The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications 2019

1435 Pages·2019·234.933 MB·English

by  ARRL Inc

Experimentation, Discovery, and Achievement.
The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is a complete reference and guide to radio technology
principles and practices. Since 1926, The ARRL Handbook has been a trustworthy source of introductory,
applied, and theoretical information. Now in its 96th edition, The Handbook continues to advance the
pursuit of experimentation and innovation by radio amateurs and professionals. Each edition contains new
and useful material to support Amateur Radio activity from the traditional short- and long-wave frequencies
through microwaves!
Key Topics
■ Radio electronics theory and principles ■ Digital and analog modulation and protocols
■ Circuit design and equipment ■ Antennas and transmission lines
■ Radio signal transmission and propagation ■ Construction practices
Who reads The Handbook?
Amateur Radio operators, or “hams;” professional wireless communication engineers and system
designers; electrical engineers; students and instructors of engineering, physics, and geoscience.
New Print and Downloadable Material—Always Updated!
■ Simple SLA Float Charger project by John Boal, K9JEB
■ Amateur Radio Data Platforms by Paul Verhage, KD4STH, and Bill Brown, WB8ELK
■ The latest information on WSJT-X digital modes by the WSJT team
■ Filter and circuit design software by Tonne Software and Jim Tonne, W4ENE—download only
■ Low-Noise VHF and UHF Oscillators by Ulrich Rohde, N1UL, and Ajay Poddar, AC2KG
■ Update on Solar Cycle 24 by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
■ Updated SSTV practices and technology by Larry Peterson, WA9TT—download only
■ Designing dual-band loaded dipoles by David Birnbaum, K2LYV—download only
■ Latest transceiver survey by Joel Hallas, W1ZR—download only
Plus, new component tables, reference articles, material characteristics, and guidelines for SDR design.
Download Included: eBook and Supplemental Content (included with print edition only)
Download the fully searchable digital edition of the printed book, as well as expanded supplemental
content, software, PC board templates, and other support fi les.
System Requirements: Windows 7, 8, or 10; Windows Vista or Windows XP, as well as Macintosh
systems, using Adobe Acrobat Reader software. Acrobat Reader is a free download at www.adobe.com.
PDF fi les are Linux readable. Other included software is Windows compatible only.
Companion Books Available
The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications
The ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs
About ARRL and the Amateur Radio Service
Amateur (Ham) Radio provides the broadest and most powerful wireless
communications capability available to the private citizen anywhere in the world.
The principles of this federally licensed radio service include public service,
radio experimentation, training, and international goodwill. ARRL is the national
membership association for Amateur Radio operators in the US. ARRL has
books, software, online content, and other resources for licensing, operating,
and lifelong learning.
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400 USA
www.arrl.org USA $49.95 ARRL Item No. 0888
NINETY-SIXTH
EDITION
22001199 HHaannddbbooookk SSooffttccoovveerr..iinndddd 11 0077//0099//22001188 1111::0011::3322 AAMM
2019
The ARRL
HANDBOOK
FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
NINETY-SIXTH EDITION
Editor Additional Contributors
to the 2019 Edition
H. Ward Silver, NØAX
John Boal, K9JEB
Contributing Editors
Bill Brown, WB8ELK
Steven R. Ford, WB8IMY
Ken Cechura, KC9UMR
Mark J. Wilson, K1RO
Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB
Editorial Assistant
Dick Frey, K4XU
Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB
Joel Hallas, W1ZR
Technical Consultants
Rick Lindquist, WW1ME
Bob Allison, WB1GCM
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
Michael E. Gruber, W1MG
Ulrich Rohde, N1UL
Edward F. Hare, Jr., W1RFI
Zachary H.J. Lau, W1VT Larry Peterson, WA9TT
John Petrich, W7FU About the cover:
Cover Design
Although not discussed in the 2019 ARRL
Ajay Poddar, AC2KG
Sue Fagan, KB1OKW Handbook, the Hamware remote automatic
Steve Stearns, K6OIK antenna tuner was chosen to represent
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
the technical craftsmanship that defines
Joe Taylor, K1JT,
Production Amateur Radio. The tuner was created by
and the WSJT-X team
radio amateurs in Germany who went on to
Michelle Bloom, WB1ENT
Jim Tonne, W4ENE establish their own company. The background
Jodi Morin, KA1JPA
image consists of a software “waterfall” display
Paul Verhage, KD4STH
David F. Pingree, N1NAS of FT8 digital signals.
Published by:
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400 USA
www.arrl.org
Copyright © 2018 by
The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
Copyright secured under the Pan-American
Convention
International Copyright secured
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be
reproduced in any form except by written
permission of the publisher. All rights of
translation are reserved.
Printed in the USA
Quedan reservados todos los derechos
ISBN: 978-1-62595-088-8 Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-62595-089-5 Six-Volume Boxed Set
Kindle eBook Editions
ISBN: 978-1-62595-091-8 — Volume 1
ISBN: 978-1-62595-092-5 — Volume 2
ISBN: 978-1-62595-093-2 — Volume 3
ISBN: 978-1-62595-094-9 — Volume 4
ISBN: 978-1-62595-095-6 — Volume 5
ISBN: 978-1-62595-096-3 — Volume 6
Ninety-Sixth Edition
Contents
A more detailed Table of Contents is included at the
beginning of each chapter.
INTRODUCTION 4 Circuits and Components
4.1 Practical Resistors
1 What is Amateur (Ham) Radio?
4.2 Practical Capacitors
1.1 Do-It-Yourself Wireless
4.3 Practical Inductors
1.2 Joining the Ham Radio Community
4.4 Transformers
1.3 Your Ham Radio Station
4.5 Practical Semiconductors
1.4 Getting on the Air
4.6 Amplifiers
1.5 Your Ham Radio “Lifestyle”
4.7 Operational Amplifiers
1.6 Public Service
4.8 Miscellaneous Analog ICs
1.7 Ham Radio in the Classroom
4.9 Analog-Digital Interfacing
1.8 Resources
4.10 Analog Device and Circuits Glossary
1.9 Glossary
4.11 Heat Management
4.12 References and Bibliography
FUNDAMENTAL THEORY
2 Electrical Fundamentals
PRACTICAL DESIGN AND PRINCIPLES
2.1 Introduction to Electricity
5 RF Techniques
2.2 Resistance and Conductance
5.1 Introduction
2.3 Basic Circuit Principles
5.2 Lumped-Element versus Distributed
2.4 Power and Energy
Characteristics
2.5 Circuit Control Components
5.3 Effects of Parasitic (Stray) Characteristics
2.6 Capacitance and Capacitors
5.4 Semiconductor Circuits at RF
2.7 Inductance and Inductors
5.5 Ferrite Materials
2.8 Semiconductor Devices
5.6 Impedance Matching Networks
2.9 References and Bibliography
5.7 RF Transformers
5.8 Noise
3 Radio Fundamentals
5.9 Two-Port Networks
3.1 AC Waveforms
5.10 RF Design Techniques Glossary
3.2 Measuring AC Voltage, Current and Power
5.11 References and Bibliography
3.3 Effective Radiated Power
3.4 AC in Capacitors and Inductors
6 Computer-Aided Circuit Design
3.5 Working with Reactance
6.1 Circuit Simulation Overview
3.6 Impedance
6.2 Simulation Basics
3.7 Quality Factor (Q) of Components
6.3 Limitations of Simulation at RF
3.8 Resonant Circuits
6.4 Electromagnetic Analysis of RF Circuits
3.9 Analog Signal Processing
6.5 References and Bibliography
3.10 Electromagnetic Waves
3.11 References and Bibliography
7 Power Sources 11 Modulation
7.1 Power Processing 11.1 Introduction
7.2 AC-AC Power Conversion 11.2 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
7.3 Power Transformers 11.3 Angle Modulation
7.4 AC-DC Power Conversion 11.4 FSK and PSK
7.5 Voltage Multipliers 11.5 Quadrature Modulation
7.6 Current Multipliers 11.6 Analytic Signals and Modulation
7.7 Rectifier Types 11.7 Image Modulation
7.8 Power Filtering 11.8 Spread Spectrum Modulation
7.9 Power Supply Regulation 11.9 Pulse Modulation
7.10 “Crowbar” Protective Circuits 11.10 Modulation Bandwidth and Impairments
7.11 DC-DC Switchmode Power Conversion 11.11 Glossary of Modulation Terms
7.12 High-Voltage Techniques 11.12 References and Further Reading
7.13 Batteries
7.14 Glossary of Power Source Terms 12 Receiving
7.15 References and Bibliography 12.1 Characterizing Receivers
7.16 Power Supply Projects 12.2 Heterodyne Receivers
12.3 SDR Receivers
8 DSP and SDR Fundamentals 12.4 Mixing and Mixers
8.1 Introduction to DSP 12.5 Demodulation and Detection
8.2 Introduction to SDR 12.6 Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
8.3 Analog-Digital Conversion 12.7 Noise Management
8.4 Data Converters for SDR and DSP 12.8 References and Bibliography
8.5 Digital Signal Processors
8.6 Digital (Discrete-time) Signals 13 Transmitting
8.7 The Fourier Transform 13.1 Characterizing Transmitters
8.8 Glossary of DSP and SDR Terms 13.2 Transmitter Architecture
8.9 References and Bibliography 13.3 Modulators
13.4 Transmitting CW
9 Oscillators and Synthesizers 13.5 Transmitting AM and SSB
9.1 How Oscillators Work 13.6 Transmitting Angle Modulation
9.2 LC Variable Frequency Oscillator 13.7 Effects of Transmitted Noise
(VFO) Circuits 13.8 Microphones and Speech Processing
9.3 Building an Oscillator 13.9 Voice Operation
9.4 Crystal Oscillators 13.10 Transmitter Power Stages
9.5 Oscillators at UHF and Above 13.11 References and Bibliography
9.6 Frequency Synthesizers
9.7 Phase Noise 14 Transceiver Design Topics
9.8 Glossary of Oscillator and 14.1 Signal Chains in SDR Transceivers
Synthesizer Terms 14.2 User Interfaces
9.9 References and Bibliography 14.3 Configuration and Control Interfaces
14.4 SDR Design Tools
10 Analog and Digital Filtering
10.1 Introduction 15 Digital Protocols and Modes
10.2 Filter Basics 15.1 Digital “Modes”
10.3 Passive LC Filters 15.2 Unstructured Digital Modes
10.4 Active Audio Filters 15.3 Fuzzy Modes
10.5 Digital Filters 15.4 Structured Digital Modes
10.6 Quartz Crystal Filters 15.5 Networking Modes
10.7 SAW Filters 15.6 Digital Mode Table
10.8 Transmission Line 15.7 Glossary of Digital Protocol and Mode Terms
VHF/UHF/Microwave Filters 15.8 References and Bibliography
10.9 Helical Resonators
10.11 Filter Projects
10.12 Glossary of Filter Terms
10.13 References and Bibliography
16 Amateur Radio Data Platforms 20 Transmission Lines
16.1 Platform Overview 20.1 Transmission Line Basics
16.2 Sensors 20.2 Choosing a Transmission Line
16.3 Navigation Data and Telemetry 20.3 The Transmission Line as Impedance
16.4 Payloads Transformer
16.5 High Altitude Balloon Platforms 20.4 Matching Impedances in the Antenna
16.6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) System
16.7 Rockets 20.5 Baluns and Transmission-Line
16.8 Robotics Transformers
16.9 Fixed Stations 20.6 PC Transmission Lines
16.10 References and Bibliography 20.7 Waveguides
20.8 Glossary of Transmission Line Terms
17 RF Power Amplifiers 20.9 References and Bibliography
17.1 High Power, Who Needs It?
17.2 Types of Power Amplifiers 21 Antennas
17.3 Vacuum Tube Basics 21.1 Antenna Basics
17.4 Tank Circuits 21.2 Dipoles and the Half-Wave Antenna
17.5 Transmitting Tube Ratings 21.3 Vertical (Ground-Plane) Antennas
17.6 Sources of Operating Voltages 21.4 T and Inverted-L Antennas
17.7 Tube Amplifier Cooling 21.5 Slopers and Vertical Dipoles
17.8 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Stabilization 21.6 Yagi Antennas
17.9 MOSFET Design for RF Amplifiers 21.7 Quad and Loop Antennas
17.10 Solid-State RF Amplifiers 21.8 HF Mobile Antennas
17.11 Solid State Amplifier Projects 21.9 VHF/UHF Mobile Antennas
17.12 Tube Amplifier Projects 21.10 VHF/UHF Antennas
17.13 References and Bibliography 21.11 VHF/UHF Beams
21.12 Radio Direction Finding Antennas
18 Repeaters 21.13 Glossary of Antenna Terms
18.1 A Brief History 21.14 References and Bibliography
18.2 Repeater Overview
18.3 FM Voice Repeaters STATION CONSTRUCTION,
18.4 D-STAR Repeater Systems MAINTENANCE, AND MANAGEMENT
18.5 System Fusion Repeater Systems 22 Component Data and References
18.6 Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) 22.1 Component Data
18.7 Other Digital Voice Repeater Technologies 22.2 Resistors
18.8 Glossary of FM and Repeater Terms 22.3 Capacitors
18.9 References and Bibliography 22.4 Inductors
22.5 Transformers
ANTENNA SYSTEMS AND
22.6 Semiconductors
RADIO PROPAGATION
22.7 Tubes, Wire, Materials, Attenuators,
19 Propagation of Radio Signals Miscellaneous
19.1 Fundamentals of Radio Waves 22.8 Computer Connectors
19.2 Sky-Wave Propagation and the Sun 22.9 RF Connectors and Transmission Lines
19.3 MUF Predictions 22.10 Reference Tables
19.4 Propagation in the Troposphere
19.5 VHF/UHF Mobile Propagation 23 Construction Techniques
19.6 Propagation for Space Communications 23.1 Electronic Shop Safety
19.7 Noise and Propagation 23.2 Tools and Their Use
19.8 Propagation Below the AM 23.3 Soldering Tools and Techniques
Broadcast Band 23.4 Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
19.9 Glossary of Radio Propagation Terms 23.5 Constructing Electronic Circuits
19.10 References and Bibliography 23.6 CAD for PCB Design
23.7 Microwave Construction
23.8 Mechanical Fabrication
24 Assembling a Station 27 RF Interference
24.1 Fixed Stations 27.1 Managing Radio Frequency Interference
24.2 Mobile Installations 27.2 FCC Rules and Regulations
24.3 Portable Installations 27.3 Elements of RFI
24.4 Remote Stations 27.4 Identifying the Type of RFI Source
27.5 Locating Sources of RFI
25 Test Equipment and Measurements 27.6 Power-Line Noise
25.1 Introduction 27.7 Elements of RFI Control
25.2 DC Measurements 27.8 Troubleshooting RFI
25.3 AC Measurements 27.9 Automotive RFI
25.4 RF Measurements 27.10 RFI Projects
25.5 Receiver Measurements 27.11 Glossary of RFI Terms
25.6 Transmitter Measurements 27.12 References and Bibliography
25.7 Antenna System Measurements
25.8 Miscellaneous Measurements 28 Safety
25.9 Construction Projects 28.1 Electrical Safety
25.10 References and Further Reading 28.2 Antenna and Tower Safety
25.11 Glossary of Test Equipment and 28.3 RF Safety
Measurement Terms
26 Troubleshooting and Maintenance Advertiser’s Index
26.1 Test Equipment Index
26.2 Components Project Index
26.3 Getting Started Author’s Index
26.4 Inside the Equipment
26.5 Testing at the Circuit Level DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT AND TOOLS
26.6 After the Repairs Space Communications
26.7 Professional Repairs Digital Communications
26.8 Typical Symptoms and Faults Image Communications
26.9 Radio Troubleshooting Hints Digital Basics
26.10 Antenna Systems Station Accessories and Projects
26.11 Repair and Restoration of Vintage 2019 HF Transceiver Survey
Equipment Radio Mathematics
26.12 References and Bibliography
Foreword
Welcome to the 96th edition of the ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications. First published in
1926, “the Handbook” has guided and supported generations of radio amateurs. Like Amateur Radio
itself, The ARRL Handbook is continually being updated and renewed.
Far more than the work of a few people, this book represents the work of an entire community.
Knowledgeable experts write original material and revise sections as technology and operating practices
change. The editorial staff strives to make the material clear and easy to read and apply. A talented staff
at ARRL Headquarters (“HQ”) makes sure the layout and graphics are attractive and professional.
Finally, the readers themselves contribute by asking questions, pointing out new areas for material, and
by submitting feedback on the finished product — thank you!
What’s new in the 96th edition? There are quite a few new and interesting elements inside:
• Simple Sealed Lead-Acid Battery Float Charger project by John Boal, K9JEB
• Low-Noise VHF and UHF Oscillators by Ulrich Rohde, N1UL, and Ajay Poddar, AC2KG
• Update of Introduction to GNU Radio by John Petrich, W7FU
• An expanded “Amateur Radio Data Platforms” chapter by Paul Verhage, KD4STH and
Bill Brown, WB8ELK
• Updated WSJT material by the WSJT-X team
• Update on Solar Cycle 24 by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
• Updated RF Power Device tables by Dick Frey, K4XU
Another set of changes began with the 2018 (95th) edition as the CD-ROM sent with every book was
dropped in favor of a downloadable set of supplemental material. This eliminated many problems associ-
ated with supporting multiple operating systems. Please do look for the “download code” at the begin-
ning of the book (included with the print edition only) and use it to download and install the material to
your computer’s hard drive. There’s a lot of great material waiting for you!
The supplemental information in the 96th edition includes new items, including:
• Updated Image Communications chapter SSTV material by Larry Peterson, WA9TT
• Band-Pass Filters for HF Transceivers by Lew Gordon, K4VX
• Repairing Bird Wattmeter Slugs
• Design of a Two-band Loaded Dipole Antenna by David Birnbaum, K2LYV
• Current set of circuit design software by Tonne Software and Jim Tonne, W4ENE
• The latest HF Transceiver Survey by Joel Hallas, W1ZR
• Aluminum alloy designations by Don Daso, K4ZA
I hope you enjoy The ARRL Handbook and find it useful, whether you’re a new ham just learning the
ropes, an experienced ham enhancing a station or skill — or even if you’re not a ham at all (yet)! Our
goal is to provide you with a solid, trustworthy source of information to help you make the most of your
Amateur Radio interests, whether that is public service, experimentation, radiosport, or making friends
around the world as hams have done for more than a century. Thanks for being a Handbook reader!
73, Ward Silver, NØAX
Lead Editor, ARRL Handbook
August 2018
ARRL Handbook Downloadable
Supplemental Content
(print edition only)
A wealth of additional material for this Handbook is available with the downloadable supplemental con-
tent. As a purchaser of the print edition, you are entitled to download this material — see the instructions
for doing so on the insert at the front of the printed book.
Searchable Edition of The Handbook
The downloadable content includes a PDF version of this edition of The Handbook, including text,
drawings, tables, illustrations and photographs. Using Adobe Reader, you can view, print or search the
entire book.
Supplemental Files for Each Chapter
The downloadable content contains supplemental information for most chapters of this book. This in-
cludes articles from QST, QEX and other sources, material from previous editions of The ARRL Handbook,
tables and figures in support of the chapter material, and files that contain information to build and test the
projects provided in the chapters. The supplemental information is arranged in folders for each chapter.
Companion Software
The following software is also included with the downloadable supplemental content:
TubeCalculator, a Windows application by Bentley Chan and John Stanley, K4ERO, accompanies the
tube type RF power amplifier discussion in the RF Power Amplifiers chapter.
The following Windows programs by Tonne Software (www.tonnesoftware.com) are provided by Jim
Tonne, W4ENE.
ClassE — Designs single-ended Class E RF amplifiers.
Diplexer — Designs both high-pass/low-pass and band-pass/band-stop types of diplexer circuits.
Helical Filter — Designs and analyzes helical-resonator bandpass filters for the VHF and UHF fre-
quency ranges.
JJSmith — A graphics-intensive transmission-line calculator based on the Smith chart.
Elsie — The free student edition of Elsie, a lumped-element filter design and analysis program.
MeterBasic — Designs and prints professional-quality analog meter scales on your printer. The full
featured version of Meter is available from Tonne Software.
OptLowpass — Designs and analyzes very efficient transmitter output low-pass filters.
Pi-El — Designs and analyzes pi-L networks for transmitter output.
PIZZA — A mapping program that generates printable azimuth-equidistant or rectangular maps show-
ing the great-circle path and the sunrise-sunset terminator between your location and selectable locations.
Quad Net — Designs and analyzes active quadrature (“90-degree”) networks for use in SSB transmit-
ters and receivers.
SVC Filter — Standard-value component routine to design low-pass and high-pass filters and delivers
exact-values as well as nearest-5% values.
The Amateur’s Code
The Radio Amateur is:
CONSIDERATE…never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of
others.
LOYAL…offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and
the American Radio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States
is represented nationally and internationally.
PROGRESSIVE…with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station
and operation above reproach.
FRIENDLY…slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel
to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of
others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.
BALANCED…radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job,
school or community.
PATRIOTIC…station and skill always ready for service to country and community.
—The original Amateur’s Code was written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928.