Chapter 1: Overview of Amateur Radio
Free practice questions on Overview of Amateur Radio, chapter 1 of the SARL's Class A manual, for South Africa's Radio Amateur Examination (RAE). Every question has the right answer and an explanation. Sections covered:
- 1.1 Communicating with other amateurs
- 1.2 Collecting QSL cards
- 1.3 Building radio and electronics equipment
- 1.4 Building antennas
- 1.5 Public service and emergency communications
- 1.6 DXing
- 1.7 DXpeditions
- 1.8 Contests
- 1.9 Satellite communications
- 1.10 Maritime and off-road communications
- 1.11 RaDAR
- 1.12 The governance of amateur radio
- 1.13 Licence requirements in South Africa
- 1.14 The Code of Conduct
- 1.15 The Radio Amateur Examination
- 1.16 Restrictions on the use of an amateur radio station
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CW uses Morse code while phone transmits spoken voice
CW is Morse code sent by switching the carrier on and off; phone covers the voice modes such as AM, FM and SSB.
Try it: CW (Morse): Send, Decode & Listen -
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Net
A net is a regular on-air meeting at a set time and frequency where operators with a shared interest get together.
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A device combining a transmitter and a receiver
A transceiver is a single unit that contains both a transmitter and a receiver.
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A scheduled time and frequency to meet another amateur
A sked (schedule) is an agreed time and frequency at which two amateurs plan to meet on the air.
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A lengthy informal conversation between amateurs
A rag-chew is a long, relaxed conversation between amateurs that can go on for hours.
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PSK
PSK is a digital (data) mode, while FM, SSB and AM are phone modes that carry the human voice.
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A contact between two amateur radio operators
QSO is the Q-code term for a contact between two amateur stations.
Try it: Q Codes -
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Continuous Wave
CW stands for Continuous Wave, the mode used for Morse code telegraphy.
Try it: Abbreviations -
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How information is carried on the radio signal
A mode is how information rides on the signal, for example CW (Morse), phone (voice) or a digital mode; the band is a separate choice.
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Confirming communication with another amateur
A QSL card is a postcard sent after a contact to confirm it, giving the date, time, frequency, mode and callsigns.
Try it: Q Codes -
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eQSL.cc
The manual calls LoTW the most important system and names eQSL.cc as perhaps the most popular of the other services.
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An online contact confirmation system
LoTW is the ARRL's online system that matches uploaded logs from both stations to confirm contacts electronically.
Try it: Logbook & ADIF -
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They are used for award claims
Besides being keepsakes, QSL cards serve as proof of contacts when applying for awards.
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The SARL
SA-QSL is the SARL's own system, run through its website, for confirming contacts between South African stations electronically.
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Digital signal processors
Home-built equipment increasingly uses microprocessors and digital signal processing (DSP), so building it may mean writing software as well as soldering.
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A soundcard interface
A soundcard interface for a computer is simple enough to build in a single evening.
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They are simpler to build than transceivers
Modern transceivers are hard to build at home, but useful antennas can be made from wire and string, so they are an easy place to start experimenting.
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Model it with antenna design software
Antenna modelling software shows how a design should perform, so changes can be tried before any money is spent on building it.
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Hamnet
Hamnet is the SARL group that organises amateur emergency communications in South Africa.
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To continue communication during power outages
Batteries, generators or solar power keep a station on the air when mains power and telephones fail in a disaster.
Try it: Battery & Solar Planner -
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Communications for sporting events such as marathons, rallies and cycle tours
Amateurs often handle the communications for events like marathons, rallies and cycle tours, where they can work well from remote spots.
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SOTA
Summits on the Air (SOTA) is the award programme for contacts with stations operating from mountaintops.
Try it: Abbreviations -
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Distance
DX comes from an old telegraphy abbreviation for distance, so DXing means making long-distance contacts.
Try it: Abbreviations -
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Contact 100 stations in South African regions
The Worked All ZS award needs contacts with 100 different stations spread across South Africa's regions.
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Make contacts with 100 different countries
DXCC requires confirmed contacts with at least 100 different countries.
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DXpedition
A DXpedition is a trip to a rare or unusual place to set up and operate a station that many others want to contact.
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From about an hour up to 48 hours or more
Contests last a set period, as short as an hour or two or as long as 48 hours or more, so a 12-hour limit is too short for the longest ones.
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Working as many different stations as possible in a fixed time
Contesters race to work as many different stations as they can before the contest period ends; entry categories let similar stations compete.
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More than 100
Radio amateurs have launched more than 100 small communications satellites for amateurs around the world to use and learn from.
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By non-profit collaborations among amateurs
Amateur satellites are designed and built by amateurs working together as a cooperative, non-profit effort.
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To get weather reports and safety information
Yachts and other small craft use maritime amateur nets for weather reports, safety information and help in finding missing boats.
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By linking the vehicles, reaching a home base and calling for help if needed
In empty country, amateur radio keeps the vehicles of a party in touch, links them to a home base and can summon help in an emergency.
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RaDAR
RaDAR (Rapid-Deployment Amateur Radio) means carrying a radio, antenna and battery power into the field and setting up quickly anywhere.
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Being ready to provide emergency communications
RaDAR keeps amateurs ready for emergencies by practising quick set-ups of a radio, antenna and battery supply anywhere; it was pioneered in South Africa.
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ITU
The ITU is the UN agency responsible for telecommunications and radio; ICASA, the SARL and the IARU are not UN bodies.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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IARU
The IARU was formed to be the voice of radio amateurs internationally, and the ITU recognises it as their representative at its conferences.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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ITU
The ITU allocates radio spectrum and satellite orbits worldwide; ICASA manages spectrum only within South Africa.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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SARL
The SARL publishes the monthly magazine Radio ZS and runs contests through its Council's working groups.
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ICASA
ICASA, the national statutory regulator, plans, assigns and manages the radio frequency spectrum in South Africa.
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A non-profit representing amateurs
The SARL is a non-profit association of amateurs that represents them nationally and internationally; it is not a government body.
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ICASA and the IARU
The manual lists the ITU, ICASA, the IARU and the SARL as the bodies governing the amateur service; the SABC, a broadcaster, is not one of them.
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The ITU
Besides allocating spectrum and satellite orbits worldwide, the ITU sets the technical standards that let networks in different countries interconnect.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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Setting the conditions attached to radio licences
ICASA makes regulations, imposes licence conditions and manages the spectrum in South Africa; amateur emergency communications are coordinated by Hamnet.
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Region 1
South Africa, like the rest of Africa and Europe, is in ITU Region 1 and so follows the IARU Region 1 band plans.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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National amateur radio societies
The IARU's members are the national amateur radio societies of over 160 countries; individual amateurs join their own national society.
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It helped to found the IARU
The SARL is South Africa's national amateur radio society and a founding member of the IARU.
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A Council elected by the members
SARL members elect Councillors to the Council, which runs the League on their behalf.
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Commenting on ICASA and SABS proposals that affect radio
The SARL comments on ICASA and SABS policy proposals on radio matters; only ICASA issues licences and callsigns.
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Follow rules that stop them interfering with other radio services
Amateurs may use considerable power across many bands, so in return they must follow rules that prevent interference with other services.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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By helping the amateur deal with the planning problem and the authorities
The SARL supports amateurs who run into local or regional building regulations, assisting them with the authorities; it has no power to approve plans itself.
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Anyone with an interest in radio communication
SARL membership is voluntary and open to anyone interested in radio communication, licensed or not, and members join as individuals.
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CEPT
Under the CEPT arrangement a South African Class A licence counts as a CEPT licence, so the holder can operate in member countries with simple paperwork.
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It lapses
A Class B (ZU) licence lapses on the holder's 25th birthday, so holders are encouraged to upgrade to Class A before then.
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ZU
ZU callsigns identify the entry-level Class B licence; ZR and ZS callsigns are used for Class A.
Try it: Callsign Lookup -
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HF and VHF (with limits)
Class B gives restricted privileges on the HF and VHF bands, mostly limited to 100 W output on SSB.
Try it: Band Plans -
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The station's own callsign
Each amateur station has its own callsign, and every transmission must carry it so the station can be identified.
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100 W
Class B transmitter power is mostly limited to 100 W output for SSB.
Try it: Band Plans -
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ICASA
Licences and callsigns come only from ICASA, the licensing authority; the SARL supports amateurs but issues neither.
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The region of the country where the station is located
After the prefix (ZR, ZS, ZT or ZU) comes a digit for the region, then one to three letters that make the callsign unique.
Try it: Callsign Lookup -
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That they can set up and operate an HF amateur station
Class A candidates must also show in a practical assessment that they can install and operate HF amateur equipment; Morse code is not required.
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20 years
Class B is the entry-level licence for youngsters, and it is not issued to anyone older than 20.
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Full privileges on all the amateur bands
Class A, with a ZR or ZS callsign, carries full privileges on every amateur band; Class B is the restricted entry-level licence.
Try it: Band Plans -
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Helpful and friendly
The Code of Conduct says the amateur is friendly, giving patient help, advice and encouragement to beginners.
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Considerate and loyal
The Code of Conduct opens by saying the amateur is considerate and loyal, followed by progressive, friendly, balanced and patriotic.
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Through self-discipline and peer pressure among amateurs
Amateurs police themselves through self-discipline and peer pressure, guided by the international Code of Conduct.
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Radio never gets in the way of duties to home, work, school or community
A balanced amateur treats radio as a hobby and never lets it interfere with duties to home, job, school or community.
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Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate
HAREC is the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate, issued to successful Class A candidates and recognised internationally.
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40
Paper 1 (general, operating procedures and regulations) has 40 multiple-choice questions and the technical Paper 2 has 60, but check the SARL's RAE page for the current format.
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50%
A candidate must score at least 50% in each of the two papers, as well as 65% overall.
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65%
The combined mark for both papers must be at least 65%; 50% is only the minimum for each individual paper.
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Radio Operator's Certificate
Passing the practical assessment earns the Radio Operator's Certificate that ICASA requires; the HAREC comes from the written RAE.
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October of the same year
According to the manual there are two sittings a year, in May and October, each on the third Saturday.
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ICASA
ICASA is the licensing authority, and the SARL runs the exam for ICASA as the recognised body for amateur radio.
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Providing training material and marking the papers
The SARL supplies study material, appoints the invigilators and marks the papers, but licences and callsigns come only from ICASA.
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A HAREC and a Radio Operator's Certificate
The SARL issues the HAREC and the Radio Operator's Certificate; the licence itself comes from ICASA, not the SARL.
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Advertising a friend's car for sale
Amateur radio may not be used to advertise products or services; contests, SSTV pictures and chats with distant amateurs are all allowed.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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Transmitting music for entertainment
Music may be sent only under very specific conditions (the ICASA band plan allows it on a few bands), never as entertainment broadcasting; contacts abroad, digital modes and Morse are all allowed.
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Business-related messages
Amateur stations may not carry business messages that could be sent over the public telecommunications network.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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Amateur radio is for direct communication between amateurs, not broadcasting
Broadcasting is not allowed: amateur radio is for communication between amateurs, not a service for the general public.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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Amateur stations may not send messages for reward
Amateur stations may not carry messages for payment of any kind; amateur radio is a non-commercial service.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained -
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Only during an emergency
Third-party traffic is banned in normal operation, but messages for other people may be passed when there is an emergency.
Try it: ITU Radio Regulations Explained
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