KC4GZX Radio Terms and Abbreviations

Term	Definition
73	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for best regards.
88	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for love and kisses.
ACC	Accessory
ACI	Adjacent Channel Interference When a receiver is tuned to a specific frequency and interference is received on a nearby frequency.
AF	Audio Frequency
AFC	Automatic Frequency Control Automatically compensate frequency drift.
AFSK	Audio Frequency Shift Keying.
AGC	Abbreviation for automatic gain control.
AGC	Automatic Gain Control Automatically optimize receiver amplifier gain.
AGS	Antenna Ground System the term is used for a RF potential for some types of antennas, most unbalanced or asymmetricial antennas need a good RF Ground.
ALC	Automatic Limiting Control
AM	Abbreviation for amplitude modulation.
AM	Amplitude Modulation
AMSAT	Amateur Satellite
AMTOR	Acronym for "amateur teleprinting over radio" a mode that uses FSK to send messages containing error detection capabilities and the ability request retransmission of missing or corrupted data.
AMTOR	Amateur Teleprinting over radio A forum of RTTY, radio teletype
ANARC	Acronym for "Association of North American Radio Clubs" an association of radio listener clubs in the United States and Canada.
ANF	Automatic Notch Filter
ANL	Automatic Noise Limiter
ANT	Antenna
APC	Automatic Power Control Current limiting of a power amplifier to prevent damage to finals in high SWR conditions.
APRS	Automatic Position Reporting System - Packet Radio used in conjection with a GPS and TNC provide position reporting.
ARES	Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
ARQ	Abbreviation for automatic repeat request. In AMTOR, an ARQ is sent back to the transmitting station by the receiving station to request retransmission of missing or corrupted portions.
ARQ	One of two AMTOR communications modes in ARQ also called mode A in which two stations are constantly confirming each other's signals.
ARRL	Acronym for "American Radio Relay League" the national association for ham radio operators in the United States.
ARRL	The American Radio Relay League
ASCII	Acronym for "American standard code for information interchange" a method of representing upper and lower letters in addition to numbers and special symbols.
ASCII	American National Standard Code for Information Interchange.
ATT	A network designed to reduce the amplitude of a signal.
ATU	Abbreviation for antenna tuning unit.
ATV	Amateur Television - FSTV, Fast Scan TV or SSTV, Slow Scan TV
Absorption	The reduction in strength of a radio signal due to refraction in the ionosphere.
Active Antenna	A physically short or small antenna with a high gain preamplifier; designed for use indoors or in limited space areas.
Active Filter	A circuit that eliminates unwanted audio frequencies from the audio output of a receiver.
Address	The information in a packet specifying the intended receiving station.
Aeronautical station	A radio station aboard an airplane or a ground station that communicates with aircraft.
Amplification	The process of increasing the strength of a radio signal.
Amplitude Modulation	A modulation technique that varies the power output of a transmitter in accordance with the variations in the modulating audio signal.
Antenna Ground System	Term is used for a RF potential for some types of antennas. Most unbalanced or asymmetricial antennas need a good RF Ground.
Antenna Impedance	The impedance of an antenna at its resonance. Usually 50, 75 or 300 ohms.
Antenna Matching	When the antennas impedance at resonance is at optimum performance for your transmitter output circuit.
Antenna Tuner	A device used to match an antenna to the output impedance of a transmitter.
Antenna tuning unit	A device installed between a receiver or transmitter and the antenna to match the radio impedance to the antenna impedance for maximum power transfer.
Attended Operation	Operation of a radio station with a human operator at the control point.
Attenuator	A circuit to reduce the sensitivity of a receiver in fixed steps measured in decibels.
Audio Rectification	Interference to electronic devices caused by a strong RF field that is rectified and amplified in the device.
Auroral Propagation	Propagation of signals above 30 MHz via refraction by highly ionized regions around the Earth’s poles.
Auto Patch	Used in repeater operation for telephone interconnect.
Automatic gain control	A receiver circuit that adjust the amount of amplification given to a received signal so that the volume from the speaker stays relatively constant.
Average Power	Power measured on standard power meter.
BCB	Abbreviation for the AM broadcast band running from 540 to 1700 kHz.
BCI	Broadcast Interference
BCL	Abbreviation for broadcast listener, someone who listens to shortwave radio strictly for program content.
BFO	Abbreviation for beat frequency oscillator.
BFO	Beat Frequency Oscillator
BNC	Bayonet Neill-Concelman - A Type of antenna connector.
BPF	Band Pass Filter
Balanced Line	Feed line with two conductors having Equal but Opposite voltages with neither conductor at ground potential.
Balanced Modulator	A mixer circuit used in Single-Sideband suppressed carrier transmitter to combine a voice signal and the RF carrier- oscillator signal.
Balun	A device used with to match an unbalanced feedline, like coaxial cable, to a balanced antenna, like a dipole.
Balun	A simple transformer used to change unbalanced Input to a balanced Output.
Band	A range of Frequencies
Band Pass Filter	A circuit that allows signals to go through it only if they are within a certain range of frequencies, and attenuates signals Above and Below this range.
Band Plan	An agreement for operating within a certain portain of the radio spectram.
Band pass filter	A filter that allows a certain range of frequencies to pass but which will reject frequencies below and above the desired range.
Band plan	A plan to allocate different frequencies within a range for specific purposes and users.
Bandpass	The frequency range that a receiver is currently tuning or that a filter permits to pass through it.
Bandspread	A form of electronic (not mechanical) fine tuning common on tube-era general coverage receivers. Usually the ham bands were "spread" to achieve better frequency display accuracy than the main tuning dial could provide. The proper setting of the
Bandwidth	Frequency needed for a particular mode of Transmission.
Bandwidth	The amount of frequency space occupied by a radio signal.
Bank	A storage area for channels in a scanner radio.
Bank	Memory Bank
Base loading	Placing a loading coil at the base of an antenna in order to lower the antenna’s resonant frequency.
Baud	The rate at which data is transmitted measured in bits per second.
Baudot	A five-bit digital code used in teleprinter applications.
Beacon	A station making one-way transmissions for navigation, homing, and propagation indication purposes.
Beam antenna	An outdoor antenna, usually mounted on a rotor, that concentrates more transmitter power (or receives better) in a certain direction.
Beat frequency oscillator	A receiver circuit that generates a replacement carrier to enable intelligible reception of CW, FSK, and SSB signals.
Birdie	A false or spurious signal in a receiver inadvertently produced by the receiver’s circuitry.
Bureau	A clearinghouse for QSL cards sent to and received from ham operators in other countries.
Burst	Reception of a signal for a few seconds via meteor scatter.
Busy Lockout	Inhibits transmit on a Frequency.
CAP	Civil Air Patrol - A Volunteer affiliate of the United State Air Force

CBR	Cross Band Repeater A repeater which will receive an incoming signal and re-transmit it in different bands. Receives 144 MHz band and re-transmits on 440 MHz Band.
CCW	Counter Clock Wise
CH	Channel
COAX / Coaxial Cable	Feed line with a central conductor surrounded by plactic, foam, or gaseous insulation, which in turn is covered by a shielding conductor and the entire cable is then coversd with vinyl insulation.
COIL	A conductor wound into a series of loops.
CPU	Central Processing Unit
CQ	A general call sent by a station to any other station that may receive it. Hams and other stations call CQ to indicate they will answer any station replies to their call.
CQ	A radio term used to call others.
CTCSS	Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System - Adds a continuous sub-audible low frequency tone to the transmitted carrier. Receivers that are set for the same low frequency tone can decode the signal.
CW	Abbreviation for continuous wave.
CW	ClockWise
CW	Continuous Wave - Morse Code
CW Filter	Used to narrow IF passband reception in crowded band conditions.
Call Sign	A sequence of letters and numbers used to identfy Amateur Radio Stations and issued by the FCC.
Call sign	A group of letters and numbers used to identify a station and the country authorizing its operation.
Calling frequency	An agreed-upon frequency where stations attempt to contact each other; once contact is made, stations move to a working frequency.
Capacitor	An electronic component composed of two or more conductive plates separated by an insulating material.
Carrier	An Unmodulated transmitted signal.
Carrier	The unmodulated output of a radio transmitter.
Carrier Frequency Offset	Carrier Shift Difference between mark and space frequency of the carrier for RTTY or similar mode.
Center frequency	The unmodulated carrier frequency of a FM transmitter.
Center loading	Placing a loading coil at the center of an antenna in order to lower the antenna’s resonant frequency.
Channel	The frequency on which a radio transmission takes place, or the input and output frequency pair used by a repeater station.
Chief engineer	The person at a broadcasting station responsible for proper and legal operation of a station and maintenance of all required records.
Chirp	Changes in the carrier frequency of a Morse code transmitter, usually due to power supply problems.
Circular polarization	An antenna design where polarization switches rapidly between horizontal and vertical.
Closed repeater	A repeater station that may be used only by stations belonging to a certain organization or group; access is usually restricted by tone access.
Closing	1) When a station ends its operations and shuts down; 2) When a frequency can no longer support propagation to a desired station or location.
Co-channel interference	Interference from stations on frequencies adjacent to the desired signal.
Coded access	A method of restricting access to a repeater station to stations that begin their transmission with a special sequence of tones.
Collision	When two or more packet radio stations simultaneously attempt to transmit on the same frequency.
Connected	Term used to describe a successful contact between two packet radio stations and exchange of packets between them.
Continuous wave	The constant output of a radio transmitter that can be periodically interrupted to send messages by Morse code.
Control operator	The person responsible for all functions and correct operation of a radio station.
Control point	The physical location from which a radio station’s functions (setting frequency, turning the station off and on, etc.) are controlled.
Conversion	Number of IF Circuits in the Receiver.
Coordinated universal time	An international time and date system derived from the 0 degree meridian at Greenwich.
Coordinator	A non-governmental group that works to voluntarily assign frequencies to users in order to prevent interference, especially for repeater stations.
Critical angle	An angle defined in reference to the Earth at which a radio signal is refracted in the ionosphere. The lower the angle, the greater distance the radio signal will travel through ionospheric refraction.
Critical frequency	The frequency at or near the MUF at which the maximum sky wave propagation range is obtained.
Crystal filter	A filter that uses a network of piezoelectric crystals to obtain high rejection of unwanted signals.
Cubical Quad Antenna	A full wavelength loop antenna built with it's elements in the shape of Squares.
Current	A flow of electrons in an electric circuit.
Cut numbers	A system of sending numbers via Morse code by substituting shorter letter characters for the longer number characters.
Cutoff frequency	The frequency at which a filter will begin to reject signals.
D-Region	The LOWEST Region of the Ionosphere.
D-layer	The lowest region of the ionosphere found approximately 25 to 55 miles above Earth; it fades away quickly after sunset and sometimes does not form at all on short winter days. The main impact of the D-layer on radio propagation is to absorb energy from si
DB	Abbreviation for decibel.
DBd	Unit of RF Power as compared to a Dipole Antenna.
DBi	Unit of RF Power as compared to an Isotropic Antenna.
DBm	Decibels measure, 1mW with a load impedance of 600 ohms 0 dBm=1mW.
DC	Direct Ground.
DC Ground	A connection point directly to to chassis or battery ground to prevent buildup of hazardous DC Voltages.
DSP	Digital Signal Processor - used to improve noise to ratio for cleaner and more legible communications.
DTCS	Digital Tone Coded Squelch - A Selective call system.
DTMF	Dual Tone Multi Frequency ie: Touch Tone, Used for Transmit / Receive, numeric information such as Repeater Frequencies, phone number, PIN.
DUALWATCH	Receiving two signals simultaneously.
DUMMY LOAD	A Non-Radiating 50 ohm load connected to the Transmitter to replace the antenna for testing purposes.
DX	Any station that is hard to hear or contact on a particular frequency, or is rarely heard or contacted on a particular frequency. DX is the old telegraph abbreviation for distant.
DXCC	Abbreviation for "DX Century Club" an award given by the ARRL to hams who contact other hams in at least 100 different countries.
DXpedition	An organized effort by ham radio operators to put a rare location on the air, or a trip by shortwave listeners to a site for favorable DX reception.
Dead zone	A region where a radio signal cannot be received due to propagation difficulties.
Decibel	The ratio between two power levels on a logarithmic scale. A 3 decibel increase is a doubling of power; a 20 decibel increase is a power increase of 100 times.
Decibel	dB The smallest change in sound level that can be detected by the human ear, Power Gains and Losses are also expressed in decibels.
Delay	How long a scanner radio pauses on a channel to await another transmission,
Delta Loop Antenna	A Full wavelength loop antenna built with it's elements in the shape of equilateral triangles.
Deviation	A measurement for FM signals for the maximum carrier frequency changes either side of the carrier frequency.
Deviation	The change in the carrier frequency of a FM transmitter produced by the modulating signal.
Digipeater	A packet radio station that receives and retransmits packets intended for other stations.
Dipole	An antenna one half-wavelength long at the desired operation frequency that is divided into two quarter-wavelength sections; it transmits and receives in a figure-8 pattern.
Direct	To communicate with another station without using a repeater.
Direct wave	A radio signal propagated via line of sight.
Directional Antenna	An antenna that concentrates more of the transmitted energy in a particular directions, a Beam.
Director	A parasitic element in Front of the Driven element in a multielement antenna.
Distress Call	SOS or MAYDAY - Signals a Life Threatening Situation.
Downlink ~ Uplink	A frequency that a Repeater or Satellite transmits on to a user.
Drift	Slow, gradual change in the frequency of a transmitter or receiver.
Driven Element	The element connected directly to the FEED line in a multi element antenna.
Dummy load	A device used in transmitter testing and adjustment that dissipates the transmitter’s energy without radiating it.
Duplex	To transmit on one frequency while listening for replies on another.
Duplexer	A device which divides Transmit and Receive signals.
Duty Cycle	The ratio between the actual RMS value of an RF signal and the RMS value of a continous signal having the same PEP value expressed as a percentage. A duty cycle of 100% corresponds to a continious carrier, such as a Test signal.
Dynamic range	How well a receiver can handle strong signals with overloading; any measure of over 100 decibels is considered excellent.
E-Region	The SECOND LOWEST ionospheric region.
E-layer	The region of the ionosphere found approximately 55 to 90 miles above Earth; it fades away a few hours after sunset. The main impact of the E-layer on radio propagation is to absorb energy from signals passing through it, although sporadic-E propagation m
EME	Abbreviation for "Earth-Moon-Earth" a method of communication on UHF frequencies by bouncing radio signals off the Moon.
EME	EARTH-MOON-EARTH ie. Moon Bounce communication.
EMI	Electro Magnetic Interference ofton called RFI Radio-Frequency Interference.
ERP	Abbreviation for effective radiated power.
Effective radiated power	The output of a transmitter multiplied by the gain of an antenna.
Elmer	An experienced ham radio operator who mentors new hams and prospective hams.
Emission	Transmission of a signal.
Exalted carrier reception	A reception technique where the carrier produced by a receiver’s BFO circuit or product detector is used to replace the carrier of an AM signal for better reception.
Exchange	The passing of all necessary information between two stations during a contact.
Eyeball	Slang for a face-to-face meeting between two ham radio operators or radio hobbyists.
F Region	The HIGHEST ionospheric region the F Region refracts radio waves and returns them to earth. Dirung the day this Region often splits into Two Regions called the F-1 and F-2 Regions. The height of the F region varies greatly depending on the time of day, se
F-layer	The region of the ionosphere found approximately 90 to 400 miles above Earth and which is responsible for most long distance propagation on frequencies below 30 MHz. During the daytime (especially in summer), solar heating can cause the F-layer to split i
FEC	Abbreviation for forward error correction, a FSK mode that transmits each character twice to avoid errors. If the first character is received correctly, the retransmission of it is ignored.
FM	Abbreviation for frequency modulation.
FM	Frequency Modulation or FM Brodcast.
FSK	Abbreviation for frequency shift keying.
FSK	Frequency Shift Keying.
Fading	Signal reduction due to atmospherics.
Feedline	The cable connecting a radio to an antenna.
Filter	A circuit designed to pass only the desired frequencies.
Filter	A circuit or device that will allow certain frequencies to pass while rejecting others.
Final	The last transmission by a station during a contact, or the last amplifying stage of a radio transmitter.
Fixed station	A station that always operates from a constant, specified land location.
Flutter	The rapid variation in the signal strength of a station, usually due to propagation variations.
Frequency Privileges	The specific band segments assigned to holders of each particular license class.
Frequency modulation	A modulation technique that varies the carrier frequency of a transmitter in accordance with the variations in the strength of the modulating audio signal.
Frequency shift keying	A mode that shifts the station’s carrier between two fixed frequencies to form characters.
Frequency synthesis	A tuning method in transmitters and receivers which uses a few piezoelectric crystals to generate a wide range of frequencies.
Front to Back Ratio	The energy radiated from the front of a directive antenna divided by the energy radiated from the back of the antenna.
Full Duplex	An operation mode which Transmits and Receives on different frequencies at the same time as a telephone commuincation.
Full quieting	A FM radio signal strong enough to completely quiet the receiver background noise.
GHz	Abbreviation for gigahertz.
GMT	Abbreviation for Greenwich mean time.
Gain	An increase in the effective power radiated by an antenna in a certain desired direction, or an increase in Received signal strength from a certain direction.
Gain	The apparent increase in the strength of a signal radiated or received by an antenna caused by the antenna having better performance in some directions than others.
Gallon	Slang for the maximum transmitter power authorized for ham radio operators.
Gateway	A node that is a part of more than one network and can be used to pass messages between those networks.
General coverage	A term used to describe receivers and transmitters covering at least the frequency range of 500 kHz to 30 MHz and capable of operation in several different modes, including AM, CW, and SSB.
Gigahertz	Unit equal to 1000 megahertz or 1,000,000 kilohertz
Great circle route	The shortest path by radio between any two points on Earth.
Greenwich mean time	An international time and date system derived from the 0 degree meridian at Greenwich; this has since been replaced by coordinated universal time.
Ground	A connection to a point of zero voltage, like the Earth.
Ground Plane	A type on Omni-directional Antenna.
Ground Wave	Electrical wave directly travelling from transmitter.
Ground wave	A radio wave propagated along the surface of the Earth.
Grounding	Electrical connection to earth.
HF	Abbreviation for high frequencies.
HF	High Frequency The 3-30 MHz range of the RF spectrum.
HPF	High Pass Filter A filter that allows signals above the cutoff frequency to pass through and attenuates signals below the cutoff frequency.
Hamfest	A large gathering of ham radio operators and other radio hobbyists.
Handle	A radio operator’s name.
Harmonic	A frequency that is an integer multiple (two times, three times, etc.) of a lower frequency.
Harmonic	Multiple of a fundamental frequency.
Hertz	One complete cycle of a radio wave per second.
Heterodyne	A high pitched whistle sound caused by two carriers interfering with each other. The pitch of the whistle depends on the frequency difference between the carriers.
High frequencies	Frequencies from 3 to 30 MHz, although often used to refer to all frequencies from 1.7 to 30 MHz.
High pass filter	A filter that rejects all frequencies below a certain point but which allows all higher frequencies to pass.
Hollow state	A slang term for equipment that uses vacuum tubes.
Homebrew	Slang term for home-built, noncommercial radio equipment.
Horizontal polarization	An antenna that radiates, or receives best, radio waves having their electric field parallel to the Earth’s surface.
Hyperscan	A very high scanning rate in a scanner receiver; also called turboscan.
Hz	Abbreviation for Hz.
Hz	Hertz
IC	Integrated Circuit
ID	Abbreviation for identification.
IF	Intermediate Frequency
IF Shift	A function that electronically shifts IF Frequency from a center frequency.
IMD	Distortion within RF Circuits made with upper and lower adjacent channel signals.
IRC	Abbreviation for International Reply Coupon.
Image	A false signal produced in the receiver’s circuitry.
Impedance	A term used to describe a combination of reactance and resistance in a circuit.
Impedance	The opposition to the flow of electric current and radio energy; it is measured in ohms (W). For best performance, the impedance of an antenna, the feedline, and the antenna connector on a radio should be approximately equal.
Increment steps	The discrete frequency steps (10 Hz, etc.) tuned by a receiver using frequency synthesis.
Indirect FM	A term used to refer to phase modulation.
Inductor	An electrical component usually composed of a coil of wire wound on a central core. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field.
Input frequency	The frequency on which a repeater station listens for signals to retransmit.
Intermod	Short for intermodulation, this means false or spurious signals produced by two or more signals mixing in a receiver or repeater station.
International Reply Coupon	A coupon that can be purchased at post offices which can be exchanged in foreign countries for return postage for a surface mail letter to the country that issued the coupon.
International Telecommunication Union	ITU - The International organization with the responsibility for dividing the range of communications frequencies between the various services for the entire world.
International Telecommunication Union	ITU - The International organization with the responsibility for dividing the range of communications frequencies between the various services for the entire world.
International Telecommunication Union	ITU - The International organization with the responsibility for dividing the range of communications frequencies between the various services for the entire world.
Ionosphere	A region in the atosphere about 30 to 260 miles above the earth. The ionosphere is made up of charged particles, or ions.
Ionosphere	The electrically charged region of the Earth’s atmosphere located approximately 40 to 400 miles above the Earth’s surface that refracts radio signals.
Ionospheric storm	A disturbed condition in the ionosphere caused by release of charged particles by the Sun which results in high absorption and poor radio propagation on most frequencies.
Junction Diode	An electrical component formed by placing a layer of N-type semiconductor material next to a layer of P-type material. Diodes allow current to flow in only one direction.
Junkbox	Slang for the collection of spare parts and miscellaneous items kept by a radio operator or hobbyist.
K-index	A measure of the Earth’s magnetic field as measured at Boulder, Colorado. Propagation conditions improve with lower measurement numbers.
KHz	Abbreviation for kilohertz.
KW	Abbreviation for kilowatt.
Kerchunker	An operator that activates a repeater station by transmitting on its input frequency without speaking.
Kilohertz	Unit equal to 1000 hertz.
Kilowatt	Unit equal to 1000 watts of transmitter power.
LF	Low Frequency 30-300 kHz range signals.
LPF	Low Pass Filter
LSB	Abbreviation for lower sideband.
LSB	Lower Side Band
LUF	Abbreviation for lowest usable frequency, the lowest frequency that can support propagation between two points.
Landline	The telephone or a telephone call.
Li-lon	Rechargeable battery which has a better capacity than Ni-Cad, Ni-MH, and others, No memory effect after re-peated non-full charge/discharge cycles.
Lid	Slang for an incompetent, unskilled radio operator.
Line of sight	Communication between two radio stations that are in visual sight (even if telescopically) with each other.
Lockout	To remove certain channels from the scanning sequence of a scanner.
Longwave	Radio signals 300 kHz and lower in frequency, although this term is often used to mean any radio signal lower than 540 kHz.
Loop antenna	A physically small receiving antenna usually designed for indoor use and tuning frequencies below 5 MHz; it receives in a figure-8 pattern.
Low pass filter	A filter that rejects all frequencies above a certain point but which allows all lower frequencies to pass.
Lower sideband	The sideband lower in frequency than the transmitter’s carrier.
MARS	Military Affiliate Radio Service
MCW	Abbreviation for modulated CW.
MF	Medium Frequency
MHz	Abbreviation for megaHertz (1,000,000 Hz). In older publications it may show as Mc for megacycle or 1,000,000 cycles per second.
MIC	Microphone
MUF	Abbreviation for maximum usable frequency, the highest frequency that can support propagation between two points.
MUF	Maximum Usable Frequency. The highest frequency that allows a radio wave to reach a desired destination.
MW	Abbreviation for megawatt.
Machine	Slang for a repeater station.
Main Lobe	The direction of maximum radiated field strength from an antenna, also called Major Lobe.
Major lobe	The direction of maximum radiation or received signal strength for a directional antenna.
Maritime station	A two-way radio unit aboard a ship or a station on land that communicates with ships.
Mark frequency	In FSK, the higher of the two frequencies used.
Mechanical filter	A filter that uses a network of mechanical piezoelectric elements to obtain high rejection of unwanted signals.
Medium wave	Radio signals from 300 to 3000 kHz, although this term is often used to mean any radio signal in the AM broadcast band (540 to 1700 kHz).
Megahertz	Unit equal to 1,000,000 hertz or 1000 kilohertz.
Megawatt	Unit equal to 1,000,000 watts of transmitter power.
Memory Bank	A set of memory channels organized into a group.
Memory Effect	Rechargeable batteries such as Ni-cad and Ni-MH types that may be getting capacity as a result of repeated non-full charge/dis-charge cycles.
Meteor scatter	Propagation of signals on frequencies above 25 MHz via ionized trails left by meteors burning up in the ionosphere.
Mobile station	A two-way radio unit installed in a car, boat, plane, etc., and used while in motion or at various stops.
Modulated CW	Sending Morse code over an AM transmitter using an audio tone.
Modulation	The process of altering the output carrier of a transmitter in some way in order to convey information.
Modulation	The process of varying some characteristic Amplitude, Frequency or phase of an RF Carrier for the purpose on conveying information.
Monoband antenna	An antenna suitable for operation on just one band of frequencies.
Moonbounce	Slang term for EME communication.
Multiband antenna	An antenna suitable for operation on several different bands of frequencies.
Multihop	A radio signal refracted more than one time between the transmitting and receiving stations.
NB	Noise Blanker, a function that reduces pulse type noise.
NBFM	Narrow Band FM
NR	Noise Reduction, DSP feature that reduces unwanted signal noise.
Negative Feedback	The process in which a portion of the amplifier Output is returned to the Input, 180 degrees out of phase with the Input signal.
Net	A group of people who meet at regular times on a specific frequency to share common interests.
Net	A group of stations that meet on a specified frequency at a certain time. The net is organized and directed by a net control station, who calls the net to order, recognizes stations entering and leaving the net, and authorizes stations to transmit.
Ni-Cad	Nickel Cadmium
Ni-MH	Nickel-Metal-Hydride
Noise Bridge	A test instrument used to determine the impedance of an antenna system.
Noise blanker	A receiver circuit that reduces electrical noise by quieting the receiver during noise pulses.
Notch filter	A circuit that takes a small slice out of the bandpass tuned by a receiver; this is useful for reducing interference from narrow bandwidth signals.
OM	Abbreviation for old man, an old radiotelegraph abbreviation for any radio operator (presumed to be male); now used to refer to any male radio operator or announcer.
OSC	Oscillator
Offset Frequency	Frequency difference between Transmit and Receive.
Ohm	The basic unit of Resistance, Reactance, and Inpedance.
Ohm's Law	A basic law of electronics, it gives a relationship between Voltage, Resistance and Current: E=IR.
Omnidirectional antenna	An antenna that transmits and receives equally well in all directions.
Open repeater	A repeater station that can be used by anybody; a carrier on its input frequency will automatically be retransmitted on its output frequency.
Opening	When propagation is possible between two stations on the same frequency.
Oscilloscope	An electric test instrument used to observe wave forms and voltages on a cathode-ray tube.
Out	Spoken at the end of a transmission to indicate that you have made your last transmission and that you expect no response.
Output frequency	The frequency on which a repeater station will retransmit signals its hears on its input frequency.
Over	Spoken at the end of a transmission to indicate to the other station that it is their turn to transmit.
Overloading	When strong signals in a frequency range interfere with proper operation of a receiver, creating false ghost signals on various frequencies in the frequency range.
PA	Power Amplifier or Public Address System.
PBT Pass Band Tuning	A function that electronically reduces interferance by narrowing IF bandwidth.
PEP	Peak Envelope Power, RF power at Maximum amplitude.
PLL	Phase Locked Loop, a circuit to synthesize the different frequencies a radio will operate on.
PLL	abbreviation for phase locked loop.
PM	Abbreviation for phase modulation.
PTT	Pust to Talk
PWR	Power
Parasitics	Oscillations in a transmitter on frequencies other than the desired one; these can produce spurious signals from the transmitter.
Part 15	The section of the FCC’s rules that permits operation of low power transmitting devices without a license.
Pass	The period during which signals from an orbiting satellite can be heard at a ground location.
Passband tuning	A receiver circuit that permits adjusting the bandpass for best reception under different interference conditions.
Patch	A connection between a two-way radio unit and the public telephone system.
Path	The route taken by a signal from the transmitting station to the receiving station.
Phase locked loop	a circuit that can generate w wide range of frequencies in discrete steps such as 10 Hz.
Phase modulation	Similar to FM, this modulation technique varies the carrier frequency of a transmitter in accordance with the strength and frequency of the modulating signal.
Phone	Radiotelephone operation.
Phonetic alphabet	A standard set of words used to represent letters of the alphabet.
Picket fencing	A fluttering sound heard on a FM signal from a station on a moving vehicle, such as an automobile.
Ping	Brief reception of a radio signal via meteor scatter propagation.
Polarization	Whether an antenna transmits or receives maximum radio energy in the horizontal or vertical plane.
Power Supply	A device that is used to convert the available voltage and currant source often 120V AC to a form that is required for a specific circuit requirement such as 12 Volt DC.
Preamp	A receiving circuit that gives extra amplification to weak signals but at the cost of additional background noise and possible distortion.
Preselector	A circuit that tunes a receiver’s signal amplifying circuitry for maximum sensitivity on a desired frequency range.
Priority Watch	A reception mode that when selected for a frequency is always periodcally checked when the VFO is set to a different frequency.
Priority channel	A channel a scanner will immediately switch to when a signal is present.
Product detector	A receiver circuit consisting of a beat frequency oscillator and additional circuitry for enhanced reception of SSB signals.
Propagation	The means by which radio waves travel from one place to another.
Propagation	The process of how a radio signal travels from a transmitting station to a receiving station.
Pulse modulation	A modulation method in which the timing, amplitude, and/or spacing of pulses of a transmitter’s carrier are varied in order to convey information.
QRL	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -this frequency is busy.
QRM	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -interference.
QRN	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -static.
QRO	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -increase transmitter power.
QRP	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -reduce transmitter power.
QRS	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -send more slowly.
QRT	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -stop transmitting.
QRU	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -I have no messages for you.
QRV	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -I am ready to communicate.
QRX	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -wait.
QRZ	Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning -who is calling me? It is also used to solicit the next contact in a series of contacts.
QSL	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for -I confirm, it refers to a card or letter confirming that a contact did take place between two stations or that a listener did indeed hear a certain station.
QSO	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for a contact between two or more stations.
QST	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for a transmission directed to all ham radio operators, it is also the name of the ARRL’s monthly magazine.
QSY	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for change frequency.
QTH	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for a station’s location.
Quad	A directional antenna consisting of two one-wavelength squares of wire placed a quarter-wavelength apart.
RACES	Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, the Part of the Amateur service that provides radio communications only for civil defense purposes.
RF	Radio Frequency
RF Ground	Connection for Amateur radio equipment to earth ground to reduce RFI.
RF gain	A control used to continuously vary the sensitivity of a receiver.
RFI	Radio Frequency Interference.
RIT	Abbreviation for receiver incremental tuning.
RIT	Receiver Incremental Tuning - Fine tuning the receive frequency without changing the displayed memory frequency.
RST	A code used by ham radio operators to indicate a station’s readability, signal strength, and tone of its Morse code signals.
RTTY	Abbreviation for radioteletype.
RTTY	Radio TeleType
RX	Receive
Radioteletype	A mode that uses FSK to form letters, numbers, and special characters for display on a printer or video monitor.
Ragchew	Slang for an informal conversation via radio.
Random Length Wire Antenna	A multi band antenna consisting of any convenient length of wire, connected directly to a Transmitter or impedance matching network without the use of feed line.
Reactance	The opposition to currant that a capacitor or inductor creates in an AC circuit.
Real time	Communications that are taking place with no perceptible delay.
Receiver incremental tuning	A circuit that allows tuning between increment steps in a receiver using frequency synthesis.
Reception report	A letter written to a radio station supplying details about a station’s signal and the programming heard in order to solicit a QSL from the station.
Rectifier	An electronic component that allows current to pass through it in only one direction.
Reflected Power	Non-radiated power dissipated as heat when the Transmitter is mis-matched to the Antenna or Load.
Reflector	A parasitic element placed behind the driven element in a directive antenna.
Repeater	A radio station that receives stations on a certain frequency and simultaneously retransmits them on another frequency.
Repeater	Radio Systems which receive incoming signals and retransmit them for extended communication coverage.
Resonant frequency	The frequency at which an antenna radiates or receives with maximum efficiency.
Rig	The main items of equipment used at a radio station.
Rubber ducky	Slang for a shortened flexible antenna used with hand-held scanners and transceivers.
S-meter	A meter or bargraph that indicates the relative strength of a received signal.
S/N	Signal to Noise Ratio
SAR	Search And Rescue
SHF	Abbreviation for super high frequencies.
SINPO	A code used in reception reports to rate the signal strength, interference, propagation conditions, atmospheric noise, and overall quality of reception on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
SMA	Sub Minature a connector
SP	Speaker
SQL	Squelch
SSB	Abbreviation for single sideband.
SSB	Single Side Band
SWL	Abbreviation for shortwave listener.
SWL	Short Wave Listner
SWLing	Abbreviation for shortwave listening.
SWR	Abbreviation for standing wave ratio.
SWR	Measurement of Forward vs Reflected power output during Transmit.
Scan	Continually sweeping frequencies looking for signals.
Scan Edge	End and Start frequencies for a scanning range.
Scanner	A radio receiver which automatically tunes through a sequence of user-selected frequencies.
Scatter	Propagation via random scattering of a signal directly off the ionosphere overhead; scatter signals are usually weak.
Scratch Pad Memory	Temporary frequency memories for Quick reference.
Search	A feature in certain receivers that will scan a frequency range at certain increments (such as 1 or 5 kHz) and pause on any frequency where a signal is present.
Selectivity	How well a receiver can reject signals on frequencies adjacent to the one you want to tune. It is indicated by a number of decibels rejection at a frequency point away from the desired signal.
Semi Duplex	A mode in which transmit and receive are on different frequencies.
Sensitivity	How well a receiver responds to weak signals, measured in microvolts (mV); the lower the number of microvolts indicated, the more sensitive the receiver.
Sensitivity	Indicates how weak a signal can be and still be detected by the Receiver.
Shack	The room or other location where a radio station is operated from.
Shape factor	A receiver’s selectivity measured at the 6 and 60 decibel rejection points.
Short skip	Propagation via the ionosphere over a distance of a few hundred miles or less.
Shortwave	Frequencies in the high frequencies region of 3 to 30 MHz, but this term is often used to refer to frequencies from 1.7 to 30 MHz.
Sideband	A signal equal to the bandwidth of the modulating frequency found above and below the carrier frequency in an AM signal.
Sidewinder	Slang for a SSB station.
Simplex	An operation mode where the Transmit and Receive are on the same frequency.
Simplex	To transmit and receive on the same frequency.
Single sideband	A modulation technique that suppresses one sideband and the carrier and transmits only the remaining sideband.
Skip	Any type of sky wave propagation via ionospheric refraction.
Skip zone	An area where a station being propagated via skywave cannot be heard because it is skipping off the ionosphere overhead.
Sky wave	Radio signals propagated by refraction in the ionosphere.
Skyhook	Slang for an antenna.
Skywarn	Trained volunteer storm spotters for the National Weather Service.
Solid state	A circuit that uses no vacuum tubes---only transistors, integrated circuits, etc.
Solor Flux Index	A measure of solor activity. "The Solor Flux" is a measure of the Radio Noise on 2800MHz.
Space frequency	In FSK, the lower of the two frequencies used.
Speech Processor	A device used to increase the average power contained in a speech waveforum.
Speech processing	A circuit that increases the average level of the modulating signal applied to a transmitter.
Splatter	Interference to adjacent signals caused by overmodulation of a transmitter.
Split	A mode in which the Transmit and Receive are on a different frequency.
Split channel	A frequency located between standard frequency allocations, such as the 10 kHz spacing of AM broadcast band frequencies or coordinated repeater frequencies.
Sporadic-E	Random patches of intense ionization that form in the E-layer of the ionosphere and refract higher frequency signals that normally cannot be refracted by the ionosphere.
Spread spectrum	A modulation method that spreads transmitter energy across a relatively wide frequency range according to a modulating code.
Spurs	Undesired signals and frequencies in the output of a transmitter.
Squelch	A circuit in a radio receiver that quiets the receiver until the strength of a received signal exceeds a specified level.
Squelch tail	A brief bit of noise heard between the end of a radio transmission and the reactivation of the receiver’s squelch circuit.
Standing wave ratio	The ratio of power sent down a feedline from the transmitter to the power reflected back through the feedline to the transmitter. A ratio of 1:1 is ideal; anything higher than 2:1 usually indicates a problem in the feedline or antenna.
Store and forward	A system for the receipt, storage, and later retransmission of packet radio messages.
Super high frequencies	the frequency range above 3000 MHz.
Surface wave	Another term for a ground wave.
Synchronous detection	Similar to exalted carrier reception, but the replacement carrier tuning and tracking is done automatically by the receiver.
TCXO	Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator - Heated crystal oscillator for better frequency stability.
TNC	Abbreviation for terminal node controller.
TNC	Terminal Node Controller - Modem for data communication or A type of antenna connector.
TOT	Time Out Timer
TR Switch	Transmit/Receive - A mechanical switch relay or electronic circuit used to switch and antenna between a receiver and transmitter.
TS	Tuning Step
TSQL	Tone Squelch
TVI	Television Interference
TX	Transmit
Telemetry	One-way radio transmissions used for tracking and measurement data.
Terminal node controller	A device used to convert digital signals from a PC into an analog form that can be transmitted by radio and to convert received analog signals into digital form for display on the PC’s monitor.
Ticket	The license or other operating credential for a radio station and its operator(s).
Time-out	To transmit too long in a single transmission, causing a repeater’s timer circuit to stop further transmissions.
Tone access	A method of activating a repeater station that requires transmission of a brief tone before all transmissions to be relayed.
Top loading	Placing a loading coil at the top of an antenna in order to lower the antenna’s resonant frequency.
Traffic	Messages to and from third parties exchanged by radio stations.
Transceiver	A combined transmitter and receiver sharing a common housing and many of the same components.
Translator	A device that receives multiple signals within a certain frequency range and simultaneously retransmits them in another frequency range.
Transponder	A device that will emit a radio signal when it receives a radio signal on a certain frequency.
Transverter	A device that takes one signal in a specified frequency range and simultaneously retransmits it in another frequency range. (This differs from a translator, which can handle more than one signal.)
Trap dipole	A dipole antenna with several coils, or traps, that allow the antenna to be used on several bands.
Tropo	Term referring to tropospheric ducting.
Tropospheric ducting	Propagation of signals above 30 MHz via bending and ducting along weather fronts in the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, the troposphere.
Trunking	A method of switching incoming signals between different repeater stations to prevent interference and ensure access to a repeater.
Turboscan	A very high scanning rate in a scanner receiver; also called hyperscan.
UHF	Abbreviation for ultra high frequencies.
UHF	Ultra High Frequency
UHF low	The frequency range from 450 to 470 MHz.
UHF-T	The frequency range from 470 to 512 MHz.
USB	Abbreviation for upper sideband.
USB	Upper Side Band
UTC	Abbreviation for coordinated universal time.
UTC	Coordinated Universal Time
Ultra high frequencies	The frequency range from 300 to 3000 MHz.
Unattended operation	Operation of a radio station without a human operator at the control point.
Unbalanced Line	Feed line with one conductor at ground potential, such as Coaxial cable.
Uncoordinated repeater	A repeater station operating on frequencies not approved by the appropriate frequency coordinator.
Unity gain	An antenna that gives no gain or loss; its effective radiated power is equal to the transmitter power applied to it.
Upper sideband	The sideband higher in frequency than the transmitter’s carrier.
VEC	Abbreviation for volunteer exam coordinator, a group of hams who give license exams to prospective hams under authorization from the FCC.
VFO	Abbreviation for variable frequency oscillator.
VFO	Variable Frequency Oscillator - An operation mode in which an operator can change frequency freely.
VHF	Abbreviation for very high frequencies.
VHF	Very High Frequency
VHF high band	The frequency range from 150 to 175 MHz.
VHF low band	The frequency range from 30 to 50 MHz.
VOX	A circuit that can turn a transmitter on and off automatically whenever someone speaks into the microphone.
VOX	Voice Operated Transmission.
VSC	Voice Scan Control or Voice Squelch COntrol.
Variable frequency oscillator	A circuit used to set the frequency of a receiver or transmitter.
Vertical polarization	An antenna that radiates, or receives best, radio waves having their electric field perpendicular to the Earth’s surface.
Vertically Polarized Wave	A radio wave that has its electric lines of force perpendicular to the surface of the earth.
Very high frequencies	The frequency range from 30 to 300 MHz.
WAS	Abbreviation for Worked All States, an award given by the ARRL to hams who contact other hams in all 50 states.
WAZ	Abbreviation for Worked All Zones, an award given by CQ Magazine to hams who contact other hams in 40 different geographic zones dividing up the globe.
WFM	Wideband FM
Wallpaper	QSL cards, certificates, and other items decorating the walls of a radio station.
Wavelength	The distance between the same points on two consecutive radio waves.
Weather Alert	NOAA broadcast station transmitting alert signals.
Window	A frequency range set aside for foreign ham radio stations to transmit in while ham stations in the United States and Canada do not; American and Canadian stations call foreign stations on frequencies outside the window.
Work	To communicate with another radio station or stations.
Working frequency	A frequency that two or more stations can use to communicate with each other.
XYL	Radiotelegraph code for ex-young lady, used to refer to the wife of a radio operator.
YL	Radiotelegraph abbreviation for young lady, used to refer to a female radio operator or announcer.
Yagi	A directional antenna consisting of a dipole connected to the receiver or transmitter and two additional elements, a slightly longer reflector and a slightly shorter director. Electromagnetic coupling between the elements focuses maximum power (or recepti
Zero beat	When the frequencies of two carriers are identical and there is no heterodyne heard between them.

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