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Chapter 2
Activites in
Amateur Radio
One of the best things about this hobby
we call Amateur Radio is its
flexibility.
In
other words, Amateur Radio can be what-
ever
you
want it to be. Whether you are
looking for relaxation, excitement, or a
way to stretch your mental (and physical)
horizons, Amateur Radio can provide it.
This chapter was written by Larry Kollar,
KC4WZK, with some new material by
John Champa, K8OCL and Shawn Reed,
N1HOQ. Let’s take a brief tour through
the following topic areas:
Awards
— the individual and competi-
tive pursuits that make up the tradition we
call “paper chasing.”
Contests
— the challenge of on-the-air
competition.
Nets
— both traffic nets, where ama-
teurs pass messages on behalf of hams and
non-hams, and the casual nets, where
groups of people with common interests
often meet on the air to swap equipment,
anecdotes and information.
Ragchewing
— meeting new friends on
the air.
Amateur Radio Education
— Educa-
ting current and future hams brings in new
blood (and revitalizes old blood!); edu-
cating our neighbors about ham radio is
good for public relations and awareness.
ARRL Field Organization
— Amateur
Radio in general, and the ARRL in par-
ticular, depend on the volunteer spirit. As
part of the Field Organization, you can
exercise your administrative, speaking
and diplomatic skills in service of the
amateur community.
Emergency Communications
—
When disaster strikes, hams often have
the only reliable means to communicate
with the outside world. Practice and prepa-
ration are key to fulfilling this mission.
DF (Direction Finding)
— If you’ve
ever wanted to know where a transmitter
(hidden or otherwise) is located, you’ll
find DFing is an enjoyable and useful
skill.
HSMM (High Speed Multimedia)
—
Making contacts using video, voice, text,
and data simultaneously on the ham radio
version of a wireless Internet called the
Hinternet.
Satellite Operation
— You may be sur-
prised to learn that hams have their own
communications satellites! Satellite op-
eration can be great fun and a technical
challenge for those who want to operate
on the “final frontier.”
Repeaters
— Using and operating re-
peaters is one of the most popular activi-
ties for both new and old hams.
Image Communications
— Although
it’s fun to talk to other amateurs, it’s even
more fun to
see
them.
Digital Communications
— Use your
computer to communicate with stations
around your town or around the world.
VHF, UHF and Microwave Weak-
Signal Operating
— Explore the chal-
lenging, quirky and surprising world
above 50 MHz.
EME (Earth-Moon-Earth), Meteor
Scatter and Aurora
— Making contacts
by bouncing your signals off the moon,
the fiery trails of meteors and auroras.
teur Radio Union (IARU). The WAC award
is quite simple: all you have to do is work
one station on each of six continents. The
DXCC is more challenging: you must work
at least one station in each of 100 countries!
AWARDS
Winning awards, or “paper chasing,” is
a time-honored amateur tradition. For
those who enjoy individual pursuits or
friendly competition, the ARRL and other
organizations offer awards ranging from
the coveted to the humorous.
How-to’s of DXCC
—
Direct QSLs and
DX Bureaus
Since DX stations are often inundated
with QSL cards (and QSL requests) from
US hams, it is financially impossible for
most of them to pay for the return postage.
Hams have hit upon several ways to
lighten the load on popular DX stations.
DX Awards
The two most popular DX awards are
DXCC (DX Century Club), sponsored by
the ARRL and WAC (Worked All Conti-
nents), sponsored by the International Ama-
Fig 2.1 — One of the most prized awards
in Amateur Radio: the DX Century Club.
Activities in Amateur Radio
2.1
The fastest, but most expensive, way to
get QSL cards is the
direct
approach. You
send your QSL card, with one or two Inter-
national Reply Coupons (IRCs) or one or
two dollars and a self-addressed airmail
envelope to the DX station. International
Reply Coupons are available from your
local post office and can be used nearly
anywhere in the world for return postage.
Some DX hams prefer that you send one or
two “green stamps” (dollar bills) because
they can be used to defray posting, printing
and other expenses. However, it is illegal
in some countries to possess foreign cur-
rency. If you’re not sure, ask the DX station
or check DX bulletins available on the DX
Cluster System, accessible by either packet
radio or Telnet.
Many DX hams have recruited
QSL
managers
, hams who handle the QSL
chores of one or more DX stations. QSL
managers are convenient for everyone.
The DX station need only send batches of
blank cards and a copy of the logs; hams
wanting that station’s card need only send
a First Class stamp for US return postage
and can expect a prompt reply. (In the case
of QSL managers located outside the
United States, you must still send IRCs (or
dollars) and a self-addressed return enve-
lope.)
The easiest (and slowest) way to send
and receive large batches of QSL cards is
through the incoming and outgoing QSL
bureaus. The outgoing bureau is available
to ARRL members. The incoming bureaus
are available to all amateurs. Bureau in-
structions and addresses are printed peri-
odically in
QST;
they appear in the
ARRL
Operating Manual
, and they are available
from ARRL Headquarters for an SASE.
Alternatively, you can submit your QSO
log electronically to ARRL’s Logbook of
The World. All submissions are free; you
only pay when you “redeem” your QSO
credits for an award, such as DXCC. Once
you are signed up as a Logbook user, you
can submit new contact records whenever
you wish. Your contacts will be matched
against the logs of other Logbook users.
Whenever a match occurs, you receive
instant credit for the contact. You can
learn more about Logbook of The World
by visiting its Web site at
www.arrl.org/
lotw/
.
in many years. To train the first new gen-
eration of Albanian hams and to relieve
the pileups that were sure to happen, a
contingent of European and American
hams organized a DXpedition to Albania.
The DXpedition made over 10,000 con-
tacts and changed Albania from one of the
rarest and most-desired countries to an
“easy one.”
In March/April, 2004, one of the largest
DXpeditions ever organized completed
153,113 QSOs during a 25-day period
from tiny Rodriguez Island in the Indian
Ocean. With only one resident amateur,
Rodriguez is quite difficult to work for
most hams, and it counts as a separate
country for the DXCC award. The 3B9C
DXpedition team worked amateurs world-
wide on all current HF bands, including
contacts on the 6-meter band. 3B9C even
worked stations via EME (earth-moon-
earth) and satellite communications on the
70-cm (432 MHz) UHF band.
Fig 2.2 — Work one station in each of
the 50 states and you’re eligible for the
ARRL’s Worked All States (WAS) award.
DX Nets
The beginning DXer can get a good
jump on DXCC by frequenting DX nets.
On DX nets, a net control station keeps
track of which DX stations have checked
into the net. He or she then allows a small
group of operators (usually 10) to check in
and work one of the DX stations. This
permits weaker stations to be heard in-
stead of being buried in a pileup. Since the
net control station does not tolerate net
members making contacts out-of-turn,
beginning operators have a better chance
of snagging a new country. Nets and fre-
quencies on which they operate vary. For
the latest information on DX nets, check
with local DXers and DX bulletins.
the form of stickers that you attach to your
DXCC certificate.
Both WAS and DXCC offer endorse-
ments for single-band or single-mode
operation. For example, if you work all
50 United States on the 15-m band, your
certificate has an endorsement for 15 m.
The most difficult endorsement is the
5-band (5B) endorsement. Rare indeed is
the operator who can display a 5BDXCC
certificate!
CONTESTS
Some people enjoy the thrill of competi-
tion, and Amateur Radio provides chal-
lenges at all levels in the form of operating
contests. Besides the competitive outlet,
contests have provided many hams with a
means to hone their operating skills under
less-than-optimum conditions. On the VHF
and higher bands, contests are one way to
stimulate activity on little-used segments of
the amateur spectrum.
This section briefly discusses a few
ARRL-sponsored contests. The Contest
Corral section of
QST
provides up-to-date
information on these and other contests.
The ARRL also publishes the
National
Contest Journal
(
NCJ
), which is good
reading for any serious (or semi-serious)
contester.
Efficient DX Operation
The best DXers will tell you the best
equipment you have is “the equipment be-
tween your ears.” Good operators can make
contacts with modest power. The details of
efficient DX operating cannot be covered in
this brief space.
WAS (Worked All States)
The WAS certificate is awarded to ama-
teurs who have QSL cards from at least
one operator in each of the 50 United
States. Chasing WAS is often a casual af-
fair, although there are also nets dedicated
to operators who are looking for particular
states.
DXpeditions
What does the avid DXer who has
worked them all (or almost all of them) do
for an encore? Answer:
become
the DX!
DXpeditions journey to countries with few
or no hams, often making thousands of
contacts in the space of a few days.
In 1991, Albania opened its borders and
legalized Amateur Radio for the first time
Field Day
Every year on the fourth full weekend
in June, thousands of hams take to the
hills, forests, campsites and parking lots
to participate in Field Day. The object of
Field Day is not only to make contacts, but
also to make contacts under conditions
that simulate the aftermath of a disaster.
Most stations are set up outdoors and use
Endorsements
The initial DXCC or WAS award does
not mean the end. There are over 300
DXCC countries. As you reach certain
levels in your country count, you qualify
for endorsements. Endorsements arrive in
2.2
Chapter 2
Keeping a Log Book
At one time, keeping a log of your contacts was an FCC requirement. The
FCC has dropped this requirement in recent years, but many amateurs, both
new and old, still keep logs.
Why Keep a Log?
If keeping a log is optional, why do it? Some of the more important
reasons for keeping a log include:
Legal protection — If you can show a complete log of your activity, it can
help you deal with interference complaints. Good recordkeeping can help
you protect yourself if you are ever accused of intentional interference, or
have a problem with unauthorized use of your call sign.
Awards tracking — A log helps you keep track of contacts required for
DXCC, WAS, or other awards. Keeping a log lets you quickly see how well
you are progressing toward your goal.
An operating diary — A log book is a good place for recording general
information about your station. You may be able to tell just how well that
new antenna is working compared to the old one by comparing recent QSOs
with older contacts. The log book is also a logical place to record new
acquisitions (complete with serial numbers in case your gear is ever stolen).
You can also record other events, such as the names and calls of visiting
operators, license upgrades, or contests, in your log.
Fig 2.3 — Elaine Larson, KD6DUT,
takes a turn at logging as Fred Martin,
KI6YN, works the paddles during the
Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club’s
Field Day operation.
emergency power sources.
Many clubs and individuals have built
elaborate Field Day equipment, and that is
all to the best — if a real disaster were to
strike, those stations could be set up
quickly, wherever needed, and need not
depend on potentially unreliable commer-
cial power!
Paper and Computer Logs
Many hams, even those with computers, choose to keep their logs on
paper. Paper logs still offer several advantages (such as flexibility) and do
not require power. Paper logs also survive hard-drive crashes!
Preprinted log sheets are available, or you can create your own. Comput-
ers with word processing and publishing software let you create customized
log sheets in no time.
On the other hand, computer logs offer many advantages to the serious
contester or DXer. For example, the computer can search a log and instantly
tell you whether you need a particular station for DXCC. Contesters use
computer logs in place of dupe sheets to weed out duplicate contacts before
they happen, saving valuable time. Computer logs can also tell you at a
glance how far along you are toward certain awards.
Computer logging programs are available from commercial vendors. Some
programs may be available as shareware (you can download it from a
website and pay for the program if you like the way it works). If you can
program your computer, you can also create your own custom logging
program, and then give it to your friends or even sell it!
Other Contests
Other popular contests include:
QSO Parties
. These are fairly relaxed
contests — good for beginners. There are
many state QSO parties, and others for
special interests, such as the QRP ARCI
Spring QSO Party.
Sweepstakes
. This is a high-energy con-
test that brings thousands of operators out
of the woodwork each year.
Various DX contests
. DX contests offer
good opportunities for amateurs to pursue
their DXCC award contacts. A good operator
can work over 100 countries in a weekend!
VHF, UHF and microwave contests
.
These contests are designed to stimulate
activity on the weak-signal portions of our
highest-frequency bands. The ARRL
VHF/UHF contests are held in January,
June and September. There is also a con-
test for 10-GHz operators, and another one
for EME (moonbounce) enthusiasts.
Each issue of
QST
lists the contests to
be held during the next two months.
early days, nets were needed to communi-
cate over distances longer than a few
miles. (Thus the word “Relay” in “Ameri-
can Radio Relay League.”)
Public service and traffic nets benefit
hams and non-hams alike. Any noncom-
mercial message — birthday and holiday
greetings, personal information or a
friendly hello — may be sent anywhere in
the US and to foreign countries that have
third-party agreements with the United
States. Many missionaries in South
America, for example, keep in touch with
stateside families and sponsors via Ama-
teur Radio.
The ARRL National Traffic System
(NTS) oversees many of the existing traf-
fic nets. Most nets are local or regional.
They use many modes, from slow-speed
CW nets in the Novice HF bands, to FM
repeater nets on 2 m.
Since the amateur packet-radio network
now covers much of the US and the world,
many messages travel over packet links.
Amateurs use the packet radio network not
only for personal or third-party traffic, but
also for lively conferences, discussions
and for trading equipment.
HF and Repeater Nets
HF nets usually cover a region, although
some span the entire country. This has obvi-
ous advantages for amateurs sending traffic
over long distances. Repeater nets usually
cover only a local area, but some linked
repeater nets can cover several states.
Both types of nets work together to
speed traffic to its destination. For ex-
ample, think of the HF nets as a “trunk” or
highway that carries traffic quickly and
reliably toward its
approximate
destina-
tion. From there, the local and regional
nets take over and pass the traffic directly
to the city or town. Finally, a local ama-
NETS
A net is simply a group of hams that
meet on a particular frequency at a par-
ticular time. Nets come in three classes:
public service, traffic and special interest.
Public Service/Traffic Nets
Public service and traffic nets are part
of a tradition that dates back almost to the
dawn of Amateur Radio. The ARRL, in
fact, was formed to coordinate and pro-
mote the formation of traffic nets. In those
Activities in Amateur Radio
2.3
teur delivers the message to the recipient.
Routine traffic handling keeps the Na-
tional Traffic System (NTS) prepared for
emergencies. In the wake of Hurricane
Andrew in 1992, hams carried thousands of
messages in and out of the stricken south
Florida region. The work that hams do dur-
ing crisis situations ensures good relations
with neighbors and local governments.
Other Nets
Many nets exist for hams with common
interests inside and outside of Amateur
Radio. Some examples include comput-
ers, owners of Collins radio equipment,
religious groups and scattered friends and
families. Most nets meet on the 80- and
20-m phone bands, where propagation is
fairly predictable and there are no short-
wave broadcast stations to dodge.
Fig 2.4 — The ARRL VEC processes 30,000 applications annually.
RAGCHEWING
Ragchewing is the fine art of the long
contact. Old friends often get together on
the air to catch up on current events. Fam-
ily members use ham radio to keep in
touch. And, of course, new acquaintances
get to know each other!
In many cases, friends scattered across
the country get together to create
ragchewing nets. These nets are very in-
formal and may not make much sense to
the outsider listening in.
ARRL supports the largest VE program in
the nation; other organizations run VE pro-
grams on a national or regional basis. Gen-
eral and Advanced licensees on a VE team
must be supervised by at least one Extra
Class licensee.
unteer and the students.
Thanks to NASA’s ARISS (Amateur
Radio aboard International Space Sta-
tion) program, amateurs all over the
nation have put schoolchildren in direct
contact with astronauts. Who knows
how many future scientists received their
inspiration while sitting behind an
amateur’s microphone?
School Presentations
Amateur Radio complements any
school program. Schoolchildren suddenly
find that Amateur Radio gives them a
chance to apply their studies immediately.
The math and science used in Amateur
Radio applies equally to the classroom.
Even geography takes on a new meaning
when a student works a new country!
Unfortunately, many schools do not
have an active Amateur Radio presence —
and that is why local volunteers are im-
portant. An HF or satellite station, or even
a 2-m hand-held transceiver tuned to the
local repeater, can prove an exciting and
educational experience for both the vol-
ARRL FIELD ORGANIZATION
ARRL members elect the Board of Di-
rectors and the Section Managers. Each
Section Manager appoints volunteers to
posts that promote Amateur Radio within
that Section. (The United States is divided
into 15 ARRL
Divisions
. These Divisions
are further broken down into 69
Sections
.)
A few of the posts include:
Assistant Section Managers
— ASMs
are appointed as necessary by the SM to
assist the SM in responding to member-
ship needs within the Section.
Official Observers (OO) / Amateur
Auxiliary
— Official Observers are au-
thorized by the FCC to monitor the ama-
teur bands for rules discrepancies or
violations. The Amateur Auxiliary is ad-
ministered by Section Managers and OO
Coordinators, with support from ARRL
Headquarters.
Technical Coordinators (TC)
and
Technical Specialists (TS)
— Technical
Coordinators and Technical Specialists
assist hams with technical questions and
interference problems. They also repre-
sent the ARRL at technical symposiums,
serve on cable TV advisory committees
and advise municipal governments on
technical matters.
AMATEUR RADIO EDUCATION
Elmering
(helping new and prospec-
tive operators) is a traditional amateur ac-
tivity. Much of an amateurs’ educational
efforts go toward licensing (original and
upgrading), but there are other opportu-
nities for education, including public re-
lations.
License Classes
Anyone can set up license classes. Many
Amateur Radio clubs hold periodic
classes, usually for the Novice and Tech-
nician elements with CW practice ses-
sions. The ARRL supports Registered
Amateur Radio Instructors, but registra-
tion is not necessary to conduct a class.
If you are looking for a class to attend,
and do not have an “Elmer” to answer your
questions, write ARRL Field & Educa-
tional Services for a list and schedule of
classes in your area. If you want to be-
come an instructor, you can request the
same list of classes from Field & Educa-
tional Services — most classes will wel-
come another helping hand.
Volunteer Examiners (VEs)
To become a VE, you must hold a General
or higher amateur license and be certified by
one of the VE Coordinators (VECs). The
Fig 2.5 — Dry run just before an
International Space Station pass. Keilah
Meuser is practicing with others
looking on.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
The FCC Rules list emergency commu-
nications as one of the purposes of the
2.4
Chapter 2
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and operates only for civil pre-
paredness and in times of civil emergency.
RACES is activated at the request of a
local, state or federal official.
Amateurs serious about emergency
communication may carry dual RACES/
ARES membership. FCC rules make it
possible for ARES and RACES to use
many of the same frequencies, so that an
ARES group also enrolled in RACES can
work in either organization as required by
the situation.
MILITARY AFFILIATE RADIO
SERVICE (MARS)
MARS is administered by the US armed
forces, and exists for the purpose of trans-
mitting communications between those
serving in the armed forces and their fami-
lies. This service has existed in one form
or another since 1925.
There are three branches of MARS:
Army MARS, Navy/Marine Corps MARS
and Air Force MARS. Each branch has its
own requirements for membership, al-
though all three branches require members
to hold a valid US Amateur Radio license
and to be 18 years of age or older (ama-
teurs from 14 to 18 years of age may join
with the signature of a parent or legal
guardian).
1
MARS operation takes place on fre-
quencies adjoining the amateur bands and
usually consists of nets. Nets are usually
scheduled to handle traffic or to handle
administrative tasks. Various MARS
branches may also maintain repeaters or
packet systems.
MARS demonstrated its importance
during the 1991 Desert Storm conflict,
when MARS members handled thousands
of messages between the forces on the
front lines and their friends and families at
home. While MARS usually handles rou-
tine traffic, the organization is set up to
handle official and emergency traffic if
needed.
Fig 2.6 — Ham Radio on the scene after terrorists attack New York City in
September 2001. On the left, in the American Red Cross radio room in Brooklyn,
Mark Dieterich, N2PGD (standing), and Simone Lambert, KA1YVF, check the
volunteer shift schedule and handle schedule management from the World Trade
Center Disaster Relief Communications Website. On the right, Ed Cravey, KF4HPY,
at the controls of the Chattahoochee Baptist Association’s W4CBA mobile unit in
Edison, New Jersey. The W4CBA station used a local 2-Meter repeater to
communicate with deployed kitchens and showers in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard
and near Ground Zero in Manhattan.
Amateur Radio Service — and in reality,
the ability to provide emergency commu-
nications justifies Amateur Radio’s exist-
ence. The FCC has recognized Amateur
Radio as being among the most reliable
means of medium- and long-distance
communication in disaster areas. The ter-
rorist attacks on the United States Septem-
ber 11, 2001 launched the Amateur Radio
community into a real-life test of indi-
vidual and collective communications
skills.
Amateur Radio operators have a long
tradition of operating from backup power
sources. Through events such as Field
Day, hams have cultivated the ability to
set up communication posts wherever they
are needed. Moreover, Amateur Radio can
provide computer networks (with over-
the-air links where needed) and provide
other services such as video (ATV) and
store-and-forward satellite links that no
other service can deploy on a wide scale.
One can argue, therefore, that widespread
technology makes Amateur Radio even
more crucial in a disaster situation.
If you are interested in participating in
this important public service, you should
contact your local EC (Emergency Coor-
dinator). Plan to participate in prepared-
ness nets and a yearly SET (Simulated
Emergency Test).
Fig 2.7 — Shown here in his Worcester,
MA ham shack, the original W1LC —
Herman R. Sanborn (SK). In June 1953,
Sanborn provided emergency
communications for the American Red
Cross and others in the aftermath of the
deadly Worcester Tornado. Sanborn’s
station was also on the air to assist
during two other historic New England
weather events — the Flood of 1936 and
the Hurricane of ’38. The cat atop the
radio gear is Scorpio. (photo courtesy of
Nancy Riik)
DIRECTION FINDING (DF)
If you’ve ever wanted to learn a skill
that’s both fun
and
useful, then you’ll
enjoy direction finding, or DFing. DFing
is the art of locating a signal or noise
source by tracking it with portable receiv-
ers and directional antennas. Direction
finding is not only fun, it has a practical
side as well. Hams have been instrumen-
tal in hunting down signals from aircraft
ELTs (emergency locator transmitters),
saving lives and property in the process.
We will just scratch the surface of DF
activities in this section. There is much
more in the
EMI/Direction Finding
chapter.
Emergency Service (RACES) are the um-
brella organizations of Amateur Radio
emergency communications. The ARES is
sponsored by ARRL, although ARRL
membership is not required for ARES par-
ticipation, and handles many different
kinds of public-service activities. On the
other hand, RACES is administered by the
ARES AND RACES
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil
Activities in Amateur Radio
2.5
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