Dictionary of Ham Radio Terms: Difference between revisions

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{{glossary}}
Related wiki pages [[FAQ]]
Related wiki pages [[FAQ]]


When adding information to this page, please link to other pages in the wiki wherever possible.
When adding information to these pages, please link to other pages in the wiki wherever possible.
 
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'''AC''' : Alternating Current
'''AC''' : Alternating Current


'''AF''' : Abbreviation for Audio Frequency. AF is in the range 20Hz to 20 000Hz
'''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.


'''AFC''' : Automatic Frequency Control - used to prevent drift in FM receivers
'''[[ADIF]]''' : Amateur Data Interchange Format, a standard specification for format of exported logbook files.


'''AGC''' : Automatic Gain Control - a feedback system to reduce fading by automatically adjusting gain
'''Admittance''' : The reciprocal of [[Impedance |impedance]] of a component in a series or parallel tuned circuit.


'''Ampere''' :(A) The unit used for measurement of current. Usually abbreviated to Amps
'''AF''' : Abbreviation for Audio Frequency. AF is in the range 20Hz to 20 000Hz


'''[[Electromagnetic Waves |Amplitude]]''' : the height of a wave from the average or median position.
'''AFC''' : Automatic Frequency Control - used to prevent drift in FM receivers


'''AMSAT''' : The name for amateur radio satellite organizations world-wide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
'''AFSK''' : Audio Frequency Shift Keying.


'''AMTOR''' : A specialised form of RTTY protocol. An acronym for AMateur Teleprinting Over Radio.
'''AGC''' : Automatic Gain Control - a feedback system to reduce fading by automatically adjusting gain


'''ARRL''' : The American Amateur Radio League - the national ham radio association for the USA
'''AGL''' : (Height) Above Ground Level, for antenna installations.


'''[[APRS]]''' : Automatic Position Reporting System.
'''ALC''' : Automatic Level Control - a feedback system in the transmitter output amplifier used to prevent overload.


'''[[Attenuators | Attenuator]]''' : A resistive device to reduce the amplitude or power of a signal.
'''[[Current | Ampere]]''' :(A) The unit used for measurement of current. Usually abbreviated to Amps


'''[[ATV]]''' : Amateur Television - "moving picture" ham TV transmissions.
'''[[Electromagnetic Waves |Amplitude]]''' : the height of a wave from the average or median position.


==B==
'''AMSAT''' : The name for amateur radio [[Satellites |satellite]] organizations world-wide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.


'''Balun''' : A passive electronic device that converts between balanced and unbalanced electrical signals using some form of electromagnetic coupling.
'''AM''' : Amlpitude Modulation


'''Balanced Line ''' : parallel conductots at equal and opposite potentials. Neither conductor is at ground poetential.
'''Amplifier''' : A device that is used to increase voltage, current or power.
'''[[Bands |Band]]''' : The portions of the Electromagnetic Spectrum that are allocated to ham radio operators


'''BFO''' : Beat Frequency Oscillator. An oscillator that is mixed with an incoming signal to produse an Audio Frequency (AF tone for CW reception.
'''AMTOR''' : A specialised form of RTTY protocol. An acronym for AMateur Teleprinting Over Radio or AMateur Teletype over Radio.


'''Boat Anchor''' : A slang term used to describe obsolete ham radio gear - often applied to old transceivers
'''Analog''' (also analogue): a continuously varying signal.


'''BPSK''' : (Binary Phase Shift Keying). A digital modulation method for transmitting data.
'''ANC, ANR''' : Active noise control, active noise reduction. Also referred to as automatic noise cancellation or antinoise on some transceivers.


==C==
'''[[Antennas | Antenna]]''': a device to either radiate radio signals or to receive them from another station.


'''[[Callsign Databases#Callsign |Callsign]]''' A unique identifier for each radio amteur throughout the world
'''Antenna Switch''' " A switch used to change the output of a transceiver from one [[Antennas | antenna]] to another.


'''[[Capacitors |Capacitor]]''' : A passive electronic component composed of two conducting plates separated by a dielectric (insulating material).
'''[[Antenna tuner | Antenna Tuner]]''' : A device used to match the output [[Impedance | impedance]] of a transmitter to that of an antenna.


'''CNDX''' : Abbreviation for Conditions
'''Anti-VOX''' : Transceiver circuitry used in voice-operated (VOX) stations to prevent audio from the receiver's speaker from actuating the voice-operated transmitter.


'''[[Coaxial Cable]]''' : Cable that has a central conductor and an outer shield as the second conductor. Known as coaxial because the cable is cylindrical and the conductors share the same central axis.
'''[[APRS]]''' : Automatic Position Reporting System, Automated Packet Reporting System.


'''[[Codes and Alphabets#CW Abbreviations |CW Abbreviations]]''' Used by CW operators to reduce the length of transmissions by shortening words or phrases to a 2 or three letter code
'''[[Clubs|ARC]]''' : Amateur Radio Club (also '''ARA, ARS''' - Amateur Radio Association, Amateur Radio Society) - usually prefixed by the name of the community or region served


'''Conductor''' : A material through which electricity flows easily.
'''[[ARDF]]''' : Amateur Radio Direction Finding


'''CQ''' : Request for contact - specifically "calling any operator"
'''[[ARES]]''' : Amateur Radio Disaster Services, Amateur Radio Emergency Services


'''CTCSS''' : Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch Syatem - a sub audible tone that is frequently used on repeaters. The signal "opens" the repeater for use.
'''[[ARRL]]''' : The American Radio Relay League [http://www.arrl.org/]- the national ham radio association for the USA


'''Current''' : The flow of electicity through a conductor - usually associated with electron movement, but current is actually the transfer of charge between atoms.
'''[[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.


'''CW''' : Continuous wave - used in morse code transmissions.
'''ASL''' : '''A'''bove '''S'''ea '''L'''evel. Vertical height in metres or feet above sea level.


==D==
'''[[Attenuators | Attenuator]]''' : A resistive device to reduce the amplitude or power of a signal.


'''dB''' : Decibel - the rato of two power measurements.
'''ATS''' : Automatic Transfer Switch, switches equipment to a backup power supply in event of power failure.


'''dBd''' : dB relative to a dipole
'''[[ATV]]''' : Amateur Television - "moving picture" ham TV transmissions.
 
'''dBi''' : dB relative to a theoretical isotropic (point) source.
 
''' De or DE''' : "this is" or "from" - for example an operator may use VL2TK de VK4ZW .......
 
'''[[Dipole]]''' : An antenna with two sides, usually of equal length.
 
'''[[Dish or Parabola | Dish]]''' : A highly directional [[Antennas|antenna]], parabolic in shape. Often used at [[Microwave and other bands |microwave]] frequencies.
 
'''DTMF''' Dual Tone Multi Frequency - the allocation of a unique tone to each button on an appliance (made up of two frequencies - high and low) that allows a computer to recognize the tone.
 
'''[[Dummy load |Dummy Load]]''' : An artificial [[Antennas |antenna]] that does not radiate. used when alligning transceivers.
 
'''Duplex''' : Transmit and receive are on two different frequencies - often use in repeaters with a shift (difference) of 600Hz.
 
'''[[DXCC]]''' : DX Century Club
 
'''DX''' : Distance or distant station
 
==E==
 
'''[[Electromagnetic Waves]]''' : The waves emmitted by an [[Antennas |antenna]], having two dimensions, electric and magnetic.
 
'''EHF''' : Extremely High Frequency - from 30GHz to 300GHz
 
'''EME''' : Earthe Moon Earth - bouncing a signal off the moon to a remote station that would not normally be accessible.
 
'''EMF''' : Electromotive Force - Voltage
 
'''EMI''' : Electromagnetic Interference.
 
==F==
 
'''[[Feedlines|Feedline]]''' : The wire or cable that joins a [[Transceivers |transmitter]] or [[Receivers |receiver]] to an [[Antennas |antenna]]
 
'''[[Filters |Filter]]''' : An electric circuit (often called a network) that allows certain frequencies to pass but rejects (attenuates) other unwanted frequencies.
 
'''[[Electromagnetic Waves |Frequency]]''': The number of complete waves that pass a reference point per second. Expressed in Hertz (Hz)
 
''' Fuse''' : A device that self destructs when too much current passes through it - used for circuit protection.
 
==G==
 
'''[[Gain |Gain]]''' : How much more effective an [[Antenna |antenna]] is as a radiator than a half wave [[Dipole |dipole]]
 
'''Ground''' : A direct connection from electrical equipment to the Earth - often achieved by driving a conducting spike into the ground, and connecting equipment to it.
 
'''GMT''' : Greenwich Mean Time - the time at Greenwich UK. Also known as zulu and UTC
 
==H==
 
'''[[Harmonics | Harmonic]] : Multiples and sub multiples of the frequency of a reference equation
 
'''Henry''' :(H)  The unit for [[Inductors |inductance]]
 
'''Hertz''' : Hz - The unit of measure for [[Frequency Wavelength and Period |frequency]].
 
'''[[HF]]''' : High Frequency. Frequencies in the range 3MHz to 30MHz
 
==I==
 
'''[[Inductors | Inductance]]''' : A measure of how well a coil stores energy in the form of a magnetic field.
 
'''Insulator''' : A substance through which electricity does not pass easily - known as a dielectric in [[Capacitors | capacitors]]
 
'''[[IRLP]]''' Internet Radio Linking Project. A method of linking cross-world linking of repeaters so that very basic equipment can be used to communicate with hams in other countries.
 
==J==
 
'''[[International Events#Jota Jamboree on the air|JOTA]]''' : Jamboree On The Air - an annual event in which scouts worldwide can communicate with each other and radio amateurs using ham radio equipment.
 
==K==
 
'''Kilohertz''' : one thousand Hertz (Hz) or one thousand cycles per second.
 
==L==
 
'''[[Log Periodic (LPDA) |LPDA]]''' : Log Periodic Dipole Array. A multiband [[Antenna]]
 
==M==
 
'''[[Microphones |Microphone]]''' : A device that converts voice into electrical signals.
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#Morse Code |Morse Code]]''' The code used by [[CW]] operators instead of voice communications
 
==N==
 
==O==
 
'''Ohm''' : (<math> \Omega</math>) The unit for [[Resistors | resistance]]
 
'''OM''' : Abbreviation meaning Old Man
 
'''OSCAR''' : Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio
 
'''OCF''' : Off Centre Fed [[Dipole]]. A dipole that has sides of unequal length. These are multiband wire antennas
 
==P==
 
'''[[Electromagnetic Waves |Period]]''' : the time it taks in seconds for a complete wave to pass a reference point.
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#Phonetic Alphabet |Phonetic Alphabet]]''' Specific, easily identfiable, non-confusable words are used instead of the letters of the alphabet.
 
'''[[Propagation]]''' : How well a signal is transferred from the sending station to the receiving station.
 
'''PSK''' : Phase Shift Keying - a digital mode.
 
==Q==
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#Q Code |Q Code]]''' Three letter codes used instead of sentences or phrases.
 
'''QRM''' : Man made noise. Can be used to indicate noise interfering with an amateur station or an amateur station interfering with other spectrum users.
 
'''QRN''' : Electromagnetic noise from natural sources interfering with amateur transmissions.
 
'''[[QRP]]''' : Low power operations - usually understood to mean power at or below 5 watts.
 
'''QRPp''' : Very low power operation - at or below 1 Watt.
 
'''[[QSL]]''' : Confirmation of receipt of transmission
 
==R==
 
'''RSGB''' : Radio Society of Great Britain - national amateur radio organisation of UK.
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#RSQ code |RSQ code]]'''  Used to describe the readability, strength and quality of digital modes.
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#RST code | RST code]]''' Used to describe the readability, strength and tone of voice or CW transmissions.
 
'''[[Codes and Alphabets#RSV code |RSV code]]''' used to describe the readability, stength and video quality of SSTV transmissions
 
''RX'' : Abbreviation for receive or receiver
 
==S==
 
'''[[SSTV]]''' : Slow Scan Television - still picture ham transmissions.
 
'''[[SWR]]''' : Standing Wave Ratio. The ratio of the height of a standing wave on a transmission line to the height of an adjacent node.
 
==T==
 
'''Transmission Line''' : Also known as [[Feedlines |feedline]].
 
'''TX''' : Abbreviation for transmit or transmission
 
==U==
 
'''[[UHF]]''' : Ultra High Frequency. Frequencies in the range 300MHz to 3 000MHz
 
==V==
 
'''[[VHF]]''' : Very High Frequency. Frequencies in the range 30MHz to 300MHz
 
==W==
 
'''[[Electromagnetic Waves |Wavelength]]''' : The distance in metres between corresponding points on a wave.
 
'''WIA''' : Wireless Institute of Australia. The national organisation for Australian hams.
 
'''[[WSPR |WSPR]]''' :  '''W'''eak '''S'''ignal '''P'''ropagation '''R'''eporter.
 
'''[[WSJT |WSJT]]''' : '''W'''eak '''S'''ignal '''J'''oe '''T'''aylor - named after Joe Taylor who wrote the software.
 
==X==
 
'''XCVR''' : Transceiver
 
'''XTAL''' : Crystal
 
'''XYL''' : Wife of an amteur operator
 
==Y==
 
'''YL''' : Abbreviation for Young lady


==Z==
'''Az/El''' : used to describe an antenna rotator that can change both the '''Az'''imuth (horizontal) and the '''E'''levation (vertical) direction of the antenna.


'''Zulu''' : (z) Time compared to GMT. Also known as UTC
'''Azimuth''' : The horizontal direction (angle) measured clockwise from North.


==Numbers==


73 : Goodbye


88 : Love and Kisses
{{operation}}

Latest revision as of 00:54, 2 April 2011

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
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