Chapter 2 – Operating Practices

Operating as an Extra is pretty much the same as a General, but as you gain more experience on the bands, you’ll have a wider variety of experiences and opportunities on the air. The goal of Section 2 is to increase your understanding of on-the-air practices and explore some new topics.

Operating

• The ARRL Operating Manual - covers many popular types and styles of operating and operating activities
• ARRL Field Organization - The ARRL has organized hams for nearly 100 years and this part of the League is called the Field Organization.
• US Band Plans
• IARU Band Plans
• Signal spectrum - this article discusses how to keep all of your signal inside the bands

Contests and DXing

• ARRL Contest Program - home page for ARRL contests
• ARRL Contester’s Rate Sheet - a biweekly newsletter about contesting, free to ARRL members
• CQ WW Contest - one of the world’s largest contests
• Contesting.com - a Web site with news and articles and email reflectors about contesting
• WA7BNM’s contest calendar
• http://sk3bg.se/contest
• ARRL DXCC Program - DX Century Club is the world’s most widely sought-after DX award
• CQ WAZ - Worked All Zones is a popular DX award
• RSGB Islands On the Air
• The Complete DXer - this book is an excellent guide to working DX on the HF bands

Digital Modes

• Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) - much more than packet radio, TAPR is a leading organization in amateur digital communications
• ARRL HF Digital Handbook - a desktop reference on HF amateur digital operating
• ARRL VHF Digital Handbook - a desktop reference on VHF/UHF amateur digital operating
• Winlink 2000 - the Winlink system is widely used as an emergency communications system
• Automatic Position Reporting System - an overview of this popular amateur digital system

Satellites

• Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) - the organization behind many of the amateur satellites
• Satellites - an overview of the technology and basic science of artificial satellites