Radio Merit Badge

Radio Merit BadgeBoy Scouts of AmericaModule 1 - Radio BasicsBSA National Radio Scouting Committee 2012.

PurposeMake You aRadio ExpertBasicFamiliarityWith RadioEmergencyPreparedness.

Class FormatThree modules – any orderModule 1 – Intro To RadioModule 2 – ElectronicComponents & SafetyModule 3 – Amateur Radio &Emergency Communications

Module 1IntroductionTo Radio.

Key Topics in This Module1 - What is Radio?1a,1b - Types of Radio Services1c - Radio Call Signs & Identification1d - The Phonetic Alphabet2a - Radio Wave Propagation, WWV & WWVH2b - The FCC & ITU3a - The Electromagnetic Spectrum

What Is Radio?Electronic communication from one locationto another without wires1920s-eraRadioReceiver.

Where Radio is usedRadio is used in:broadcast receiverstwo way radiostelevisionscellular telephoneswireless LANsgarage door openerscar locksEZPasssatellitespagersradarmicrowave ovensetc, etcRequirement 1

Broadcast RadioBroadcast - One-way transmissions to the public.Could be commercial (music, news, sports withadvertisements) or non-commercial (NationalPublic Radio, school radio stations, Voice ofAmerica)Requirement 1

Broadcast Radio TowersExamples of radio transmission towers you maysee:AM / FMRadioNOAA WeatherRadioTelevision.Requirement 1

Two-Way CommunicationsTwo Way Radios both send (transmit) and receivemessages.walkie-talkiesAmateur Radiocell phonesfire and policeaviationshipsmilitary, etc.Requirement 1

Hobby RadioUse of the radio by the public to communicatewith others or to control models.Amateur radio isa licensed typeof Hobby RadioRequirement 1

Amateur RadioA volunteer non-commercial radio service devoted toeducational, recreational and emergency purposesHAMHobbyRadioRadioRequirement 1

Why Amateur Radio?A place to learn about radio!Called the Amateur Radio Service because itcan’t be used for profit.An important part of disaster response.A lot of fun!Requirement 1

Technology In The WildernessFrom the BSA Field Book, page 436 Many SAR teams use hamradio technology, especially thetwo-meter band and the FCCTechnician license, to facilitatecommunications.Requirement 1

Radio Call SignsCall Signs are identification. They show youhave a license to transmit.Broadcast Call SignsWHO, KDKA, KORA, WNBCHam Call SignsWW3Y, KB3BOY, VR2DK, 9N1MM, JA1ABCA92EB/OZ, G4RZC/MMAll ham call signs contain a numberRequirement 1

US Call SignsEvery US station has a call sign issued by the FederalCommunications Commission (FCC)Broadcast call signs begin with K or WKXASWBAPAmateur call signs begin with A, K, N or WAB2SN KF5WTNY8NW3ZLPRequirement 1

Amateur Radio Call SignsRequirement 1

International Call Countries*issue*specific*call*signs*Examples:**** .*XE* – MexicoVE – CanadaVK – AustraliaZL – New ZealandPY – BrazilG – Great BritainF – FranceI – Italy4X – IsraelJA – JapanRequirement 1

Station Identification RulesBroadcasters- Once per hour.Amateurs- Every ten minutes and at end of aconversation.Requirement 1

Phonetic AlphabetAlfa AL fahBravo BRAH VOHCharlie CHAR leeDelta DELL tahEcho ECK ohFoxtrot FOX trotGolf GOLFHotel hoh TELLIndia IN dee ahExample:Juliet JEW lee ETTKilo KEY lohLima LEE mahMike MIKENovemberno VEM berOscar OSS cahPapa pah pahQuebec keh BECKRomeo ROW me ohSierra see AIR rahTango TANG goUniform YOU nee formVictor VIK terWhiskey WISS keyX-Ray ECKS RAYYankee YANG keeZulu ZOO looMy name is Tom – tango, oscar, mike – TomRequirement 1

How High Frequency (HF) RadioWaves Travel (Propagation)Ground WaveSky WaveIonosphereSkipLocalDX.Ionosphere (80 km)Sky WavesSkip ZoneGround WaveRequirement 2

How VHF & UHF Radio WavesTravel (1)Requirement 2

How VHF & UHF Radio WavesTravel (2)

Radio Propagation CharacteristicsHF Wavelengths (160 – 10 meters)- Generally utilizes skywave propagation- Affected by solar activityVHF Wavelengths (6 meters – 2 meters)- Generally utilize line-of-sight- Affected very little by solar activityUHF Wavelengths (70cm and shorter)- Generally utilize light-of-sight propagation- Affected much by terrain, buildings.

WWV Provides accurate frequencies, time, and HF propagation forecasts. WWV & WWVH transmit on 5,10,15 and 20 MHz WWV is in Ft Collins, Colorado.WWVH is in Kauai, HawaiiRequirement 2

Radio Station WWVTransmits onstandardfrequencies2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MhzIf you can hearWWV, the HFbands are openFort Collins, CO.Requirement 2

Regulation of RadioITUInternationalTelecommunicationsUnionMeets every few years.Sets InternationalFrequencyassignments.Assigns prefixes tocountries.FCCFederal CommunicationCommissionSet FrequencyAssignments in US.Issues Licenses & CallSigns in US.Enforces Radio Laws inUS.Requirement 2

Frequencies(One Hertz is cycle per second)DC Power0 Hertz (goes in one direction only)AC Power60 Hertz (Hz)Audio (Sound)100 Hz to 20 KHz (100 - 20,000 Hz)LF30-300 kHz (30,000-300,000)MF.3-3 MHz (300,000-3,000,000)HF or Shortwave3-30 MHz (3,000,000-30,000,000)VHF30-300 MHz (30,000,000-300,000,000)UHF300-3,000 MHz (well, you get the idea)MicrowaveFrequencies above 500 MHzVisible Light400-800 THz (400,000,000- 800,000,000MHz)Requirement 3

So, what frequencies are assignedto whom?AM Broadcast RadioFM Broadcast RadioShort Wave BroadcastTelevision BroadcastCB RadioPolice RadioAmateur Radio540 - 1600 kHz88 - 108 MHz5 - 22 MHzChannel 2 54-60 MHz27 MHz450-470 MHz3.5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 150 MHz80, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 metersFreq C/metersC 300,000,000 orFreq (MHz) 300/metersRequirement 3

The Electromagnetic SpectrumSoundLong RadioWavelengthsShort RadioWavelengthsMicrowavesFrequency - Measured in Hertz (kilohertz, megahertz, gigahertz)Wavelength – Measured in meters (cm)Electromagnetic Radiation Demonstration.

The Electromagnetic SpectrumMedium Frequency (MF)High Frequency (HF)Very High Frequency (VHF)Ultra High Frequency (UHF)Requirement 3

DRAW the Electromagnetic SpectrumMFMarineAM BroadcastMarine / Navigation300 Khz3 MhzHFInternational Shortwave Broadcast10m Ham3 Mhz30 MhzVHF6m HamTVFM BroadcastAirVHF Ham30 Mhz300 MhzUHFUHF Ham300 Mhz.TVP/FTVCellularPolice/FireWiFi3 Ghz

AM Broadcast Radio FM Broadcast Radio Short Wave Broadcast Television Broadcast CB Radio Police Radio Amateur Radio 540 - 1600 kHz 88 - 108 MHz 5 - 22 MHz Channel 2 54-60 MHz 27 MHz 450-470 MHz 3.5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 150 MHz 80, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 meters Freq C/meters