Radio Amateur's Handbook

544 Pages·2017·29.53 MB·English

THE RADIO
AMATEUR’S
HANDROOK
HIRAM PERCY MAXIM
1869-1936
Father,founder and saviouroforganized amateurradio, exponeutofits charm
and spirit,first president ofthe American Radio Relay League
and oftheInternational Amateur RadioUnion
FOURTEENTH EDITION
THE RADIO
AMATEUR’S
HANDBOOK
BY THE HEADQUARTERS STAFF OF
THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE
PUBLISHED BY
THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE, INC.
WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
COPYRIGHT1936BYTHEAMERICANRADIORELAYLEAGUE,INC.
CopyrightsecuredunderthePan-American Convention.
Allrightsoftranslationreserved.
•
FirstEdition,November, 1926 5,000 copies
Second Edition,First Printing,January, 1927 5,000 copies
Second Edition, Second Printing,April, 1927 10,000 copies
Third Edition, First Printing,October, 1927 10,000 copies
Third Edition, Second Printing,April, 1928 10,000copies
Fourth Edition, December, 1928 10,000copies
Fifth Edition, May, 1929 10,000copies
Sixth Edition, FirstPrinting, November, 1929 10,000 copies
Sixth Edition, Second Printing, March, 1930 10,000 copies
Sixth Edition,Third Printing, June, 1930 7,000 copies
Seventh Edition, October, 1930 25,000 copies
Eighth Edition,April, 1931 25,000eopies
Ninth Edition, First Printing,January, 1932 30,000copies
Ninth Edition, Second Printing,September, 1932 10,000copies
Tenth Edition, First Printing,January, 1933 30,000copies
Tenth Edition, Second Printing,July, 1933 8,750 copies
Eleventh Edition,FirstPrinting,January, 1934 30,000copies
Eleventh Edition, Second Printing, May, 1934 13,000 copies
Twelfth Edition, First Printing,November, 1934 40,000 copies
Twelfth Edition, Second Printing,July, 1935 8,000copies
Thirteenth Edition,FirstPrinting,October, 1935 40,000copies
Thirteenth Edition, Second Printing,February, 1936 33,200 copies
Fourteenth Edition, First Printing,October, 1936 50,000 copies
PBINTEDINa.S.A.BT
THE RUMFORD PRESS
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
THE RADIO AMATEUR’S HANDBOOK
FOURTEENTH EDITION
FOREWORD
In presenting the 1937 edition
of THE RADIO amateur’s HANDBOOK the pubUsheis again express the
hopethatit will befound ashelpfulastheprevious editions and enjoy
aswhole-heartedareceptionatthehandsoftheamateurfraternity.
The Handbook is intended both as a reference work for member-
operators ofthe American Radio Relay League and other skilled ama-
teurs and as a source of information to those wishing to participate in
amateurradio activitiesbuthavinglittleornoidea howto getstarted.
The choiceandsequenceofmaterialhavebeenplanned withparticular
thoughtto theneedsofthepractisingamateur but eachtopic hasbeen
sotreatedastocoveramateurpracticeallthewayfromthe mostsimple
to the moat comprehensive.
As in previous editions, a particular effort has been made to restrict
the materialtreatingapparatusdesignandconstructionto examples of
modern, sound and well-tried practice. Planned as a practical rather
than atheoretical work, theoreticaldiscussionshavebeen made assim-
pleandfundamentalaspos—sibleandthechiefeffortdirectedatpractical
meansforsecuringresults which, afterall,istheprincipalaimofthe
amateur in radio.
The Handbook had its rather modest beginnings in 1925 when Mr.
F. E. Handy, for many years the League’s communications manager,
commenced work on a small manual of amateur operating procedure
inwhichit was deemed desirabletoinclude a certain amount of “tech-
nical’’ information, since an amateur’sresultsare so greatlyinfluenced
by the disposition and adjustment ofhis apparatus. When Mr. Handy
completed his manuscript he had written a considerable-sized book of
great value. It was published in 1926 and enjoyed an instant success.
Producedinthe familiarformatoftheLeague’s magazine, QST,itwas
possibleto distributefor avery modestcharge a work whichinvolume
ofsubject matterand profusityofillustration surpassed most available
textsselling for several timesits price. Mr. Handy revised several suc-
cessiveeditionsasreprintingbecamenecessary. Withthefourthedition,
in 1928, hewasjoinedinthis dutybytheundersigned, who wasdirect-
ing the technical development program which the A.R.R.L. was then
conducting for the special purpose of developing new apparatus and
new methods which would meet the difficultiesimposed upon amateur
radio bytheprovisionsofthenewinternationalradiotreatywhichwas
to take effectin 1929. Three editions appeared underthisjoint author-
ship. Bythattime, extremelyrapidtechnicalprogresswas uponusand
it became apparentthatthe Handbooktoserveitspurpose demandeda
frequent and comprehensiverewritingofitstechnical material. Nowin
the headquarters establishment of the League at West Hartford there
are many technically-skilled amateurs, each a specialist in his field. It
wasthereforebutnaturalthatwiththepreparation oftheseventhedi-
tionin1930thetechnicalchaptersoftheHandbookshouldbegiveninto
their hands. Since that time the publication has been a family affair,
the joint product ofthe headquartersstaff.
To a total of twenty-two printings the fame of the Handbook has
echoed around the world. Morethan three hundred and seventy thou-
sand copies have been distributed at this writing. Its success has been
really inspiring. Quantity ordershave comefrom many a foreign land;
schoolsandtechnical classeshaveadopteditasatext; but mostimpor-
tant of all,it hasbecome theright-handguide ofpracticalamateursin
every country on the globe. But amateur radio moves with amazing
rapidity and the best practices ofyesterday are quicklysuperseded by
the developments ofto-day. The verysuccess ofthe bo—okas a publica-
tion brings a new responsibility to us, the publishers the Handbook
must be kept up to date.
Because the present year has seenfurther sweeping changesin ama-
teurpracticeithasbeennecessaryagain to undertakea comprehensive
revision for this edition. We are happy at the same time again to ex-
pand the size ofthe book. Most ofthe chapters have been entirely re-
written. All ofthem have been thoroughly modernized.
This edition again represents the collaboration of many members of
theA.R.R.L.staff. Thefirsttwochaptersarefromthepenof Mr. A. L.
Budlong, theassistantsecretaryofthe League. Theseveral chapterson
fundamental principles, on receiver design and construction and on
radio-telephony are the work of Mr. James J. Lamb, the technical
editor of QST. Mr. George Grammer, the assistant technical editor of
QST, hasagain beenresponsibleforthechapterson vacuumtubes and
those treatingthe design and construction oftransmitters. Thegeneral
subject of instruments and measurements has, in this edition, been
covered by Mr. Clinton B. DeSoto while the chapters on antennas,
power supply and keying have been rewritten by Mr. Donald H. Mix,
of the League’s technical information service. Mr. Clark C. Rodimon,
managing editor of QST, has again revised the chapter on station as-
sembly while Mr. Handy, our communications manager, has rewritten
the chapters on the A.R.R.L. Communications Department, on opera-
ting a station and on message handling. The chapters on ultra-high-
frequency workinghave been prepared by the undersigned.
By no means the least useful feature of this edition is the quite
extensive catalog advertising that accompanies it. It is not generally
regarded as in good taste to make any editorial reference to the exist-
enceofadvertising, butthiscas—ewe believeto bedifferent. To be truly
comprehensive as a handbook— to fill all the functions one visualizes
with the word “handbook” this book must bring the reader data
and specifications on the manufactured products which are the raw
materialofamateurradio. Ouradvertisers have collaborated withusin
this purpose by presenting here not mereadvertising but catalog tech-
nical data. The amateur constructor and experimenter should find it
convenient to possess in such juxtaposition both the constructional
guidance heseeksand theneededdataon his materiel. Both are neces-
sary ingredients of the complete standard manual of amateur high-
frequency communication.
We shall all feel very happy if the present edition brings as much
assistance and inspiration to amateurs and would-be amateurs as have
its predecessors.
ROSS A. HULL
BDITOK
West Hartford, October, 1936.
THE RADIO AMATEUR’S HANDBOOK
FOURTEENTH EDITION
CONTENTS
HiramPercyMaxim Frontispiece
Foreword v
—
The Amateur His CodeopEthics viii
—
Chapter One The StoryofAmateur Radio 1
—
Chapter Two Getting Started 9
— ...
Chapter Three FundamentalElectricalPrinciples 17
—
ChapterFour Radio Circuitand Wave Fundamentals 34
— . .
Chapter Five VacuumTubes 51
—
Chapter Six Receiver CircuitDesign 87
—
ChapterSeven Receiver Construction 114
—
Chapter Eight PrinciplesofTransmitter Design 141
— . . .
Chapter Nine Transmitter Construction 176
—
Chapter Ten Keying 205
—
Chapter Eleven Fundamentalsof Radiotelephony 216
— . .
Chapter Twelve Building R.adiotelephone Transmitters 228
—
Chapter Thirteen Receivers for the Ultra-High Fre-
quencies 242
—
Chapter Fourteen Ultra-High-Frequency Transmitters 258
— .
Chapter Fifteen PowerSupply 275
—
Chapter Sixteen Antennas 300
—
Chapter Seventeen Instruments and Measurements 328
— . . .
Chapter Eighteen Assemblingthe Station 342
—
Chapter Nineteen Operating aStation 351
—
Chapter Twenty MessageHandling 366
—
Chapter Twenty-one LeagueOperating Organization 379
Appendix 389
Index 417
CatalogAdvertisingSection 425
PUBLISHED BY
THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE, INC.
WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
THE RADIO AMATEUR’S HANDBOOK
FOURTEENTH EDITION
OUR CODE
I
TheAmateurisGentlemanly.Heneverknowinglyusestheairforhisown
amusementinsuchaway astolessenthepleasureofothers. Heabides
hy the pledges given hy the A.R.R.L. in his behalf to the public and
the Government.
11
The Amateur is Loyal. He owes liis amateur radio to the American
Radio Relay League, and heoffersithisunswerving loyalty.
HI
TheAmateur isProgressive.Hekeepshisstationabreastofscience. Itis
builtwell and efficiently. Hisoperatingpracticeisclean andregular.
IV
The Amateur is Friendly. Slow and patient sending when requested,
friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance and
cooperation for the broadcastlistener; these are marks ofthe amateur
spirit.
V
The Amateur is Balanced. Radio is liis hobby. He never allows it to
interferewithanyofthedutiesheowestohishome, hisjob, hisschool,
or his community.
VI
The Amateur is Patriotic. His knowledge and his station are always
ready for the serviceofhis country and hiscommunity.
PUBLISHED BY
THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE, INC.
WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
The Story of Amateur Radio
HOW IT STARTED; THE PART PLAYED D¥ THE
A«R.R«L.
Amateur radio represents, to amateur’s table is his short-wave receiver; on
upwardsoffifty-fivethousandpeople,themost theothersideishisprivate (andusuallyhome-
satisfying, most exciting of all hobbies. Forty made) short-wave transmitter, ready at the
thousandoftheseenthusiastsarelocatedinthe throw of a switch to be used in calling and
UnitedStates,foritisthiscountrywhichgave “working” other amateurs in the United
birthtothemovementandwhich,sincethebe- States, in Canada, Europe, Australia, every
ginning, has repre- corner of the globe!
sented its stronghold. Even a low-power
When radio broad- AMATEUR radio is the means of communi- transmitter using
casting was first in- cation with others on equal terms, of nothing more ambi-
troduced to the pub- hnding friendship, adventure and prestige tiousthanone or two
lic some years ago it whihsilheusmeaantecdoanttaocntes'osuotwonftfhireesaiidre.thIenapmiactkeiunrg receiving-type tubes
instantly caught the is not seen by them* He isnotknown by the makes it possible to
fancy of millions of clothes hewearsbutby the signals heemits. developfriendshipsin
wpoerolpdl.eWahlly?ovBeercautshee cHfoeerutseuunrctyce*erosslsdaacrlenasewswiptrhweiojnruldhidicsewsrhetoaosciehm.pqTeuhadeleirfheiicsaarpterioongno-s eUvneiroyn, Sitnatedoziennsthoef
it fired—theirimagina- ress.Heentersathoroughlydemocraticworld countries abroad. Of
tthiroinlled tbheecmatuosetuniet whheheleprisehhWie9mXriYsweZisl,loirnafgallbyle,sgbianynndheirs,wohtwehnneefrhfaeodritbso.ecWelohdmeeernss ceoxuprescet,edittihsantotthetofibrset
in on a program di- W9XYZ the record-breaker and efficient contacts will neces-
rect from some dis- traffic-handler,bewillinglyhelpstheyounger sarily be with foreign
tsapnetechpoainndt,mustoichtehaatr oghreeneacrnaantoilbodenc.moaWmsietteharopudrteicnaocrepaet~diinggorfeheti,hsealiacivhri.anguAftrfeotuorhm,e ianmaatdejuursst.inEgxptehreiesnicme-
was at that moment close of the day, filled with the monotonous pletransmitter, inus-
being transmitted routineofthemachineage,hecanfindadven- ing the right fre-
from a city hundreds btuyret,hrvoicwairnigouisntrtahveels,wpirtecshtiagnedanpdoufnrdiienngdshhiisp quency band at the
and even thousands signalsintotheair. right time of day
of miles away. To be DR. RAYMOND V. BOWERS, when foreign stations
sure there was also a YaleUniversity are on the air, and
certain amount ofen- practice in operating
tertainment value, are necessary before
and it is true that as the years have passed communicationwillbeenjoyedwithamateurs
thisphasehasbecomeuppermostinthe minds ofothernationalities. Butpatience and experi-
of mostlisteners; yet the thrill of "dx” isstill ence are the sole prerequisites; neither high
a major factor in the minds of hundreds of power nor expensive equipment is required.
thousands of people, as witness the present Nordoesthepersonalenjoymentthatcomes
growing popularity of international short- from amateurradio constituteitsonly benefit.
wave reception of foreign programs. There is the enduring satisfaction that comes
That keen satisfaction of hearing a distant from doing things with the apparatus put to-
station is basic with the radio amateur but it getherby ourown skill. Theprocess of design-
has long since been superseded by an even ingandconstructingradioequipment develops
greaterlure,andthatisthethrilloftalkingwith real engineeringability. Operating an amateur
these distant points! Onone sideofyourradio station witheventhesimplest equipmentlike-
The Radio Amateur’s Handbook
wise develops operating proficiency and skill. had any foreigner ever reported hearing an
Manyanengineer, operatororexecutiveinthe American. The oceans were a wall of silence,
commercial radio field got his practical back- impenetrable, isolating us from every signal
groundand muchofhistrainingfromhisama- abroad. Even trans-continental DX had to be
teur work. So, in addition to the advantages accomplished in relays. “Short waves” meant
of amateur radio as a hobby, the value of 200 meters; the entire wavelength —spectrum
systematic amateur work to a student of al- below 200 meters was a vast silence no sig-
most every branch of nal ever disturbed it.
radio cannot well be over- Years were to pass before
looked. An increasing its phenomenal possibili-
number of radio services, ties were to be suspected.
each expanding in itself, Yet the period was no-
require additional person- table for a number of ac-
nel,technicians,operators, complishments. Itsawthe
inspectors, engineers and number of amateurs in
executives and in every the United Statesincrease
fieldabackgroundofama- to approximately4,000 by
teurexperienceisregarded 1917. It witnessed the
as valuable. first appearance of radio
laws, licensing, wave-
# How did amateur ra- length specifications for
dio start? What develop- the various—services—.
ments have brought it to (“Amateurs? oh,yes
its present status of a well, stick ’em on 200 me-
highly-organized and ters; it’s no good for any-
widespread movement? thing; they’ll never get
It started shortly after out of their own back
Marconi had astounded yards with it.”) It saw an
the world with his first increase in the range of
experiments proving that amateur stations to such
telegraph messages actu- DR.EUGENEC.WOODRUFF,W8CMP unheard-of distances as
allycould besent between President^A.R.R.L* 500 and, in some cases,
distant points without even 1,000 miles, with
w—ires. Marconi was probablythe first amateur U. S. amateurs beginning to wonder, just be-
indeed, the distinguished inventor so likes fore the war, if there were amateurs—in other
tostylehimselfeventoday. Butamateurradio countries—across the seas and if daring
aswethinkofitwasbornwhenthefirstprivate thought! it might some day be possible to
citizensawinthenew marvel a meansfor per- span the Atlantic with 200-meter equipment.
sonalcommunicationwithothersandsetabout Because all long-distance messages had to be
learningenoughofthenewarttobuildahome- r—elayed, it sawrelaying developedto a fine art
made station, hoping that at least one of his and what a priceless accomplishment that
friends would do the same so he could have ability turned out to be later when our gov-
someonetotalkto. Object;thefun and enjoy- ernment suddenly needed dozens and hun-
ment of “wireless” communication with afew dreds of skilled operators for war service!
friends—. Urge: the thrill of DX (one to five Mostimportant of all, the pre-war period wit-
miles maybe!). That was thirty-odd years nessed the birth of the American Radio Relay
ago. League, the amateur organization whose fame
Amateur radio’s subsequent development was to travel to all parts of the world and
may be divided into two periods, the first be- whose name was to be virtually synonymous
fore and the second afterthe World War. with subsequent amateur progress and short-
Pre-war amateur radio bore little resem- wave development. Conceived and formed by
blance to the art as we know it today, except the famous inventor and amateur, the late
inprinciple. Theequipment, bothtransmitting Hiram Percy Maxim,it wasformallylaunched
andreceiving, wasofatypenowlongobsolete. in early 1914 and was just beginning to exert
The range of even the highest-powered trans- its full force in amateur activities when this
mitters, under the most favorable conditions, countrydeclaredwaron Germanyand bythat
would be scoffed at by the rankest beginner actsoundedtheknellforamateurradioforthe
today. No United States amateur had ever next two andone-half years. By presidential
heard the signals of a foreign amateur, nor direction every amateur station was disman-
2
. .