Lesson 1

Introduction To Amateur Radio

Objectives:

This is an introductory chapter to define the scope of the course. At the end of the class the student should know that:

The instructor is expected to emphasize that operating on bands or in modes not authorized in your class of qualification will lead to censure by your fellow Hams as well as possible revokation of your authorization.

The instructor should make the student aware of the necessity for study.

Apparatus:

Lesson Plan:

  1. Pass out the textbook. Point out the objectives in each chapter. Also print out the errata sheet and pass out copies. Encourage the students to write in the margins of the textbook.

  2. Remind them to have a good look at the Study Skills.

  3. Ensure that they can use a calculator. A calculator with basic scientific functions is more than adequate. One does not need a graphing calculator to survive this course.

It has been our experience that one of the biggest fears of many students, who may not have attended a formal class in decades, is that their math skills may not be up to the standards required for the course. It is important to emphasize that one does not have to have a PhD. in math to cope.

Also emphasize the need for good form when solving problems: listing all the data given, deciding what is known and what has to be found, re-arranging the appropriate equation to isolate this. After doing this set up the teams of math buddies. Point out the Math Skills appendix in the textbook.

Many of the students may have no actual hands-on experience with Amateur Radio. You should take all available opportunities to show them how to operate the equipment, conduct a QSO, etc. Since this is a short lesson, if the club has a station of its own, this would be a good time to start.

Take the class, or a manageable subset, to the Club station. Show them the antennas and feed lines. Explain that they will in due course learn how it all works. If there are lighning arrestors installed, show them, together with the grounding and antenna switching.

Inside, explain the transceivers and how they work. If time permits make a short QSO on SSB and one on CW. At this point there is no necessity to allow them to talk on the radio; the objective is just to show what is out there and what it will sound like. If either QSO is DX, show them on the map where the contact was.

Homework:

In the following list, and throughout the rest of this text, we will use the convention Sx.y, to refer to Section s, subsection y. For example, S3.1 means Section 3.1 in Chapter 3.

  1. Read the Math Skills, Appendix 1, SA1.1 through SA1.5

  2. Read Chapter 1

  3. Read S2.1 through S2.6

Direct link to errata for the sixth edition of the RAC Study Guide For The Basic Qualification.