[Elecraft] The Technical Side of Ham Radio

[Edward R Cole]

Jim,

Could resist but to reply (keep your sense of humor hat on!):
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From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] The Technical Side of Ham Radio
Message-ID: <563310BC.8080601 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

Ham radio is a hobby for those who are willing to learn about how radio
works. To obtain a license, we must pass a test that shows we know the
fundamentals of radio and electronics. Some don't bother to do that, but
instead cram by memorizing answers to a lot multiple guess questions. I
view that as cheating. If they don't know anything when they're done,
that's their own fault.

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Yep, that's how I passed tests in college and got rewarded with a 
degree.  REAL learning came later on the job.
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Last I looked, ARRL license study material taught the fundamentals of
electronics and radio, and at least a third of the ARRL Handbook is
specifically written for those just beginning to learn it. I'd bet that
the vast majority of those who put us on the moon, and a generation
later a lander on Mars, first learned electronics from the ARRL Handbook!

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There you go again.  My Novice at age 14 lead to degrees in math & 
engineering and ultimately a job with NASA/JPL where I helped land 
the first s/c on Mars: Viking-I on July 4, 1976!  The fact it took me 
until 1982 to Advanced Class and 2000 to Extra - while holding a 2nd 
Class Radiotelephone since 1971 is a bit absurd. <hint it was about CW speed>
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As hams, we are responsible for producing a reasonably clean signal and
operating within the FCC Rules. Operators in other services like CB,
commercial 2-way, and so on are not permitted to modify equipment, but
we are!

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And that is special.  Of course hams were among the pioneers of early 
radio before there were even kits.
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I also do my best to produce tutorial materials to share what I've
learned. I AM an EE, but I also taught for five years (at DeVry in
Chicago), and my goal has always been to try to make complicated things
easier to understand. Like many OTs on this reflector, I passed my
General exam in my first year of high school, and the Extra exam the
summer after high school.  All that study (and on air activity) made me
want to study EE. :)

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At age 8 (1952) I wanted to be a "rocket scientist or space cadet" 
(later called astronaut).  At age 14 it was clear I was not fit 
enough to do that but smart enough to be part of the party (an 
engineer).  College took a little of the hubris away <smile>
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All of these study materials require STUDY, not casual reading. Some of
the concepts take a while to sink in, and with my work on RFI and
ferrites, took me a LONG time to figure out. It is a combination of my
own research and work with colleagues on the AES Standards Committee's
Working Group on EMC.

I have some nice test gear, but nothing even close to the $100K range --
much of the work I've done on clean transmitters has been with a
P3/SVGA, and I'm planning to increase my measurement capabilities next
year with one of the new under $1K  ANAN radios. My VNWA cost $769, with
shipping and a calibration kit.

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Has taken me some time to get a little test equipment - its all old 
stuff like my HP141T (same model I used working at Goldstone in mid 
1970's).  Much is acquired not fully working.  Good to have 30+ years 
of radio repair experience.
------------------------------------

You don't have to set this stuff up and measure it yourself -- there's
plenty of data on my website you can download and study. There's an
excellent Power Point, mostly by K6XX, an EE at Elecraft, that shows
virtually everything that's been discussed here in the thread on
transmitter distortion. I've posted these links several times. There's a
summary of ARRL measurements on transmitters that makes it easy to
compare them. You and others can learn a lot by downloading and studying
them.  I learned a lot by doing the work to prepare them!

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And thanks to several, like you, who share the "wealth" unlike the 
"back stabbing" bunch I used to work with.  That is REALLY the 
shining example that is ham radio - those who share for free!
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CAPS added for emphasis. :)

73, Jim K9YC



73, Ed - KL7UW
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