Amateur Radio Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Framework Overview

Introduces the international and national regulatory bodies governing amateur radio. Students understand licensing tiers, privileges, and operator responsibilities.

Lesson 2 • Amateur Radio Bands and Allocations

Explains how radio spectrum is divided into amateur bands across HF, VHF, and UHF. Students map frequency ranges to typical uses and propagation characteristics.

Lesson 3 • History and Purpose of Amateur Radio

Traces amateur radio from early 20th-century experimentation to modern digital modes. Establishes context for why the service exists and its public-benefit role.

Lesson 1 • Semiconductors and Basic Circuits

Covers diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits as building blocks of radio equipment. Students trace signal flow through amplifier and rectifier stages.

Lesson 2 • Alternating Current and Frequency

Introduces AC waveforms, frequency, period, and amplitude as they relate to radio signals. Students distinguish AC behavior from DC and apply frequency concepts to radio.

Lesson 3 • Voltage, Current, and Resistance

Covers Ohm's Law and the relationships among voltage, current, and resistance in DC circuits. Provides the mathematical foundation for all subsequent circuit analysis.

Lesson 4 • Capacitors and Inductors

Explains how capacitors store electric fields and inductors store magnetic fields in circuits. Students predict reactance behavior and identify component roles in filters and tuners.

Lesson 1 • Ionospheric Propagation

Explains ionospheric layers, critical frequency, and skip distance for HF communication. Students use solar data to predict band conditions and skip zones.

Lesson 2 • Tropospheric and Scatter Modes

Introduces tropospheric ducting, meteor scatter, and EME as extended-range VHF/UHF paths. Students recognize conditions that enable each mode.

Lesson 3 • Electromagnetic Wave Behavior

Describes polarization, reflection, refraction, and diffraction of radio waves. Connects wave physics to practical antenna orientation and signal path planning.

Lesson 1 • Common HF Antenna Designs

Surveys dipoles, verticals, loops, and Yagi arrays for HF operation. Students select antenna types based on space, band, and performance requirements.

Lesson 2 • Antenna Theory Fundamentals

Covers radiation patterns, gain, directivity, and the half-wave dipole as a reference antenna. Students interpret antenna specification sheets and polar plots.

Lesson 3 • Impedance Matching and SWR

Explains SWR, reflected power, and matching networks including baluns and antenna tuners. Students measure SWR and apply matching techniques to minimize mismatch loss.

Lesson 4 • Feedlines, Connectors, and Loss

Compares coaxial cable types, ladder line, and waveguide for feedline applications. Students calculate feedline loss and select cable for frequency and power level.

Lesson 1 • Interference and Spurious Emissions

Identifies harmonics, intermodulation, and splatter as sources of interference. Students apply filtering and operating practices to stay within regulatory emission limits.

Lesson 2 • Transmitter Architecture

Traces signal flow from oscillator through driver and final amplifier stages to the antenna. Students identify each stage's function and common failure symptoms.

Lesson 3 • Modulation Modes

Covers AM, FM, SSB, CW, and digital modulation methods used in amateur radio. Students compare bandwidth, efficiency, and appropriate use cases for each mode.

Lesson 4 • Receiver Design and Sensitivity

Explains superheterodyne architecture, IF filtering, and noise figure in amateur receivers. Students evaluate receiver specifications and identify selectivity trade-offs.

Lesson 1 • Tower and Antenna Structure Safety

Covers safe climbing practices, fall arrest systems, and structural load considerations for antenna supports. Students identify hazards in a tower installation scenario.

Lesson 2 • RF Exposure Evaluation

Applies maximum permissible exposure limits to calculate safe distances for antennas at various power levels. Students perform a routine RF exposure evaluation for their station.

Lesson 3 • Grounding and Bonding Systems

Explains station ground, RF ground, and safety ground as distinct but related systems. Students design a bonding scheme that minimizes both shock risk and RF interference.

Lesson 4 • Electrical Safety Fundamentals

Covers shock hazards, safe wiring practices, fusing, and working on energized equipment. Students identify dangerous conditions and apply lockout procedures.

Lesson 1 • Net Operations and Traffic Handling

Covers net check-in procedures, net control duties, and formal message handling using standard formats. Students pass a radiogram through a simulated net.

Lesson 2 • Logging, QSL Cards, and Awards

Explains station logging requirements, electronic log formats, and QSL confirmation methods. Students maintain a compliant log and submit a QSL card correctly.

Lesson 3 • Voice Operating Procedures

Teaches simplex and repeater calling procedures, signal reports, and proper microphone technique. Students complete a structured SSB and FM QSO from start to finish.

Lesson 4 • CW and Digital Mode Procedures

Introduces Morse code abbreviations, prosigns, and structured CW QSO format. Students also set up and operate common digital modes such as FT8 and PSK31.

Lesson 1 • Incident Command System Integration

Explains ICS principles and how amateur radio operators fit within the communications unit. Students complete a basic ICS position checklist for a communications role.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Communication Organizations

Surveys amateur emergency groups, their structures, and relationships with served agencies. Students identify the appropriate organization for their region and role.

Lesson 3 • Public Service and Special Events

Covers planning and operating communications for marathons, parades, and community events. Students draft a communications plan for a simulated public service event.

Lesson 4 • Go-Kit and Portable Station Setup

Guides selection and packing of a portable station kit for rapid deployment. Students assemble and test a go-kit capable of 72-hour autonomous operation.