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  • Operating Aids
    • Azimuthal Map
    • Calling Frequencies
    • CTCSS (PL)
    • Greek Alphabet
    • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
    • LSB or USB?
    • Metric System
      • Metric Units
      • Metric Prefixes
      • Metric Conversions
    • Morse Code
    • Operating Procedures
    • Phonetic Alphabet
    • Q-Signals & Prosigns
    • Roman Numerals
    • RST System
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  • Resources
    • Basics
    • Clubs in NorCal, NV
    • Donate to MDARC
    • Equipment
      • Dipole Length Calcs
      • Dipole Tuning
      • HF Equipment
      • IP Codes
    • Getting Started in Ham Radio
      • 1. License Class Description
      • 2. Getting Your First License
      • 3. Upgrading Your License
      • 4A. Getting On the Air
      • 4B. Getting On the Air-HF
      • 5. Choosing Your First Radio
      • 6. What Do Hams Do
      • 7. Where did “Ham” Come From?
    • Glossary
    • Links of Interest
    • Other Ham Groups
  • Regulations
    • Amateur Radio Bands
    • Amateur Radio Regulations
    • Emission Designators
    • FCC Monitoring Stations
    • License Copy Acquisition
    • Line A, Line C
    • Obtain an FRN
    • Secondary Status
    • Spectrum
  • Safety
    • Electric Current in the Human Body
  • Technical
    • Coax & Ladder
    • Conductor Properties
    • Constants and Formulas
    • Decibels
    • Peak Envelope Power
    • Periodic Table
    • Schematic Symbols
    • Skin-Effect
MDARC
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Meetings
    • General Meetings
    • Speakers
      • Speakers 2023
      • Speakers 2021-2022
      • Speakers 2019-2020
      • Speakers 2017-2018
      • Speakers 2015-2016
    • Board Meetings
    • Technical Meetings
    • Pacificon Meetings
    • Digital Media Meetings
  • Education and Testing
    • Class Details
    • License Testing
    • Auxiliary Classes
    • On-Line Resources
    • Exam.Tools
  • Public Service
  • Repeater Systems
    • ATV
    • Digital Voice
      • Comparison of DV Modes
      • D-Star
        • D-Star Linking
        • D-Star Registration
      • DMR
      • C4FM (Fusion)
      • M17
    • EchoLink & IRLP
    • Repeater Rules
    • Repeater Weather
    • Meshtastic
  • About Us
    • COVID Statement
    • Club Announcements
    • Committees
    • Communicating with You
    • Contact Us
    • History of the Club
      • Award Recipients
      • Charter Members
      • History Summary
      • Photos, Videos
      • Members-Special
      • News of the Club
      • Past Officers
      • QSL Cards
      • Rocky Ridge Group
      • Silent Keys
      • W6CX
      • W6LGW
    • Join/Renew/Update
    • Officers & Chairs
    • Official Documents
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • Bylaws
      • Equipment Selling
      • Groups.io Guidelines
      • Policies
      • Privacy Policy
      • Record Retention Policy
      • Terms of Use
      • Zoom Guidelines
    • Store
    • Managing Gmail
    • Managing Groups.io
  • Carrier Newsletter
  • Activities
    • Auction
    • Campout Party
    • Digital Systems
      • DMR
      • NBEMS
      • Winlink
    • DX & Contests
    • Emergency Communications
      • Wilderness Protocol
    • Field Day
    • Holiday Banquet
    • Leap Day Net
    • Nets on MDARC Systems
    • Nets on Other Systems
    • Pacificon Table
    • Vehicles
      • Trailer
      • Van
  • Operating Aids
    • Azimuthal Map
    • Calling Frequencies
    • CTCSS (PL)
    • Greek Alphabet
    • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
    • LSB or USB?
    • Metric System
      • Metric Units
      • Metric Prefixes
      • Metric Conversions
    • Morse Code
    • Operating Procedures
    • Phonetic Alphabet
    • Q-Signals & Prosigns
    • Roman Numerals
    • RST System
    • UTC Time
    • Weather Channels
  • Resources
    • Basics
    • Clubs in NorCal, NV
    • Donate to MDARC
    • Equipment
      • Dipole Length Calcs
      • Dipole Tuning
      • HF Equipment
      • IP Codes
    • Getting Started in Ham Radio
      • 1. License Class Description
      • 2. Getting Your First License
      • 3. Upgrading Your License
      • 4A. Getting On the Air
      • 4B. Getting On the Air-HF
      • 5. Choosing Your First Radio
      • 6. What Do Hams Do
      • 7. Where did “Ham” Come From?
    • Glossary
    • Links of Interest
    • Other Ham Groups
  • Regulations
    • Amateur Radio Bands
    • Amateur Radio Regulations
    • Emission Designators
    • FCC Monitoring Stations
    • License Copy Acquisition
    • Line A, Line C
    • Obtain an FRN
    • Secondary Status
    • Spectrum
  • Safety
    • Electric Current in the Human Body
  • Technical
    • Coax & Ladder
    • Conductor Properties
    • Constants and Formulas
    • Decibels
    • Peak Envelope Power
    • Periodic Table
    • Schematic Symbols
    • Skin-Effect
  • More
    • Home
    • Membership
    • Meetings
      • General Meetings
      • Speakers
        • Speakers 2023
        • Speakers 2021-2022
        • Speakers 2019-2020
        • Speakers 2017-2018
        • Speakers 2015-2016
      • Board Meetings
      • Technical Meetings
      • Pacificon Meetings
      • Digital Media Meetings
    • Education and Testing
      • Class Details
      • License Testing
      • Auxiliary Classes
      • On-Line Resources
      • Exam.Tools
    • Public Service
    • Repeater Systems
      • ATV
      • Digital Voice
        • Comparison of DV Modes
        • D-Star
          • D-Star Linking
          • D-Star Registration
        • DMR
        • C4FM (Fusion)
        • M17
      • EchoLink & IRLP
      • Repeater Rules
      • Repeater Weather
      • Meshtastic
    • About Us
      • COVID Statement
      • Club Announcements
      • Committees
      • Communicating with You
      • Contact Us
      • History of the Club
        • Award Recipients
        • Charter Members
        • History Summary
        • Photos, Videos
        • Members-Special
        • News of the Club
        • Past Officers
        • QSL Cards
        • Rocky Ridge Group
        • Silent Keys
        • W6CX
        • W6LGW
      • Join/Renew/Update
      • Officers & Chairs
      • Official Documents
        • Articles of Incorporation
        • Bylaws
        • Equipment Selling
        • Groups.io Guidelines
        • Policies
        • Privacy Policy
        • Record Retention Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Zoom Guidelines
      • Store
      • Managing Gmail
      • Managing Groups.io
    • Carrier Newsletter
    • Activities
      • Auction
      • Campout Party
      • Digital Systems
        • DMR
        • NBEMS
        • Winlink
      • DX & Contests
      • Emergency Communications
        • Wilderness Protocol
      • Field Day
      • Holiday Banquet
      • Leap Day Net
      • Nets on MDARC Systems
      • Nets on Other Systems
      • Pacificon Table
      • Vehicles
        • Trailer
        • Van
    • Operating Aids
      • Azimuthal Map
      • Calling Frequencies
      • CTCSS (PL)
      • Greek Alphabet
      • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
      • LSB or USB?
      • Metric System
        • Metric Units
        • Metric Prefixes
        • Metric Conversions
      • Morse Code
      • Operating Procedures
      • Phonetic Alphabet
      • Q-Signals & Prosigns
      • Roman Numerals
      • RST System
      • UTC Time
      • Weather Channels
    • Resources
      • Basics
      • Clubs in NorCal, NV
      • Donate to MDARC
      • Equipment
        • Dipole Length Calcs
        • Dipole Tuning
        • HF Equipment
        • IP Codes
      • Getting Started in Ham Radio
        • 1. License Class Description
        • 2. Getting Your First License
        • 3. Upgrading Your License
        • 4A. Getting On the Air
        • 4B. Getting On the Air-HF
        • 5. Choosing Your First Radio
        • 6. What Do Hams Do
        • 7. Where did “Ham” Come From?
      • Glossary
      • Links of Interest
      • Other Ham Groups
    • Regulations
      • Amateur Radio Bands
      • Amateur Radio Regulations
      • Emission Designators
      • FCC Monitoring Stations
      • License Copy Acquisition
      • Line A, Line C
      • Obtain an FRN
      • Secondary Status
      • Spectrum
    • Safety
      • Electric Current in the Human Body
    • Technical
      • Coax & Ladder
      • Conductor Properties
      • Constants and Formulas
      • Decibels
      • Peak Envelope Power
      • Periodic Table
      • Schematic Symbols
      • Skin-Effect

Operating Aids: Azimuthal Map | Calling Frequencies | CTCSS (PL) | Greek Alphabet | Latitude, Longitude, UTM | LSB or USB? | Metric System | Morse Code | Operating Procedures | Phonetic Alphabet | Q-Signals & Prosigns | Roman Numerals | RST System | UTC Time | Weather Channels

Operating Aids


This section is devoted to helping you be a better ham.



Also see our Online Resources page in the Education and Training section.

  • Allocated Bands Chart - ARRL.
    A full-color chart of the U.S. amateur radio bands.

  • Band Plan; Detailed, Voluntary - ARRL.
    A detailed breakdown of the voluntary band plan for all amateur bands.

  • IARU Band Plan - Region 2.
    A PDF document detailing the amateur radio band plan for ITU Region 2 - the Americas.

  • Calling Frequencies in the VHF / UHF / EHF Bands.
        Calling frequencies as recommended by the ARRL.

  • Choosing Your First Handheld Radio
    A link to the Benicia Amateur Radio Club's web site.

  • Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS).
    A description of CTCSS and DCS, with tables providing the frequencies and codes.

  • Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
    A description of what Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is, along with a conversion table to Pacific time.

  • Glossary.
    A glossary of Ham Radio terms, from the ARRL.

  • Great Circle Calculations.
    Provided by the FCC.

    • Distance and Azimuths Between Two Sets of Coordinates.

    • Find Terminal Coordinates, Given a Bearing and a Distance.

  • Greek Alphabet.
    A table of the Greek alphabet characters, with some common uses of each.

  • Grid Square Locator.
    Find the Grid Square for any location on the Globe, by address or call sign, using a Grid Square Locator Map, as recommended by the ARRL.

  • International Call Sign Allocations.
        Prefix assignments by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as provided by the ARRL.

  • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
    A summary description of two major geographic coordinate systems.

  • Logging Your Contacts.
    The ARRL's web page discussing keeping a log of your Ham activity and the various types of logs.

    • Logbook of the World.
      From the ARRL.

  • LSB or USB?
    Why do we use Lower Sideband (LSB) on some HF bands and Upper Sideband (USB) on others?

  • Metric System.
    A brief description of the International System of Units (SI), with additional pages listing those units, prefixes and conversions.

  • Morse Code
    A diagram showing the alphabet & digits of the International Morse Code, as used in the U.S.

  • Phonetic Alphabet
    The phonetic alphabet and recommended pronunciation aid, as adopted by the ITU.

  • Q-Signals
    A description of the most common Q-signals, used as shorthand mostly in Morse Code communications.

  • Quick Reference Sheets for Several Radios
         Courtesy Walnut Creek CERT

  • Radio Operating Procedures

  • Roman Numerals.
    A chart of the Roman Numerals and their meaning.

  • RST System
    A description of the RST system of signal reporting, and how it's used.

  • Safety in Amateur Radio.
    See our Safety section.

  • Schematic Symbols.
        Symbols used in circuit diagrams to represent various components, as adopted by the ARRL.

  • Social Security Number or FRN Number?
    A link to the Benicia Amateur Radio Club's web site.

  • Weather Frequencies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
    National Weather Service stations in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

  • W1AW Schedule.
    Transmission schedule for the ARRL's W1AW radio station.

  • WWV and WWVH Time and Frequency Stations.
        Broadcast frequencies and much more for the stations WWV (Colorado), WWVH (Hawaii) and WWVB (clock syncing).

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