Jargon Buster

As with most things in modern life, there is quite a lot of jargon associated with amateur radio.  The list below explains some of the most common radio jargon, including terms encountered in band plans.

AC or ac

Alternating Current.  Current which changes direction, at a rate known as the "frequency". Also used as an adjective, as in AC voltage, AC circuit etc.

ADC or Analogue to Digital Converter

Analogue to Digital Converter is a device used to sample an analogue signal and produce a digital representation of it.

Aerial

Same as ’antenna’.  Widely used in the UK in relation to domestic radio and TV etc. (’Antenna’ is used for most engineering purposes.)

AF or af

Audio Frequency.  A frequency that can be heard by the human ear.

Ampere or Amp

The unit of electric current. Abbreviated to Amp or A. (In formulae it is represented by I)

Amplifier

A device which increases something. It may apply to an audio frequency signal, or a radio frequency signal, or a current, or voltage etc.

AMU

Antenna Matching Unit.  Same as ATU.

A.M. or a.m.

Amplitude Modulation.  A method of modulation where the amplitude of the carrier is varied.

Antenna

A radiator or collector of electromagnetic energy.  Often called an aerial.

Attenuator

A device for reducing the strength or power of RF or AF signals.

ATU

Antenna (or Aerial) Tuning Unit.  Device to tune an antenna to resonance, and match it to the transmitter.

ATV

Amateur Television (See also FSTV)

AX25

An old data protocol (Packet Radio)

Balun

Balance-to-unbalance transformer.  Often used to connect an unbalanced (coaxial) feeder to a balanced antenna, e.g. a dipole.

Band

A range of adjacent radio frequencies.

Battery

Strictly this applies to a group of cells connected together. In general speech it is also used for single cells.  When connected to a circuit a battery produces D.C.

BCI

Interference to broadcast radio reception.

Beacon

A transmission that is usually active all the time designed to aid the study of propagation.  Beacons are assigned a small range of frequencies in the band plans.

Beam

A radio transmission concentrated to a greater or lesser extent in one direction rather than spreading uniformly in all directions.

Breakthrough

Used (particularly by radio amateurs) to describe interference caused by the legitimate radiation from a transmitter entering a piece of equipment which has insufficient immunity.

Braid

The woven outer conductor of coaxial cables.  The woven screen around screened cables.  A woven (flat) conductor which gives a large conductor area.

Capacitor

A component that block DC from passing whilst allowing AC to pass.  Often found in tuned circuits and power supplies.

Carrier

A radio signal - or part of one - which is un-modulated.

Cell

A chemical device which produces an electric potential, and hence current.  Often part of a battery

Choke

A choke impedes the passage of an alternating current b ut not direct current.

Circuit

An arrangement of conductors and components in which an electric current moves

Coaxial

A type of feeder in which a central conductor is surrounded by an insulator, which is surrounded by another conductor. Used for carrying radio frequency signals to and from an antenna.

Code

Often used by amateurs (particularly in the USA) as an abbreviation for Morse code.

Conductor

Anything, solid liquid or gas, which allows electric current to flow through it. A good conductor has low resistance and vice versa.

 

Coil

A coil of wire used to form an inductor.

 

Crystal

A piece of quartz cut in such a way to control the frequency of an oscillator or filter.

CQ

An invitation to other stations to reply.  Used to start an amateur radio contact.

Current (electric)

A stream of electrons moving through a conductor. For historical reasons an electric current always flows from positive to negative.  Measured in Amps.

CW (Morse)

Continuous Wave Morse sent by keying the carrier on and off.  It is considerably more effective than voice when operating under difficult conditions, and for low power operation.

Cycle

One cycle corresponds to one complete forward and reverse movement of an alternating current.

DAC or Digital to Analogue Converter

Digital to Analogue Convertor (DAC) is a device used to represent a digital signal in analogue format.

Datamode

A generic term for communication of data with computers rather voice or Morse Code.  Examples include RTTY, PSK31 and FT8 

dB

Abbreviation for decibel.  A convenient way of expressing powers, voltages etc. as a logarithmic ratio.

D.C. or d.c.

Direct Current.  Current which always flows in the same direction.  Also used as an adjective as in DC voltage, DC circuit etc.

Demodulator (or detector)

A device to extract the information a radio frequency signal carries.

Digimodes

Datamodes such as RTTY, PSK31, FT8

Digital Voice (DV)

A generic term for transmission of voice having been converted to data (digital) and its conversion back to analogue on reception.  The various Digital Voice protocols (D-STAR, Fusion/C4FM, DMR) are totally incompatible with each other.

 

Diode

A device the allows current to flow in one direction only. 

Dummy Load

A resistor used in the place of an antenna to enable a transmitter to be tested or adjusted without radiating a signal.

DXpedition

Amateur activity from a rare location

Earth (radio)

A conductor buried in the ground.  Assumed to be at zero potential for radio frequencies.

Earth (mains)

The protective conductor (at nominal earth potential).

 

Electron

Small charged particles that carry electronic signals around circuit.

EMC

Electromagnetic Compatibility.  The ability of electronic devices and systems to operate without mutual interference.

EMI

Electromagnetic Interference.

ERP or erp

Effective Radiated Power.  The power radiated in the direction of maximum radiation.  The power supplied to the antenna multiplied by the gain of the antenna.

Farad

The unit of capacitance.

Feeder

A transmission line used to transfer the power from a transmitter or ATU to the antenna.  Usually a coaxial cable or open-wire line.

Ferrite

Magnetic material which is used to increase the inductance of an inductor/coil.  It can be made with a wide range of properties to suit different frequencies and applications.  Usually it has a high electrical resistance.  A "Ferrite Rod" is often used as part of the antenna in medium and long wave receivers.

Ferrite Ring Choke

A choke made by winding a lead on to a ring-shaped ferrite core.

Ferrite Ring Braid-Breaker

A ferrite ring choke made by winding co-axial cable on to a ferrite ring.  Used in TV down leads and similar applications.  It can be viewed as impeding unwanted signals picked-up on the braid of the co-ax while leaving the wanted signals (inside the coax) unaffected.

Filter

A circuit which allows some frequencies to pass with a small loss, while attenuating other frequencies.  Filters are often made up from several tuned circuits.

FM or fm

Frequency Modulation.  A form of modulation in which the frequency is varied slightly by the audio signal being transmitted.

Frequency

The number of cycles of an alternating current or voltage per second, which is also the number of complete waves of a radio signal passing a point in one second. Measured in Hertz.

FSK

Frequency Shift Keying.  A modulation technique used to send data.

FSTV

Fast scan television.  The mode used for transmitting and receiving moving television pictures

FT8

A weak-signal datamode with prescribed message formats, using 15-second transmit/receive periods. 

Gateway

A transceiver providing a (internet) link to another gateway.

GB2RS

A weekly news broadcast.

Ground

Same as earth.

Ground plane

Horizontal wires or metal surface spreading from a central common connection. Electrically they resemble a conducting ground surface.

Ground plane antenna

An antenna consisting of a quarter wavelength vertical wire and a ground plane.

Ground wave

Radio waves which stay quite close to the ground. At high frequencies they do not get very far (a few km only).

Guard Band

A small range of frequencies to protect other frequencies (such as those assigned to beacons) from interference from adjacent frequencies.

Harmonic (In radio)

Unwanted signals which are at an integer multiple of the transmitter carrier frequency.

Henry

The unit of inductance.

Hertz

The unit of frequency.  One Hertz is one cycle per second.

HF or hf

High Frequency.  The range of frequencies between 3.0MHz and 30MHz

Immunity (In EMC)

The ability of a piece equipment to operate satisfactorily in the presence of a strong RF field.

 

Inductor / Inductance

A coil of wire usually wound on a former which passes DC but limits the ability of AC to pass.  The unit of inductance is Henry. 

Insulator

1   A material which does not conduct electricity.

2   A fitting or covering made with an insulating material to prevent unwanted currents flowing to or from a conductor.

Interference

Radio signals difficult to separate from the one that interests you.

Ionosphere

The layers of the upper atmosphere in which atoms are converted, mostly by ultraviolet light, to pairs of ions and electrons.

ISS

The International Space Station.  There are often astronauts on board who are also radio amateurs.

Key (Morse key)

A hand operated switch which starts and stops the transmission of Morse to produce dots (“Dits”) and dashes (“Dahs”).

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

A type of diode that gives of light when power is applied in the correct direction.

Live

1   A circuit or conductor is said to be live when it has power connected to it.

2   The live wire of a mains supply (coloured brown) is the one at higher potential to earth.

Mains

The domestic electricity supply.

MGM

Machine (Computer) Generated Modes (e.g. PSK31, RTTY, FT8) and computer-generated Morse Code

Microwave

Radio signals with a wavelength (λ) less than 30cm and a frequency above 1000MHz.

Modulator

A device which adds (or imposes) comparatively low frequency information to previously unchanging H.F.

MS

Meteor Scatter – the bouncing of signals of the ionised trail of a meteor.

Narrowband

Signals occupying a small amount of the frequency spectrum (e.g. Morse Code and Data modes)

Negative

Because the electric charge carried by an electron is deemed negative, an excess of electrons at a point is a negative charge.

The negative connection of a cell or power supply provides electrons at the same rate the positive accepts them.

Neutral

1   Having neither excess nor shortage of electrons, i.e. no charge.

2   The blue neutral wire in a mains supply is the one closer to earth potential.

Noise

A background of naturally occurring random radio signals and/or signals produced by electrical machinery and electronic equipment.

Ofcom

The Office of Communications.  The UK (Government) regulator of the radio spectrum.

Ohm

The unit of resistance symbol Ω, named after a German scientist.

Open Wire (or twin) feeder

Antenna feeder consisting of two wires held at a constant separation by insulating spacers.

Oscillation

The regular changing of direction of alternating current and/or polarity of an AC voltage. It may be rapid (high frequency) or slow (low frequency).

Oscillator

A device which causes electrical oscillation. Most commonly it converts part of a direct current to alternating.

Parallel

Two or more components operating 'side by side' with the corresponding connections of each linked together

PME

Protective Multiple Earthing.  An earthing arrangement used in some parts of the UK electricity distribution system.

Note that there is a potential safety issue associated with PME practice and amateur radio.  The RSGB EMC Committee (web site) should be consulted for more information.

Polarisation (of radio wave)

The direction of the electric field.  Usually linear (e.g. horizontal or vertical). 

Polarity

Applies to the positive and negative of a cell or power supply, or the north and south poles of a magnet.

Positive

A positive electric charge is a lack of electrons at a point.

In a cell or power supply it is the connection which withdraws electrons from the circuit. (An equal number being released at the negative)

Potential

Equivalent to voltage, may be seen as the 'pressure' making electrical charges move. Used on its own it usually refers to the potential to the Earth.

Potential Difference

The potential between two specified points.

Power

The rate of doing work, transferring energy from one place to another, or changing it from one form to another.  Measured in Watts.

Propagate

Create radio waves. Normally from an antenna, where AC current in the feeder is transformed into radio waves.

Propagation

Refers to the route taken by radio waves after leaving the antenna.

PSK

Phase Shift Keying.  A form of data modulation which the phase of the carrier is varied.  Similar to frequency shift keying.

PSK31, PSK63, PSK125

A form of data transmission developed for amateur communications using a home computer in conjunction with an amateur transceiver.  Like CW (Morse) it is very effective in difficult conditions and for low power operation.

 

PSU (Power Supply Unit)

Equipment that converts a source of power such as the AC mains to a suitable DC voltage (often 13.8V) for a piece of equipment to operate.  

PTT

Push (or Press) To Talk.  The circuit which switches the transmitter from receive to transmit and vice versa.

Q Codes

International abbreviations originally defined for the maritime service to facilitate communications in Morse code.  All are three letters starting with Q.  Amateurs have adapted some Q codes for informal use. e.g. QSY (change frequency), QRT (stop transmitting), QRU (I have run out of things to talk about), QRS (Slow Morse), QRP (Low Power) etc.

QSL Card

A card with written confirmation of a radio contact.

Radial

A horizontal or sloping wire forming part of a ground plane antenna, spreading from a central point.

Radiation

Refers to the creation of radio waves or their strength. It has nothing whatever to do with radioactivity.

Radiation Pattern (or Polar Diagram)

A diagram indicating the directions in which radiation is stronger or weaker.

Receiver

Equipment to separate, amplify and extract information from the minute signals collected by an antenna.

Resistance

The opposition to an electric current given by any conductor.  Measured in ohms (Ω).  It may be great or small depending on the material and its shape and size.

Resistor

A component designed to have a specific amount of resistance.

RF or rf

Radio Frequency

RFI

Radio Frequency Interference.

RSGB

The Radio Society of Great Britain.  The national society of radio amateurs in Great Britain.  Administers radio amateur exams.  

RTTY

A datamode based on old teleprinter protocols.  These days uses computers instead of teleprinters.

S-Meter

A meter on a receiver that provides an indication of the strength of the signal being received.

Screen

Conductive enclosure or partition.  Sometimes used instead of ’braid’ to describe a woven outer conductor of a coaxial cable.

Secondary Status (when a band is shared more than one service)

So far as amateurs are concerned, it is the service which does not have ’right of way’.  On a shared band, where the Amateur Service is a secondary user, amateurs must take care not to cause interference to the primary user.

Semi-conductor

A family of devices including transistors, diodes, integrated circuits that use the special properties of materials such silicon or germanium which are neither conductors nor insulators.

Series

Two or more components connect 'one after the other' so that current flows through one and then the next.

Shack

A room/shed/etc. where an amateur radio station is set up.

Sky Wave

Radio waves going upward; their direction may be changed in the ionosphere so that they return to earth a long way off.

Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Receivers that convert part of the radio spectrum to data and process the data to resolve the desired signal.  Maybe part of a transceiver or may use a separate computer to do the processing. 

Spectrum

Refers to the huge range of radio waves in the same way it refers to light. It can be applied to the entire range of electromagnetic waves.

Splatter

Spurious emissions relatively close to the nominal carrier frequency.  Can be caused by overdriving an SSB transmitter.

Spurious Emission

Unwanted radiation that is outside the normal bandwidth of the transmission.  It can include harmonics and other signals or noise.

SSB or ssb.

Single Side Band.  A power and spectrum efficient form of amplitude modulation in which only the minimum necessary part of the signal is transmitted.  It is widely used for speech communications particularly on the HF bands. 

SSTV

Slow Scan television – a mode for sending still pictures over amateur radio.  One frame will typically take 1 to 2 minutes to send and receive.

SWR

Standing Wave Ratio.  An indication of the forward and reflected power in transmission lines, particularly antenna feeders.

Talkback

The use of a secondary communication method (usually on a different amateur band) to help establish a contact on another amateur band (e.g. microwave band)

TCP/IP

A data protocol

Telegraphy

The sending and receiving of Morse Code. 

TNC

Terminal Node Controller.  A type of modem used in Packet radio which modulates the data onto audio tones which can be connected to the audio input of a transmitter and decodes the audio tones from a receiver and converts them back into data.

Transceiver

A combined transmitter and receiver.

Transmitter

Equipment for producing information carrying radio frequencies for supplying to an antenna via feeder.

Tuned Circuit

A combination of an inductor and a capacitor which stores energy at one particular frequency - the Resonant frequency.  It can be used to select a signal on one frequency and reject signals on other frequencies.  Its behaviour is analogous to a bell or a tuning fork.

Tuning (a receiver)

Adjusting the receiver to select the wanted signal.

UHF or uhf

Ultra High Frequency.  The range of radio frequencies between 300MHz and 3000MHz.

TVI

Interference to TV reception.

VHF or vhf

Very High Frequency.  The range of radio frequencies between 30MHz and 300MHz including the 6m (50MHz), 4m (70MHz) and 2m (144 MHz) amateur bands.

Volt

The unit of potential or voltage.

Voltage

The electrical 'pressure' tending to make electrons move. Measured in Volts.

Waves

Radio waves are part of the wide range of electromagnetic waves, which are a self-sustaining combination of alternating electric and magnetic fields and travelling at the speed of light.  Sound waves are pressure waves moving through air quite slowly.

Waveform

The shape of one complete wave.

Wavelength (λ)

The distance between the crests (or any other corresponding points) of successive waves measured in metres. The distance occupied by one complete waveform. More easily visualised with water waves.

Yagi

A type of antenna, consisting of a dipole accompanied by a reflector element and director elements. The usual type of television aerial. Capable of concentrating the transmission into a broad or narrow beam, according to design.

Zener Diode

A type of semi-conductor diode that can used to provide a particular voltage.  Usually found in power supplies to provide a reference voltage.   

 

 

Return to Index