Basic Communications Instruction.
 

I need a radio communications technology primer.

Any suggestions?

Press the big button to talk.


















:p

Are you sure it's not the little button?

Thank you, RL. That will get me started.

lrd,
Along the above lines:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...olicy/army/fm/

Got to Edit -> Find (or hit CTRL+F) and enter either "communications", "signal", or "radio". Some of those manuals are older but they may give you some background.

Are you looking for anything specific or just trying to get started?

After checking this out, I think I need something more basic.

The last time I studied radio waves was in 1978. I need something that will teach me about radio waves, modulation, and antennas...

I need to know how radios work on a very basic level before I begin putting the systems together.

Just trying to get started. I need to understand how the systems I'm supporting work.

Without knowing what precise systems you are supporting, this may help:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-19/Ch3.htm#s5
Section V above shows how HF antennas are "built".
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-43/index.html
Was required reading for me as a 2LT. It doesn't cover all of the specifics of SOF commo but covers how Big Army makes commo.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-32/index.html
Will have info on SINCGARS, the concepts which are similar to some SOF systems (Freq. Hopping)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-74/index.html covers ALE and HF radios. We used that recently.

I'm leaving on R and R in the next few days. I can give you my .mil account if you don't have it. For SOF commo I'd hit up SWCS at Bragg and ask to speak to someone from the Special Operations Communications Systems Operators Course (SOCSOC) or the 18E instructors 18E committee. Interoperability is a plus and much of the SOF commo gear is the same from one branch to the other.

Harris Communications makes good commo gear, http://www.harris.com/. If you go there you may get some terms you can google for info on. You can also browse, http://www.viasat.com/ for some info.

Did that help or just muddy the picture?

Sometime it has to get muddy before it gets clear. (wow. Wasn't that profound. lol)

I was looking at the list of Army Field Manuals, trying to figure out where to start. Thanks for the suggestions. I have your .mil, and will hit you up with questions after your R&R. Have fun.

I'll let you know when I'm back.... if this damn snow ever clears. :)

No problem, we talking AM, or FM, ELF, VLF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, Microwave, Satellite Comms, wireless phones, hand held radios, encrypted, freq hopping, or freq jammers?

Let me know :D

TS
(you may want to start here before you decide to engage an 18E in a communications conversation. :))

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm

Yes.
I figure by the time you all finish "educating" me the engineers at work won't have a chance. :D

(Thanks for the link.)

Question:

Is this like a leaf floating on a wave in the water? How is the voice "overlaid" onto the sine wave?
----
I figured it out.

If anyone else out there is studying this, check out this site:

http://www.williamson-labs.com/480_mod.htm

Be sure to click on the various "Links to Some Examples of Types of Modulation."

I presume you want the basics. If I may let me suggest going to a library and/or a book store. If there is a "Radio theory for Idiots" in print that would be a good start.

I have an AAS in Radio Engineering Technology but I became an expert on vacuum tubes just in time for them to be tyrashed for solid state devices. :D

IIRC the SWC did and may still offer SF Communications Extension courses. These courses are great and you also end up with a great personal reference library.

I completed every course they had by disciplining myself to complete one lesson per night. :)

That is exactly what I need. I should have looked for it first. Thank you, QRQ.
Can you tell me why the carrier frequency shifts according to audio signal variations, instead of the audio shifting according to the carrier frequency?

:D Are you trying to overload this old man's brain? The answer is right there. Without going into the mechanics, the carrier is a constant and it is modulated by the audio signal. The detector in the FM receiver converts variations in frequency to audio signals. Since noise (interference) rides on the peaks of the carrier wave, it is simpler to eliminate since you only need to shave off the peaks. In AM signals this "limiting" would result in the loss of intelligence.

Obviously somewhere along the line someone has limited my AM brain waves. :D

Are you sure you weren't an English major? lol I knew I was asking for it by using the term "carrier."

What prevents the audio wave from being the constant?

HEHEHE!! :D Then it wouldn't have any info. Audio is sent from the mic. , to the modulator stage and then added to the constant carrier wave.

Commo Primer?
 

On understanding antenna theory and propagation go to Amazon Books, Books a Million or Barnes & Nobles and buy the ARRL Antenna Handbook. AARL - Amateur Radio Relay League (Civilian Hams) or Google ARRL and go to their web site. Starts at fundementals of electricity thru theory and propagation and antenna construction. This should keep you going for the next 12 months. Enjoy :lifter

For a lighter introduction:

http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14...s/14182_61.htm

Wow! Did I really say all of the above? Anyway, "Civilian HAMs" are by far the most common.:p

If you can find someone with an extra copy of this, it will give you a good start on the old school way of doing business.:D

Old school has a way of coming back around and being the latest and greatest...look at 70's fashion :D

Sadly that book along with the old ECAC TTP went the way of the dodo when they pried the 99-van out of our hands.

LMAO!
 

They would have to put that in PowerPoint, add a keyboard w/ monitor, at least 2Gs of memory and serve non-fat tea at the same time.:D

Stay safe.

It still had a basic function for me in the late 80s and I had my "Echos" add to it for clandestine urban ops for antennas to support our mission. It is going to be very interesting when the chicoms take out all the satellites or enough of them to limit the band width and folks will have to learn how to send instructions and information without power point slides and other bandwidth eating media just to get the msg across. Do I sense new versions of SAVSERSUP and CSS in the future:D

Sometimes the way forward isn't neccesarily forward ...:D.... See ya in the window

I had a copy of that pub. A friend of mine from 10th gave it to me. Used it for a long time and I passed it on to an Echo on my team in 7th. Wish I had a copy of that and a bunch more that I gave up before retirement. I could use them now in my DOJ Job down south here.

Col Jack you should sit down and scan all those hidden books you have into PDF files and have them available for QP's. Old school is Good and will never go away.

Interesting that you should mention that. I have been shifting through a lot of material that I have accumulated over the years and now that most of my physical abilities are in an ever decreasing spiral I was considering a way to capture what I can before the brain housing group catches up with aging process. Not sure why I would want to do this but I guess as the days go by I find that the memories of folks, places, and events are becoming a substitute for actions that are becoming more limiting. Guess it is all about not wanting to let go of things that really mattered and bring back, even momentarily, those times, folks and places that defined who we were. Hell, I don't want to become a confused Hillary and remember things that never happened:D

Col Jack
I have been cleaning out some boxes and have found many old ref material that I did not pass on and have been collecting up the ones I want to scan for Posterity and use. Some have seen their better days a long time ago but are still useful. Hope you have time to prepare some ref material and let us know what is there.

3 weeks ago I had a young 18E having problems with his commo equipment and I pulled out an old antenna bag and we spent over 4 hrs setting up different antennas that he had never seen. It is amazing what you remember when you get back into things. The guy has been asking for more time to pick my brain and I keep telling him that there is not much to pick from.:D

This might be a good way to kick-start some of those old brain cells.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate all of the recommendations - here and in PM.

I've learned just enough to be dangerous, and need to get to the point where I'm edging into useful. ;)

lrd

Hey,
Im just getting into this site, but i may have some insight on any comm questions you have. Not sure what you are looking for exactly, but im quite good at theories and making this crap work. Ive been an rto for 3 years, so if you have any specific questions, let me know.
joe

You can start by cleaning up your vocabulary unless of course this is some kind of acronym for Communiations, Radios, Antennas and Power Sources.

I put the young lady in contact with a forum member who has more than 3 years experience. ;-)

BMT

Joe:

Very kind of you to offer, especially as a new member.

Speaking of which, in case you missed it, there are quite a few SF Communications Sergeants on this site who are verified QPs. They were building radios out of scrap metal and hammering out 15/15 GPM while dogdging bullets and returning fire with the other hand before your parents thought about having you. Many of them are still active HAM radio operators.

If you think about it, most people learn more with their mouths closed than open, so you might consider digging through old threads looking for advice you can use, rather than assuming that you are an expert based on three years as an AF radio operator.

Just some advice from an old SF guy.

TR