The Beginner's Handbook of Amateur Radio

by Clay Laster

Overview

This text provides the reader with the necessary electronics background to begin hamming and to help with preparations for the FCC novice or no-code technician class license exam. The first two chapters provide an introduction to amateur radio, the FCC part 97 rules and regulations and how to prepare for the Novice examinations. The following chapters form the basis of a mini-course in electronics technology with an emphasis on radio communications. It covers the basics of wave propagation, power supplies and electronic circuits. This updated edition coincides with the recent changes in the FCC novice examinations, and has over 250 sample questions and answers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071361873
Publisher:	T A B Books
Publication date:	11/28/2000
Series:	Tab Electronics Technical Library
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	7.52(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.16(d)

Table of Contents

	Preface	xv
	Introduction	xvii
	Acknowledgments	xix
Chapter 1	Introduction to Amateur Radio	1
	Who Can Become a Ham Radio Operator?	1
	New Avenues into Amateur Radio	2
	About Amateur Radio	2
	A History of Amateur Radio	3
	Early pioneers	3
	Beginning of amateur radio	5
	First licenses for amateur radio operators	7
	The death knell for amateur radio	8
	The golden age of amateur radio	9
	Amateur Radio--A Scientific Hobby	11
	Amateur Radio Public Service	12
	The Path into Amateur Radio--The Technician Class License	15
Chapter 2	How to Prepare for the FCC Technician Class Examination	19
	The Federal Communications Commission	21
	The FCC Volunteer Examiner Program	22
	FCC Amateur Radio Operating Classes	22
	The Amateur Radio Frequency Spectrum	23
	FCC Rules and Regulations	25
	Part 97: Amateur Radio Service	25
	Amateur Call-Sign Allocations	55
	How to Learn International Morse Code	58
	What is Morse Code?	58
	How code is transmitted	59
	Who can learn Morse code?	61
	The FCC Written Examinations	67
	The VEC question pool	67
	Scheduling the examination	69
	Taking the examination	69
Chapter 3	Radio Communications Theory	71
	Definitions	71
	The Radio Circuit--Transmitter to Receiver	73
	The Electromagnetic Spectrum	74
	Frequency and wavelength	76
	The radio frequency spectrum	78
	Wave propagation	80
	Types of Propagation	80
	The Effects of the Ionosphere on Radio Communications	82
	Ionospheric layers	83
	Sunspots affect the ionosphere	83
	High sunspot activity	84
	Propagation characteristics of the ionosphere	85
	Nighttime propagation conditions	87
Chapter 4	Principles of Electricity and Magnetism	89
	Definitions	89
	Fundamentals of Electricity	91
	Atoms and matter	92
	Negative and positive charges	93
	Electricity--the flow of electrons	93
	Units of voltage and current	94
	Conductors and insulators	95
	Resistance and resistors	95
	Some Basic Electrical Laws	98
	Ohm's law	99
	Resistors in series	100
	Resistors in parallel	100
	Series-parallel combinations	101
	Current flow in series dc circuits	101
	IR voltage drops	104
	Current flow in parallel dc circuits	105
	Magnetism	106
	The magnetic field	106
	Temporary and permanent magnets	107
	Electromagnetism	107
	Magnetomotive force (MMF)	108
	Electromagnetic induction	109
	Alternating current and voltage	109
	The ac sine wave	109
	ac circuits	111
	Capacitors and Capacitance	112
	How capacitors work	114
	Capacitor voltage ratings	115
	Connecting capacitors in parallel	115
	Connecting capacitors in series	116
	Capacitive reactance	116
	Phase angle of capacitors	118
	Testing capacitors	118
	Inductors and Inductance	119
	Inductance	119
	Series inductors	121
	Parallel inductors	121
	Inductive reactance, X[subscript L]	123
	Phase angle of inductors	123
	Transformers	124
	Basic transformer concepts	125
	Testing inductors and transformers with a multimeter	127
	ac Circuit Analysis	128
	Impedance and phase angles	128
	Resonance and tuned circuits	129
	The Q of resonant circuits	131
	Power Relationships	131
	Power in a dc circuit	132
	Power in an ac circuit	132
	Maximum power transfer	134
Chapter 5	Tubes and Semiconductors	135
	Definitions	137
	Vacuum Tubes	139
	Thermionic Emission	139
	General Types of Vacuum Tubes	141
	Diodes	141
	The diode as an ac rectifier	143
	Triodes	144
	How triodes work	145
	Triode amplification action	147
	Limitations of triodes	148
	Tetrodes and Pentodes	149
	The tetrode	149
	Limitations of the tetrode	150
	The pentode	151
	The pentode as an amplifier	152
	Beam-power tubes	153
	Gas-filled tubes	153
	Cathode-ray tubes	154
	Diodes, Transistors, and Other Semiconductor Devices	154
	n-type semiconductor	156
	p-type semiconductor	156
	How semiconductor devices are made	156
	The pn junction	157
	How diodes work	160
	Reverse bias	161
	Diode circuits	162
	Special-Purpose Diodes	164
	The zener diode	165
	The varactor diode	166
	Transistors	166
	Bipolar transistor construction	169
	npn transistor operation	169
	pnp transistor operation	171
	Common-base amplifying circuits	171
	Common-emitter amplifier circuits	174
	Common-emitter design considerations	176
	Variations in transistor characteristics	179
	Voltage gain of common-emitter amplifier circuits	180
	Frequency limitations of transistors	181
	The common-collector configuration	182
	Summary of transistor characteristics	184
	Transistor testing	184
	Transistor testing with ohmmeters	185
	Field-Effect Transistors	187
	The junction field-effect transistor	188
	Characteristics of junction field-effect transistors	189
	JFET circuit configurations	190
	Insulated-gate field-effect transistors	192
	Depletion-mode IGFET operation	192
	Enhancement-mode insulated-gate field-effect transistors	194
	Care and handling of insulated-gate semiconductor devices	196
	Optoelectronic Devices	197
	Photodiodes	198
	Light-emitting diodes	199
	LCD displays	199
	Integrated Circuits	200
	Types of integrated circuits	200
	A typical IC--the 555 timer	202
	Packaging of integrated circuits	202
	Linear and digital integrated circuits	202
Chapter 6	Power Supplies	205
	Definitions	206
	Power-Supply Design Considerations	209
	The power transformer	209
	Rectifier circuits	210
	Filter circuits	213
	Electronic voltage regulators	218
	A word of caution	223
Chapter 7	Electronic Circuits	227
	Definitions	227
	Audio- and Radio-Frequency Amplifiers	232
	Basic Types of Amplifiers	234
	The ideal amplifier	234
	The Decibel	236
	Voltage and Current Ratios in Decibels	239
	Amplifier Power Levels	242
	Class-A, -B, -AB, and -C Amplifiers	243
	Amplifier Efficiency of Operation	244
	Interstage Coupling Techniques	245
	Direct coupling	245
	Resistance-capacitance (RC) coupling	247
	Transformer coupling	247
	Impedance coupling	247
	Push-Pull Operation	248
	Integrated-Circuit Amplifiers	249
	An IC Audio Amplifier for the Ham Shack	250
	The Oscillator: An Amplifier with Feedback	253
	The Basic Oscillator Circuit	254
	Oscillator Characteristics	255
	The Tuned LC Oscillator	255
	Oscillator Circuits	257
Chapter 8	Introduction to Radio Transmitters	269
	Definitions	272
	The CW Transmitter	275
	The Master Oscillator Power Amplifier Transmitter	276
	Amplitude-Modulated Transmitters	280
	Conventional AM transmitters	280
	AM carrier and sideband signals	282
	Single-Sideband Modulation	283
	Frequency Modulation	288
	FM transmitters	289
	Transmitter Performance Tests	290
	Transmitter frequency measurements	290
	Frequency counters	291
	Transmitter power measurements	292
Chapter 9	Introduction to Radio Receivers	295
	Definitions	297
	Receiver Basics	298
	Reception	299
	Selection or selectivity	300
	Demodulation or detection	301
	Reproduction	302
	Simple Receivers	302
	Tuned radio-frequency (TRF) receivers	302
	Direct-conversion receivers	303
	The Superheterodyne Receiver	305
	RF amplifiers	307
	Local oscillators	307
	Mixers	309
	Regenerative-detector receivers	310
	IF amplifiers	310
	Detectors and beat-frequency oscillators	312
	Automatic gain control	312
	S meters	313
	Interference and Receiver Limitations	313
	Receiver Overload	314
	Harmonic Signals	315
	Constructing the "Sudden" 160- to 20-Meter Direct Conversion Receiver	315
	FM Receivers	319
Chapter 10	All about Transmission Lines and Antennas	323
	Definitions	324
	Transmission Line Basics	326
	Types of Transmission Lines	327
	Twin-lead lines	327
	Coaxial transmission lines	328
	Standing Waves	329
	Standing-wave ratios	329
	High-Frequency Antennas	332
	Half-wave doublet (or dipole) antenna	333
	Safety and other considerations	340
	Multiband antennas	347
	Vertical antennas	350
	Beam antennas	351
	Station Wiring Diagrams	355
Chapter 11	RF Radiation Safety and Radio Communications Practices and Procedures	357
	Definitions	357
	Radio Frequency Environmental Safety Practices	361
	Determining Compliance with FCC RF Safety Rules and Regulations	365
	General RF safety recommendations	367
	Radio Communications Practices	368
	Station installation	368
	Station layout	369
	Station wiring	370
	Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI)	371
	Elimination of RFI	371
	How to Use Test Equipment	373
	Meter movements	373
	Ammeters	374
	Voltmeters	374
	Ohmmeters	375
	The multimeter	377
	Wattmeters	377
	Operating Procedures	377
	Operating courtesy	378
	CW or telegraph procedures	379
	Q signals	379
	The RST signal-reporting system	380
	Prosigns and standard abbreviations	380
	A Typical Contact on the Technician Bands	380
Appendix A.	Element 2--Technician Class Examination Question Pool	385
	Answers	481
Appendix B.	The W5YI RF Safety Tables	485
	Index	491

Editorial Reviews

Explains radio and electronics fundamentals needed to set up a transmitter and become a licensed ham operator from the ground up. Offers a mini-course in electronics technology and radio communications, provides specific technical information on amateur radio operating procedures, and includes study hints for preparing for licensing exams, and a complete study guide for the Novice Operator and No-Code Code Technician Class licenses. This fourth edition reflects the newest equipment and revisions to the Federal Communications Commission rules and tests. The author is an electronics engineer and college instructor. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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