Advancing Skills in Amateur Radio: The Core Purpose
Which of the following is part of the Basis and Purpose of the Amateur Radio Service? [97.1]
K5HRA
Removing The Courses and Practice Tests
It pains me to have to do it, but….. The Technician practice test is literally out of date (the pre-2022 pool), some of the questions somehow got wrong answers attached to them, and yeah, the software that runs the test is out of date and now won’t actually let me edit the correct answers to … Read more
Lee de Forest: The Father of the Electronic Age
Introduction Born in 1873 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lee de Forest was an American inventor who is best known for his invention of the Audion tube, the first practical electronic amplifier. His work laid the groundwork for the development of all electronic media. Throughout his career, de Forest patented over 300 inventions, with the Audion … Read more
Edwin Howard Armstrong: The Unsung Hero of Radio’s Golden Age
Introduction In the annals of radio history, few names shine as brightly as Edwin Howard Armstrong. A visionary inventor and tenacious innovator, Armstrong’s contributions to the field of radio technology are nothing short of revolutionary. From his early days as a curious student at Columbia University to his groundbreaking inventions that shaped the course of … Read more
The Role of the Transistor in Amateur Radio
Introduction The invention of the transistor in 1947 marked a turning point in the history of electronics. This tiny semiconductor device, capable of amplifying and switching electronic signals, revolutionized the world of electronics, paving the way for smaller, more efficient, and more reliable equipment. In the realm of amateur radio, the transition from vacuum tubes … Read more
The Physics of Morse Code: Efficiency in Simplicity
Introduction Morse code, a method of encoding text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, has remained a resilient and efficient mode of communication. It’s particularly revered in the world of amateur radio, where it serves not just as a bridge to the past but as a testament to … Read more
Guglielmo Marconi (1895) – The Father of Long-Distance Radio Transmission
In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi achieved a feat that would forever change the way humanity communicates: he developed the first practical system for long-distance radio signaling. Marconi’s pioneering work demonstrated that information could be transmitted over vast distances without wires, using electromagnetic waves. This groundbreaking invention not only laid the foundational principles for modern radio technology … Read more
The Ionosphere and Its Effect on Long-Distance Communication
The ionosphere is an important part of the mechanism of long-distance radio communication, acting as both a facilitator and a barrier for signals traversing the globe. This layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, charged with ions and free electrons, interacts with radio waves in ways that can extend or limit their journey across distances. Understanding the … Read more
Propagation of Radio Waves: Ground Wave vs. Skywave
Radio wave propagation plays a pivotal role in the world of amateur radio, dictating how signals travel over distances and ultimately determine the reach and clarity of communications. This phenomenon, governed by the principles of physics and influenced by the Earth’s atmosphere and surface, is crucial for amateur radio operators to understand and utilize effectively. … Read more
Heinrich Hertz (1886) – Validating Maxwell’s Theories.
In 1886, Heinrich Hertz embarked on a series of experiments that would irrevocably alter the course of scientific understanding and technological development. His work not only demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves but also validated the theoretical predictions made by James Clerk Maxwell two decades earlier. Maxwell’s equations, a set of differential equations formulated in … Read more