An amateur radio station is a facility equipped with the apparatus necessary for carrying on radiocommunications in the Amateur Radio Service. There are several types of amateur radio stations: an amateur radio station may be located in a building, installed in a vehicle, located in space, or established in a temporary field location. Each station is operated under a call sign issued by the authorized regulatory authority of the country in which it is located. Radio transmition diagram and electromagnetic waves For other uses see: radio (disambiguation) Radio is a technology that allows the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of light. ... Mrs. ... Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid...

Stations and call signs

In the early history of amateur radio, a call sign was issued to a station, and not the operator or owner of the equipment. A licensee was granted a separate operator license and station license. The station license specified the address at which a station could be built with that call sign. If an amateur radio operator moved to a new address, or wished to build a station in more than one location, a new call sign was needed for each location. When radio amateurs began installing transceivers in automobiles, the use of call signs to designate potentially more than one collection of equipment suitable for radiocommunications became common. The trend continued with the operation of portable stations, popularized by Field Day events. Mrs. ... Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... Field Day is the name of several different amateur radio contests. ...

Today, most regulatory agencies worldwide issue call signs to the operator licensee, and not to the station. An amateur radio station may be operated under the call sign of the owner of the station or the call sign of the operator of the station. In some countries, special call signs might be made available for clubs, and are frequently used at a club station established for use of the club members. Depending on the country, the call sign of the club may be specified exclusively for use at that particular station, or may be available for use in any club activity. Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid...

Fixed stations

An amateur radio station established in a permanent structure with equipment that is not intended for portable operation is refered to as a fixed station. This is the most common form of amateur radio station, and can be found in homes, schools, and some public buildings. A typical fixed station is equipped with a transceiver and one or more antennas. For voice communications, the station will be equipped with a microphone; for communications using the Morse code, a telegraph key is common; and for communications over digital modes such as RTTY and PSK31, a station will be equipped with a specialized interface to connection the transceiver to a computer sound card. While not a requirement for radiocommunications, most fixed amateur radio stations are equipped with one or more computers, which serve tasks ranging from logging of contacts with other stations to various levels of station hardware control. Fixed stations might also be equipped with amplifiers, antenna rotators, SWR meters, and other station accessories. A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna (U.S.) or aerial (UK) is an electronic component designed to transmit or receive radio waves. ... Inside a condenser microphone. ... 1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting information, using standardized sequences of short and long marks or pulses — commonly known as dots and dashes — for the letters, numerals and special characters of a message. ... Telegraph key Telegraph key (also known as the Morse key) is a generic term for any switching device used primarily to send Morse code. ... Radioteletype (RTTY) is a telecommunications system consisting of two teleprinters linked by a radio link. ... Several adjacent PSK31 signals, at least six, taken from the waterfall display of DigiPan. ... A drawing of the everyday computer. ... A sound card based on VIA Envy chip A sound card is a computer expansion card that can input and output sound under program control. ... Radio transmition diagram and electromagnetic waves For other uses see: radio (disambiguation) Radio is a technology that allows the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of light. ... An amplifier is a device which changes a small movement into a larger movement. ... In telecommunication, standing wave ratio (SWR) is the ratio of the amplitude of a partial standing wave at an antinode (maximum) to the amplitude at an adjacent node (minimum). ...

Fixed stations are generally powered from the AC mains electrical supply available in the building. Some equipment in fixed stations may run off 13.8V DC instead of AC, and require a separate power supply. Some fixed stations are equipped with auxillary sources of power, such as electrical generators or batteries for use in emergencies. city lights viewed in a motion blurred exposure. ... Direct current (DC or continuous current) is the continuous flow of electricity through a conductor such as a wire from high to low potential. ... A power supply unit (sometimes abbreviated power supply or PSU) is a device or system that supplies electrical or other types of energy to an output load or group of loads. ... An electrical generator is a device that produces electrical energy from a mechanical energy source. ... Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ...

Mobile stations

An amateur radio station installed in a vehicle is referred to as a mobile station. A typical mobile station is equipped with a transceiver, one or more antennas, and a microphone. The transceiver may be specially designed for installation in vehicles; it may be much smaller than transceivers designed for fixed station use, to facilitate installation under a seat or in a trunk, and it may feature a detachable control head that can be mounted in a separate location from the rest of the radio. Antennas designed for mobile stations must accomodate the unique physical constraints of the vehicle and travel lanes which it occupies, allowing for clearance under overpasses and bridges, and safe passage by vehicles in adjacent lanes. Most antennas used in mobile stations are omnidirectional. Few mobile stations are equipped to communicate with Morse code or digital modes. Most mobile stations are designed to be operated by the vehicle operator while driving. A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna (U.S.) or aerial (UK) is an electronic component designed to transmit or receive radio waves. ... Inside a condenser microphone. ... An omnidirectional antenna is an antenna system which radiates maximum power uniformly in all directions. ... 1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting information, using standardized sequences of short and long marks or pulses — commonly known as dots and dashes — for the letters, numerals and special characters of a message. ...

Most transceivers installed in vehicles are designed to run on 13.8 VDC, and are generally powered by the starting battery in the vehicle. Because of the power demands placed on the vehicle battery, most mobile stations either do not include external amplifiers or include amplifiers with power outputs that are more modest than those commonly found in fixed stations. Lead-acid car battery Most car batteries are lead-acid batteries. ... An amplifier is a device which changes a small movement into a larger movement. ...

A specialized form of mobile station used for competition in a VHF radio contest in North America is called a rover station. A rover station is often designed to be operated by a passenger in the vehicle rather than the driver, and may include multiple transceivers, transverters, directional antennas, and a laptop computer to log contacts made. Very high frequency (VHF) is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz (wavelength 10 m) to 300 MHz (wavelength 1 m). ... Alex Teimurazov, 4L5A, especially designed the D4B station on a Cape Verde mountaintop to win international radio contests. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the... A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... A transverter is a radio frequency device that consists of an upconverter and a downconverter in one unit. ... A directional antenna is an antenna which transmits or receives maximum power in a particular direction. ... Laptop with touchpad. ...

While it may not be a regulatory requirement, many mobile stations will append a /M to end of their call sign (pronounced as "slash mobile" on phone) while operating to identify themselves to other stations as a mobile station. Rover station operating in a VHF contest will append a /R to the end of their call sign (pronounced "slash rover"). Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... A telephone handset A touch-tone telephone dial Telephone The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device that transmits speech by means of electric signals. ...

Maritime mobile stations are mobile stations installed in a watercraft, usually an ocean-going vessel. When in international waters, these stations are operated under the regulatory authority of the flag under which the vessel is registered. In addition to the regulatory requirements of the Amateur Radio Service, operation of maritime mobile stations generally also requires the permission of the captain of the vessel. Maritime mobile stations append a /MM to end of their call sign (pronounced as "slash maritime mobile"). The tricolor flag of France A flag is a piece of coloured cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually for purposes of signalling or identification. ... Mrs. ...

Aeronautical mobile stations are mobile stations installed in an aircraft. In addition to the regulatory requirements of the Amateur Radio Service, operation of maritime mobile stations generally also requires the permission of the pilot of the aircraft. Aeronautical mobile stations append a /AM to end of their call sign (pronounced as "slash aeronautical mobile"). Mrs. ...

Portable stations

An amateur radio station set up in a temporary location is referred to as a portable station. A portable stations might be established to provide emergency communications in a disaster area, to provide public service communications during a large organized event such as a charity bicycle ride, to provide communications during an expedition, or for the recreational enjoyment of operating outdoors. Portable stations include the same basic equipment as fixed and mobile stations, although transportation of the transceiver, antennas, power supplies or batteries and necessary accessories often influences the particular selection. Equipment that does not weigh very much, or that can be broken down for shipment or transportation in luggage is especially popular with amateur radio operators travelling on DX-peditions. A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna (U.S.) or aerial (UK) is an electronic component designed to transmit or receive radio waves. ... A power supply unit (sometimes abbreviated power supply or PSU) is a device that supplies electrical power to a device or group of devices. ... Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ... A DX-pedition normally is an expedition to an exotic place. ...

Most portable stations rely upon generator or battery power. Because this form of power might be of limited supply, portable stations often operate at lower transmit power levels to conserve energy. Electrical generator Generator (Mathematics) ... Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ...

Some portable stations append a /P to end of their call sign (pronounced as "slash portable") to indicate their status as a portable operation. In some countries, this is a regulatory requirement, whereas is others it is done at the option of the operator.

Space stations

An amateur radio station that is located in a satellite, the Space Shuttle, or on the International Space Station is refered to as a space station. Some countries, including the United States, have additional or different regulations regarding the operation of space stations in the Amateur Service. Most space stations are located on satellites that orbit the earth. These stations are frequently either transponders or repeaters that operate under automatic control and can be used by ground stations (any station that is not a space station) to relay their signal to other ground stations. A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ... The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 1981 (NASA). ... ISS Statistics Crew: 2 As of August 21, 2005 Perigee: 352. ... Mrs. ... In telecommunication, the term transponder (sometimes abbreviated to XPDR or TPDR) has the following meanings: An automatic device that receives, amplifies, and retransmits a signal on a different frequency. ... For other meanings, see repeater (disambiguation). ...

Handheld stations

Handheld radios contain all the necessary equipment for radiocommunications with another station. A typical radio used as a handheld station integrates a transceiver with an antenna and a battery. Most handheld transceivers used in the Amateur Radio Service are designed for operation on the VHF or UHF amateur radio bands and most often are capable of only FM voice communications transmissions. Radio transmition diagram and electromagnetic waves For other uses see: radio (disambiguation) Radio is a technology that allows the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of light. ... A transceiver is a device that has a transmitter and receiver which is combined into a one unit. ... A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna (U.S.) or aerial (UK) is an electronic component designed to transmit or receive radio waves. ... Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ... Mrs. ... Very high frequency (VHF) is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz (wavelength 10 m) to 300 MHz (wavelength 1 m). ... This article is about the radio frequency. ... Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave. ...

Repeater stations

A repeater station is a specialty amateur radio station that extends the range of communications for other stations. A repeater uses a receiver tuned to one radio frequency and a transmit tuned to another radio frequency. Other stations using a repeater station transmit on one frequency but listen for signals on the other frequency. If a repeater station is in a favorable location, such as on a tall tower, the top of a tall building, or on a mountaintop, stations that otherwise would not be able to communicate with each other can each use the repeater and establish two-way communications.

Repeater stations generally operate under automatic control. The control equipment is reposnible for transmitting the repeater station's call sign at regular intervals. This identification is often done in Morse code. Repeater stations append a /R to end of their call sign. 1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting information, using standardized sequences of short and long marks or pulses — commonly known as dots and dashes — for the letters, numerals and special characters of a message. ...

See also

• Amateur radio
• DX station
• Amateur radio satellite
• Repeater