HAM’S LIFE

Follow me at the new ham radio social page Ham Radio Nation   (http://www.hamradionation.com/home.php)

Do you know anyone who is interested in
becoming a ham and needs some study material?
I have just updated my ham radio class blog at http://hamslife2.blogspot.com . 

I will be teaching a class using the basic
format found in these ten lessons.  The
class will be held at the Colusa County Sheriff’s office in Colusa, California.  The classes will be every Saturday starting
on September 11, 2010 going through October 30, 2010.  The time will be 9 AM to 12 noon. 

Wednesday, 07/14/2010 the FCC released, in a Report and Order (R&O) release, their intent to change the restriction on government-sponsored disaster preparedness drill restrictions that required employees  from participating without a waver.  The new rule change will also affect employee participation in non-government drills and exercises.  

The FCC contends that the new ruling does not conflict with the non-commercial principles of Amateur Radio.  Basically it is a way to make it easier for such drills to involve all Amateur Radio operators whether employed by those conducting the drill or not.  There are some time restrictions so no one will be hired to run the ham radio station 40 hours a week and claim it is an emergency drill.  The rule will also reduce the paper work for the FCC but they didn’t mention that. 

The effective date has net yet been determined but new rules will not take effect until after it appears in the Federal Register.

The rapid developing electronics field has a very close association with ham radio and I refer to other technologies to illustrate that the expediential advance in technology covers much more then just electronics.  It may be a stretch in the mind of some to link this with ham radio but in my thinking there is a connection.  

Saturday night I heard the last part of a radio talk show that apparently had a guest earlier in the show.  The guest, it would seem as I followed the call in discussion, believed that modern electronic technology came as result of a UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico in July of 1947.  Now I can not prove nor disprove if a UFO crashed in Roswell or if any technology was learned from that craft if it did crash but I do not believe we need UFO conspiracy theories to understand modern technology advancements.

The Industrial Revolution is considered to have started around 1760.  Up to that time things did not change much.  When people wanted to go somewhere by land they walked, rode a beast of burden, or rode in some kind of wagon or cart drawn by such animals.  If they wanted to go by water they had to row or be wind driven.   Harnessed steam power change that.

The world started changing.  The change, sense that time, has continued to change at an accelerated rate.  Swifter means of transportation and greater productivity of factories prompted the need for faster and more efficient communications.

The word telegraph comes from Greek and means distant writing.  Though a few telegraph devices using electricity were developed prior to Samuel Morse’s telegraph but they died while Mr. Morse’s telegraph took root and grew.  The telegraph started the age of electronic communications in 1837. 

Just 40 years after Mr. Morse showed the world how to put messages on wire and send them long distances in a flash Alexander Graham Bell showed the world how to put the human voice on wire and send it over long distances. 

While the world of electronic communication was growing during 1800’s and early 1900’s other fields of technology also grew.  Accelerated development was happening in all fields Firearms, Electric lights, Internal Combustion engines, photography, and the list could go on. 

Nikola Tesla demonstrated a wireless telegraph in St. Louis, MO in 1893 but Guglielmo (Italian for William) Marconi made it to the patent office first with an economical and effective system that communicated more then just a few meters away.  It was 60 years (1837 to 1897) from when the first effective wire telegraph was patented until the first effective wireless telegraph was patented and it was 40 years from when the telegraph was invented until the telephone was invented but it was only 2 years from when the wireless telegraph was demonstrated until the wireless telephone was demonstrated.  1899 A. Fredrick Collins successfully made a voice transmission.

In 1906 Lee De Forest placed a grid in the vacuum diode and made it a triode he called an Audion.  The Audion had a little gain but it was not until about 1912   triodes with sufficient gain make an oscillator was able to be produced.  The vacuum tube was further developed.  It had more grids added and it was reduced in size.  Using the vacuum tube allowed transmitters to operate with a continuous wave (CW) on a specified frequency rather then the parasitic signal spread over a band.  Receivers could then use active devices rather then the passive units of prior days.    The little glowing marvel made it so that almost every home in the United States had at least one radio receiver in it by 1930.

In 1939 RCA released the AC/DC radio using the All American Five vacuum tubes and radios started appearing in several rooms in the home.  They could fit in packages small enough to sit on a book shelf, kitchen counter, or bed side night stand.  Soon many companies started selling these efficient, attractive, small, inexpensive, and very dangerous radios.  Compact battery operated vacuum tube radios were also being produced.  Automobiles with radios started showing up just after 1930.

By 1947 Television antennas were sprouting on the roofs of houses all across the United States. 

In 1925 Julius Edgar Liliendfield filed the first patent for a transistor in Canada.  The new transistor was very similar in operation to a Field Effect Transistor.  Because Mr. Liliendfield did not publish any research and his patent did not cite any examples of the device being constructed Oskar Heil was able to patent a similar device in 1934.

Though Bell Laboratories was not able to patent a working bipolar transistor prior to December of 1947 they had been working on the concept of a solid state replacement for the vacuum tube for several years before 1947.

Now all of this was prior to the events that happened in Roswell in July of 1947.

Looking at the technological developments that took place from the beginning of the Industrial Revelation until 1947 and noticing the accelerating advances in that technology and comparing it to the rate of acceleration sense 1947 personally I would say we are just about on target where we should be without the need of some extra-terrestrials technology input.     

The new Technician class question pool has seven diagrams, three schematic and four block diagrams.  The new technician class candidate does not have to actually be able to read the schematic or identify them.  All that is required is to identify eleven different components drawn in the schematics.  These eleven are: Battery, Lamp, Transistor, and Resistor from Figure T1; Transformer, Variable Resistor, Light Emitting Diode, a

Single-pole single-throw switch and Capacitor from Figure T2; Antenna and Variable Inductor from T3.

You do need to know that a transistor controls current because one question asks about the function of component 2 on T1 which is the transistor.

T6C02 (A)

What is component 1 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Battery

D. Connector

~~

T6C03 (B)

What is component 2 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Indicator lamp

D. Connector

~~

T6C04 (C)

What is component 3 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Lamp

D. Ground symbol

~~

T6C05 (C)

What is component 4 in figure T1?

A. Resistor

B. Transistor

C. Battery

D. Ground symbol

~~

T6D10 (C)

What is the function of component 2 in Figure T1?

A. Give off light when current flows through it

B. Supply electrical energy

C. Control the flow of current

D. Convert electrical energy into radio waves

~~

T6C06 (B)

What is component 6 in figure T2?

A. Resistor

B. Capacitor

C. Regulator IC

D. Transistor

~~

T6C07 (D)

What is component 8 in figure T2?

A. Resistor

B. Inductor

C. Regulator IC

D. Light emitting diode

~~

T6C08 (C)

What is component 9 in figure T2?

A. Variable capacitor

B. Variable inductor

C. Variable resistor

D. Variable transformer

~~

T6C09 (D)

What is component 4 in figure T2?

A. Variable inductor

B. Double-pole switch

C. Potentiometer

D. Transformer

~~

T6C10 (D)

What is component 3 in figure T3?

A. Connector

B. Meter

C. Variable capacitor

D. Variable inductor

~~

T6C11 (A)

What is component 4 in figure T3?

A. Antenna

B. Transmitter

C. Dummy load

D. Ground

~~

The bock diagrams depict a simple CW transmitter, a very simple representation using just three blocks to display a transceiver, a little more complex diagram of a Single-conversion superheterodyne receiver, and finally the most complex of the diagrams showing An FM receiver.

Figure T4 and Figure 5 both ask for circuit identification while Figure T6 and Figure T7 ask the candidate to identify the complete unit.  Both show a single conversion receiver but only question T7A02 gives that as an answer for Figure T6 while question T7A04 identifies Figure T7 as An FM receiver. 

T7A05 (D)

What is the function of block 1 if figure T4 is a simple CW transmitter?

A. Reactance modulator

B. Product detector

C. Low-pass filter

D. Oscillator

~~

T7A07 (B)

If figure T5 represents a transceiver in which block 1 is the transmitter portion and block 3 is the receiver portion, what is the function of block 2?

A. A balanced modulator

B. A transmit-receive switch

C. A power amplifier

D. A high-pass filter

~~

T7A02 (C)

What type of receiver is shown in Figure T6?

A. Direct conversion

B. Super-regenerative

C. Single-conversion superheterodyne

D. Dual-conversion superheterodyne

T7A04 (D)

What circuit is pictured in Figure T7, if block 1 is a frequency discriminator?

A. A double-conversion receiver

B. A regenerative receiver

C. A superheterodyne receiver

D. An FM receiver

~~

Possibly the most frightening aspect of the new Technician Class question pool for the prospective candidate is the diagrams now included. 

If break it down as I have above it really should not be all that frightening.  First just learn what those ten component drawings look like and answering any question you might have concerning the schematic should be a breeze. 

Remember that the first stage of a CW transmitter is an oscillator and that a transmitter and a receiver have to have some type of antenna switch if they are to use the same antenna and the next two diagrams should loose their ability to strike fear in the hearts of those testing.

Finally remember that both receivers are single conversion but only one if an FM receiver and the bugaboo of Figures T6 and T7 should disappear.  If you need a little more help remember that an FM receiver does not use a Beat Frequency Oscillator and the wide filter and the Limiter give T7’s secret of being an FM receiver away.

If you have been studying the old question pool and think you know it fairly well but you are afraid of the new questions you might just read through the new question pool.  New question pool can be seen at http://www.hamslife2.blogspot.com/

Post 705 of the American Legion sponsors Boy Scout Post 7050 and on May 6, 2010 the leader of that post invited me to give an amateur radio presentation to the boys.  Others quickly and eagerly responded to my call for help.  Just twelve days after receiving the invitation five other hams joined me to discuss and demonstrate the joys of ham radio to the group of boys.

After basic introductions and starting comments each team member did their part. 

Nancy, KI6INC did an excellent job of defining ham radio to the scouts.

Adam, KB8VOM, though pressured by a time restraint caused by a later than expected start and a seven o’clock opening of net deadline did a masterful job of an edit on the fly presentation of the importance of Amateur radio in emergency communications.

Lonnie, KI6ZYY provided all of the equipment and expertise necessary to operate as the net control station of the Tuesday night ARES net and thus showed the boys a typical amateur radio activity.  After the conclusion of the net Lonnie also worked with Lee in a Morse code demonstration.

Lee, KC6MCI sent the names of all the scouts and their leaders in Morse code while Lonnie copied and called out their names.

Eleanor, KI6CSO assisted Lonnie with receiving names and calls of those who checked into the net. 

After the meeting was over the boys continued to ask questions, looked at some of the items we brought to display, and each tried to learn how to send their name in Morse code. 

This post applies only to ham clubs in the United States of America.  I like to keep my posts with international interest as much as possible but every so often I need to post something that of US interest only.  If you have something that you feel needs to be said that is of interest to your corner of the world please email me with that information so I can check it out and if I believe it warrants posting I will post it.  Email me at wa6ohp@yahoo.com and put the words ham’s life in the subject line to protect it from the spam monster.

The “Cheat on your taxes and don’t be a fool…” philosophy stated in a nineteen sixties song creates headaches for people who want to do right.  Charitable organizations have the right to claim a tax-exempt status under federal law.  Income tax payers can deduct donations made to these organizations, if the right form is used.  

Thieves, that is the proper term for people who cheat on their taxes, force the IRS to tighten the reins on legitimate organizations to help weed out the illegitimate organizations.  The tax-exempt laws applies to all nonprofit organizations thus ham radio clubs that claim a nonprofit status must comply with a federal tax law passed three years ago.

Tax-exempt clubs, according to Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, must file a form 990 with the IRS prior to the fifteenth day of May each year. 

If you belong to a tax-exempt club and the members of that club wish for it to remain in that statue then compliance with the IRS will be necessary.  For more information see http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html?navmenu=menu1 .

The cost of a vanity call sign was $13.40 upon application and again $13.40 every 10 years at renewal.  As of April 13, 2010 the cost was reduced to $13.30 thus it now costs one penny less per year to have a vanity call sign.  

Those holding a vanity call sign prior to 1996 will not have a reduction in their renewal application fee because it was not until 1996 that congress authorized the FCC to charge for vanity call signs. 

Shortly after the invention of the telegraph a network of wires spider webbed the United States. Thousands of miles of that web ran across land characterized by harsh climate, rugged terrain, warring nationals, and outlaws.  Weather conditions frequently broke lines and men sometimes cut lines.  The Telegraph lineman endured harsh weather or tried to elude hostel men to repair the damaged lines. 

The Western Union splice, also known as the lineman’s splice, was the accepted way of repairing downed telegraph lines.   The Western Union splice consists of two ends of single strand wire crossed to form an X twisted together a couple of times to form a long spice and then the ends are coiled around the other wire four or five times (For illustration see http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14176/css/14176_46.htm).   When repairing a downed telegraph line it usually meant adding a piece of new wire thus making two splices so the line would maintain proper tension.  The repair could only be made after removing the dirt and oxidation covering the uninsulated Telegraph wires.

Those teaching how to splice wires frequently use The Western Union splice to teach their students about making a good solderless connection, Western Union linemen did not solder the splices, and then they have the student solder the splice to teach good soldering technique.  A properly constructed Western Union splice does not need solder because the splice should have sufficient airtight surface contact so that over the years, by a process known as cold metal flow, the resistance of the connection will reduce.  Soldering the splice helps the student to learn how solder flows and how they can get a good surface coating without globing the liquid solder.  When properly soldered the splice should have no copper showing yet the twists and wraps should remain clearly visible.  

A modern type of solderless connection is the crimp splice.  A metal tube, usually covered by a colored insulation, slips over the end of a stranded wire conductor that has had enough of its insulation stripped off so the wire reaches almost half way through the tube.  A crimp tool is used to bend or crimp the tube on the wire.  The other half of the splice inserts into the other end of the tube and is crimped.  As with the Western Union splice these splices should reduce in resistance over time.  They will operate for many years trouble free if they are properly constructed.   Improper or faulty tools, wrong size splice for the wire being spliced, and/or improper use of even proper tools can make the crimp splice a future problem waiting to happen.  

When first installed poorly crimped connectors may seemed fine but after time oxidation and dirt can made them intermittent.  Sometimes the wire will slip out of the poorly made splice and open the desired circuit while leaving a potential short circuit on the hot side of the circuit.  This same problem is true with crimp on ring lugs, space lugs, or other similar connection.  

Soldering requires skill and so does crimping.

The quality of the crimp connector can make a difference in the quality of the connection.  The highest quality has a seamless tube much like a short piece of small metal pipe.  The seamless crimp, which is the most expensive, makes the best trouble free connection. The most common type connectors are cut out from a flat piece of metal and then rolled into a tube leaving a seam where the two edges come together.  That seam should be welded.  The welded seam, if crimped squarely on the seam, can also make a good crimp connection. The least expensive of the three, the non-welded seam connectors, make good fodder for the recycle bin.

Using a ratcheted crimp tool designed for that type connector will force you to crimp to proper pressure. If you use the cheep stripper, cutter, and crimper be sure the tool is fully before you release the crimp tool. Do not use a dimple crimp tool on connectors that have insulation. Use only the gage of wire the connector was designed for.  Do not use solid strand wire with crimp contacts.

Several other types of solderless are on the market but just as that described above you need to use the proper tool in the correct way on the right material in order to get a trouble free connection.  

Only you can decide whether you want to use solder or solderless connections.  Personally I use both depending on the situation.  Both make good connections if they done right and both make bad connections if done improperly. 

In the two posts prior to this one I talked about choosing the right solder for amateur radio soldering.  The post just before this discusses the tools needed to solder.  Having the right solder and the right tools still does not get the job done; you have to heat the iron up and apply the solder to get the job done. 

Though I said it before in the earlier post I believe it bears repeating, the two most important elements in getting a good solder connection are cleanliness and proper heat. 

Cleanliness means not only free from dirt, grease, or some other foreign element but it includes free from oxidation. 

When soldering, the parts to receive the solder must reach a high enough temperature to melt the solder.  The molten solder will mix with hot metal down to a few molecules below the surface. If the parts being soldered are copper, the most common metal we solder in electronics, this mixing of molecules results in a thin coat of tin/lead/copper alloy (when using tin/lead solder) forming over the surface receiving the solder.  If it is some other metal that will accept solder then the solder alloys, of course, with the other metal rather.  This process of mixing the molecules on the surface, called the wetting action, happens because liquid solder acts as a solvent that dissolves the metal.      

Solder will not dissolve dirt or metal oxide.  Thus if there is a coat of oxide or dirt on the parts you want to solder it must be removed before the solder will adhere to it.  Flux will not remove oxide.  Most oxides can be removed with an ink eraser but in some instances a fine grit emery cloth may be necessary. 

Soldering aluminum requires some special consideration because aluminum forms a new very durable oxide layer almost as fast as you can remove the old layer.  Thus it does not make a good material to use for learning soldering techniques.

Applying a small amount of liquid rosin flux on the clean surface will prevent oxygen from coming in contact with the metal during the heating process and thus improve the quality of the solder connection. 

When soldering, do not melt the solder with the iron.  Place the tip of the iron on one side of the prepared junction and then touch the opposite side of the junction with the tip of the solder and allow the solder to melt by receiving heat from the parts needing the solder. 

To efficiently transfer the heat from the tip of the soldering iron it must be properly tinned. The term tinned simply means forming a thin layer of solder that covers the working surface of the iron tip.    

Some soldering iron tips come pre-tinned while others do not. Even pre-tinned tips need re-tinning before they are used to insure proper heat transfer.  Tin the tip the first time heat is applied to it just as soon as it heats up sufficiently to do the process. 

To tin an iron wipe the tip across a damp sponge and then place the solder on the tip so a glob of solder covers working surface of the tip; when the solder sufficiently covers the tip wipe off the excess solder on the sponge, a thin layer of solder should remain on the tip.  . 

After tinning the tip and before placing it into the iron holder melt a small glob of solder on the tinned area.  This will protect the tin coat and it will help dissipate some of the heat from the tip to help it last longer.

When you are ready to start soldering, wipe off the excess solder on the damp sponge.  The tip should have a nice bright silver color.

When you are done wipe the tip on the sponge again and recover the tip with solder then return it to its holder. 

Ok now start your soldering iron and get to soldering.  The only way you are going to learn to solder is by soldering.