and unintentional interference
• You should check your transmitter for off
  frequency operation or spurious emissions if you
  receive a report that your transmissions are
  causing splatter or interference on nearby
  frequencies.
• The proper course of action if you
  unintentionally interfere with another station is
  to properly identify your station and move to a
  different frequency.

22
Operating practices
T3D

• Intentional and unintentional interference (cont)
• You may never deliberately interfere with another
  station's communications.
• No station has exclusive use of any specific
  frequency when the FCC has not declared a
  communication emergency.

• The best way to reduce on the air interference
  when testing your transmitter is to use a dummy
  load when testing.

23
Take aways

• Listen first, before transmitting
• Looking for any stationcall CQ
• CQ means Calling any station
• On repeater, callsign instead of CQ
• Calling another station
• Their callsign and then your callsign
• On a repeater and answering a CQ
• ITU phonetic alphabet for identifying your
  station avoid cute phrases

24
Take aways (cont)

• Testing transmissions require identification
• Unidentified transmissions are illegal
• Even a brief test
• ID required every ten minutes and at end of every
  transmission
• Special events ID same ten minutes applies in
  addition to once an hour your own callsign

25
Take aways (cont)

• Use of minimum power
• Just power necessary to carry out the desired
  communications
• On HF and Repeaters
• Accountability
• Transmitting station is accountable if a repeater
  inadvertently retransmits violations of FCC rules

26
Take aways (cont)

• Band plans
• Voluntary guideline, beyond divisions established
  by F.C.C.
• Designed for efficient use of radio spectrum
• Developed by amateur radio operators
• Repeater coordination
• Recognized frequency coordination body
• Sets up band plan in local area
• Reduce interference and promote proper use of
  spectrum

27
Take aways (cont)

• Mode restricted sub-bands
• 6-meter CW
• 2-meter CW
• 1-1/4 meter CW and Data

28
Take aways (cont)

• Courtesy and respect on the air
• Break into a QSO, by giving your callsign
• Proper repeater practices
• Monitor/listen first keeping transmissions short
• Identify legally
• Use minimum transmitter power necessary
• All of these answers are correct

29
Take aways (cont)

• Operate within limits of your license
• No station has exclusive use of a frequency
• Hear a new operator having trouble, offer to help
• Not covered by rules
• General operating standard of good engineering
• Good amateur practices
• (Must be applied to amateur station operation)

30
Take aways (cont)

• Avoid use of racial or ethnic slurs
• Offensive
• Reflects poor public image
• Subjects not prohibited
• Political discussions
• Jokes and stories
• Religious preferences
• All of these answers are correct

31
Take aways (cont)

• Obscene language is prohibited
• Because its offensive to some
• Because young children may hear
• Language specifically prohibited by Rules
• All of these choices are correct
• No official list of prohibited words

32
Take aways (cont)

• Front end overload responsibility is with the
  owner of the TV
• Major cause of phone interference
• Not properly equipped when manufactured
• Cable TV cable break can cause
• TV interference
• Amateur receiver interference
• Front-end overload is result of strong signals
  from nearby source

33
Take aways (cont)

• RACES and ARES
• Both provide communications during emergencies
• F.C.C. rules apply to your station when using
  amateur radio at request of
• Public service officials
• At scene of an emergency

34
Take aways (cont)

• Splatter or interference reports from nearby
  frequencies
• Check frequency
• Spurious emissions
• Unintentionally interfere
• ID properly
• Move to a different frequency

35
Take aways (cont)

• Deliberate interference N E V E R
• No declared communications emergency
• No station has exclusive use of a frequency
• Reduce on air interference
• Test transmitter with a dummy load

36
Element 2 Technician Class Question PoolT3
Valid July 1, 2006 Through June 30, 2010
37
T3A01 Which of the following should you do
when selecting a frequency on which to transmit?

• Call CQ to see if anyone is listening
• Listen to determine if the frequency is busy
• Transmit on a frequency that allows your signals
  to be heard
• Check for maximum power output

38
T3A02 How do you call another station on a
repeater if you know the station's call sign?

• Say "break, break" then say the station's call
  sign
• Say the station's call sign then identify your
  own station
• Say "CQ" three times then the other station's
  call sign
• Wait for the station to call "CQ" then answer it

39
T3A03 How do you indicate you are looking for
any station with which to make contact?

• CQ followed by your callsign
• RST followed by your callsign
• QST followed by your callsign
• SK followed by your callsign

40
T3A04 What should you transmit when
responding to a call of CQ?

• Your own CQ followed by the other station's
  callsign
• Your callsign followed by the other station's
  callsign
• The other station's callsign followed by your
  callsign
• A signal report followed by your callsign

41
T3A05 What term describes a brief test
transmission that does not include any
station identification?

• A test emission with no identification required
• An illegal un-modulated transmission
• An illegal unidentified transmission
• A non-voice ID transmission

42
T3A06 What must an amateur do when making a
transmission to test equipment or antennas?

• Properly identify the station
• Make test transmissions only after 1000 PM local
  time
• Notify the FCC of the test transmission
• State the purpose of the test during the test
  procedure

43
T3A07 Which of the following is true when
making a test transmission?

• Station identification is not required if the
  transmission is less than 15 seconds
• Station identification is not required if the
  transmission is less than 1 watt
• Station identification is required only if your
  station can be heard
• Station identification is required at least every
  ten minutes and at the end of every transmission.

44
T3A08 What is the meaning of the procedural
signal "CQ"?

• Call on the quarter hour
• New antenna is being tested (no station should
  answer)
• Only the called station should transmit
• Calling any station

45
T3A09 Why should you avoid using cute
phrases or word combinations to identify
your station?

• They are not easily understood by some operators
• They might offend some operators
• They do not meet FCC identification requirements
• They might be interpreted as codes or ciphers
  intended to obscure your identification

46
T3A10 What brief statement is often used in
place of "CQ" to indicate that you are
listening for calls on a repeater?

• Say "Hello test" followed by your call sign
• Say your call sign
• Say the repeater call sign followed by your call
  sign
• Say the letters "QSY" followed by your call sign

47
T3A11 Why should you use the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic
alphabet when identifying your station?

• The words are internationally recognized
  substitutes for letters
• There is no advantage
• The words have been chosen to represent amateur
  radio terms
• It preserves traditions begun in the early days
  of amateur radio

48
T3B01 What is a band plan?

• A voluntary guideline, beyond the divisions
  established by the FCC for using different
  operating modes within an amateur band
• A guideline from the FCC for making amateur
  frequency band allocations
• A guideline for operating schedules within an
  amateur band published by the FCC
• A plan devised by a local group

49
T3B02 Which of the following statements is
true of band plans?

• They are mandated by the FCC to regulate spectrum
  use
• They are mandated by the ITU
• They are voluntary guidelines for efficient use
  of the radio spectrum
• They are mandatory only in the US

50
T3B03 Who developed the band plans used by
amateur radio operators?

• The US Congress
• The FCC
• The amateur community
• The Interstate Commerce Commission

51
T3B04 Who is in charge of the repeater
frequency band plan in your local area?

• The local FCC field office
• RACES and FEMA
• The recognized frequency coordination body
• Repeater Council of America

52
T3B05 What is the main purpose of repeater
coordination?

• To reduce interference and promote proper use of
  spectrum
• To coordinate as many repeaters as possible in a
  small area
• To coordinate all possible frequencies available
  for repeater use
• To promote and encourage use of simplex
  frequencies

53
T3B06 Who is accountable if a repeater station
inadvertently retransmits communications
that violate FCC rules?

• The repeater trustee
• The repeater control operator
• The transmitting station
• All of these answers are correct

54
T3B07 Which of these statements is true about
legal power levels on the amateur bands?

• Always use the maximum power allowed to ensure
  that you complete the contact
• An amateur may use no more than 200 Watts PEP to
  make an amateur contact
• An amateur may use up to 1500 Watts PEP on any
  amateur frequency
• An amateur must use the minimum transmitter power
  necessary to carry out the desired communication

55
T3B08 Which of the bands available to
Technician class licensees have mode
restricted sub-bands?

• The 6-meter, 2-meter, and 70-centimeter bands
• The 2-meter and 13-centimeter bands
• The 6-meter, 2-meter, and 1 1/4-meter bands
• The 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands

56
T3B09 What emission modes are permitted in the
restricted sub-band at 50.0-50.1 MHz?

• CW only
• CW and RTTY
• SSB only
• CW and SSB

57
T3B10 What emission modes are permitted in the
restricted sub-band at 144.0-144.1 MHz?

• CW only
• CW and RTTY
• SSB only
• CW and SSB

58
T3B11 What emission modes are permitted in the
restricted portion of the 1 1/4-meter band?

• Data only
• CW and SSB
• CW and Data
• SSB and FM

59
T3C01 What is the proper way to break into a
conversation between two stations that are
using the frequency?

• Say your call sign between their transmissions
• Wait for them to finish and then call CQ
• Say "Break-break" between their transmissions
• Call one of the operators on the telephone to
  interrupt the conversation

60
T3C02 What is considered to be proper
repeater operating practice?

• Monitor before transmitting and keep
  transmissions short
• Identify legally
• Use the minimum amount of transmitter power
  necessary
• All of these answers are correct

61
T3C03 What should you do before responding to
another stations call?

• Make sure you are operating on a permissible
  frequency for your license class
• Adjust your transmitter for maximum power output
• Ask the station to send their signal report and
  location
• Verify the other station's license class

62
T3C04 What rule applies if two amateur stations
want to use the same frequency?

• The station operator with a lesser class of
  license must yield the frequency to a
  higher-class licensee
• The station operator with a lower power output
  must yield the frequency to the station with a
  higher power output
• No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive
  use of any station and neither has priority
• Station operators in ITU Regions 1 and 3 must
  yield the frequency to stations in ITU Region 2

63
T3C05 Why is indecent and obscene language
prohibited in the Amateur Service?

• Because it is offensive to some individuals
• Because young children may intercept amateur
  communications with readily available receiving
  equipment
• Because such language is specifically prohibited
  by FCC Rules
• All of these choices are correct

64
T3C06 Why should amateur radio operators
avoid the use of racial or ethnic slurs when
talking to other stations?

• Such language is prohibited by the FCC
• It is offensive to some people and reflects a
  poor public image on all amateur radio operators
• Some of the terms used may be unfamiliar to other
  operators
• You transmissions might be recorded for use in
  court

65
T3C07 What should you do if you hear a newly
licensed operator that is having trouble with
their station?

• Tell them to get off the air until they learn how
  operate properly
• Report them to the FCC
• Contact them and offer to help with the problem
• Move to another frequency

66
T3C08 Where can an official list be found of
prohibited obscene and indecent words that
should not be used in amateur radio?

• On the FCC web site
• There is no official list of prohibited obscene
  and indecent words
• On the Department of Commerce web site
• The official list is in public domain and found
  in all amateur study guides

67
T3C09 What type of subjects are not prohibited
communications while using amateur radio?

• Political discussions
• Jokes and stories
• Religious preferences
• All of these answers are correct

68
T3C10 When circumstances are not specifically
covered by FCC rules what general
operating standard must be applied to
amateur station ?

• Designated operator control
• Politically correct control
• Good engineering and amateur practices
• Reasonable operator control

69
T3D01 What should you do if you receive a
report that your transmissions are causing
splatter or interference on nearby frequencies?

• Increase transmit power
• Change mode of transmission
• Report the interference to the equipment
  manufacturer
• Check transmitter for off frequency operation or
  spurious emissions

70
T3D02 Who is responsible for taking care of the
Interference if signals from your
transmitter are causing front end
overload in your neighbor's television receiver?

• You alone are responsible, since your transmitter
  is causing the problem
• Both you and the owner of the television receiver
  share the responsibility
• The FCC must decide if you or the owner of the
  television receiver is responsible
• The owner of the television receiver is
  responsible

71
T3D03 What is the major cause of telephone
interference?

• The telephone wiring is inadequate
• Tropospheric ducting at UHF frequencies
• The telephone was not equipped with adequate
  interference protection when manufactured.
• Improper location of the telephone in the home

72
T3D04 What is the proper course of action if
you unintentionally interfere with another
station?

• Rotate your antenna slightly
• Properly identify your station and move to a
  different frequency
• Increase power
• Change antenna polarization

73
T3D05 When may you deliberately interfere
with another station's communications?

• Only if the station is operating illegally
• Only if the station begins transmitting on a
  frequency you are using
• Never
• You may cause deliberate interference because it
  can't be helped during crowded band conditions

74
T3D06 Who has exclusive use of a specific
frequency when the FCC has not declared a
communication emergency?

• Any net station that has traffic
• The station first occupying the frequency
• Individuals passing health and welfare
  communications
• No station has exclusive use of any frequency

75
T3D07 What effect might a break in a cable
television transmission line have on
amateur communications?

• A break cannot affect amateur communications
• Harmonic radiation from the TV may cause the
  amateur transmitter to transmit off-frequency
• TV interference may result when the amateur
  station is transmitting, or interference may
  occur to the amateur receiver
• The broken cable may pick up very high voltages
  when the amateur station is transmitting

76
T3D08 What is the best way to reduce on the air
interference when testing your
transmitter?

• Use a short indoor antenna when testing
• Use upper side band when testing
• Use a dummy load when testing
• Use a simplex frequency instead of a repeater
  frequency

77
T3D09 What rules apply to your station when
using amateur radio at the request of public
service officials or at the scene of an
emergency?

• RACES
• ARES
• FCC
• FEMA

78
T3D10 What do RACES and ARES have in common?

• They represent the two largest ham clubs in the
  United States
• One handles road traffic, the other weather
  traffic
• Neither may handle emergency traffic
• Both organizations provide communications during
  emergencies

79
T3D11 What is meant by receiver front- end
overload?

• Too much voltage from the power supply
• Too much current from the power supply
• Interference caused by strong signals from a
  nearby source
• Interference caused by turning the volume up too
  high