Ham Radio Technician case studies
Ham Radio Technician · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Technician Class operator license is the entry-level amateur radio license granted by the FCC. It is the usual starting point for newcomers: the FCC's Amateur Radio Service page notes that most new amateur operators start at the Technician Class and then may advance to the General Class or Amateur Extra Class operator license. The amateur and amateur-satellite services are open to qualified persons of any age interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest, so the license suits hobbyists, experimenters, emergency-communications volunteers, and anyone curious about radio. Part 97, operation of an amateur station requires an amateur operator license grant from the FCC. The Ham Radio Technician case studies are 5 cases and about 2,810 words.
1The Club Demo Table and the Autopatch Request
You are the control operator for W2ABC, the club's 2-meter repeater on 147.135 MHz (input 147.735 MHz, CTCSS 100.0 Hz). The club has a table at the county science fair with a 5 W handheld feeding a mag-mount antenna on a metal cookie sheet.
569 words, about 3 min2Emergency Traffic During the Wednesday Night Net
You are net control for the Wednesday 7:00 p.m. ARES net on the 146.940 MHz repeater (input 146.340 MHz, CTCSS 100.0 Hz).
588 words, about 3 min3The Solar-Powered Park Activation Power Budget
You are activating a park on battery and solar power. Your HF transceiver produces 20 W RF output on SSB and is 60% efficient at 12.0 V DC.
531 words, about 3 min4The 2-Meter Feedline, SWR, and Quarter-Wave Question
You are setting up a 2-meter station at home. The transmitter delivers 50 W at 146.52 MHz into 50 ft of RG-58 coax.
550 words, about 3 min5No Access to the Ridge-Top Repeater
You are at a campsite 18 miles from the club's 2-meter repeater. The repeater output is 146.760 MHz, input 146.160 MHz (negative offset), CTCSS 103.5 Hz.
572 words, about 3 min