Phone operating procedures, USB/LSB utilization conventions, procedural signals, breaking into a QSO in progress, VOX operation
On the HF bands, the most common mode used for voice communications is single sideband, or SSB. SSB is a type of amplitude modulation, or AM. In the process of amplitude modulation, a transmitter generates an upper sideband and a lower sideband, in addition to the carrier signal. Back in the early days of radio, a smart guy figured out all of the information in a voice signal is carried in one of the sidebands, and that it would be more efficient to filter out the carrier and one of the sidebands and put all of the power of a radio signal into a single sideband. In addition to voice communications, SSB is also used to transmit digital information on the HF bands.
QUESTION: Which mode of voice communication is most commonly used on the HF amateur bands? (G2A05)
ANSWER: Single sideband
QUESTION: Which of the following statements is true of the single sideband voice mode? (G2A07)
ANSWER: Only one sideband is transmitted; the other sideband and carrier are suppressed
QUESTION: Which of the following is an advantage when using single sideband, as compared to other analog voice modes on the HF amateur bands? (G2A06)
ANSWER: Less bandwidth used and greater power efficiency
A single sideband signal can be either upper sideband signal can be either upper sideband (USB) or lower sideband (LSB), but USB is the most commonly used sideband. USB is used almost exclusively on frequencies above 14 MHz, including the VHF and UHF bands, as well as on the 60 m band, while LSB is used on the 160 m, 75 m, and 40 m bands. There’s no particular technical reason for this. It’s just current amateur practice to do so.
QUESTION: Which sideband is most commonly used for voice communications on frequencies of 14 MHz or higher? (G2A01)
ANSWER: Upper sideband
QUESTION: Which mode is most commonly used for voice communications on the 17-meter and 12-meter bands? (G2A04)
ANSWER: Upper sideband
QUESTION: Which of the following is most commonly used for SSB voice communications in the VHF and UHF bands? (G2A03)
ANSWER: Upper sideband
QUESTION: Which of the following modes is most commonly used for voice communications on the 160-meter, 75-meter, and 40-meter bands? (G2A02)
ANSWER: Lower sideband
QUESTION: Why do most amateur stations use lower sideband on the 160-meter, 75-meter, and 40-meter bands? (G2A09)
ANSWER: It is good amateur practice
To establish a contact on the HF bands, you can call CQ or reply to a CQ. Sometimes you’ll hear stations calling “CQ DX” instead of simply CQ. If the station calling CQ DX is located in the contiguous 48 states, then the operator is looking to make contacts outside of the U.S., and if you’re not outside of those states, it is good operating procedure not to answer that call.
QUESTION: Generally, who should respond to a station in the contiguous 48 states who calls “CQ DX”? (G2A11)
ANSWER: Any stations outside the lower 48 states
Another way to establish a contact is to break into a conversation that’s already in progress. To do this, simply say your callsign when there is a lull in the conversation.
QUESTION: What is the recommended way to break in to a phone contact? (G2A08)
ANSWER: Say your call sign once
Before making contacts, make sure that you set the microphone gain to the appropriate level. Setting the microphone gain too low will reduce the output power of your transmitter. Setting it too high will result in distorted audio and spurious emissions. Refer to your transceiver’s user manual for instructions on how to do this.
QUESTION: What control is typically adjusted for proper ALC setting on an amateur single sideband transceiver? (G2A12)
ANSWER: Transmit audio or microphone gain
When operating SSB, many amateurs like to use the VOX, or voice-operated control, instead of push-to-talk, or PTT, operation. Using VOX frees up an operator’s hands to do things like adjust controls or log contacts.
QUESTION: Which of the following statements is true of voice VOX operation versus PTT operation? (G2A10)
ANSWER: It allows “hands free” operation
Operating courtesy; band plans; emergencies, including drills and emergency communications
Whenever you’re operating, courtesy should always be a consideration when selecting a frequency. The courteous thing to do is to select an operating frequency so that you do not interfere with other stations operating on nearby frequencies. You can avoid interference with other stations by ensuring that the frequency you want to use is not already in use. Remember that on many HF bands you may only be able to hear one station and not the other, so before calling, ask if the frequency is in use.
When operating phone, you simply ask if the frequency is in use. When operating CW, you send the Q signal QRL?
QUESTION: What is a practical way to avoid harmful interference on an apparently clear frequency before calling CQ on CW or phone? (G2B06)
ANSWER: Send “QRL?” on CW, followed by your call sign; or, if using phone, ask if the frequency is in use, followed by your call sign
QUESTION: What does the Q signal “QRL?” mean? (G2C04)
ANSWER: “Are you busy?”, or “Is this frequency in use?”
Another way to avoid interference is to follow the voluntary band plan for the mode you’re using. For example, most band plans call for SSTV operation around 14.230 MHz. So, if you’re operating SSB, you probably want to avoid that frequency.
QUESTION: Which of the following complies with good amateur practice when choosing a frequency on which to initiate a call? (G2B07)
ANSWER: Follow the voluntary band plan for the operating mode you intend to use
Some band plans may denote a frequency or small band of frequencies as the DX window for that band. What that means is that U.S.. stations are not to call inside that window to allow DX stations to be heard. In the 6 m band, the DX window is 50.1 – 50.25 MHz.
QUESTION: What is the voluntary band plan restriction for U.S. station transmitting within the 48 contiguous states in the 50.1 to 50.125 MHz band segment? (G2B08)
ANSWER: Only contacts with stations not within the 48 contiguous states
Another thing you should do to avoid interference is to make sure that the frequency you wish to use is not too close to other stations.
QUESTION: When selecting an SSB transmitting frequency, what minimum separation should be used to minimize interference to stations on adjacent frequencies? (G2B05)
ANSWER: Approximately 3 kHz
QUESTION: When selecting a CW transmitting frequency, what minimum separation should be used to minimize interference to stations on adjacent frequencies? (G2B04)
ANSWER: 150 to 500 Hz
Band conditions can change during the course of a contact. When this happens, you may find that your contact is now being interfered with by stations that you could not hear previously or that you are interfering with stations that could not hear you previously. Should this occur, the courteous thing to do is to simply move your contact to another open frequency.
QUESTION: What is good amateur practice if propagation changes during a contact and you notice interference from other stations on the frequency? (G2B03)
ANSWER: Attempt to resolve the interference problem with the other stations in a mutually acceptable manner
One thing to keep in mind is that no one “owns” a frequency, no matter how long it has been their practice to use the frequency. Even nets don’t have the right to kick you off a frequency.
QUESTION: Which of the following is true concerning access to frequencies in non-emergency situations? (G2B01)
ANSWER: Except during FCC declared emergencies, no one has priority access to frequencies, common courtesy should be a guide
It’s also important to know what to do if you hear a station in an emergency situation. While the rules are very strict regarding normal operation of an amateur radio station, an amateur station is allowed to do just about anything to assist another station in distress during an actual emergency. This means using frequencies outside of the amateur bands and using high power should the situation require it.
QUESTION: When is an amateur station allowed to use any means at its disposal to assist another station in distress? (G2B10)
ANSWER: At any time during an actual emergency
QUESTION: What frequency should be used to send a distress call? (G2B11)
ANSWER: Whichever frequency has the best chance of communicating the distress message
Helping that station in distress should become your first priority. The first thing you should do if you are communicating with another amateur station and hear a station in distress break in is to figure out how to help them.
QUESTION: What is the first thing you should do if you are communicating with another amateur station and hear a station in distress break in? (G2B02)
ANSWER: Acknowledge the station in distress and determine what assistance may be needed
In certain emergencies, government officials might activate the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), a protocol created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission. To be a part of RACES, you must be a licensed radio amateur and be certified by a civil defense agency.
QUESTION: Who may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES to assist relief operations during a disaster? (G2B09)
ANSWER: Only a person holding an FCC issued amateur operator license
CW operating procedures and procedural signals, Q signals and common abbreviations, full break in
When establishing a CW contact with another station, the sending and receiving stations should always synchronize their speed. You might be a real speed demon, but if you want to answer a CQ being sent at a speed much slower than the speed at which you can send and receive, then you should slow down to accommodate the slower operator. Likewise, if you’re not comfortable sending and receiving at the speed of a station calling CQ, reply at a lower speed. A good operator will then slow down to accommodate you.
QUESTION: What is the best speed to use when answering a CQ in Morse code? (G2C05)
ANSWER: The fastest speed at which you are comfortable copying, but no faster than the CQ
When answering a CQ, you should set the frequency of your transceiver so that it matches the frequency of the sending station. We call this process “zero beating.” One reason for doing this is that it makes it easier for the calling station to find you. Another reason is that your contact will require less bandwidth.
QUESTION: What does the term “zero beat” mean in CW operation? (G2C06)
ANSWER: Matching the transmit frequency to the frequency of a received signal
After establishing contact, it’s customary to send the other station a signal report. This report consists of three numbers that correspond to the readability, strength, and tone of the signal. Hams sometimes call this the RST report. When appropriate, an operator may append a letter to the RST report. For example, to denote that a signal has a chirp, you would append the letter “C.”
QUESTION: When sending CW, what does a “C” mean when added to the RST report? (G2C07)
ANSWER: Chirpy or unstable signal
During the course of a CW contact, it’s good practice to use Q signals to shorten the number of characters that you must send and which the receiving station needs to receive. Q signals are three letter combinations that begin with the letter “Q.” There are many different Q signals, but you only need to know four of them to pass the test.
QUESTION: What should you do if a CW station sends “QRS?” (G2C02)
ANSWER: Send slower
QUESTION: What does the Q signal “QSL” mean? (G2C09)
ANSWER: I acknowledge receipt
QUESTION: What does the Q signal “QRN” mean? (G2C10)
ANSWER: I am troubled by static
QUESTION: What does the Q signal “QRV” mean? (G2C11)
ANSWER: I am ready to receive messages
CW operators also use what are called prosigns. Prosigns can indicate what an operator intends to do or calls for the other operator to do something. For example, the prosign “K” is an invitation to other stations to begin transmitting. “KN” is also an invitation to transmit, but only a specific station, usually the station with which a station is already in contact.
QUESTION: What does it mean when a CW operator sends “KN” at the end of a transmission? (G2C03)
ANSWER: Listening only for a specific station or stations
QUESTION: What prosign is sent to indicate the end of a formal message when using CW? (G2C08)
ANSWER: AR
When operating CW, some hams simply mute their receivers during a transmission. The problem with this approach is that the other operator cannot break in to make a comment. Another problem is that you can’t hear if another station is interfering with your transmission. To get around these problems, hams use “break-in mode,” or QSK.
QUESTION: Which of the following describes full break-in telegraphy (QSK)? (G2C01)
ANSWER: Transmitting stations can receive between code characters and elements
Bob Bytheway says
How do I go about purchasing the General Part I and Part II in kindle? I don’t see the new 2019-2023 manuals on Amazon or anyplace yet.
I see three links listed: Radio Practices I & II and the Radio Wave Propagation. How do I get these three in Kindle?
Tnx & 73,
de K3DIO
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Bob. Thanks for your interest in my study guides. The complete book isn’t available yet. I’m posting these chapters as I’m finishing them to get feedback on them. I should have the Kindle book done in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned!