Beacon — An amateur station transmitting
communication for the purposes
of observation of propagation and reception
or other related experimental
activities.
Beam antenna — A type of ham radio
antenna that can be pointed in any direction.
Broadcasting — Transmissions intended
for reception by the general public,
either direct or relayed.
Call sign — A series of unique letters and
numbers assigned to a person who has
earned an Amateur Radio license.
Carrier power — The average power
supplied to the antenna transmission
line by a transmitter during one RF
cycle taken under the condition of no
modulation.
Certification — An equipment authorization
granted by the FCC. It is used to
ensure that equipment will function
properly in the service for which it has
been accepted. Most amateur equipment
does not require FCC Certification,
although HF power amplifiers and
amplifier kits do. Part 15 Rules require
FCC Certification for all receivers operating
anywhere between 30 and 960
MHz. Amateur transmitters may not be
legally used in any other service that
requires FCC equipment authorization.
For example, it is illegal to use a modified
amateur transmitter in the police,
fire or business radio services.
Contact — A two-way communication
between Amateur Radio operators.
Contest — An Amateur Radio activity in
which hams and their stations compete
to contact the most stations within a
designated time period.
Control operator — An amateur operator
designated by the licensee of a station to
be responsible for the transmissions
from that station to assure compliance
with the FCC Rules.
Control point — The location at which
the control operator function is performed.
Courage Handi-Ham System — Membership
organization for ham radio enthusiasts
with various physical disabilities
and abilities.
CW — Abbreviation for continuous wave;
another name for Morse code telegraphy
by radio. Also, International Morse
code telegraphy emissions having designators
with A, C, H, J or R as the first
symbol; 1 as the second symbol; A or B
as the third symbol; and emissions J2A
and J2B.
Data — Telemetry, telecommand and
computer communication emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G,
H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the
second symbol; D as the third symbol;
and emission J2D. Only a digital code
of a type specifically authorized in this
Part may be transmitted.
