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This will be an ever-growing list. The amateur radio hobby has its own language to a large extent, and it's not always easy to understand. Hopefully this list will help newcomers (and forgetful folks like me) to figure out what those letters or numbers really mean. NOTE: If you are here to look for the meaning of a term you've seen somewhere else, I strongly suggest you use the "Find" function: CTRL-F, type in your term, and hit [enter]. A/D - Analog-to-Digital antenna tuner - Impedance-matching device that matches the antenna system input impedance to the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver output impedance. AM - Amplitude Modulation See URL: Modulation Modes AMSAT - Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation AMTOR - Amateur Teleprinter Over Radio, a version of RTTY antenna - a device that intercepts or radiates radio frequency energy antenna tuner - device that matches the antenna impedance to the receiver or transceiver output impedance APRS - Automatic Packet Position Reporting System - See URL: APRS ARA - Amateur Radio Association ARC - Amateur Radio Club. Military Designation for Avionics (Aviation Radio Composite) ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARRL - American Radio Relay League balanced line -A feed line with two conductors having equal but opposite voltages, with neither conductor at ground potential balun - balance to unbalance, a device used to couple a balanced antenna to an unbalanced feed line band - a range of frequencies allotted for a particular use barefoot - transmitting with a transceiver alone and no linear amplifier beacon - A station that transmits one-way signals for the purpose of navigation, homing, and propagation condition determination BFO - Beat frequency oscillator. Used to mix with the incoming signal to produce an audio tone for CW reception BNC - Coax connector commonly used with VHF/UHF equipment BPL - BroadBand Over Power Lines bps - Bits per second BPSK - Binary Phase Shift Keying, digital DSB suppressed carrier modulation boat anchor - antique ham equipment calling frequency - A standard frequency where stations attempt to contact each other capacitor - an electronic component composed of two or more conductive plates separated by an insulating material. A capacitor stores energy in an electric field carrier - a pure continuous radio emission at a fixed frequency, without modulation CC&R's - Covenents, Conditions, and Restrictions chassis ground - the common connection for all parts of a circuit that connect to the negative side of the power supply coax - A type of wire that consists of a center wire surrounded by insulation and a grounded shield code - usually refers to Morse code, but used for others such as baudot coil - a conductor wound into a series of loops color code - Colored stripes painted on the body of resistors and other components to show value condenser - old term for capacitor composed of two or more conductive plates separated by an insulating material to store energy in an electric field control operator - the Amateur Radio operator designated to "control" the operation of the repeater, as required by FCC regulations core - the material used in the center of an inductor coil, where magnetic fields is concentrated CQ - calling any amateur radio station, may be sent in CW, phone or some digital modes CSCE - Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (U.S.) issued when amateur radio license examinations passed CTCSS - abbreviation for continuous tone-controlled squelch system current - a flow of electrons in an electrical circuit CW - Continuous Wave, an unmodulated, uninterrupted RF wave used with Morse code dB - Decibel (1/10 of a Bel); unit for the ratio of two power measurements de - Morse code for "from" e.g., AC6V de WA0PPP diplexer - A frequency splitting and isolation device to couple two transceivers to a single or dual band antenna dipole - the basic ½ wavelength antenna consisting of a length of wire or tubing, open and fed at the center downlink - Channel used for satellite-to-earth communications DPSK - Differential Phase Shift Keying, a form of BPSK DSP - Digital Signal Processing - allows for filtering, noise reduction, audio equalization, etc. DTMF - abbreviation for dual-tone multi-frequency, the series of tones generated from a keypad dual-band antenna - antenna designed for use on two different Amateur Radio bands dummy load - a device which substitutes for an antenna during tests duplex - mode in which a radio transmits on one frequency and receives on another duplexer - device which allows a single antenna to transmit and receive simultaneously DVM - Digital voltmeter DX - a distant station or to contact a distant station DXCC - award for contacting and confirming 100 or more different countries dynamic range - How well a receiver can handle strong signals with overloading; any measure of over 100 decibels is considered excellent earth ground - a circuit connection to a ground rod driven into the earth elmer - a mentor; an experienced operator who tutors newer operators eleven meters - currently the CB band, once a Ham band EME - Earth-Moon-Earth; using the moon as a reflector for a signal path; moonbounce EMF - Electromotive force; voltage EMI - Electromagnetic interference emission mode - the form of a radio emission, such as AM, FM, or single sideband ERP - Effective Radiated Power ether - Old theory for the medium once believed to conduct radio waves Eu - Europe FCC - Federal Communications Commission, US governmental body that regulates the radio spectrum feedline - wire or cable connecting a radio to an antenna FET - Field-effect transistor field day - Amateur Radio activity in June to practice emergency communications field strength meter - a test instrument used to show the presence and strength of RF energy filter - A circuit or device that will allow certain frequencies to pass while rejecting others final - The last transmission by a station during a contact. Also the last amplifying stage of a radio transmitter FM- Frequency Modulation fox hunt - a contest to locate a hidden transmitter frequency - the rate of oscillation - audio and radio wave frequencies are measured in Hertz FSK - Frequency-shift keying full-break in (QSK) - allows a station to break into the communication without waiting for the transmitting station to finish full duplex - a communications mode in which a radios can transmit and receive at the same time by using two different frequencies gain, antenna - increase in effective power radiated or receiveed by an antenna in a certain desired direction GHz - gigahertz - billion (1,000,000,000) hertz gray line - a band around the Earth that separates daylight from darkness green stamp - U.S. dollar bill sent along with a QSL card ground - Common zero-voltage reference point ground-plane antenna - a quarter-wavelength vertical antenna with several radials extending horizontally from the base ground wave propagation - radio waves that travel along the surface of the earth, even beyond the horizon. half duplex - mode in which a radio transmits and receives on two different frequencies but performs only one of these operations at any given time half-wave dipole - basic ½ wavelength antenna consisting of a length of wire or tubing, open and fed at the center hand-held - portable transceiver small enough to be carried easily hamfest - event at which hams meet to buy, sell, and swap equipment Hertz - the standard unit used to measure frequency (one Hertz equals one complete cycle per second) HF - High Frequency - 3 MHz to 30 MHz hi hi - ha ha (laughter) the Morse equivalent of a laugh high-pass filter - a filter designed to pass high frequency signals, while blocking lower frequency signals Hiram Percy Maxim - AKA "The Old Man" 1AW, ARRL founder. See also: »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi ··· cy_Maxim homebrew - term for home-built, noncommercial radio equipment horizontally polarized wave - an electromagnetic wave with its electric lines of force parallel to the ground HSMM- High Speed Multi Media. An ARRL working group and individual Amateur effort as well. Primary to High speed Voice, Video, and Data transmission on the Amateur allocations within the 2.4GHZ and 5.8GHz bands using commonly available WiFi equipment with High Gain Directional Antennas. Often referred to as the "hinternet" hinternet- Slang term often used in reference to HSMM. Please see »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinternet HT - Handheld Transceiver, also known as a Handy-Talkie or Walkie-Talkie. A radio small enough to be held in your hand. Typically used with radios that operate on the VHF ham bands or above. »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa ··· e-talkie IF - Intermediate Frequency -- Intermediate frequency, resultant frequency from heterodyning the carrier frequency with an oscillator, mixing incoming signals to an intermediate frequency enhances amplification, filtering and the processing signals image - A false signal produced in a superheterdyne receivers circuitry impedance - opposition to the flow of electric current and radio energy measured in ohms inductance - a measure of the ability of a coil to store energy in a magnetic field inductor - a component composed of a coil of wire wound on a central core that stores energy in a magnetic field input frequency - the frequency of the repeater's receiver (and your transceiver's transmitter) I/O - Input/Output ionosphere - electrically charged region of the atmosphere 40 to 400 miles above the surface that refracts radio signals IRC - International Reply Coupon, used for pre-paid postage to foreign locations IRC IRLP - Radio Linking Project using VoIP isotropic - theoretical "Single Point" antenna used calculate gain ITU - International Telecommunications Union, the body which specifies worldwide guidelines for use of electromagnetic spectrum for communications purposes J antenna (J pole) - a mechanically modified version of the zepp (zeppelin) antenna K- index - A measure of the Earths magnetic field as measured at Boulder, Colorado keyer - device for sending Morse Code semi-automatically kilocycles - thousand cycles per second, replaced by kiloHertz (kHz) kilohertz - one thousand hertz (see "hertz") ladder line -- open wire transmission (antenna) line landline -- ham slang for telephone lines LCD - Liquid Crystal Display LED - Light-emitting diode LF - Low Frequency - 30 kHz to 300 kHz lid - a poor operator, one who does not follow proper procedures or sends sloppy morse code linear - an amplifier used after the transceiver output named for its purity of amplification line-of-sight propagation - term used to describe straight line propagation LSB - Lower Side Band LW - Long Wave 150 - 300 KHz magnetic mount or mag-mount - antenna with a magnetic base mA/h - milliampere per hour MARS - Military Affiliate Radio System MCW - Modulated Continuous Wave, a fixed audio tone modulates a carrier megacycles - million cycles per second megahertz - million hertz (see Hertz) meteor scatter - ionized trails of meteors used as a reflecting media MF - Medium Frequency - (300-3,000 kHz) mic (mike) - microphone microwave - the region of the radio spectrum above 1 gigahertz (GHz) mW - milliwatt (1/1,000 watt) mobile - an amateur radio station installed in a vehicle mode - (see emission mode) modulate - create a radio emission so that it contains information (voice, Morse code, music, binary) MUF - Maximum Usable Frequency, the highest frequency that will support transmissions off of the ionosphere mV - millivolt (1/1,000 volt) MW - Medium Wave - 300 - 3000 kHz NCS - Net Control Station net - A group of stations that meet on a specified frequency at a certain time NiCad - Nickel Cadmium, generally refers to a type of rechargeable battery NiMH - Nickel Metal Hydride, generally refers to a newer type of rechargeable battery NIST- National Institute of Standards and Technology. US Government Standards Body for Time, Frequency, Measures, Weights. Formerly known as The National Bureau of Standards(NBS). See also: »www.nist.gov/ NODE - A remotely controlled TNC/digipeater - used as a connect point in packet radio NPN - A type of transistor that has a layer of P-type semiconductor material sandwiched between layers of N-type semiconductor material OFDM- Orthogonal Frequency - Division Multiplexing. Common modulation type used in HSMM work. See also: »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COFDM Ohm - The fundamental unit of resistance offered when a potential of one Volt results in a current of one Ampere OM - friendship term, friend, pal or buddy open repeater - (Repeater Term) a repeater whose access is not limited OSCAR - Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio oscillate - vibrate, generate an AC or other periodic signal oscilloscope - an electronic test instrument used to observe wave forms and voltages on a cathode-ray tube. Displays time on the X-axis and amplitude on the Y-axis, Z-axis is intensity of the CRT spot packet radio - a system of digital communication whereby information is transmitted in short bursts paddle - Morse code key PC - Printed Circuit PCM - pulse code modulation based on the Shannon's communication theory PEP - Peak envelope power - the average power of a signal at its largest amplitude peak peak-inverse-voltage (PIV) - the maximum voltage a diode can withstand when it is reverse biased (not conducting) phase - the time interval between one event and another in a regularly recurring cycle phase modulation - varying the phase of an RF carrier in response to the instantaneous changes in an audio signal phone - voice modulation phone patch - A connection between a two-way radio unit and the public telephone system picket fencing - condition experienced on VHF and above where a signal rapidly fluctuates in amplitude causing a sound akin to rubbing a stick on a picket fence pico - the metric prefix for 10^-12, or divide by 1,000,000,000,000 pileup - multiple stations calling a DX or contest station pirate - Station using an existing callsign and illegally operating on the air PL - Private Line with repeaters, same as CTCSS-- low frequency audio tones used to alert or control receiving stations PLL- Phase-lock loop PM - Phase Modulation, similar to Frequency Modulation PNP - a type of transistor that has a layer of N-type semiconductor sandwiched between layers of P-type semiconductor material propagation - the means or path by which a radio signal travels from a transmitting station to a receiving station PSK31 - A digital transmission mode -- Phase Shift keying with 31.25 baud rate - See PSK31 PTT - Push To Talk, the switch in a transmitter circuit that activates the microphone circuitry Q-signals - a set of three-letter codes which are used by amateurs as abbreviations QSO - two way conversation QRM - Are you being interfered with? I am being interfered with. QRN - Are you troubled by static? I am being troubled by static. QSL - to acknowledge receipt; also commonly used to indicate "I understand", "I copied all OK" and term for sending cards by mail to confirm contact QSO - Can you communicate with ---? Also a common way to refer to a contact with another ham QSY - Shall I change frequency? Change frequency to ---- QRT - Shall I stop sending? Stop sending QRO - Should I increase power? Increase power QRP - Low power operation, usually 5 watts output or 10 watts input power QRZ - Who is calling me? You are being called by --- QST- Another Q-signal. Refers to News Bulletin, also the monthly magazine published by the ARRL. QSL Manager - A person, usually an Amateur Radio operator, who manages the receiving and sending of QSL cards for a managed station) RAC - Radio Amateurs of Canada, a national amateur radio organization in Canada - See leagues RACES - Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service ragchewing - chatting informally via radio RDF - Radio Direction Finding reactance - opposition to current that a capacitor or inductor creates in an AC circuit reading the mail - to listen to a QSO without participating repeater - a receiver/transmitter that listens for transmission and re-transmits them resonance - condition where Xc = XL, establishing a resonant circuit - used for selectivity (parallel circuit) or a maximum impedance circuit (series) Rettysnitch - See definition of Wouff-Hong RF - Radio Frequency, emissions in the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum RFI - Radio Frequency Interference rig - a radio (transmitter, receiver, or transceiver) RIT - Receiver incremental tuning. Also known as a Clarifier RMS - Root mean square roger -- I understand - Received 100% In CW: "R" rotor - (see "rotator") rotator - a device attached to an antenna mast which rotates it Rover - A station that operates from several grid squares or counties during a contest RST - "Readability, Signal, and Tone", a three-digit report indicating how well an operator's emissions are being received RTTY - radio teletype - A form of digital communications SASE - Self-addressed, stamped envelope selectivity - Ability of a receiver to reject signals adjacent to tuned signal sensitivity - A receivers ability to receive weak signals separation or split the difference (in kHz) between a repeater's transmitter and receiver frequencies series circuit - an electrical circuit in which all the electrons must flow through every part of the circuit shack - Ham station operating area SHF - Super High Frequency 3 - 30 GHz short path -- in degrees - the direct great signal bearing path between two locations. Long path is the reciprocal bearing signal - a radio emission silent key - a deceased amateur operator simplex - a communications mode in which a radio transmits and receives on the same frequency SITOR-A - Simplex teleprinting over radio system, mode A SITOR-B - Simplex teleprinting over radio system, mode B (FEC mode) SK - Silent Key, an amateur term for indicating that a ham has passed away. Also one of the prosigns -- meaning "end of contact" skip zone - dead zone, too far for ground wave propagation and too near for sky wave propagation skyhook - antenna sky wave propagation - the transmitting of radio waves which reflect off of the ionosphere S-Meter - Signal Strength Meter S/N - Signal-to-noise ratio speech processor - A circuit that increases the average level of the modulating signal applied to a transmitter splatter - a type of interference to stations on nearby frequencies split - DX stations often operate split - that is transmitting on one frequency and listening at a different frequency SQL - Squelch - A circuit that mutes the receiver when no signal is present, thereby eliminating band noise squelch tail - (Repeater Term) A brief bit of noise heard between the end of a radio transmission and the reactivation of the receivers squelch circuit SSB - Single Side Band SSTV - Slow Scan Television straight key - a non-electronic Morse code key with one paddle superheterodyne - a radio receiver scheme which beats or heterodynes a second radio frequency to the incoming radio signals. The combined frequencies form an intermediate (IF) third frequency SW - Short Wave SWL - Short Wave Listening SWR - Standing Wave Ratio, a measure of how much radio energy sent into an antenna system is being reflected back to the transmitter SWR meter - a device used to determine the Standing Wave Ratio of an antenna system telegraphy - the transmission of information in Morse code format telephony - the transmission of information in voice format third-party communications - messages passed from one amateur to another on behalf of a third person TI - Talk-In Frequency ticket - slang for an amateur radio license tone pad - an array of 12 or 16 numbered keys that generate the standard telephone dual tones TOR - Telex over radio TNC - Terminal Node Controller, a device which interfaces a computer to a transceiver and performs a function similar to a modem TNC - Threaded Niell-Concelman (standard connector type used on Coax cable, named for its inventors) top band -- 160 Meter Ham Band (highest number meter band) traffic - a message or messages sent by radio transceiver - a radio that both transmits and receives twisted pair - ham slang for telephone or telephone lines two-tone test - A method of testing a side-band transmitter UHF - Ultra High Frequency 300 - 3000 MHz Uncle Charlie - The FCC uplink - Channel used for earth-to-satellite communications USB - Upper Side Band common for the 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter HF amateur bands, VHF and UHF bands UTC - Coordinated Universal Time utility stations - Stations other than broadcast, or amateur stations not intended to be heard by the public including aviation, radiotelephone, marine, embassy, and military VA - Volt Amperes - measure of apparent power VAC - Volts Alternating Current varactor diode - a component whose capacitance varies as the reverse bias voltage is changed VCO - Voltage-controller oscillator VEC - Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, an amateur radio organization empowered by the FCC to recruit, organize, regulate and coordinate Volunteer Examiners VFO - Variable Frequency Oscillator VHF - Very High Frequency 30 - 300 MHz VLF - Very Low Frequency 3 - 30 KHz VMOS - Vertical metal-oxide semiconductor VOA - Voice Of America. VOM - Volt-ohm-meter VOX - Voice Operated Transmit VSWR - Voltage standing wave ratio VTVM - Vacuum tube voltmeter VXO - Variable crystal oscillator W1AW- Official ARRL station callsign, also transmits Amateur Radio News Bulletins, Propagation Conditions and Forecasts, and Morse Code Practice. Former Call of Hiram Percy Maxim, ARRL founder. See also: »www.arrl.org/ WAC - Worked All Continents award from the IARU, administered by ARRL wallpaper - QSL cards, awards, special event certificates WARC - World Administrative Radio Conference WARC Bands - An expression to indicate the bands allocated in 1979 -- 17M, 12M and 30M WAS - Worked All States award from ARRL WAZ - Worked All Zones award from CQ magazine for confirmed contact with each of 40 zones WEFAX - Weather facsimile, reconstructed satellite images and photographs wireless - radio (As opposed to wired - telegraph) Wouff-Hong - Mystical Ham Torture Device invented by "The Old Man"(T.O.M) 1AW ARRL founder Hiram Percy Maxim. See Also: »www.natradioco.com/rdey/ ··· hrsl.htm WPM - Words per minute; as in Morse code or typing speed WWV - National Bureau of Standards radio station (time signals) WWVB - NIST radio station (broadcasts time signals) WX - weather XCVR- Transceiver XFMR - Transformer XTAL - Crystal XYL - Ex-Young Lady, wife Yagi - "beam" directional antenna array zed - phonetic for letter "Z" zero beat - Adjust the frequencies of two signals so that they are exactly equal and in phase Zepp antenna - simply a weighted wire reeled down and up from early lighter-than-Zeppelin air-ships Zulu - Coordinated Universal Time. Also the phonetic for the letter Z NUMBERS 0-9 73 - Best regards 88 - Love and kisses Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
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