Amateur Radio

Technician Exam
Preparation Course
1
Amateur Radio Technician
Exam Prep Course
Module 2
Radio and Signals Fundamentals

2.1 Radio Signals and Waves

2.2 Radio Equipment Basics

2
Metric Prefixes – The Language of Radio
(see Table 2.1)
• Metric system used because numbers cover large range of values
• Most common prefixes in radio …
• Pico (p), 0.000000000001, 10-12
• Nano (n), 0.000000001, 10-9
• Milli (m), 0.001, 10-3
• Centi (c), 0.01, 10-2
• Kilo (k), 1000, 103
• Mega (M), 1000000, 106
• Giga (G), 1000000000, 109 NOTE: Mega and Giga use capital
letters in the abbreviation.

3
Table 2.1: International System of Units (SI) — Metric Units
PREFIX SYMBOL MULTIPLICATION FACTOR
Tera T 1012 = 1,000,000,000,000
Giga G 109 = 1,000,000,000 NOTE
Mega M 106 = 1,000,000 1
−1
Kilo k 103 = 1000 10 ❑ = 10
Hecto h 102 = 100
Deca da 101 = 10 1
−2
Deci d 10-1 = 0.1 10❑ = 100
Centi c 10-2 = 0.01
1
Milli m 10-3 = 0.001 −3
10❑ = 1000
Micro µ 10-6 = 0.000001
Nano n 10-9 = 0.000000001
Pico p 10-12 = 0.000000000001

4
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

5
How many milliamperes is 1.5 amperes?

A. 15 milliamperes
B. 150 milliamperes
C. 1500 milliamperes
D. 15,000 milliamperes

6
How many milliamperes is 1.5 amperes?

A. 15 milliamperes
B. 150 milliamperes
C. 1500 milliamperes
D. 15,000 milliamperes

T5B01 C 2-2 (Format: T5B01 = test pool question, C = correct answer, 2-2 = page number in manual) 7
Which is equal to 1,500,000 hertz?

A. 1500 kHz
B. 1500 MHz
C. 15 GHz
D. 150 kHz

8
Which is equal to 1,500,000 hertz?

A. 1500 kHz
B. 1500 MHz
C. 15 GHz
D. 150 kHz

T5B02 A 2-2 9
Which is equal to one kilovolt?

A. One one-thousandth of a volt

B. One hundred volts
C. One thousand volts
D. One million volts

10
Which is equal to one kilovolt?

A. One one-thousandth of a volt

B. One hundred volts
C. One thousand volts
D. One million volts

T5B03 C 2-2 11
Which is equal to one microvolt?

A. One one-millionth of a volt

B. One million volts
C. One thousand kilovolts
D. One one-thousandth of a volt

12
Which is equal to one microvolt?

A. One one-millionth of a volt

B. One million volts
C. One thousand kilovolts
D. One one-thousandth of a volt

T5B04 A 2-2 13
Which is equal to 500 milliwatts?

A. 0.02 watts
B. 0.5 watts
C. 5 watts
D. 50 watts

14
Which is equal to 500 milliwatts?

A. 0.02 watts
B. 0.5 watts
C. 5 watts
D. 50 watts

T5B05 B 2-2 15
Which is equal to 3000 milliamperes?

A. 0.003 amperes
B. 0.3 amperes
C. 3,000,000 amperes
D. 3 amperes

16
Which is equal to 3000 milliamperes?

A. 0.003 amperes
B. 0.3 amperes
C. 3,000,000 amperes
D. 3 amperes

T5B06 D 2-2 17
Which is equal to 3.525 MHz?

A. 0.003525 kHz
B. 35.25 kHz
C. 3525 kHz
D. 3,525,000 kHz

18
Which is equal to 3.525 MHz?

A. 0.003525 kHz
B. 35.25 kHz
C. 3525 kHz
D. 3,525,000 kHz

T5B07 C Page 2-2 19

Which is equal to 1,000,000 picofarads?

A. 0.001 microfarads
B. 1 microfarad
C. 1000 microfarads
D. 1,000,000,000 microfarads

20
Which is equal to 1,000,000 picofarads?

A. 0.001 microfarads
B. 1 microfarad
C. 1000 microfarads
D. 1,000,000,000 microfarads

T5B08 B 2-2 21
Which is equal to 28400 kHz?

A. 28.400 kHz
B. 2.800 MHz
C. 284.00 MHz
D. 28.400 MHz

22
Which is equal to 28400 kHz?

A. 28.400 kHz
B. 2.800 MHz
C. 284.00 MHz
D. 28.400 MHz

T5B12 D 2-2 23
Which is equal to 2425 MHz?

A. 0.002425 GHz
B. 24.25 GHz
C. 2.425 GHz
D. 2425 GHz

24
Which is equal to 2425 MHz?

A. 0.002425 GHz
B. 24.25 GHz
C. 2.425 GHz
D. 2425 GHz

T5B13 C 2-2 25
Frequency (See Fig 2.1)
• Radio waves continually vary in strength or amplitude
• This continual change is called oscillating
• Each complete up-and-down sequence is called a cycle
• Frequency (f) is the number of cycles/second (measured in Hertz, Hz)
• The period of the cycle (T) is its duration
• A harmonic is a signal with a frequency that is some multiple (×2, ×3,
×4 and so on) of a fundamental frequency

26
Figure 2.1: The frequency of a signal
and its period are reciprocals. Higher
frequency means shorter period and
vice-versa.

WAVE VOCABULARY
• Amplitude
• Frequency (hertz,
Hz, cycles/sec)
• Period (T,
seconds, s)
• Fundamental
• Harmonics
27
Figure 2.2: PHASE is used as a measure of time within the signal.
Each cycle of a sine wave is divided into 360° of phase (A). Parts (B)
and (C) show two special cases. In (B) the two signals are 90° out of
phase, and in (C) they are 180° out of phase.

Position within a cycle is called phase. Phase is used to compare how sine
wave signals are aligned in time. Measured in degrees.
28
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

29
What is the unit of frequency?

A. Hertz
B. Henry
C. Farad
D. Tesla

30
What is the unit of frequency?

A. Hertz
B. Henry
C. Farad
D. Tesla

T5A06 A 2-3 31
What describes the number of times per second that an
alternating current makes a complete cycle?

A. Pulse rate
B. Speed
C. Wavelength
D. Frequency

32
What describes the number of times per second that an
alternating current makes a complete cycle?

A. Pulse rate
B. Speed
C. Wavelength
D. Frequency

T5A12 D 2-3 33
What is the abbreviation for megahertz?

A. MH
B. mh
C. Mhz
D. MHz

34
What is the abbreviation for megahertz?

A. MH
B. mh
C. Mhz
D. MHz

T5C07 D 2-3 35
What is the abbreviation for kilohertz?

A. KHZ
B. khz
C. khZ
D. kHz

36
What is the abbreviation for kilohertz?

A. KHZ
B. khz
C. khZ
D. kHz

T5C13 D 2-3 37
The Radio Spectrum

Signals that have a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz) are radio
frequency or RF signals.
38
Electromagnetic Waves
• Electromagnetic waves are made up of electric and magnetic energy
(fields)
• The electric and magnetic fields vary in the pattern of a sine wave
• Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light
• Moving electrons in an antenna take the place of the moving magnet
• A signal from a transmitter can make the electrons in an antenna move,
transferring energy from the signal to electromagnetic waves
• The same process works backwards too
• Electromagnetic waves encountering an antenna make its electrons
move in sync with the wave
39
Electromagnetic Waves (cont.)
• Electromagnetic energy is transferred from the wave to the electrons
• The moving electrons create a signal that can be detected by a
receiver
• The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into ranges of frequencies in
which electromagnetic waves behave similarly
• Each range or segment has a different name
• Waves with a certain range of frequencies which can be used for
communication are called radio waves

40
The Radio Spectrum (cont.)
• The range of radio signal frequencies is called the radio spectrum
• Starts at 20 kHz and continues through several hundred GHz
• A specific range of frequencies in which signals are used for a
common purpose or have similar characteristics is called a band
• Frequency bands used by amateurs are called amateur bands or ham
bands
• Frequencies above 1 GHz are generally considered to be microwaves

41
 Table 2.2: RF Spectrum Ranges
Range Name Abbreviation Frequency Range
Very Low Frequency VLF 3 kHz – 30 kHz
Low Frequency LF 30 kHz – 300 kHz
Medium Frequency MF 300 kHz – 3 MHz
High Frequency HF 3 MHz – 30 MHz
Very High Frequency VHF 30 MHz – 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency UHF 300 MHz – 3 GHz
Super High Frequency SHF 3 GHz – 30 GHz
Extremely High Frequency EHF 30 GHz – 300 GHz

42
Figure 2.4
As a radio receiver is
tuned across the
AM broadcast band,
starting at the left, it
encounters each
signal in turn.
Between signals,
only noise is
received. Although
signals can be
received slightly
lower and higher in
frequency, the signal
is received best
when the receiver is
tuned exactly to the
signal’s frequency. 43
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

44
What frequency range is referred to as VHF?

A. 30 kHz to 300 kHz

B. 30 MHz to 300 MHz
C. 300 kHz to 3000 kHz
D. 300 MHz to 3000 MHz

45
What frequency range is referred to as VHF?

A. 30 kHz to 300 kHz

B. 30 MHz to 300 MHz
C. 300 kHz to 3000 kHz
D. 300 MHz to 3000 MHz

T3B08 B 2-4 46
What frequency range is referred to as UHF?

A. 30 to 300 kHz
B. 30 to 300 MHz
C. 300 to 3000 kHz
D. 300 to 3000 MHz

47
What frequency range is referred to as UHF?

A. 30 to 300 kHz
B. 30 to 300 MHz
C. 300 to 3000 kHz
D. 300 to 3000 MHz

T3B09 D 2-4 48
What frequency range is referred to as HF?

A. 300 to 3000 MHz

B. 30 to 300 MHz
C. 3 to 30 MHz
D. 300 to 3000 kHz

49
What frequency range is referred to as HF?

A. 300 to 3000 MHz

B. 30 to 300 MHz
C. 3 to 30 MHz
D. 300 to 3000 kHz

T3B10 C 2-4 50
What does the abbreviation “RF” mean?

A. Radio frequency signals of all types

B. The resonant frequency of a tuned circuit
C. The real frequency transmitted as opposed to the apparent frequency
D. Reflective force in antenna transmission lines

51
What does the abbreviation “RF” mean?

A. Radio frequency signals of all types

B. The resonant frequency of a tuned circuit
C. The real frequency transmitted as opposed to the apparent frequency
D. Reflective force in antenna transmission lines

T5C06 A 2-4 52
Wavelength
• Wavelength is the distance a radio wave travels during one cycle of
the wave’s electric and magnetic fields
• λ (lambda) is the symbol for wavelength
• Waves travel at the speed of light, c (300,000,000 or 3 × 108 meters
per second)
• Hams can refer to bands by frequency (50MHz) or wavelength (6
meters)
• Because radio waves travel at a constant speed (one wavelength) …

𝒄
𝝀=
𝒇
53
Wavelength (cont.)
Figure 2.5 — As a radio wave
travels, it oscillates at the
frequency of the signal.
Wavelength is the distance
traveled by the wave during
the time for one complete cycle.

A radio wave can be referred to

by wavelength or frequency
because the wave is moving
at a constant velocity — the
speed of light. If you know the
frequency of a radio wave, you
automatically know its
wavelength! 54
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

55
What is the velocity of a radio wave traveling through free
space?

A. Speed of light
B. Speed of sound
C. Speed inversely proportional to its wavelength
D. Speed that increases as the frequency increases

56
What is the velocity of a radio wave traveling through free
space?

A. Speed of light
B. Speed of sound
C. Speed inversely proportional to its wavelength
D. Speed that increases as the frequency increases

T3B04 A 2-5 57
What is the relationship between wavelength and
frequency?

A. Wavelength gets longer as frequency increases

B. Wavelength gets shorter as frequency increases
C. Wavelength and frequency are unrelated
D. Wavelength and frequency increase as path length increases

58
What is the relationship between wavelength and
frequency?

A. Wavelength gets longer as frequency increases

B. Wavelength gets shorter as frequency increases
C. Wavelength and frequency are unrelated
D. Wavelength and frequency increase as path length increases

T3B05 B 2-5 59
What is the formula for converting frequency to
approximate wavelength in meters?

A. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz multiplied by 300

B. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz divided by 300
C. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in megahertz divided by 300
D. Wavelength in meters equals 300 divided by frequency in megahertz

60
What is the formula for converting frequency to
approximate wavelength in meters?

A. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz multiplied by 300

B. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in hertz divided by 300
C. Wavelength in meters equals frequency in megahertz divided by 300
D. Wavelength in meters equals 300 divided by frequency in megahertz

T3B06 D 2-5 61
In addition to frequency, which of the following is used to
identify amateur radio bands?

A. The approximate wavelength in meters

B. Traditional letter/number designators
C. Channel numbers
D. All these choices are correct

62
In addition to frequency, which of the following is used to
identify amateur radio bands?

A. The approximate wavelength in meters

B. Traditional letter/number designators
C. Channel numbers
D. All these choices are correct

T3B07 A 2-5 63
What is the approximate velocity of a radio wave in free
space?

A. 150,000 meters per second

B. 300,000,000 meters per second
C. 300,000,000 miles per hour
D. 150,000 miles per hour

64
What is the approximate velocity of a radio wave in free
space?

A. 150,000 meters per second

B. 300,000,000 meters per second
C. 300,000,000 miles per hour
D. 150,000 miles per hour

T3B11 B 2-5 65
 Radio Equipment Basics
Antenna

The Basic Radio Feed line

Station
(also called a Transceiver

Transceiver)
TRANSMITTER TR SWITCH RECEIVER

POWER SUPPLY

66
An Amateur Radio Station Consists of 3 Basic Elements

• Transmitter (XMTR)
• Generates a signal carrying speech, Morse Code, or data
• Receiver (RCVR)
• Recovers the signal from someone else’s transmitter
• Antenna
• Turns signals from transmitter into energy (radio waves)
• Captures signals (radio waves) and turns them into signals for the receiver
• A feed line (or transmission line) connects the antenna to the transmitter or
receiver
• Most systems combine transmitter & receiver into a Transceiver
(abbreviated XCVR)
67
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

68
What is a transceiver?

A. A device that combines a receiver and transmitter

B. A device for matching feed line impedance to 50 ohms
C. A device for automatically sending and decoding Morse code
D. A device for converting receiver and transmitter frequencies to another
band

69
What is a transceiver?

A. A device that combines a receiver and transmitter

B. A device for matching feed line impedance to 50 ohms
C. A device for automatically sending and decoding Morse code
D. A device for converting receiver and transmitter frequencies to another
band

T7A02 A 2-7 70
Radio Equipment Basics (cont.)

Repeaters

71
Repeaters
• Consists of a receiver and transmitter that re-transmit info from a
received signal simultaneously on another frequency or channel
• Called duplex communication
• Usually located on high buildings, towers, hills, etc. for max. range
• Provide local & regional communications between low-power stations
• Often used for local emergency “traffic”
• Can be used for voice, data, or video signals (voice is the most common)
• The duplexer allows the repeater’s transmitter and receiver to share a
common antenna at the same time

72
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

73
What type of amateur station simultaneously retransmits
the signal of another amateur station on a different channel
or channels?
A. Beacon station
B. Earth station
C. Repeater station
D. Message forwarding station

74
What type of amateur station simultaneously retransmits
the signal of another amateur station on a different channel
or channels?
A. Beacon station
B. Earth station
C. Repeater station
D. Message forwarding station

T1F09 C 97.3(a)(40) 2-8 75

END OF MODULE 2

76