Dominican Society of Amateur Radio INC (SDRA)

The following are some basic procedures for proper operation of your radio. They are listed:

• General Basics

• Basic Terms

• Radius Care

• Safety Guidelines

• Electromagnetic Interference / Compatibility

• Cleaning

Watch this video on Best Practices for Event Operators, courtesy of the Marin Amateur Radio Society, Marin County, California (YouTube, 6:08). In addition, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) adopted a universal guide on ethics and operating procedures in 2011. It is available in PDF format at Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Amateur Radio Operator.

General basic concepts

• Listen before you speak. All ham radio channels are shared, sometimes by several users. Do not interfere with other traffic.
  

• Announce your callsign at the end of each conversation; and at least every 10 minutes during conversations that last longer.

• Hold the microphone about 5 cm from your mouth. Speak directly. Speak clearly, but do not shout.

• Press and hold the PTT button while speaking. Pause for about one second after pressing it before you begin speaking. Release to listen. The PTT button is usually located on the left side of the microphone or radio. If there is more than one button on the left side, it will be the largest.

• Avoid using contractions; for example, say "do not" instead of "don't". Contractions can easily be misinterpreted in unfavorable circumstances.

• Be courteous on the air at all times.

• Use simple language, not codes.

• Keep it short

• INDOTEL regulations absolutely prohibit:

  • Profane, indecent or inflammatory language of any kind.

  • Music or other broadcast-type programming material

  • Advertising

  • Messages or signs with false or misleading information

  • Interference or intentional interference with another station's transmission.

  • False call signs or a false distress or emergency message

Basic Terms

Working Conditions: If an operator asks you about your working conditions, what they want to know is what radio and antenna you use, what power you have, etc.

Give me a report: when an operator asks you to give them a report, they are asking you to inform them of the signal and audio quality. The RST system is used for this purpose. You can find more information in the tab > Readability, Signal Strength, and Tone (RST)tab, described below.

Pass the Change: This means that you have finished your sentence and are waiting for a response from the other party. To do this, you must indicate the call sign of the station to whom you are delivering, plus the call sign of the person passing it, e.g., HI8POTA from HI8SDR.

Stand-by: "Stand-by" is usually a request to all operators on a frequency to stop transmitting. A courteous operator will limit their stand-by request to no more than 15 seconds, obtaining the necessary information and returning to the air. Fifteen seconds of dead air is a long time. If it is going to take more than 15 seconds, "stand-by" is not at all the appropriate word.

In an emergency situation, the network controller will say, "All other stations, please wait until we have handled this situation." "QRX" is a polite way of saying "Everyone, please be quiet!" If you don't need to make such a strong statement to all operators, you could say, "Network control, please wait a moment while I obtain that information." Or, "Network control, I will obtain that information and get back to you later." This allows the network control to acknowledge another station while you are busy obtaining the information.

Radius Care

• Avoid physical abuse.

  • Do not lift or carry the radio by its antenna or speaker-microphone cable.

  • Do not knock, drop or throw the radio.

  • Do not carry the radio in your pocket, as sitting down may damage the radio. The damage may not be obvious at first glance.

• Do not use the radio if it has a damaged antenna. This could damage it, if not immediately, over time. It may also pose a small safety risk.
  

• Use the radio only with approved accessories designed for that model and only if they are in good condition.

• Do not immerse the radio in any liquid or expose it to excessive liquid. Avoid exposing the radio to corrosives, solvents or alcohols. Note: Even radios with waterproof certification (e.g., IP67 rated) have been tested for such certification using only clean, filtered water. Adulterated water, such as seawater (salt water, etc.) or tap water (chlorine, fluoride, etc.), can damage the radio.
  

• If the radio falls into water (fresh or salt) or other non-hazardous liquid, remove it immediately, turn it off, remove the battery and wait at least 24 hours before using it again. See cleaning recommendations below.

• If the radio falls into a corrosive or other hazardous material, there are two options, depending on the level of risk.

  • If the material poses a relatively low risk (e.g., motor oil, gasoline):

    • Turn it off and remove the battery.

    • Clean as much material as possible. See Cleaning section below.

    • Place the radio in a plastic bag and label it with a description of the material.

    • Take it to the radio store to see if it can be repaired and if the technicians are willing to work on the unit.

  • If the material is highly caustic, poses a biohazard (e.g., human waste) or is otherwise very hazardous, turn off the radio.

• Do not disassemble the radio under any circumstances. Keep the connector cover in place until you are ready to use the accessory connector. Replace the cover immediately after disconnecting the accessory.

Safety guidelines

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA has adopted a safety standard for human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by FCC regulated equipment. Proper radio operation will result in user exposure significantly below the limits recommended by the FCC.

• Do not hold a portable radio with the antenna in close proximity or in contact with exposed parts of the body, especially the face, ears or eyes, while transmitting. Keep the radio in an upright position with the microphone at a distance of five to seven centimeters from the lips.

• Do not operate a mobile radio transmitter when anyone outside the vehicle is within two feet (0.6 meters) of the antenna.

• Do not operate the transmitter of a fixed radio (base station, microwave and rural telephone RF equipment) or marine radio when anyone is within 6 feet (1.0 meter) of the antenna.

• Do not operate the transmitter of any radio unless all RF connectors are secure and any open connectors are properly terminated.

• Do not keep the PTT switch on when you do not want to transmit.

• Do not allow children to play with any radio equipment containing a transmitter.

• Do not operate radio transmitters near explosive detonators. Transmitted radio energy could activate a detonator and cause an explosion.

• Turn off the radio before removing or installing a battery.

• An air bag inflates with great force. Do not place objects, including communication equipment, in the area over the air bag or in its deployment area in any vehicle. If communication equipment is improperly located or installed and the air bag inflates, serious injury could result. Do not carry a radio in a baby carrier while riding in a vehicle.
  
  If using a portable radio, carry it only in an approved carrying case or clip.

• Do not operate the radio if you have a damaged antenna or one that is not designed for that model of radio.

Electromagnetic Interference / Compatibility

Facilities

• Turn off your radio in any facility where posted notices instruct you to do so.

• Hearing aids. Some digital radios may interfere with some hearing aids. In case of interference, we recommend that you consult the manufacturer of your hearing aids to discuss alternatives.
  

• Other medical devices. If you use any other personal medical device, check with the manufacturer to determine if it is adequately shielded from RF energy. Your physician may be able to help you obtain this information.
  

Cleaning

Clean the external surfaces of the radio with a mild detergent and a stiff, non-metallic, short-bristled brush.

A suitable detergent solution can be prepared by adding one teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent to one gallon of water (0.5% solution). Apply the detergent solution sparingly with the brush, being careful not to get excess detergent trapped near connectors and controls, or in cracks and crevices. Do not immerse the radio in the detergent solution. Dry the radio thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth. Clean the radio only with the recommended solution. Cleaning the radio with solvents or alcohol may be harmful and may permanently damage the casing.

Clean all battery contacts with a lint-free cloth to remove dirt, grease or other foreign material that may prevent good electrical connections.

The "DX Code of Conduct" is an official recommendation for correct behavior when operating on the amateur radio bands. These guidelines help to optimize your own DX etiquette.

SDRA and many other organizations fully support the code.

Bad behavior on the amateur bands is detrimental to the reception of all hams and to the image of Amateur Radio in general. All hams have an obligation to perform their duties at the highest possible level.

DX Code of Conduct

• I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling.
• I will only call if I can copy the DX station correctly.
• I will not trust the Cluster and will make sure of the DX station's callsign before calling.
• I will not interfere with the DX station or any caller and will never tune over the DX frequency or QSX slot.
• I will wait for the DX station to finalize a contact before calling.
• I will always send my full callsign.
• I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call continuously.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator answers or calls another callsign, not mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than my own.
• When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my callsign unless I believe he has copied it incorrectly.
• I will be grateful when you make contact.
• I will respect my fellow hams and behave myself, to earn their respect.

The RST system is used by hams to report the quality and strength of the received signal. According to Wikipedia, "The code was developed in 1934 by amateur radio operator Arthur W. Braaten, W2BSR".

The full code is a three-digit number, with one digit for each evaluation of readability, signal strength and tone. However, the pitch is not relevant for speech, so only two digits are used in phony reports.

Readability is a report of how easy it is to understand what is received.

The intensity is a report on how strong the received signal is.

Tone is a report on the tone quality of the CW characters or digital signal, as in RTTY.

The codes are:

• Readability 

1 : Illegible 

2 : Barely legible, occasionally words can be distinguished. 

3 : Legible with considerable difficulty. 

4 : Readable with virtually no difficulty. 

5 : Perfectly legible.

Signal strength

1 : Weak, barely perceptible signals.

2 : Very weak signals. 

3 : Weak signals.

4 : Regular signals. 

5 : Fairly good signals.

6 : Good signals. 

7 : Moderately strong signals.

8 : Strong signals. 

9 : Extremely strong signals.

Tone

1 - Sixty AC cycles or less, very rough and wide. 

2 - Very rough CA, very rough and wide. 

3 - Rough AC tone, rectified but not filtered. 

4 - Rough note, some trace of filtrate. 

5 - AC filtered rectified but strongly modulated by ripple. 

6 - Tone filtered, defined trace of ripple modulation.

7 - Nearly pure tone, trace of ripple modulation. 

8 - Almost perfect pitch, slight trace of modulation. 

9 - Perfect tone, with no trace of curling or modulation of any kind.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the time at the zero meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England. The time changes by one hour with every 15 degree change in longitude. It is the standard used in amateur radio.

Conversion between UTC and time zone -4 in Dominican Republic:

*0000and 2400 are interchangeable. (2400 is associated with the date of the day that ends, 0000 with the date of the day that has just begun).

The CQ Zones are handled by the CQ Magazine and are used to define the region in which you operate, in the contest CQ WWThe exchange is the signal report and the zone where you are, at the end of the contest the zone is a multiplier of points. So the more zones you work, the more points you get. Image courtesy of Icom

ITU Zones are managed by the IARU and are also used to define the region where you operate, in the IARU HF Championship contest , coordinated by the ARRL, the exchange is the signal report and the zone you are in. The zones serve as a multiplier. Image courtesy of Icom.

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) represents radio amateurs in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies - ICT.

The IARU divides the world into three different administrations, called Regions. Image courtesy of EI8IC.

The IARU divides the world into six continents. Image courtesy of EI8IC.

NA - North America

SA - South America

EU - Europe

AF - Africa

AS - Asia

OC - Oceania

Visit the IARU-R2 band plan here

Download it here

Please visit the DXCC entities page by clicking here.

Download and print the document in which you can list the active expeditions and check on which bands you have worked on: DX-Band-Chart

On this page are the most common sizes for 1/4 and 1/2 wavelength antennas.

Azimuthal map centered on the Dominican Republic
A azimuthal map is a map of the world, or a part of it, with a specific point at its center and with the property that the directions from that central point are preserved. Therefore, the maximum circles passing through the central point are represented by straight lines on the map.

Hams find these maps very useful for pointing directional antennas to a desired contact location, as the map easily shows the azimuth angle and the shortest distance to that contact.

Azimuthal maps must be custom made to show the desired center point. A map for a ham in NY or London will be very different from that of a ham in Argentina.

Below is an azimuthal map centered on the center of the Dominican Republic. A link to a downloadable PDF of this map can be found in the References section at the bottom of this page.

This particular map was provided by Tom Epperly's website, NS6T, www.NS6T.net . Other sites that create similar maps can be found by searching the internet. Tom's site can create maps of the entire world, such as this one, or shorter distances, such as one just for North America. They can also be customized.

You can download the PDF map here

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