Operating procedures - Revision history

KN�JI: RIT / XIT clarifications

2014-06-10T13:21:03Z

RIT / XIT clarifications

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:21, 10 June 2014
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	==RIT==		==RIT==

	'''RIT''' : '''R'''eceiver '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew ~~antennas~~. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.		'''RIT''' : '''R'''eceiver '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew transceivers or separate transmitters and receivers. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.

	==Roofing Filters==		==Roofing Filters==
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	==XIT==		==XIT==

	'''XIT''' : '''X'''mitter '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the transmit frequency of a transceiver away from the receive frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew ~~antennas~~. XIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.		'''XIT''' : '''X'''mitter '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the transmit frequency of a transceiver away from the receive frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew transceivers or separate transmitters and receivers. XIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.

	= Tuning =		= Tuning =

KN�JI: Misspelling

2014-06-10T13:15:47Z

Misspelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:15, 10 June 2014
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	==XIT==		==XIT==

	'''XIT''' : '''X'''~~ceiver~~ '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the transmit frequency of a transceiver away from the receive frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew antennas. XIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.		'''XIT''' : '''X'''mitter '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the transmit frequency of a transceiver away from the receive frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew antennas. XIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.

	= Tuning =		= Tuning =

KN�JI: 1) Clarified definitions for RIT and XIT. 2) Made Hz units appear consistent. 3) Added N7TOV for less confusion.

2014-06-10T13:12:29Z

1) Clarified definitions for RIT and XIT. 2) Made Hz units appear consistent. 3) Added N7TOV for less confusion.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:12, 10 June 2014
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	= Buttons and knobs =		= Buttons and knobs =

	A ham radio has usually zillions of buttons and knobs and dials on its front panel. To the neophyte, those just look very confusing and unhelpful. This aims to clarify this [[jargon]] for you.		A ham radio has usually zillions of buttons and knobs and dials on its front panel. To the neophyte, those just look very confusing and unhelpful. This script aims to clarify some of this [[jargon]] for you.

	==AF gain==		==AF gain==
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	Passband tuning manipulates the tuning circuitry of the receiver.		Passband tuning manipulates the tuning circuitry of the receiver.
	* If the filter is made narrower, it allows "close together" signals to be separated - one is rejected by the filter, one is allowed to pass through. This is kind of like the equalizer on a music stereo system---you can turn the bass and treble down to hear the mids more clearly. Narrowing the passband is the best way to pick out narrow band signals (like CW and narrow band digimodes) from a noisy band.		* If the filter is made narrower, it allows "close together" signals to be separated - one is rejected by the filter, one is allowed to pass through. This is kind of like the equalizer on a music stereo system---you can turn the bass and treble down to hear the mids more clearly. Narrowing the passband is the best way to pick out narrow band signals (like CW and narrow band digimodes) from a noisy band.
	* If the filter is set to be wider, the listener can hear signals further away from the center frequency. Imagine listening to ~~commercial~~ radio on AM 790. If you have a tuning circuit that has a wide passband, you could simultaneously listen to AM 760, AM 830, etc. This can be useful when you are scanning around looking for a station.		* If the filter is set to be wider, the listener can hear signals further away from the center frequency. Imagine listening to broadcast radio on AM 790. If you have a tuning circuit that has a wide passband, you could simultaneously listen to AM 760, AM 830, etc. This can be useful when you are scanning around looking for a station.
	It is similar to IF shift (Intermediate Frequency shift), where the IF of the transceiver is shifted slightly to tune in slightly off frequency signals.		It is similar to IF shift (Intermediate Frequency shift), where the IF of the transceiver is shifted slightly to tune in slightly off frequency signals.

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	==RIT==		==RIT==

	'''RIT''' : ~~Receiver Incremental Tuning,~~ '''R'''~~eceive~~ '''I'''~~ndependant of~~ '''T'''~~ransmit~~ is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different ~~fequencies~~. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually ~~3khz~~ to ~~10Khz~~.		'''RIT''' : '''R'''eceiver '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew antennas. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.

	==Roofing Filters==		==Roofing Filters==

	A '''roofing filter''' is used in an HF receiver and us usually found after the first receiver mixer. It's purpose is to reduce the passband of the first IF (first [[Intermediate Frequency \| intermediate frequency]]) to between ~~6kHz~~ and ~~20KHz~~. This in turn reduces distortion in any amplifier and mixer circuits.		A '''roofing filter''' is used in an HF receiver and us usually found after the first receiver mixer. It's purpose is to reduce the passband of the first IF (first [[Intermediate Frequency \| intermediate frequency]]) to between 6 kHz and 20 kHz. This in turn reduces distortion in any amplifier and mixer circuits.

	Roofing filters are usually usually crystal types because of the steeper filtering curve that they produce.		Roofing filters are usually usually crystal types because of the steeper filtering curve that they produce.

	Roofing filters can be much narrower than ~~20kHz~~ when listening to very weak [[CW]] signals. In this case the filter may have a bandpass of as low as ~~250Hz~~. This also requires that the first IF in the receiver is below [[VHF]], perhaps as low as ~~9MHz~~.		Roofing filters can be much narrower than 20 kHz when listening to very weak [[CW]] signals. In this case the filter may have a bandpass of as low as 250 Hz. This also requires that the first IF in the receiver is below [[VHF]], perhaps as low as 9 MHz.

	See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roofing_filter the regular Wikipedia]		See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roofing_filter the regular Wikipedia]
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	==XIT==		==XIT==

	~~Similar~~ to ~~RIT above, but~~ the transmit frequency ~~is changed while~~ the receive frequency is that ~~shown~~ on the ~~frequency display~~.		'''XIT''' : '''X'''ceiver '''I'''ncremental '''T'''uning is the ability to shift the transmit frequency of a transceiver away from the receive frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems and in current systems using some homebrew antennas. XIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different frequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3 kHz to 10 kHz.

	= Tuning =		= Tuning =
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	# Turn off the offset (unless you are operating on a [[repeater]] for which specific procedures exist)		# Turn off the offset (unless you are operating on a [[repeater]] for which specific procedures exist)
	# Listen to see if the frequency is in use		# Listen to see if the frequency is in use
	# Key the microphone and announce your call sign and the ~~callsign~~ of the person you're trying to reach:		# Key the microphone and announce your call sign and the call sign of the person you're trying to reach:

	~~VA2HGQ~~ this is VA2ANK		N7TOV this is VA2ANK

	# The receiving party would answer:		# The receiving party would answer:

	VA2ANK, ~~VA2HGQ~~		VA2ANK, N7TOV

	Congratulations, you have made contact! You can now talk on the channel, according to local [[regulations]] of course. For example, Canadian regulations require you to announce your call sign '''every thirty minutes''' and '''at the beginning and end of every contact'''.		Congratulations, you have made contact! You can now talk on the channel, according to local [[regulations]] of course. For example, Canadian regulations require you to announce your call sign '''every thirty minutes''' and '''at the beginning and end of every contact'''.
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	If you can't make contact, you can wait on the channel and announce it as such:		If you can't make contact, you can wait on the channel and announce it as such:

	VA2ANK is monitoring		VA2ANK monitoring

	... or ''listening''.		... or ''listening''.
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	Once you are done, you can wrap up with this:		Once you are done, you can wrap up with this:

	Okay ~~hugo~~, talk to you later. ~~VA2HGQ~~, VA2ANK clear.		Okay Hugo, talk to you later. N7TOV, VA2ANK clear.

	=== HF operation ===		=== HF operation ===
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	Interference is common: [[QRN\|natural]], [[QRM\|man-made]] are the usual occurrence, and in fact an interfering station may not even be able to hear you sometimes.		Interference is common: [[QRN\|natural]], [[QRM\|man-made]] are the usual occurrence, and in fact an interfering station may not even be able to hear you sometimes.

	We distinguish between two main modes on HF: phone or cw modes.		We distinguish between two main modes on HF: phone or CW modes.

	==== "Phone" or voice operations ====		==== "Phone" or voice operations ====

	~~Phone~~ operations ~~can happen~~ on any band ~~but~~ 30 meters in most places, but you should be careful to respect the informal agreements of band allocations. See the [[bands]] page for more information there. For popular DX frequencies, you should look into 3.775 to 3.~~800MHz~~, 7.075 to 7.100 ~~Mhz~~ and 14.175 to 14.~~225Mhz~~.		You can perform phone operations on any band except 30 meters in most places, but you should be careful to respect the informal agreements of band allocations. See the [[bands]] page for more information there. For popular DX frequencies, you should look into 3.775 to 3.800 MHz, 7.075 to 7.100 MHz and 14.175 to 14.225 MHz.

	# Tune your radio to the desired frequency		# Tune your radio to the desired frequency
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	CQ CQ CQ This is VA2ANK VA2ANK VA2ANK over		CQ CQ CQ This is VA2ANK VA2ANK VA2ANK over
	# If you are heard, your contact may respond with:		# If you are heard, your contact may respond with:
	VA2ANK this is ~~VA2HGQ VA2HGQ VA2HGQ~~ over		VA2ANK this is N7TOV N7TOV N7TOV over
	# If you hear that, you can start your conversation, usually with technical details about the quality of the signal, your location, the weather, etc		# If you hear that, you can start your conversation, usually with technical (RST) details about the quality of the signal, your location, the weather, etc.
	~~VA2HGQ~~ this is VA2ANK thanks for the call. You are 59 here in Montreal and it's a beautiful sunny day outside. The name is Antoine, how do you copy? ~~VA2HGQ~~ this is VA2ANK. Over.		N7TOV this is VA2ANK thanks for the call. You are 5-by-9 here in Montreal and it's a beautiful, sunny day outside. The name is Antoine, how do you copy? N7TOV this is VA2ANK. Over.

	Then you can have your conversation. If the contact is barely audible, you should fall back on the use of phonetics. Example:		Then you can have your conversation. If the contact is barely audible, you should fall back on the use of phonetics. Example:

	~~VA2HGQ~~, this is Victor Alpha Two Alpha November Kilo, I say again Victor Alpha Two Alpha November Kilo. Name here is Antoine, I spell Alpha November Tango Oscar India November Echo. So how do you copy? Back to you. ~~VA2HGQ~~ this is VA2ANK. Over.		N7TOV, this is Victor Alpha Two Alpha November Kilo, I say again Victor Alpha Two Alpha November Kilo. Name here is Antoine, I spell Alpha November Tango Oscar India November Echo. So how do you copy? Back to you. N7TOV this is VA2ANK. Over.

	Reminders:		Reminders:
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	# LSB on 160, 80 and 40m bands		# LSB on 160, 80 and 40m bands
	# USB on 20, 15 and 10m bands		# USB on 20, 15 and 10m bands
	# No phone on 30m (because of the ~~1Khz~~ bandwidth limit)		# No phone on 30m (because of the 1 kHz bandwidth limit)

	==== CW operations ====		==== CW operations ====

TheAnarcat: add tuning section

2010-11-09T05:22:13Z

add tuning section

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:22, 8 November 2010
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	Similar to RIT above, but the transmit frequency is changed while the receive frequency is that shown on the frequency display.		Similar to RIT above, but the transmit frequency is changed while the receive frequency is that shown on the frequency display.

			= Tuning =

			On top of all those knobs and buttons, you need to tune your station to your antenna, if that's not already done. For this, you want to configure your station to send the minimum amount of power (<10W) and make sure you have an [[SWR]] ratio lower than or equal to 2.

	= On the air procedures =		= On the air procedures =

KC2YZK: Rounding out the text a bit /* Passband Tuning */

2010-11-07T20:17:50Z

Rounding out the text a bit Passband Tuning

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:17, 7 November 2010
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	==Passband Tuning==		==Passband Tuning==

	Passband tuning manipulates the tuning circuitry of the ~~transceiver~~, ~~allowing~~ "close together" signals to be separated - one is rejected by the filter, one is allowed to pass through. It is ~~similar to IF shift, where~~ the ~~IF of~~ the ~~transceiver is shifted slightly to tune in slightly off frequency signals.~~		Passband tuning manipulates the tuning circuitry of the receiver.
			* If the filter is made narrower, it allows "close together" signals to be separated - one is rejected by the filter, one is allowed to pass through. This is kind of like the equalizer on a music stereo system---you can turn the bass and treble down to hear the mids more clearly. Narrowing the passband is the best way to pick out narrow band signals (like CW and narrow band digimodes) from a noisy band.
	~~Passband tuning~~ and ~~IF shift are used because simply narrowing~~ down the ~~passband would produce muffling of any audio signals~~. Narrowing ~~down~~ the passband is ~~however~~ the best way to pick out narrow band signals (like CW and narrow band digimodes) from a noisy band.		* If the filter is set to be wider, the listener can hear signals further away from the center frequency. Imagine listening to commercial radio on AM 790. If you have a tuning circuit that has a wide passband, you could simultaneously listen to AM 760, AM 830, etc. This can be useful when you are scanning around looking for a station.
			It is similar to IF shift (Intermediate Frequency shift), where the IF of the transceiver is shifted slightly to tune in slightly off frequency signals.

	External link [http://www2.arrl.org/qst/2005/04/passband.pdf from QST]		External link [http://www2.arrl.org/qst/2005/04/passband.pdf from QST]

KC2YZK: Expanding Acronym /* RF gain */

2010-11-07T19:59:01Z

Expanding Acronym RF gain

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:59, 7 November 2010
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	==RF gain==		==RF gain==

	Controls the amount of pre-amplification in the RX before the first if stage is reached. In some radios, if this is zero, almost no signal will reach the speakers and you will not able to hear anything. The idea here is that the signals you receive on your antenna can be very weak and must be hugely amplified to hear far away stations.		"Radio Frequency Gain". Controls the amount of pre-amplification in the RX before the first if stage is reached. In some radios, if this is zero, almost no signal will reach the speakers and you will not able to hear anything. The idea here is that the signals you receive on your antenna can be very weak and must be hugely amplified to hear far away stations.

	It is very useful in [[QRN]] (natural interference) and other noisy conditions where otherwise SSB stations become unreadable. Take the RF gain back and have a [[QSO]] (conversation) that would be impossible with full gain.		It is very useful in [[QRN]] (natural interference) and other noisy conditions where otherwise SSB stations become unreadable. Take the RF gain back and have a [[QSO]] (conversation) that would be impossible with full gain.

	Some rigs have also a switchable additional RF gain button, that sometimes has also an attenuation function. This in effect just widens the margin of the overall RF gain.		Some rigs have also a switchable additional RF gain button, that sometimes has also an attenuation function. This in effect just widens the margin of the overall RF gain.

	==Squelch==		==Squelch==

KC2YZK: Expanding acronym /* AF gain */

2010-11-07T19:58:42Z

Expanding acronym AF gain

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:58, 7 November 2010
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	==AF gain==		==AF gain==

	Simply the volume control - like the one at your everyday BC radio.		"Audio Frequency Gain". Simply the volume control - like the one at your everyday BC radio.


	==RF gain==		==RF gain==

TheAnarcat: add on the air procedures

2010-10-11T17:16:52Z

add on the air procedures

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Use this page to explain what various functions of a transceiver are and how to use them.
 = Buttons and knobs =
@@ Line 53: / Line 51: @@
 = On the air procedures =
 {{operation}}

TheAnarcat: reorder, clarify

2010-10-11T16:38:43Z

reorder, clarify

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:38, 11 October 2010
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	Related wiki pages [[Apparatus]]		Related wiki pages [[Apparatus]]

			= Buttons and knobs =

			A ham radio has usually zillions of buttons and knobs and dials on its front panel. To the neophyte, those just look very confusing and unhelpful. This aims to clarify this [[jargon]] for you.

	==AF gain==		==AF gain==

	Simply the volume control - like the one at your everyday BC radio.		Simply the volume control - like the one at your everyday BC radio.


			==RF gain==

			Controls the amount of pre-amplification in the RX before the first if stage is reached. In some radios, if this is zero, almost no signal will reach the speakers and you will not able to hear anything. The idea here is that the signals you receive on your antenna can be very weak and must be hugely amplified to hear far away stations.

			It is very useful in [[QRN]] (natural interference) and other noisy conditions where otherwise SSB stations become unreadable. Take the RF gain back and have a [[QSO]] (conversation) that would be impossible with full gain.

			Some rigs have also a switchable additional RF gain button, that sometimes has also an attenuation function. This in effect just widens the margin of the overall RF gain.

			==Squelch==

			Squelch is used to silence the loudspeaker when no signal is present the frequency of operation. In ham radio this will suppress the general static that remains present on most bands and is heard during breaks in the distant station's transmission. Squelch will not remove noise received simultaneously with valid signal; that may only be done with directional [[antenna]]s (to block interference from other directions) or filters (to block specific frequencies).

			At its most basic level, squelch opens the loudspeaker when any signal is present. Another one of the several forms of squelch used in ham radios, [[CTCSS]], requires that a specific tone be present in a received signal - reducing the probability of a [[repeater]] system being triggered by random noise, by adjacent-channel interference or by co-channel interference from DX stations intending to access another repeater on the same frequency in another city.

	==Passband Tuning==		==Passband Tuning==
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	External link [http://www2.arrl.org/qst/2005/04/passband.pdf from QST]		External link [http://www2.arrl.org/qst/2005/04/passband.pdf from QST]

	~~==RF gain==~~

	Controls the amount of pre-amplification in the RX before the first if stage is reached. It is very useful in QRN and other noisy conditions where otherwise SSB stations become unreadable. Take the RF gain back and have a QSO that would be impossible with full gain.
	~~Some rigs have also a switchable additional RF gain button, that sometimes has also an attenuation function. This in effect just widens the margin of the overall RF gain.~~

	==RIT==		==RIT==
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	See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roofing_filter the regular Wikipedia]		See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roofing_filter the regular Wikipedia]

	~~==Squelch==~~

	Squelch is used to silence the loudspeaker when no signal is present the frequency of operation. In ham radio this will suppress the general static that remains present on most bands and is heard during breaks in the distant station's transmission. Squelch will not remove noise received simultaneously with valid signal; that may only be done with directional [[antenna]]s (to block interference from other directions) or filters (to block specific frequencies).

	At its most basic level, squelch opens the loudspeaker when any signal is present. Another one of the several forms of squelch used in ham radios, [[CTCSS]], requires that a specific tone be present in a received signal - reducing the probability of a [[repeater]] system being triggered by random noise, by adjacent-channel interference or by co-channel interference from DX stations intending to access another repeater on the same frequency in another city.

	==XIT==		==XIT==

	Similar to RIT above, but the transmit frequency is changed while the receive frequency is that shown on the frequency display.		Similar to RIT above, but the transmit frequency is changed while the receive frequency is that shown on the frequency display.

			= On the air procedures =

	{{operation}}		{{operation}}

Carlb: /* RIT */

2009-06-17T18:24:17Z

RIT

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:24, 17 June 2009
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	==RIT==		==RIT==

	'''RIT''' : '''R'''eceive '''I'''ndependant of '''T'''ransmit is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different fequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3khz to 10Khz.		'''RIT''' : Receiver Incremental Tuning, '''R'''eceive '''I'''ndependant of '''T'''ransmit is the ability to shift the receive frequency of a transceiver away from the transmit frequency by a small amount. Used in SSB transmissions, it was very useful in older rigs that had frequency stability problems. RIT can also be used to deliberately transmit and receive on different fequencies. This is known as "working split", with the difference in frequencies usually 3khz to 10Khz.

	==Roofing Filters==		==Roofing Filters==