Communications FAQ PT3

GLOSSARY

AM: Amplitude Modulation
CTCSS Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS). Refer to Appendix E
CW: Continuous Wave
DTMF: Dual Tone Multi-Frequency Refer to Appendix G
FM: Frequency Modulation
LTZ: Long Tone Zero – Transmission of a DTMF ‘0′ for a long relative time (usually > 2-3 seconds) used for specific control of repeaters and related equipment.
LSB: Lower Side Band
Modulation: The mechanism for impressing information (voice or data) onto a carrier frequency.
NET: Network
SSB: Single Side Band
USB: Upper Side Band
Sub-Audible: Refer to CTCSS

Appendix A: AM Class A Clear Channel Stations

FREQ
CALL CITY
STATE

640
KYUK BETHEL
AK

650
KYAK ANCHORAGE
AK

660
KFAR FAIRBANKS
AK

670
KDLG DILLINGHAM
AK

680
KBRW BARROW
AK

700
KBYR ANCHORAGE
AK

720
KOTZ KOTZEBUE

AK
750
KFQD    ANCHORAGE
AK
770
KCHU    VALDEZ
AK
780
KNOM   NOME
AK
820
KCBF    FAIRBANKS
AK
840
KABN    LONG ISLAND
AK
850
KICY     NOME
AK
890
KBBI     HOMER
AK
1020
KFFR     EAGLE RIVER
AK
1080
KASH     ANCHORAGE
AK
1170
KJNP     NORTH POLE
AK
1090
KAAY    LITTLE ROCK
AR
580
CMJP    CIEGO DE AVILA, CAM     CA
640
KFI        LOS ANGELES
CA
680
KNBR    SAN FRANCISCO       CA
810
KGO      SAN FRANCISCO
CA
900
CMJV    CIEGO DE AVILA        CA
1070
KNX       LOS ANGELES
CA
850
KOA       DENVER
CO
1080
WTIC      HARTFORD
CT
750
WSB     ATLANTA
GA
1040
WHO     DES MOINES
IA
670
WMAQ CHICAGO
IL
720
WGN     CHICAGO
IL
780
WBBM   CHICAGO
IL
890
WLS      CHICAGO
IL
1000
WMVP CHICAGO
IL
1190
WOWO FORT WAYNE
IN
840
WHAS   LOUISVILLE
KY
870
WWL     NEW ORLEANS
LA
1130
KWKH   SHREVEPORT
LA
1030
WBZ      BOSTON
MA
1090
WBAL    BALTIMORE
MD
760
WJR      DETROIT
MI
830
WCCO    MINNEAPOLIS
MN
1120
KMOX     ST. LOUIS
MO
1110
WBT       CHARLOTTE
NC
1110
KFAB     OMAHA
NE
660
WFAN     NEW YORK
NY
710
WOR       NEW YORK
NY
770
WABC     NEW YORK
NY
810
WGY       SCHENECTADY
NY
880
WCBS     NEW YORK
NY
1130
WBBR     NEW YORK
NY
1180
WHAM     ROCHESTER
NY
700
WLW       CINCINNATI
OH
1100
WTAM     CLEVELAND
OH
1170
KVOO     TULSA
OK
1190
KEX         PORTLAND
OR
1020
KDKA      PITTSBURGH
PA
1060
KYW       PHILADELPHIA
PA
1210
WPHT     PHILADELPHIA
PA
550
CMAA     PINAR DEL RIO
PR
740
CMAC     PINAR DEL RIO
PR
740
CMAB     PINAR DEL RIO
PR
650
WSM      NASHVILLE
TN
820
WBAP     FORT WORTH
TX
1080
KRLD       DALLAS
TX
1200
WOAI       SAN ANTONIO
TX
1160
KSL         SALT LAKE CITY
UT
1140
WRVA     RICHMOND
VA
710
KIRO       SEATTLE
WA
1000
KOMO     SEATTLE
WA
1170
WWVA     WHEELING
WV
(As a personal note from the editor, WBBM-780 Chicago deserves special credit for being a solid general news outlet in normal times)

Appendix D: 460 Mhz Family Radio Service (FRS) Channel Frequencies

01: 462.5625 08: 467.5625 Modulation is FM
02: 462.5875 09: 467.5875
03: 462.6125 10: 467.6125
04: 462.6375 11: 467.6375
05: 462.6625 12: 467.6625
06: 462.6875 13: 467.6875
07: 462.7125 14: 467.7125

CTCSS (Coded Tone Carrier Squelch System)

The CTCSS System prevents unwanted noise and/or conversation from being heard through your FRS radio’s speaker. Only signals with the correct code will be heard. To use the system each radio must:
A) be on the same channel
B) have the same CTCSS Code selected.
When enabled, the Privacy Code is transmitted with each voice message. All receivers programmed with the same code will open their speaker circuits and the message will be heard.
It is VERY important to note that conversations on your FRS radio are NOT private. Any other FRS radio or scanner can eaves drop on your conversation. Also, it is always best to monitor, with the monitor button, prior to transmitting to prevent disrupting any nearby conversations that you may not hear on the channel.

Appendix E: Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS)

Sub-audible audio frequencies in Hertz
01: 67.0 09: 91.5 17: 118.8 25: 156.7 33: 210.7
02: 71.9 10: 94.8 18: 123.0 26: 162.2 34: 218.1
03: 74.4 11: 97.4 19: 127.3 27: 167.9 35: 225.7
04: 77.0 12: 100.0 20: 131.8 28: 173.8 36: 233.6
05: 79.7 13: 103.5 21: 136.5 29: 179.9 37: 241.8
06: 82.5 14: 107.2 22: 141.3 30: 186.2 38: 250.3
07: 85.4 15: 110.9 23: 146.2 31: 192.8
08: 88.5 16: 114.8 24: 151.4 32: 203.5

Appendix F: Emergency Frequencies

HF Marine emergency frequencies.
2182, 4125, 6215, 8291, 12290, 16420 voice communications (SSB)
Aviation 121.5 Mhz Voice or beacon
Military 223.0 Mhz Voice or beacon
EPIRB 121.5, 223.0, 406mhz
406 beacon is digital only with beacon on 121.5 and 223.0
CB channel 9, 27.065
VHF marine freq Channel 16, 156.800mhz
GMRS 462.675 unoffical emergency/traffic/travel aid request freq.
FCC estimates that %30 of the US is monitored by an official group REACT on this freq.
Non-emergency but useful frequencies:
NOAA weather 162.40, 162.475, 162.55, 162.525, 162.5
Ham calling freq
6 meters 52.525
2 meters 146.52
1 3/4 meter 223.5
70cm 446.0
1296 1294.5

Appendix G: Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) Audio Frequencies

These are the tones transmitted when you press a key on your telephone touch pad. The tone of the button is the sum of the column and row tones. The ABCD keys do not exist on standard telephones.
1209 1336 1477 1633
697 1 2 3 A
770 4 5 6 B
852 7 8 9 C
941 * 0 # D

Appendix H: IARU Phonetic Alphabet

In a noisy environment, phonetic spelling of certain words made be required for understanding. This is the standard phonetic alphabet utilized by military and aviation as specified by the International Administrative Radio Union, which is a international governing body on communications standards.
Example:
IARU – Say: “IARU I Spell, India, Alpha, Romeo, Uniform”
A: Alpha N: November
B: Bravo O: Oscar
C: Charlie P: Papa
D: Delta Q: Quebec
E: Echo R: Romeo
F: Foxtrot S: Sierra
G: Golf T: Tango
H: Hotel U: Uniform
I: India V: Victor
J: Juliet W: Wiskey
K: Kilo X: X-Ray
L: Lima Y: Yankee
M: Mike Z: Zulu

Appendix I: Amateur Radio Q-Signals

These signals are a form of legal code, used to shorten Morse Code messages by compressing a complete idea into three letters. Following the Q signal with an question mark makes it interrogative.
QRG: Will you tell me my exact frequency?/Your exact frequency is _____
QRL: Are you busy?/I am busy. Please do not interfere.
QRM: Is my transmission being interfered with?/Your transmission is being interfered with ___ (1= nil; 2=slighly; 3= moderately; 4= severely; 5=extremely)
QRN: Are you troubled by static?/I am troubled by static ___(1-5 as under QRM)
QRO: Shall I increase power?Please increase power.
QRP: Shall I decrease power?/Please decrease power.
QRQ: Shall I send faster?/Please send faster.
QRS: Shall I send slower?/Please send slower.
QRT: Shall I stop sending?/Please stop sending.
QRU: Have you anything for me?/I have nothing for you.
QRV: Are you ready?/I am ready.
QRX: When will you call me again?/I will call you again at ____ hours.
QRZ: Who is calling me?/You are being called by ____
QSB: Are my signals fading?/Your signals are fading.
QSK: Can you hear me betwen your signals and if so can I break in on your transmission?/I can hear you between my signals; break in on my transmission.
QSL: Can you acknowledge receipt of a signal?/ I acknowledge receipt.
QSN: Did you hear me on (____) kHz?/I heard you on (____) kHz.
QSO: Can you communicate with ____directly or through relay?/I can commicate with ____directly or through relay.
QSP: Will you relay to ____?/I will relay to ____.
QST: General call preceding a message to all stations.
QSX: Will you listen to ____ on ____ kHz?/I will listen to ____ on ____kHz.
QSY: Shall I change to transmission on another frequency?/Change to transmission on ____ kHz.
QTB: Do you agree with my counting of words?/I do not agree with your counting of words. I will repeat the first letter of each word or group.
QTC: How many messages have you to send?/I have ____ messages for you.
QTH: What is your location?/My location is____
QTR: What is the correct time?/The correct time is ____ (Timezone stamp)

Appendix J: Equipment

Of the various m.s personalities who are knowledgeable about communications, these are some examples of what we have for our stations:
Station One: The person has a Technician-Plus (USA) ham license, but not much other training in radios. He has a K-40 CB with mag-mount antenna in his car, a Yaesu FT-51 handheld 144MHz/440MHz transceiver with spare batteries, cigarette plug adapter, and both rubber-duck and mag-mount antennae, and a Kenwood TS-140 HF Transceiver, PS-430 power supply, and MFJ Versa-Tuner 941E antenna tuner feeding into a home-made dipole antenna that are semi-permanently installed at home. At present, he has plans and parts for a mobile power station for the HF rig, but hasn’t built it.

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