Dictionary of Ham Radio Terms
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 - 9 |
Related wiki pages FAQ
When adding information to these pages, please link to other pages in the wiki wherever possible.
A
AC : Alternating Current
ADC : Analogue to Digital Converter. Also known as A/D and A-to-D. A device that samples an analogue wave and converts it into a digital signal, in which a series of numbers is used to represent the amplitude of the original wave.
ADIF : Amateur Data Interchange Format, a standard specification for format of exported logbook files.
Admittance : The reciprocal of impedance of a component in a series or parallel tuned circuit.
AF : Abbreviation for Audio Frequency. AF is in the range 20Hz to 20 000Hz
AFC : Automatic Frequency Control - used to prevent drift in FM receivers
AFSK : Audio Frequency Shift Keying.
AGC : Automatic Gain Control - a feedback system to reduce fading by automatically adjusting gain
AGL : (Height) Above Ground Level, for antenna installations.
ALC : Automatic Level Control - a feedback system in the transmitter output amplifier used to prevent overload.
Ampere :(A) The unit used for measurement of current. Usually abbreviated to Amps
Amplitude : the height of a wave from the average or median position.
AMSAT : The name for amateur radio satellite organizations world-wide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.
AM : Amlpitude Modulation
Amplifier : A device that is used to increase voltage, current or power.
AMTOR : A specialised form of RTTY protocol. An acronym for AMateur Teleprinting Over Radio or AMateur Teletype over Radio.
Analog (also analogue): a continuously varying signal.
ANC, ANR : Active noise control, active noise reduction. Also referred to as automatic noise cancellation or antinoise on some transceivers.
Antenna: a device to either radiate radio signals or to receive them from another station.
Antenna Switch " A switch used to change the output of a transceiver from one antenna to another.
Antenna Tuner : A device used to match the output impedance of a transmitter to that of an antenna.
Anti-VOX : Transceiver circuitry used in voice-operated (VOX) stations to prevent audio from the receiver's speaker from actuating the voice-operated transmitter.
APRS : Automatic Position Reporting System, Automated Packet Reporting System.
ARC : Amateur Radio Club (also ARA, ARS - Amateur Radio Association, Amateur Radio Society) - usually prefixed by the name of the community or region served
ARDF : Amateur Radio Direction Finding
ARES : Amateur Radio Disaster Services, Amateur Radio Emergency Services
ARRL : The American Radio Relay League [1]- the national ham radio association for the USA
ARISS : Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. A program that allows schools, with the help of an amateur club, to contact the amateur station on board the International space station.
ASL : Above Sea Level. Vertical height in metres or feet above sea level.
Attenuator : A resistive device to reduce the amplitude or power of a signal.
ATS : Automatic Transfer Switch, switches equipment to a backup power supply in event of power failure.
ATV : Amateur Television - "moving picture" ham TV transmissions.
Az/El : used to describe an antenna rotator that can change both the Azimuth (horizontal) and the Elevation (vertical) direction of the antenna.
Azimuth : The horizontal direction (angle) measured clockwise from North.
| Operating procedures | |
| Operation | Callsigns and ITU prefixes * Codes and Alphabets * Modes * Morse code * Nets * UK licensing * Terminology |
| DX and Contesting | Awards and Certificates * DXCC * DX cluster * Field day * Gridsquares * Logging * QSL and QSL Bureaus * Records - Distance |
| Emergencies | Emergency Frequencies * ARES * IRESC * SATERN * Weather spotting |
| QRP | Trail-Friendly Radio |
| Utilities | Beacons (/B) and Time Beacons |