Lesson 12:

Routine Operation of an Amateur Station

Objectives:

When your students have finished this chapter they will be familiar with the basic operating procedures for different modes.

Handouts:

You can create a customized Azimuthal Map for your QTH online. This site only generates a low resolution map online, but you can download the programmes to generate a high resolution map on your own computer.

Apparatus:

  1. HT's or VHF stations
  2. HF station

Lesson Plan:

What you are trying to accomplish is best summed up by the first two paragraphs of S12.1. Remember that much of the content of this chapter will have been learned by the students during sessions on the club station during this course. You have been giving them operating time haven't you?

  1. Check for any problems with homework from Chapter 11.

  2. Don't spend a lot of time on the Q-Codes. Tell the class they have to know them and explain how they are used in practice.

  3. Do a 'whip around' and see how many students have learned the phonetic alphabet.

  4. Try to get some members of your club on-site to help you with the next two activities.



  5. Unless you are running a code class then S12.5 can be omitted. If you are running a CW class then this is something for the students to do while practicing their sending. However a computer loaded with some sort of public domain morse tutor program is a quick way to show off this mode.

  6. If you have access to an HF station then have the students attempt a contact under supervision using the club call or the call of the person supervising the activity. Nets on 80 metres are good place to start. Let the class hear a net in operation and then ask if anyone on net might be willing to chat with your students. Alternately get one of your club members to meet you on air.

  7. Demonstrating the digital modes is best done by those who are comfortable with this aspect of Amateur Radio. Here is another opportunity for a Guest Instructor, either in the class or at the other Amateur's station.

You may wish to mention to the students that RAC has an excellent basic handbook on operating practices called The RAC Operating Manual, Survival Skills for the Active Radio Amateur. It can be ordered online or from the RAC office and is also widely available through Ham Radio dealers.

Homework:

  1. Read Chapter 12

  2. Do the Chapter 12 Quiz questions

  3. Skim Chapter 13

Chapter 12 Quiz:

Printable copy of the Review Quiz

Answers to Chapter 12 Quiz
1 D 21 A 41 B 61 B 81 B
2 C 22 D 42 D 62 A 82 A
3 C 23 B 43 B 63 A 83 A
4 B 24 D 44 D 64 C 84 D
5 A 25 B 45 B 65 D 85 A
6 A 26 C 46 D 66 A 86 A
7 D 27 C 47 D 67 A 87 B
8 D 28 A 48 D 68 C 88 B
9 B 29 D 49 A 69 C 89 D
10 C 30 A 50 D 70 A 90 A
11 A 31 C 51 A 71 B 91 C
12 B 32 B 52 B 72 B 92 C
13 A 33 C 53 A 73 B 93 C
14 B 34 A 54 B 74 D 94 D
15 D 35 B 55 D 75 B 95 C
16 D 36 B 56 D 76 A 96 A
17 A 37 B 57 D 77 D 97 A
18 C 38 B 58 D 78 C 98 C
19 D 39 D 59 C 79 D 99 C
20 B 40 A 60 A 80 B * *

There are no diagrams in Chapter 12.