Basic - course outline

Basic qualification

be00 Introduction

• Introduction
• List of Lessons
• Conventions
• ExHAMiner©
• Exam after each lesson
• Online Exam Simulators
• HAMpuzzle©
• Key Documents
• Appearance of the windows
• JavaScript
• Methodology

be01A Regulations, part I

• Regulatory framework
• Certificate
• Examinations
• Call sign
• Radiocommunication Act
• Radio inspector
• Radiocommunication Regulations
• Refresher
• [ Organizations ]

be01B Math refresher

• SI prefixes
• Inverse function
• Simple equation
• Exponents
• Square root
• Equation with exponent

be02 Basic electricity

• Electrical circuit
• Electrical current
• Resistance (property)
• Electricity, illustrated
• Resistors
• Citcuits, series and parallel
• Units and instruments
• Short-circuit
• Direct Current (DC)
• Magnetism
• Electric field
• Alternating Current
• AC measurements
• AC signals
• Resistor colour code

be03A Ohm's law, Power

• Ohm's law
• Resistances in parallel
• Resistances in series
• Electrical Power
• Dissipation in resistors
• RF power
• Efficiency
• [ Power and antennas ]

be03B Waves and spectrum

• Frequency, a review
• Electromagnetic wave
• Wave polarization
• Attenuation
• Wavelength
• Frequency spectrum
• Frequency allocation
• Amateur radio bands

be04 Inductance and Capacitance

• Capacitance:
  • Capacitor under DC
  • Capacitance, unit
  • Capacitive reactance
  • [Uses of capacitors]
  • Factors, capacitance
  • C, series and parallel
  • Polarized capacitor
• Electromagnetism
• Induction
• Coupling between conductors
• Inductance:
  • Inductor under DC
  • Inductance, unit
  • Inductive reactance
  • [ Uses of the inductor ]
  • Factors, inductance
  • L, series and parallel
• Synopsis
• Taming interference
• Impedance:
  • Impedance matching
• Resonance:
  • [Uses for resonant circuits]
  • Bandwidth and Quality Factor
  • Mnemonic help
• Transformer:
  • Transformer Ratio
  • [ Uses for transformers ]
  • Impedance transformation
  • Efficiency

be05 Regulations, part II

• Operation of radio apparatus
• Communications, amateur radio
• Responsibilities
• Primary vs. secondary services
• Use of frequencies
• Interference
• Emergency Communications
• Remuneration
• Privacy of communications
• Call signs
• Identification

be06A Decibel

• Decibel
• Ratios of power
• Formula
• Working with decibels
• S meter
• Power vs. signal strength

be06B Transmission lines

• Uses
• Coaxial cable
• Parallel lines
• Characteristic Impedance:
  • Factors
  • Impedance match
  • Four definitions
• Standing Wave:
  • Standing Wave Ratio - SWR
  • Antenna Analyzer
• Impedance matching devices
• Losses
• Balun
• Velocity Factor
• Comparing lines
• Coaxial connectors

be07 Tubes and Transistors

• Vacuum tube:
  • Thermionic emission
  • Edison Effect
• Vacuum diode:
  • Cathodes
  • Uses of the diode
• Triode:
  • Triode operation
  • Amplification
  • [Triode, characteristics]
• Semiconductors
• Junction diode:
  • Uses of the diode
• Zener diode
• Light-emitting Diode
• Bipolar Transistor:
  • Characteristics
  • Uses of the transistor
• Field-Effect Transistor
• Transistors vs Triode
• Amplifier
• Oscillator

be08 Antennas

• Purpose of the antenna
• Refresher
• Length of the antenna
• Antenna impedance
• Antenna bandwidth
• Isotropic radiator
• Directivity and Gain
• Dipole:
  • Dipole length, MF and HF
  • Dipole length, VHF and above
  • Dipole - polarization
  • Dipole - Radiation Pattern
  • Dipole - Gain
  • Dipole - Radiation Angle
  • [Feeding the dipole]
• Inverted-V
• Sloper
• Trap dipole
• Loaded dipole
• Folded dipole
• Off-centre-fed dipole
• Polarization between antennas
• Quarter-wave, vertical:
  • Variations
  • Ground-plane antenna
  • Vertical antenna on a mobile
• Long wire antenna
• End-fed half-wave antenna
• Yagi:
  • From Dipole to Yagi
  • Front-to-back ratio
  • Yagi - element lengths
  • Yagi - characteristics
  • Yagi HF, multiband
• Full-wave loops:
  • Length of a loop
  • Quad antenna
  • Delta loop array
• Stacking
• [Suggestions]

be09A Power Supply

• Purpose of the Power Supply
• Household current
• Functions of a Power Supply
• Half-Wave Rectification
• Filtering
• [Full-Wave Rectification]
• [Bridge Rectification]
• Regulated power supply
• Power Supply Problems
• DC wiring for mobile

be09B Safety

• Warning
• Electric shock
• Car battery
• Assisting a victim
• Preventing electrocution
• Grounding:
  • Safety ground
  • RF ground
  • Lightning protection
  • Grounding and bonding
• Antenna tower:
  • [Recommandations]
  • [Gin Pole]
• RF burns
• Effects of RF on body
• Preventing unauthorized use
• Fuses
• [Soldering]
• [ELF fields]

be10 Transmitters

• Transmitter
• Representing signals
• CW - Continuous Waves:
  • CW - Block Diagram
  • Power Amplifier
  • Frequency domain
  • Potential Problems
• AM - Amplitude Modulation:
  • AM, Block Diagram
  • Frequency domain
  • [Power in AM signal]
• SSB - Single Sideband:
  • SSB, Block Diagram
  • Frequency domain
  • SSB in a nutshell
  • Peak Envelope Power
  • Effect of overmodulation
  • ALC
  • Advantages / disadvantages
• FM - Frequency Modulation:
  • FM, Block Diagram
  • Bandwidth
  • Overdeviation
  • Advantages / Disadvantages
  • Two methods

be11 Propagation

• Refraction
• Line-of-sight propagation
• Ground wave propagation
• Atmosphere
• Ionospheric wave:
  • Skip Zone
  • Skip Distance
• Antenna polarization
• Absorption
• Critical Frequency
• Maximum Usable Frequency
• Optimum Working Frequency
• NVIS
• Solar Radiation:
  • Sunspots
  • Solar Flux
  • Disturbances
• Fading
• Tropospheric effects - VHF/UHF
• Sporadic E
• Scattering:
  • HF scatter
  • Meteor scatter
  • Auroral scatter
  • Tropospheric scatter
• Overview of some bands
• [Earth-Moon-Earth]
• [In a nutshell]

be12 Receivers

• Receiver
• Essential parameters
• [Elementary receiver]
• [Receiver evolution]
• Receiver - AM
• Receiver - CW and SSB
• Automatic Gain Control
• Main specifications
• Accessories
• Receiver - FM:
  • Squelch
  • Capture effect

be13 Interference

• Electromagnetic compatibility
• Refresher
• Filters
• Receiver Overload:
  • Curing overload
• Audio Rectification:
  • Curing audio rectification
• Interference to telephone
• Unwanted Emissions
• Key Clicks
• Spurious Emissions
• Harmonics
• Use of low-pass filter
• Parasitic Oscillations
• Splatter
• Summary table
• [Suggestions]
• [Overall picture]

be14A Station set-up

• [Location]
• HF Station
• Transmit / Receive switching
• [Loudspeaker]
• Microphone
• Voice functions
• Radiotelegraphy functions
• Noise Management
• [HF rigs]
• [VHF/UHF station]
• Digital station

be14B Digital modes

• Analogue versus Digital
• Radioteletype
• Packet transmission
• FT8
• Preventing overmodulation

be15 Regulations, part III

• International Telecommunication Union
• Banned countries
• Third party communications
• International Agreements
• Identification while travelling
• Visiting another amateur
• Safety Code 6
• EMCAB-2 - Electromagnetic Compatibility
• Installation process for an antenna structure
• Frequency Bands and Qualifications
• Operating Restrictions
• Technical Requirements
• Emission Bandwidths
• Allowed Power

be16 Operating the station

• Phonetic Alphabet
• Choosing the right band
• Repeater:
  • Repeater, functions
  • Using a repeater
• Simplex operation
• Band Plans
• HF operation
• Call to any station (CQ)
• Q codes and abbreviations
• [Procedure words]
• Emergency Traffic
• Emergency preparedness
• Signal reports
• Transmitter tests
• Logbook
• Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
• QSL Card
• Azimuthal map
• Grid Squares
• [Guidelines for the Amateur]
• The home stretch
• Parting thoughts