Technician Exam Turbo Class

This is intended to be a one or two day class that prepares students to take the Technician Class amateur radio exam without minimal previous preparation. Possible structures include:

• An all day class, followed by an exam in the evening
• An all day class, followed by an exam the next evening, allowing some time for self study

Subelements

This section contains commentary on each subelement and how they should or should not be taught.

Subelement T1: FCC Rules, descriptions and definitions for the Amateur Radio Service, operator and station license responsibilities

Basic introduction. Most suitable for self study and memorization. 30 minutes at most.

• T1A - Amateur Radio Service: purpose and permissible use of the Amateur Radio Service; operator/primary station license grant; where FCC rules are codified; basis and purpose of FCC rules; meanings of basic terms used in FCC rules; interference; spectrum management - 14 questions
• T1B - Authorized frequencies: frequency allocations; ITU regions; emission modes; restricted sub-bands; spectrum sharing; transmissions near band edges - 13 questions
• T1C - Operator licensing: operator classes; sequential, special event, and vanity call sign systems; international communications; reciprocal operation; station license and licensee; places where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC; name and address on FCC license database; license term; renewal; grace period - 14 questions
• T1D - Authorized and prohibited transmission: communications with other countries; music; exchange of information with other services; indecent language; compensation for use of station; retransmission of other amateur signals; codes and ciphers; sale of equipment; unidentified transmissions; broadcasting - 12 questions
• T1E - Control operator and control types: control operator required; eligibility; designation of control operator; privileges and duties; control point; local, automatic and remote control; location of control operator - 12 questions
• T1F - Station identification; repeaters; third party communications; club stations; FCC inspection - 13 questions

Subelement T2: Operating Procedures

Some self study and some taught material. Things like carrier squelch and simplex/duplex should be explained. Some relies on basic definitions such as SSB and FM. 30 minutes.

• T2A - Station operation: choosing an operating frequency; calling another station; test transmissions; procedural signs; use of minimum power; choosing an operating frequency; band plans; calling frequencies; repeater offsets - 12 questions
• T2B – VHF/UHF operating practices: SSB phone; FM repeater; simplex; splits and shifts; CTCSS; DTMF; tone squelch; carrier squelch; phonetics; operational problem resolution; Q signals - 13 questions
• T2C – Public service: emergency and non-emergency operations; applicability of FCC rules; RACES and ARES; net and traffic procedures; emergency restrictions - 12 questions

Subelement T3: Radio wave characteristics: properties propagation modes

Mostly taught. Propagation modes mostly self-study. 1 hour.

• T3A - Radio wave characteristics: how a radio signal travels; fading; multipath; wavelength vs. penetration; antenna orientation - 11 questions
• T3B - Radio and electromagnetic wave properties: the electromagnetic spectrum; wavelength vs. frequency; velocity of electromagnetic waves; calculating wavelength - 11 questions
• T3C - Propagation modes: line of sight; sporadic E; meteor and auroral scatter and reflections; tropospheric ducting; F layer skip; radio horizon - 12 questions

Subelement T4: Amateur radio practices and station set up

Combination of taught and self-study. Should explain grounding, noise, SWR. 30 minutes

• T4A – Station setup: connecting microphones; reducing unwanted emissions; power source; connecting a computer; RF grounding; connecting digital equipment; connecting an SWR meter - 12 questions
• T4B - Operating controls: tuning; use of filters; squelch function; AGC; repeater offset; memory channels - 12 questions

Subelement T5: Electrical principles: math for electronics; electronic principles; Ohm’s Law

Mostly taught. 60-90 minutes.

• T5A - Electrical principles, units, and terms: current and voltage; conductors and insulators; alternating and direct current - 12 questions
• T5B - Math for electronics: conversion of electrical units; decibels; the metric system - 13 questions
• T5C - Electronic principles: capacitance; inductance; current flow in circuits; alternating current; definition of RF; DC power calculations; impedance - 13 questions
• T5D – Ohm’s Law: formulas and usage - 12 questions

Subelement T6: Electrical components: semiconductors; circuit diagrams; component functions

Mostly taught. 30-45 minutes.

• T6A - Electrical components: fixed and variable resistors; capacitors and inductors; fuses; switches; batteries - 11 questions
• T6B – Semiconductors: basic principles and applications of solid state devices; diodes and transistors - 12 questions
• T6C - Circuit diagrams; schematic symbols - 13 questions
• T6D - Component functions: rectification; switches; indicators; power supply components; resonant circuit; shielding; power transformers; integrated circuits - 12 questions

Subelement T7: Station equipment: common transmitter antenna measurements; troubleshooting; basic repair and testing

Mostly self study, some taught.

• T7A – Station equipment: receivers; transmitters; transceivers; modulation; transverters; low power and weak signal operation; transmit and receive amplifiers - 11 questions
• T7B – Common transmitter and receiver problems: symptoms of overload and overdrive; distortion; causes of interference; interference and consumer electronics; part 15 devices; over and under modulation; RF feedback; off frequency signals; fading and noise; problems with digital communications interfaces - 12 questions
• T7C – Antenna measurements and troubleshooting: measuring SWR; dummy loads; coaxial cables; feed line failure modes - 13 questions
• T7D – Basic repair and testing: soldering; using basic test instruments; connecting a voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter - 12 questions

Subelement T8: Modulation modes: amateur satellite operation; operating activities; non-voice communications

Mostly taught. 60-90 minutes.

• T8A – Modulation modes: bandwidth of various signals; choice of emission type - 11 questions
• T8B - Amateur satellite operation; Doppler shift, basic orbits, operating protocols; control operator, transmitter power considerations; satellite tracking; digital modes - 11 questions
• T8C – Operating activities: radio direction finding; radio control; contests; linking over the Internet; grid locators - 13 questions
• T8D – Non-voice communications: image signals; digital modes; CW; packet; PSK31; APRS; error detection and correction; NTSC - 11 questions

Subelement T9: Antennas and feed lines

Mostly taught. 60 minutes.

• T9A – Antennas: vertical and horizontal polarization; concept of gain; common portable and mobile antennas; relationships between antenna length and frequency - 14 questions
• T9B – Feed lines: types of feed lines; attenuation vs. frequency; SWR concepts; matching; weather protection; choosing RF connectors and feed lines - 11 questions

Subelement T0: Electrical safety: AC and DC power circuits; antenna installation; RF hazards

Self-study and taught. 30 minutes.

• T0A – Power circuits and hazards: hazardous voltages; fuses and circuit breakers; grounding; lightning protection; battery safety; electrical code compliance - 11 questions
• T0B – Antenna safety: tower safety; erecting an antenna support; overhead power lines; installing an antenna - 12 questions
• T0C - RF hazards: radiation exposure; proximity to antennas; recognized safe power levels; exposure to others; radiation types; duty cycle - 13 questions