half duplex - (Repeater Term) a communications mode in which a radio transmits and receives on two different frequencies but performs only one of these operations at any given time (see "duplex" and "full duplex")
half-wave dipole
- the basic antenna consisting of a length of wire or tubing, open and fed at the
center. The entire antenna is ½ wavelength long at the desired operating frequency.
half-wave rectifier
- a circuit that allows only half of the applied ac waveform to pass through it.
hand-held - (Repeater Term) a small, lightweight portable transceiver small enough to be carried easily; also called HT (for Handie-Talkie, a Motorola trademark).
hang time - (Repeater Term) the short period following a transmission that allows others who want to access the repeater a chance to do so; a courtesy beep sounds when the repeater is ready to accept another transmission.
ham - an amateur radio operator. See Origins
hamfest - ham festival, a social and commercial event at which hams meet to buy, sell, and swap equipment - See URL: HamFests
handle - A radio operator’s name. Kinda unnecessary -- just say the name is. But lotsa old timers use handle.
harmonic - a signal at a multiple of the fundamental frequency. Also a slang term for the children of an Amateur.
HDTV - High Definition Television
HDX - Half-duplex. A communication system in which stations take turns transmitting and receiving.
Hertz - the standard unit used to measure frequency (one Hertz equals one complete cycle per second)
HF - High Frequency - 3 MHz to 30 MHz
hi hi - ha ha (laughter)
high-pass filter - a filter designed to pass high frequency signals, while blocking lower frequency signals.
homebrew - term for home-built, noncommercial radio equipment.
hop - communication between stations by reflecting the radio waves off of the ionosphere.
horizontally polarized wave - an electromagnetic wave with its electric lines of force parallel to the ground.
HT - (Repeater Term) Handi-Talkie - a small hand held radio
Hz - (see Hertz)
I (intensity) symbol for current in an electric circuit, measured in Amperes
IARU - International Amateur Radio Union - worldwide ham radio organization whose members consist of the official radio society from each participating country. See IARU
IC - Integrated circuit.
ID -- Identification, as announcing station callsign at intervals specified by Part 97 of the FCC Rules and Regulations.
IF - Intermediate Frequency -- Intermediate frequency, resultant frequency from heterodyning the carrier frequency with an oscillator, mixing incoming signals to an intermediate frequency enhances amplification, filtering and the processing signals. Desirable to have more than one IF.
image - A false signal produced in a superheterdyne receiver’s circuitry.
impedance: The opposition to the flow of electric current and radio energy; it is measured in ohms (symbol is Z). For best performance, the impedance of an antenna, the feedline, and the antenna connector on a radio should be approximately equal.
inductance - a measure of the ability of a coil to store energy in a magnetic field.
inductor - an electrical component usually composed of a coil of wire wound on a central core. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field.
input frequency - (Repeater Term) the frequency of the repeater's receiver (and your transceiver's transmitter).
intermod - Short for "intermodulation," this means false or spurious signals produced by two or more signals mixing in a receiver or repeater station.
intermodulation distortion (IMD -- (Repeater Term) the unwanted mixing of two strong RIF signals that causes a signal to be transmitted on an unintended frequency.
I/O - Input/Output
ionosphere - The electrically charged region of the Earth’s atmosphere located approximately 40 to 400 miles above the Earth’s surface that refracts radio signals.
IOTA - Islands On The Air - See URL: IOTA
IRC - International Reply Coupon: A coupon that can be purchased at post offices which can be exchanged in foreign countries for return postage for a surface mail letter to the country that issued the coupon. See IRC's
IRLP Radio Linking Project. Uses a network protocol called VoIP (Voice over IP). There are now nearly 800+ repeaters around the world connected by the internet through the Amateur radio internet radio linking project, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. URL: IRLP
isotropic - Theoretical "Single Point" antenna used calculate gain.
ITU - International Telecommunications Union, the body which specifies worldwide guidelines concerning the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for communications purposes. See ITU
J antenna (J pole) - a mechanically modified version of the zepp (zeppelin) antenna. It consists of a half-wavelength radiator fed by a quarter-wave matching stub. This antenna does not require the ground plane that ¼-wave antennas do to work properly.
jam - cause intentional interference
JFET - Junction field-effect transistor.
JOTA - Jamboree on the Air -- an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all over the world make contact with each other by means of amateur radio. See URL: ARRL JOTA
jug -- Large transmitting tubes, klystrons, magnetrons
jury rig -- Fix in an unorthodox manner
kc - (see "kilocycles")
kilo - the metric prefix for 10^3, or times 1,000
K- index - A measure of the Earth’s magnetic field as measured at Boulder, Colorado. Propagation conditions improve with lower measurement numbers. See URL: Propagation
kerchunking - activating a repeater without identifying or modulating the carrier.
key - (noun) any switch or button, usually refers to a telegraph or Morse code key
key - (verb) to press a key or button
keyer - Electronic device for sending Morse Code semi-automatically; connects to a key (see above). Dits are sent by pressing one paddle of the key, dahs sent by pressing the other one paddle.
key up - (Repeater Term) to turn on a repeater by transmitting on its input frequency.
key up - (verb) to activate a transmitter or repeater
kilocycles - thousand cycles per second. Replaced by kiloHertz (kHz)
kilohertz - one thousand hertz (see "hertz")
ladder line -- an open wire transmission line -- 600, 450 ohm characteristic impedances are typical.
landline
-- ham slang for telephone (lines)
LCD
- Liquid Crystal Display
LED - Light-emitting diode
LF - Low Frequency - 30 kHz to 300 kHz
lid - a poor operator, one who does not follow proper procedures or sends sloppy morse code.
limiter - (Repeater Term) a stage of an FM receiver that clips the tops of the FM signal thus makes the receiver less sensitive to amplitude variations and pulse noise.
linear - an amplifier used after the transceiver output. So named for its purity of amplification. Linear, in the mathematical sense, means that what comes out is directly proportional to what goes in. As far as linear amps go, if you double the input, the output is doubled and so on. This does not generate any additional frequency byproducts. If the amp is nonlinear, sums, differences and all combinations of those are generated also.
line-of-sight propagation - the term used to describe propagation in a straight line directly from one station to another.
load - an electrical device which consumes, converts, or emanates energy
local oscillator (LO) - a receiver circuit that generates a stable, pure signal used to mix with the received RF to produce a signal at the receiver intermediate frequency (IF).
long path - short path -- in degrees - the direct great signal bearing path between two locations. Long path is the reciprocal bearing.
lollipop - ham term for an Astatic D-104 microphone
LORAN - Long Range Aid to Navigation.
lowfer - One who experiments at very low frequencies (typically 1750 Meters, which is 160-190 kHz and can be used under FCC Part 15).
low-pass filter - a filter that allows signals below the cutoff frequency to pass through and attenuates signals above the cutoff frequency.
LSB - Lower Side Band - See URL: Modulation Modes - the common single-sideband operating mode on the 40, 80, and 160 meter amateur bands.
LW - Long Wave 150 - 300 KHz
mA milliampere (1/1,000 ampere)
machine - a repeater
magnetic mount or mag-mount - (Repeater Term) an antenna with a magnetic base that permits quick installation and removal from a motor vehicle or other metal surface.
mA/h - milliampere per hour
making the trip -- jargon for "successfully transmitting a readable message"
MARS - Military Affiliate Radio System, military affiliated amateurs who provide free communications for overseas GIs and other Federal services. MARS operators are licensed under DOD. Established 1948.
matchbox - Normally called an Antenna Tuner. Impedance-matching device that matches the antenna system input impedance to the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver output impedance.
MC - (see megacycles)
MCW - Modulated Continuous Wave, a fixed audio tone modulates a carrier, older method of sending Morse code - See URL: Modulation Modes
mega - the metric prefix for 10^6, or times 1,000,000.
megacycles - million cycles per second. This terminology has been replaced by MegaHertz (MHz)
megahertz - million hertz (see Hertz)
meteor scatter - ionized trails of meteors used as a reflecting media See URL: Propagation
MF - Medium Frequency - (300-3,000 kHz)
mic (mike) - microphone - a device that converts sound waves into electrical energy.
micro - the metric prefix for 10^-6, or divide by 1,000,000.
microwave - the region of the radio spectrum above 1 giga hertz (GHz).
mil 1/1000 of an inch. Also mill a special typewriter used by radio operators in copying messages
milli - the metric prefix for 10^-3, or divide by 1,000.
mixer - a circuit that takes two or more input signals, and produces an output that includes the sum and difference of those signal frequencies.
mW - milliwatt (1/1,000 watt)
mobile - an amateur radio station installed in a vehicle - a mobile station can be used while in MOTION. A portable station is one that is designed to be easily moved from place to place but can only be used while stopped.
mode - (see emission mode)
modem - short for modulator/demodulator. A modem modulates a radio signal to transmit data and demodulates a receive signal to recover transmitted data.
modulate - create a radio emission so that it contains information (voice, Morse code, music, binary, ascii)- See URL: Modulation Modes
modulation Index - (Repeater Term) the ratio between the maximum carrier frequency deviation and the audio modulating frequency at a given instant in an FM transmitter.
MOSFET - Metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect transistor
motorboating -- an undesirable low frequency feedback resulting in a motorboat sound on the audio
MUF - Maximum Usable Frequency, a measure of the highest frequency that will support transmissions off of the ionosphere.
multimode transceiver - transceiver capable of SSB, CW, AM, and FM operation.
mV - millivolt (1/1,000 volt)
MW - Medium Wave - 300 - 3000 kHz. Also used for the AM broadcast band - 530-1710 kHz
NB - Narrow band. Also noise Blanker
NBFM - narrow band FM
NCS
- Net Control Station
near field of an antenna
- the region of the electromagnetic field immediately surrounding an antenna where the reactive
field dominates and where the field strength as a function of angle (antenna pattern) depends upon the distance from the
antenna. It is a region in which the electric and magnetic fields do not have a substantial plane-wave character, but vary
considerably from point-to-point.
negative - no, incorrect
negative copy - unsuccessful transmission
negative feedback - the process in which a portion of the amplifier output is returned to the input, 180 degrees out of phase with the input signal. Improves linearity and reduces distortion.
negative offset - the repeater input frequency is lower than the output frequency.
net - A group of stations that meet on a specified frequency at a certain time. The net is organized and directed by a net control station, who calls the net to order, recognizes stations entering and leaving the net, and authorizes stations to transmit.
NiCad - Nickel Cadmium, generally refers to a type of rechargeable battery
nickels -- used on DX nets as a signal report 5x5
NiMH - Nickel Metal Hydride, generally refers to a newer type of rechargeable battery
NODE - A remotely controlled TNC/digipeater - used as a connect point in packet radio.
NPN - A type of transistor that has a layer of P-type semiconductor material sandwiched between layers of N-type
semiconductor material.
NTS - National Traffic System - an amateur radio relay system for passing messages.
NTSC - National Television System Committee (NOT National Television Standards Committee) - USA and others TV Standards.
OC - Oceania
odd split - unconventional frequency separation between input and output frequencies.
offset - (Repeater Term) In order to listen and transmit at the same time, repeaters use two different frequencies. On the 2 metre ham band these frequencies are 600 kilocycles/second (or 600 kilohertz) apart. As a general rule, if the output frequency (transmit) of the repeater is below 147 Mhz then the input frequency (listening) is 600 kilohertz lower. This is referred to as a negative offset. If the output is above 147 Mhz then the input is 600 kilohertz above. This is referred to as a positive offset.
Ohm - The fundamental unit of resistance. one Ohm is the resistance offered when a potential of one Volt results in a current of one Ampere.
old man (OM) - friendship term, friend, pal or buddy
OM - (see old man)
OO - Official Observer volunteer who monitors the Amateur Bands for infractions
open repeater - (Repeater Term) a repeater whose access is not limited.
OSCAR - Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio.
oscillate - vibrate, generate an AC or other periodic signal
oscilloscope - an electronic test instrument used to observe wave forms and voltages on a cathode-ray tube. Displays time on the X-axis and amplitude on the Y-axis, Z-axis is intensity of the CRT spot.
OT - old timer - been around ham radio for a long time
OTC - Old Timer's Club
OTS - Official Traffic Station
output frequency - (Repeater Term) the frequency of the repeater's transmitter (and your transceiver's receiver).
over - used during a two way communication under difficult copy - to alert the other station that you are returning the communication back to them. Other terms are Cambio (change), microphone to you, and in CW the letter K is used as an invitation to transmit. Not necessary on 2 Meter FM repeaters, as the courtesy beep serves this function.
P-P Peak-to-peak; as in peak-to-peak voltage
PA - Power amplifier
packet cluster - A Network of automated packet radio stations for disseminating DX and contest reports
packet radio - a system of digital communication whereby information is transmitted in short bursts. The bursts ("packets") also contain callsign, addressing and error detection information.
paddle - Morse code key
PAL - Phase Alteration Line. Television standard used in parts of Europe.
parallel circuit
- an electrical circuit in which the electrons follow thru more than one path in going from the negative supply
terminal to the positive terminal.
parallel-conductor feed line
- feed line constructed of two wires held at a constant distance apart; either incased in plastic
or constructed with insulating spacers placed at intervals along the line.
parasitic beam antenna
- another name for the beam antenna.
parasitic element -
part of a directive antenna that derives energy from mutual coupling with the driven element. Parasitic
elements are not connected directly to the feed line.
parasitic - Oscillations in a transmitter on frequencies other than the desired one; these can produce spurious signals from the transmitter.
path noise - (Repeater Term) A term used in repeaters to indicate that the signal is so weak that the limiters have not engaged thus noise on the signal will be heard -- this is referred to as path noise and sometimes as (incorrectly) White Noise (See Same)
PBBS - Packet Bulletin Board System
PC - Printed Circuit
PCM - pulse code modulation based on the Shannon's communication theory or "information theory" that describes his "sampling theorem"
PEP
- Peak envelope power - the average power of a signal at its largest amplitude peak.
peak-inverse-voltage (PIV)
- the maximum voltage a diode can withstand when it is reverse biased (not conducting).
personal - first name - as in "the personal here is Bob" -- CB jargon that has crept into Ham jargon - old timers shudder
phase
- the time interval between one event and another in a regularly recurring cycle.
phase modulation
- varying the phase of an RF carrier in response to the instantaneous changes in an audio signal.
phone - voice modulation - See URL: Modulation Modes
phone patch
- A connection between a two-way radio unit and the public telephone system.
PIC - PIC is a family of Harvard architecture microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology, derived from the PIC1640 originally developed by General Instrument's Microelectronics Division. The name PIC initially referred to "Programmable Interface Controller".
picket fencing
- (Repeater Term) A condition experienced on VHF and above where a signal rapidly fluctuates in amplitude causing a sound akin to rubbing a stick on a picket fence.
If a repeater user's signal isn't strong enough to maintain solid access to the machine's input (such as when
operating from a vehicle passing beneath underpasses or through hilly terrain), the signal would be hard
to copy because of a pronounced, rapid fluttery or choppy characteristic.
pico
- the metric prefix for 10^-12, or divide by 1,000,000,000,000.
pileup - multiple stations calling a DX or contest station
PIN Positive-intrinsic-negative (transistor or diode)
ping jockey - Slang for meteor-scatter operator
pirate - Station using an existing callsign and illegally operating on the air
PL - (Repeater Term) Private Line (same as CTCSS)-- low frequency audio tones used to alert or control receiving stations. PL, an acronym for Private Line, is Motorola's proprietary name for a communications industry signaling scheme call the Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System, or CTCSS. It is used to prevent a repeater from responding to unwanted signals or interference. Tone is an electronic means of allowing a repeater to respond only to stations that encode or send the proper tone. Any station may be set up to transmit this unique low frequency tone that allows the repeater to operate. Also used during the AutoPatch mode. See PL
PLL- Phase-lock loop
PM - Phase Modulation, similar to Frequency Modulation - See URL: Modulation Modes
P.M. - Post Meridian (after noon).
PNP - a type of transistor that has a layer of N-type semiconductor sandwiched between layers of P-type semiconductor material.
pole-pig - another name for a step down transformer used by power transmission companies. Some surplus units can be reverse wired and used as the transformers in a Ham radio high voltage supplies.
portable - A mobile is a amateur radio station installed in a vehicle - a mobile station can be used while in MOTION. A portable station is one that is designed to be easily moved from place to place but can only be used while stopped. Portable operation is away from the home base station.
positive offset - (Repeater Term) the repeater input frequency is higher than the output frequency.
pot - Potentiometer - Continuously variable resistor often used for adjusting levels, as in volume control.
PRB - Private Radio Bureau, administers Amateur services
product detector - A receiver circuit consisting of a beat frequency oscillator and additional circuitry for enhanced reception of SSB signals.
PROM Programmable read-only memory
propagation - the means or path by which a radio signal travels from a transmitting station to a receiving station - See URL Propagation
PSK31 - A digital transmission mode -- Phase Shift keying with 31.25 baud rate - See PSK31
PTO Permeability tuned oscillator
PTT - Push To Talk, the switch in a transmitter circuit that activates the microphone and transmission circuitry
pull the plug -- shut down the station
Q (Quebec)
Note that many Hams use Q-Signals verbally, but they originated
in CW communications, QTH is "my Location", "QSY is change
frequency", etc -- See Q-Signals
Q - A figure of merit for tuned circuits. For antennas, the Q is inversely proportional to useable bandwidth, with reasonable SWR.
quad - A directional antenna consisting of two one-wavelength "squares" of wire placed a quarter-wavelength apart.
Q-signals - a set of three-letter codes which are used by amateurs as abbreviations. Commonly used on both CW and phone. See URL: Q-Signals
QCWA - Quarter Century Wireless Association -- requires 25 years of amateur service for membership.
QRP - Low power operation, usually 5 watts output or 10 watts input power. See QRP operation
QSL - to acknowledge receipt. Commonly used to indicate "I understand", "I coped your transmission (or report) all OK". Also used as a term for sending cards by mail to confirm a two way contact with a station, such as QSL via the bureau. (See BURRO or bureau). See URL: QSLing
QSL Manager - A person, usually an Amateur Radio operator, who manages the receiving and sending of QSL cards for a managed station). A QSL Manager is needed because the managed station either has difficulty handling the volume of incoming QSL cards, or the station is geographically located such that it is difficult or impossible for that station to accept and/or send QSL cards. It is very common for "rare" DX stations and DXpeditions to have a QSL Manager.
QSO - two way conversation
Quagi -- an antenna constructed with both quad and yagi elements
RADAR - Radio detection and ranging.
RAC - Radio Amateurs of Canada, a national amateur radio organization in Canada - See leagues
RACES - Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - See Emergency Pages
radio check
- query from a station desiring a report on his stations
signal strength and
audio quality
ragchewing - chatting informally via radio
RAM - Random Access Memory
R/C - Radio-control
RCC Rag Chewers Club
rcvr - receiver
RDF - Radio Direction Finding
reactance - the opposition to current that a capacitor or inductor creates in an ac circuit.
reflector
-
(1.an element behind the driven element in an Yagi and some other directional antennas.
(2. IRLP Reflector -- a server that allows multiple nodes (repeaters) to be
linked together at the same time. (3. a mail list that forwards news to the
subscribers, e.g., DX Reflector, Contest Reflector.
refract - to bend. Electromagnetic energy is refracted when it passes through a boundary between different types of material much as light is refracted as it travels from air into water or from water into air.
repeater - A repeater is a receiver/transmitter that listens for your transmission and re-transmits it. Repeaters usually enjoy the advantage of height and power to extend the range of your transmission. Repeaters listen on one frequency and transmit on another. The separation between these two frequencies is referred to as the Offset. See Repeater Operation
repeater directory - an annual ARRL publication that lists repeaters in the US, Canada and other areas. See ARRL Repeater Directory
resonance - A condition where Xc = XL, establishing a resonant circuit - used for selectivity (parallel circuit) or a maximum impedance circuit (series)
reset applies to when a repeater timer is reset back to zero and normally occurs when the carrier of the transmitter drops.
Rettysnitch
- A fictional torture device for bad
hams.
RF
- Radio Frequency, emissions in the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
RFI - Radio Frequency Interference
RG
- As in RG-8 Coax -- RG = (1) Radio Guide or (2) Radio Group as opposed to Electrical Group or Telephone Group
rice box
- equipment made in Japan or the Orient
rig - a radio (transmitter, receiver, or transceiver)
RIT
- Receiver incremental tuning. Also known as a Clarifier
RMS - Root mean square
roger -- I understand - Received 100% In CW "R"
-- See Origins
roger beep - a dit-dah-dit sent at the end of a transmission
ROM - Read-only memory
rotor - (see "rotator")
rotator - a device attached to an antenna mast which rotates it so that the antenna can point in different directions. Years ago this device was simply called a "rotor"
Rover - A station that operates from several grid squares
or counties during a contest
RS-232 Computer interface standard set by the Electronics Industries Association
(EIA).
RST - "Readability, Signal, and Tone", a three-digit report indicating how well an operator's emissions are being received.
See RST System
RTMA
- Radio Television Manufacturers Association.
RTTY - radio teletype - A form of digital communications.
rubber duck - A shortened flexible antenna used with hand-held scanners and transceivers.
rx
- receiver, receive
SAREX
- Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, communicating with astronauts in space.
See SAREX
SASE
- Self-addressed, stamped envelope
SEC
- Section Emergency Coordinator
SECAM Séquentiel
Couleur Avec Mémoire (French Color TV Standard)
selectivity
- Ability of a receiver to reject signals adjacent to tuned signal.
sensitivity
- A receivers ability to receive weak signals.
separation
or split the difference (in kHz) between a repeater's transmitter and
receiver frequencies. Repeaters that use unusual separations, such as 1 MHz on
2 m, are sometimes said to have "oddball splits."
series circuit
- an electrical circuit in which all the electrons must flow through every part of the
circuit. There is only one path for the electrons to flow.
SFI
- Solar Flux Index - See Propagation
shack
- Ham station operating area
SHF
- Super High Frequency 3 - 30 GHz
short path
-- in degrees - the direct great
signal bearing path between two locations. Long path is the reciprocal
bearing.
signal
- a radio emission
silent key
- a deceased amateur operator
simplex
- a communications mode in which a radio transmits and receives on the same frequency
SINAD
- Signal to noise and distortion ratio
single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch : a switch that connects one center contact to
one of two other contacts.
SINPO
- A reporting system used by radio hobbyists to indicate how well a station was received: S=Strength, I=Interference, N=Noise, P=Propagation, O=Overall
SITOR-A
- Simplex teleprinting over radio system, mode A
SITOR-B
- Simplex teleprinting over radio system, mode B (FEC mode)
SK
- Silent Key, an amateur term for indicating that a ham has passed away. Also one of the prosigns -- meaning "end of contact", See prosigns at URL:
Prosigns
skip zone
- dead zone, too far for ground wave propagation and too near for sky wave propagation
skyhook
- antenna
sky wave propagation
- the transmitting of radio waves which reflect off of the ionosphere - See Propagation
slim
- Someone pretending to be a DX station, usually rare, that is supposed to be on the air. For example, someone in southern Argentina pretending to be on Heard Island
slop jar
- an electrolytic rectifier -
electrolytic rectifiers were common in the late '20s and early 30s. One "cell" consisted of two strips of
dissimilar metals in a caustic potash (lye) solution. Many cells were needed for a high voltage supply.
SM
- Section Manager
S-Meter
- Signal Strength Meter -- See S-Units at URL: S-Units
S/N
- Signal-to-noise ratio
spark gap
- an early transmitter design which used electrical sparks to generate radio frequency oscillations
spectrum
- the electromagnetic spectrum or some portion of it
speech processor
- A circuit that increases the average level of the modulating signal applied to a transmitter.
splatter
- a type of interference to stations on nearby frequencies. Splatter occurs when a transmitter is
overmodulated.
split
or separation -
(Repeater Term)
the difference (in kHz) between a repeater's transmitter and
receiver frequencies. Repeaters that use unusual separations, such as 1 MHz on
2 m, are sometimes said to have "oddball splits."
split - DX
stations often operate split -- that is transmitting on one frequency and
listening at a different frequency or range of frequencies. This avoids
congestion on the DX transmit frequency.
sporadic-E
- Random patches of intense ionization that form in the E-layer of the ionosphere and refract higher frequency signals that normally cannot be refracted by the ionosphere.
SPST
- Single Pole Single Throw (switch)
spurs
- Spurious Signals - Undesired signals and frequencies in the output of a transmitter.
SQL
- Squelch - A circuit that mutes the receiver when no signal is present,
thereby eliminating band noise
squelch tail
- (Repeater Term) A brief bit of noise heard between the end of a radio transmission and the reactivation of the receiver’s squelch circuit.
SSB
- Single Side Band - See URL: Modulation Modes
SSBSC
- Single side band - suppressed carrier.
SSN
- Sunspot Number -- See Propagation
SSTV
- Slow Scan Television
straight key
- a non-electronic Morse code key with one paddle
stub - A
transmission line 'stub' is a length of transmission line that is open or
shorted at one end. It is effectively a capacitor or inductor, depending on
length, and can be used to achieve a match [VSWR = 1:1] if connected at a
selected point in the basic transmission line.
superheterodyne
- a radio receiver scheme which beats or heterodynes a second radio frequency to the incoming radio signals. The combined frequencies form an intermediate (IF) third frequency. Aids in selectivity characteristics.
SW
- Short Wave
SWL
- Short Wave Listening
-- See SWL
SWR
- Standing Wave Ratio, a measure of how much radio energy sent into an antenna system is being reflected back to the transmitter.
See SWR
SWR meter
- a device used to determine the Standing Wave Ratio of an antenna system
synch.
detection
- Synchronous detection is an ingenious method of processing an AM signal to improve audio quality and reduce interference from adjacent stations.
TCXO
- Temperature-compensated crystal oscillator.
telegraphy
- the transmission of information in Morse code format - See URL:
Modulation Modes
telephony
- the transmission of information in voice format - See URL: Modulation Modes
third-party communications
- messages passed from one amateur to another on behalf of a third person.
TI
- Talk-In Frequency
ticket
-
slang for an amateur radio license
timer
- repeaters often incorporate a timer or transmit time limiter to control
the length of a single transmission from a user. The time limit is set by the repeater owner.
time-out
- Excessively long transmission on a repeater causing the repeater’s timer circuit to stop further transmissions
(Slang - the alligator gottcha)
tone
pad
an array of 12 or 16 numbered keys that generate the standard telephone
dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) dialing
signals. Resembles a standard telephone keypad. (see autopatch)
TOR
- Telex over radio.
TNC
- Terminal Node Controller, a device which interfaces a computer to a transceiver and performs a function similar to a modem
TNC
- Threaded Niell-Concelman (standard connector type used on Coax cable, named for its inventors).
top
band -- 160 Meter Ham Band (highest
number meter band)
TP - test point
traffic - a message or messages sent by radio
transceiver - a radio that both transmits and receives
triplexer
-- see diplexer.
tropospheric ducting - Propagation of signals above 30 MHz via bending and ducting along weather fronts in the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, the troposphere.
TRX
- Transceiver
TTL Transistor-Transistor Logic
TV - Television
TVI - Television interference
twisted pair
- ham slang for telephone
or telephone lines
two-tone test
- A method of testing a side-band transmitter by feeding two audio tones into the microphone input of
the transmitter and observing the output on an oscilloscope.
tx - transmit, transmitter
UHF
- Ultra High Frequency 300 - 3000 MHz
Uncle Charlie
- The FCC
unun
- "unbalance - unbalance", a device which couples an unbalanced antenna of one
impedance to an unbalanced feed line of another
impedance
uplink
- Channel used for earth-to-satellite communications.
URL
- Universal Resource Locator
USB
- Upper Side Band the common single-sideband operating mode on the 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter HF amateur
bands, and all the VHF and UHF bands.
UTC
- Coordinated Universal Time , the time (expressed in 24-hour format) at the 0-degree Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England.
utility
stations
- Stations other than broadcast, or amateur stations;
these stations are not intended to be heard by the public.
They include aircraft communications, radiotelephone, marine, embassy, and military communications.
V
- Volt (unit of electromotive force {EMF}).
VA
- Volt Amperes -
measure of apparent power. (Note true power is I squared x R)
VAC
- Volts Alternating Current.
varactor diode
- a component whose capacitance varies as the reverse bias voltage is changed.
VCO
- Voltage-controller oscillator
VDT
- Video-display terminal
VE
- Volunteer Examiner, a person authorized to administer examinations for amateur radio licenses
VEC
- Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, an amateur radio organization empowered by the FCC to recruit, organize, regulate and coordinate Volunteer Examiners.
VFO
- Variable Frequency Oscillator
velocity factor
- the speed at which radio waves travel in a particular feedline, expressed as a percent of the speed of light
VHF
- Very High Frequency 30 - 300 MHz
VIS
- Vertical Interval Signaling. Digital encoding of the transmission mode in the vertical sync portion of an SSTV image.
VLF
- Very Low Frequency 3 - 30 KHz
VMOS - Vertical metal-oxide semiconductor
VOA - Voice Of America.
VOM - Volt-ohm-meter
VOX - Voice Operated Transmit
VSWR - Voltage standing wave ratio
VTVM - Vacuum tube voltmeter
VXO - Variable crystal oscillator
WAC
- Worked All Continents award from the IARU, administered by ARRL.
See WAC
wallpaper
- QSL cards, awards, special event certificates
WARC
- World Administrative Radio Conference
-- See Note 1
WARC Bands
- An expression to indicate the bands allocated in 1979 -- 17M, 12M and 30M
WAS
- Worked All States award from ARRL for confirmed contact with each of 50 states.
See WAS
WAZ
- Worked All Zones award from CQ magazine for confirmed contact with each of 40 zones.
See CQ
Awards
WEFAX
- Weather facsimile, reconstructed satellite images and photographs.
See WEFAX
WFWL
-- DXing term used when the validity of a DX station is in doubt.
Work First Worry
Later"
wilco
- Will comply
wireless
- radio (As opposed to wired - telegraph)
Wouff Hong
-the Wouff Hong was a weapon against poor operating dreamed up by old
time QST author, "The Old Man" (later discovered to be Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, himself). See Wouff Hong
work
- To communicate with another radio station, a valid two way
contact
WPM
- Words per minute; as in Morse code or typing speed
WSJT
- ''Weak Signal communication, by K1JT". A software
package for meteor scatter and EME communications - See WSJT
WWV
- National Bureau of Standards radio station (time signals). See NIST
NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology
for the USA
WWVB
- NIST radio station (broadcasts time signals).
WWVH
- NIST radio station (broadcasts time signals- Hawaii).
WX
- weather
XCVR- Transceiver
XFMR - Transformer
XIT - Transmit Incremental
Tuning control; allows for slightly changing the transmit frequency while leaving the receive frequency the same.
Useful for split operations.
XTAL - Crystal
XVTR - Transverter -- configures a transceiver to operate on other bands
XYL - Ex-Young Lady, wife
Yagi
- 1926 Hidetsugu Yagi and Shintaro Uda invent the "beam" antenna array.
A directional antenna consisting of a dipole and two additional elements, a slightly longer reflector and a
slightly shorter director. Electromagnetic coupling between the elements focuses maximum power
(or reception) in the direction of the director.
YL
- Young Lady, any female amateur radio operator or the significant other of a amateur.
zed
- a phonetic for letter "Z"
zero beat
- Adjust the frequencies of two signals so that they are exactly equal and in phase
Zepp antenna
- The end-fed 'zepp' antenna was simply a weighted
wire reeled down and up from early lighter-than-Zeppelin air-ships.
Zulu
- Coordinated Universal Time. Also the phonetic for the letter Z
Ø
Slashed Zero - distinguishes a ZERO from the
letter "O". Resolves ambiguity in callsigns like"KØOF".
Press AltØ216 on your
PC numeric keyboard.
88
- Love and kisses
807
- Deceptive Ham term for a beer. Also a popular transmitting tube of the mid 1900's
NOTE 1. During the period of 1910 to about
1990 the member nations of International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
(note there is no s on telecommunication) would from time to time hold a World
Administrative Radio Conference (WARC).These conferences make major changes in
the Radio Regulations (RR) that have the force of treaty.There was no specific
time schedule for these conferences. Sometimes there would be 10 or more years
between conferences, and there would be so much work, they would last for
several months.Similar world conferences were held for telephone and telegraph
matters.
Except where author credit is given, all rights are reserved including menus, files, web pages and HTML source code.
Copyright © 1998 by Rod Dinkins - AC6V
Compiled From Numerous Sources By Rodney R. Dinkins, AC6V
single-pole, single-throw (SPST) switch : a switch that only connects one center contact to another contact.
third-party communications agreement
- an official understanding between the United States and another country that
allows amateurs in both countries to participate in third-party communications.
See 3rd
Party Agreements
white noise
(Repeater Term) is a scientific term used to describe a spectrum of broad band noise
generated in a receiver's detector and sampled to control the receiver's squelch. This
term is often incorrectly used in repeater work to describe the sounds heard when the received transmission is noisy and hard to understand, usually attributed to a weak
signal and the repeater receiver limiters are not engaged.
73
- Best regards
In the late 1980's the major players in the affairs of the ITU realized that its
working structure was outdated to deal with rapidly changing technology, and
that a better plan would to have the radio conferences at very specific time
intervals of 4 years, with a very specific agenda. This new plan took was
approved by a Plenipotentiary Assembly of all ITU member nations and put in
effect in the early 1990s. A number of additional organizational
changes were made to provide for more effective conference preparatory work. At
this time the CCIR (Consultative Committee for International Radio) was renamed
the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) The CCITT
(telephone/telegraph) was renamed the ITU Telecommunication Standardization
Sector. The word "Administrative" was dropped from the WARC so the new
abbreviation is just "WRC."
Each of the two ITU sectors are further divided into Study Groups dealing with
specific areas. For example ITU-R Study Group 6 covers broadcasting, SG-8
with all the mobile radio services including marine, aeronautical, land mobile,
and amateur.Study Group 1 covers general spectrum management technology.
More information can be obtained by visiting the www.ITU.int.
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