What changed
Glossary — edited Sep 5, 2026 by Unknown editor
Compared with the version from Sep 5, 2026. Note: Imported from content/wiki
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**AM** — amplitude modulation, where the strength of the carrier carries the voice. Still used on 10 m and above, and what aircraft use.
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**Amateur / ham** — a licensed operator in the amateur radio service.
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**Amplifier / amp** — a stage that raises transmit power. Also, confusingly, everyday shorthand for the ampere; context tells you which is meant.
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**AMSAT** — the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, which builds and supports amateur satellites; see [satellites](/wiki/operating/satellites).
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**ARES** — the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARRL-sponsored, where hams register with a local emergency coordinator to serve served agencies.
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**ATV** — amateur television.
**Balun / unun** — transformer between balanced and unbalanced (or unbalanced and unbalanced) feeds.
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**CQ** — a general call to any station.
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**Current** — the flow of charge, measured in amperes. A 100 W radio on 13.8 V draws roughly 20 A on transmit, which is why power leads are heavy.
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**CW** — continuous wave; Morse code.
**DX** — distant station, usually meaning another country.
**Elmer** — a mentor. Being one is the most valued role in the hobby.
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**Feedline** — the cable between radio and antenna, usually coax. Its loss and the match at each end decide how much power leaves the antenna; see [feedline and SWR](/wiki/station/feedline-and-swr).
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**FM** — frequency modulation, where the voice shifts the carrier frequency. The mode of nearly every repeater and handheld.
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**FT8** — a weak-signal digital mode; see [FT8](/wiki/operating/digital-modes/ft8).
**Grid square** — Maidenhead locator, e.g. EM75, identifying your location for VHF and satellite work.
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**HT** — handheld transceiver.
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**LiPo battery** — lithium polymer cell, light and dense, common in portable operating. Needs a balance charger, a fireproof charging place, and storage at about half charge.
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**LoTW** — Logbook of the World, ARRL's contact confirmation system.
**Net** — a scheduled on-air meeting; see [nets](/wiki/operating/nets).
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**Ohm's law** — volts equal amps times ohms (E = I × R). Behind it: watts equal volts times amps. Two thirds of the exam pool leans on these two lines.
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**QRP** — low power operation, 5 W or less.
**QSL** — confirmation of a contact, or the card that records it.
**QSO** — a contact between two stations.
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**RACES** — the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, a civil-defense arrangement where operators are enrolled by a government agency and work under it.
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**Rag chew** — a long, casual conversation.
**Repeater** — a station that retransmits signals to extend range.
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**Simplex** — direct radio-to-radio operation without a repeater.
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**SSB** — single sideband, the voice mode of the HF bands. Lower sideband below 10 MHz, upper above, by long convention.
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**SWR** — standing wave ratio; see [feedline and SWR](/wiki/station/feedline-and-swr).
**VE / VEC** — volunteer examiner and volunteer examiner coordinator.
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**Watt** — the unit of power. A handheld runs 5 W, a typical HF radio 100 W, and the legal limit is 1,500 W.
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**73** — best regards. Never "73s".
**88** — love and kisses; used sparingly and traditionally.