Questions tagged [jargon]
Questions about acronyms, words, phrases, or other terminology specific to amateur radio.
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How do you make a HF contact?
I asked google, but I had no luck. It didn't say anything about what you should say in a contact. It only said how you should start a contact. Also, I have heard that you are supposed to give a RST ...
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2
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What exactly are Gold sequences and how are they used?
I recently became familiar with the FX.25 protocol extension for AX.25. Within the protocol is what they call a "correlation tag", which is a Gold sequence or Gold code. I've heard that Gold ...
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Why do radio operators sometimes use meters and other times use hertz?
I understand the conversion between meters and Hz, kHz, MHz, etc. but I don't understand why ham operators frequently switch between using one or the other.
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Correct terminology for a repeating radio transmission
I am using 'active radio tags' in a particle tracking experiment. The tags emit a 433 MHz signal containing a unique ID code at a programmable time interval and I am attempting to locate them by ...
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What is a marker unit?
Sorry to ask what may be a basic question. I have a used Icom 745. It has a "marker unit" option installed. The manuals says how to adjust it and use it, however it does not say what it ...
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What is a "roofing filter"?
What are roofing filters? Are there different kinds of things that are called roofing filter? Why would a circuit or component be called a roofing filter instead of just a IF bandpass filter? Why ...
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When is a balun a Guanella?
I've searched this site, wikipedia, other sites, and haven't found a clear answer:
What features or parameters of a balun or choke put it into the category/definition of a "Guanella"? Where ...
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CB v Amateur Radio [duplicate]
I am learning about Amateur Radio so as I can go for my foundation licence but I was on CB back in the days, a channel nine monitor and used the 10 code and the Q code but all I can see is the 73 ...
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Isolated linearly loaded antenna?
Is there a name or common descriptive term for a linearly loaded dipole or end-fed, where a (near) parallel loading element or elements are not connected (galvanically isolated) to the fed element or ...
- 13.5k
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Why do people say, "get a nickel," on repeaters?
Sometimes, I'll hear someone say "wait a moment, I'm getting a nickel," and then drop the carrier only to resume talking. Why?
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What is band stacking?
What is a band stacking register and/or band stacking buttons on a transceiver? And why would this be useful to an amateur radio operator?
Is using "band stacking" a current operating ...
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How do you know if you're on a 10 meter band?
I am just getting into ham radio, and I find it very interesting, but to make phone calls, you have to be on a 10 meter band. Does anyone know how to infer the band you're on is 10 meter? Thank you ...
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What is the difference between RIT and XIT?
What is the difference between RIT and XIT? When would one use one and not the other for split (or other) HF operation? When would one need both? Which one is more useful for a transceiver to have ...
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What is "allied mode" with regards to PSK31?
Wikipedia says:
Colloquial usage of the term 'PSK31' in amateur radio usually implies
the use of the most commonly used variant of PSK31: binary phase shift
keying (BPSK). BPSK uses no error control, ...
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Questions about effective isotropic sensitivity(EIS)
Recently, I read something about EIS (effective isotropic sensitivity) and TIS (total isotropic sensitivity). I'm trying to understand the concept, but I find it's quite hard for me.
In the book ...
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Equipment Pricing
I am wondering about the exact pricing of kits. What is the range of each radio? How long do they last? Should I buy a portable or not? My complete budget is $100.
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Repeater Features: What is e-power and link?
I am so new to ham radio that I don't even have a transceiver or a certification study unit yet. Just learning all I can right now. So, I'm looking at a repeater that I might be able to reach with a 5-...
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What is IQ in the context of SDRs?
What is IQ, in the context of software-defined radios (SDRs)?
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How proper HIHI sounds like?
Recently I've read Zen And The Art Of Radiotelegraphy by Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ. I must say, it's a great book, and as a new CW operator I've found plenty of useful information in it.
What especially ...
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What is Logbook Of The World or LOTW?
An answer to this question on QSL cards refers to something called Logbook Of The World or LOTW.
What is LOTW? What is its history?
What problem does LOTW solve? (that isn't solved by plain QSL ...
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What is a QSL card?
What is a QSL card? Why would I ever receive one? Why would I ever bother to send one? If so, when? Is it rude not to?
Are they postcards sent by physical postal mail, or are they now digital ...
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What is "up" and "down", and is it consistent with "top band"?
If I understand things right if you go "down" to "lower bands" you eventually get to "top band", which is 160 meter band.
Since this doesn't make any sense to me, is there something I'm missing? You ...
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Why do amateur radio operators call an RF choke a balun?
When using a balanced antenna such as a half wave dipole, with an unbalanced feed line such as coax, an RF choke can be used to block RF current emitted by the transmitter from splitting up at the ...
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Repeater identification ending (CW)
I am just starting to learn CW, and for practice I have been recording and transcribing repeater identifications that I hear. This is what I heard today:
DE W9KIC/R BBG
What is the meaning of "BBG"?
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Why is the band scope called panadapter?
This feature that some radios have seem to have various names:
band scope
spectrum scope
water fall
panadapter
I understand the first three names, but not panadapter. Where does it come from?
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Is a 5 watt UHF/VHF handheld considered QRP?
QRP doesn't have a strict definition, though 5W or less seems to be a common threshold. So would "QRP operation" usually be considered to include UHF/VHF handhelds?
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What is homebrew?
My question is the title itself: what is homebrew (or home brewing)? And how do homebrews differ from ordinary ham radios?
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What does CI-V stand for?
In the context of controlling a radio from a computer, what does CI-V stand for? I've noticed in relationship to a jack as well as USB.
For example, from the Icom IC-7300 manual:
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What is "Busy Channel Lockout"? Why do I want to control this feature?
I was reading up on a radio review, and it mentioned something I was not familiar with, "Busy Channel Lockout".
Unfamiliar with the term, I did an Internet Search, but didn't get back much, and for ...
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Why are radio frequency ranges aligned on multiples of 3?
Why are the radio bands organized by multiples of three?
For example the HF band is from 3–30MHz and UHF is from 300–3000MHz. Why not multiples of 2? Or plain powers of ten?
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Can someone help record a specific radio signal at a specific time to help solve a radio based puzzle? [closed]
I'm not a radio expert and I've never posted on this forum before. My request might also seem odd but hopefully someone can help me. I am pretty much a total layman on this subject so will probably ...
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I was told to check the cluster. What does that mean and how do I do that?
A comment on this question says to "check the cluster". What does it mean to "check the cluster"? I'm guessing it's a website. I did an internet search and http://www.hamcluster.net/Map.aspx seems to ...
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What is RF hash?
Ok, I get that "RF hash" is some sort of slang for "RF interference" (think CB), but does it refer to a particular type or source of interference? Do tell.
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Is there a special name (and if so what is it) for this flush-style SMA variant?
I have some radios that have a special antenna connector. It looks like an SMA connector, but the dielectric is flush with the end of the connector:
rather than recessed the way "normal" SMA ...
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LoRa Radio RFM96/98 SX1276/8 configuration settings for Longest Range
I have a pair of HopeRF LoRa RFM98 Radio Modems(based on Semtech SX1278) and I want to configure them for the longest range possible, without taking care about any second factor like transmission time ...
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Pirate Radio vs Ham Radio
I've recently came across the terms "Pirate Radio" and in the URL of this page, "Ham Radio". What is the difference between these terms? And what is the difference between the transmission of a Pirate ...
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What is a panadapter?
To what does the term "panadapter" refer? (Physical hardware or software?) How did the term "panadapter" originate as related to radios or electronics?
How is the term "panadapter" different from ...
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4NEC2 - Radiat-eff. vs. Radiat-power
In the output from 4NEC2 the input power is 100 W. On the left, in blue text, is Radiat-eff. which equals 15.41%. On the right is Radiat-power which equals 94.88 W.
I would expect either the first ...
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How to determine a serial number in cq contest?
What serial number is referred to in a cq contest? How do I determine that serial number?
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In amateur radio conversation, what does "hihi" mean?
A common phrase/word I've seen used in text and I've heard on air in conversation is "hihi" or "hi-hi". What does this mean and in what contexts is it appropriate to use?
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What is a "calling frequency"?
Doing some study for the ham test, I read a question asking about a certain “national calling frequency”.
What is a “calling frequency”?
What is meant by “calling” in this instance?
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What is the origin, history behind "Ben's Best Bent Wire"?
Bens Best Bent Wire
My uncle, who was a Merchant Marine in WWII used to tell me this. He was a ham, and said it would develop my fist musically.
I was a small child at the time, and through his ...
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Antenna length in relation to lambda length
I'm pretty new with antenna stuff. I'm not sure how to understand antenna length in relation to lambda with dipole antennas.
If a simple dipole antenna is lambda/4, has it a total length of lambda/2 (...
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What is the difference between channel & frequency & band in RF?
I am reading about wireless networks basics. I found three terms I cannot find exact definition for: channel, frequency band, frequency.
Can anyone give exact definitions for them?
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What do hams mean when they refer to "higher bands"
For example, the Ultimate3S kit info page says:
Produces 250mW RF output on 30m (lower output on higher bands)
Would bands "higher" than 30m mean:
bands with higher frequency e.g. 20m/17m/15m?
...
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DAB/DAB+ and AAC-LD/AAC-ELD
Does anyone know the protocol compatibility with regard to DAB and Low Delay AAC codecs? Is AAC-LD data or AAC-ELD data compatible with AAC and AAC+ decoding. Or how likely is it that an AAC/AAC+ ...
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History and significance of term "lid"
What is the history on the term “lid” when referring to a telegrapher’s capability? How did it originate and what is the significance if any of each letter?
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“Repeater” vs. “reflector”
In various topics on repeaters, IRLP, D-Star and EchoLink, I see people refer to these 'nodes' (for lack of a better word) as reflectors. A quick Internet search for these terms comes up with all ...
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What's the difference between "minimum SWR" and "resonance"?
Is the point of minimum SWR equivalent to resonance? Exactly what does resonance mean, anyway?
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Why are Amateur Radio operators so obsessed about and hostile towards violation of the rules? [closed]
Please don't downvote just for the title, I'm not trolling, and honestly looking for an answer.
I'm not directly involved with Amateur Radio, but have friends who are. They're always by the book. The ...
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