Ham Radio Guide
Search

Learn / Technician course

Lesson 3: Operating Procedures

Lesson 3 of 10, syllabus topic T2. The exam asks 3 questions from this topic, one from each of its 3 groups.

With the bands and signal paths in hand, the procedures for repeaters, simplex and public service make sense.

What you will learn

  • T2A Station operation: choosing an operating frequency, calling another station, test transmissions; Band plans: calling frequencies, repeater offsets
  • T2B VHF/UHF operating practices: FM repeater, simplex, reverse splits; Access tones: CTCSS, DTMF; DMR operation; Resolving operating problems; Q signals
  • T2C Public service: emergency operations, applicability of FCC rules, RACES and ARES, net and traffic procedures, operating restrictions during emergencies, use of phonetics in message handling

1. Read

  1. Making your first contact: Listen firstHelps with T2A
  2. Making your first contact: Simplex and repeatersHelps with T2B
  3. Making your first contact: OffsetsHelps with T2A, T2B
  4. Making your first contact: Access tonesHelps with T2B
  5. Programming a radio: Offsets and their directionHelps with T2A, T2B
  6. Programming a radio: Tones and codesHelps with T2B
  7. Making your first contact: Simplex calling frequenciesHelps with T2A
  8. Making your first contact: A sample exchangeHelps with T2A
  9. Digital modes: Digital voiceHelps with T2B
  10. Quick reference: Q signalsHelps with T2B
  11. Emergency communications: ARESHelps with T2C
  12. Emergency communications: RACESHelps with T2C
  13. Emergency communications: The National Traffic SystemHelps with T2C
  14. Emergency communications: What the rules allow in an emergencyHelps with T2C
  15. Clubs, mentors and nets: How a directed net runsHelps with T2C
  16. All 37 T2 questions with their answers and explanationsEvery group, with the rule or source behind each answer

2. Explore

  • Phonetics and call signs

    Spell an unusual name the way you would relay it in a message on a net, so the receiving station copies it correctly.

    This is exam question T2C03.

3. Practice

Practice one group at a time. A group is ready when you have answered every one of its questions and learned at least 80 percent of them; a question counts as learned when your last three answers to it were correct. To review quickly, go through this lesson’s questions as flashcards.

Loading practice questions…