Understanding Radios

[ab5r]

Throughout the years of reading messages here on the Radio Reference Forum, it is abundantly obvious that there is a outstanding number of members with a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience! Personally, I appreciate their help and knowledge.

From time to time, it is obvious that some members are attracted to scanning, ham radio and many other radio related interests. But, from their posts, they are not knowledgeable with just the basic fundamentals of radios: transmitters or receivers. IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. I searched the RR Glossary and saw nothing referencing the difference in Selectivity and Sensitivity with respect to a receiver. Basic knowledge of how antennas work would be beneficial too. That subject seems to be a frequent subject.

Naturally, it would not be polite to point out that radios do not "pick up" anything; they "receive or transmit" a RF signal depending whether a receiver or transmitter. I fully understand that term is old and been around for years, but I believe that it would be beneficial for one to know correct terminology.

I'm not talking about a complete radio electronics course, but maybe some basic terms and their meaning. Does anyone know of such a very basic radio communication course or glossary? I truly believe many members could benefit!

Regards to ALL,
Jerry AB5R

 

[W8RMH]

There is a ton of information in the Wiki here.

 

[Hit_Factor]

The forums are essentially virtual classrooms in an extended Q&A session.

Surely you aren't suggesting everyone take your 'basic radio communication course' before being allowed to participate.

I'm quite certain that many people have learned substantial knowledge here on RR, various other sites, and youtube. Learning doesn't always take place in a classroom.

My scanner picks up a lot of traffic, and I know the definition of transmit and receive. It's slang and a part of our culture. You used a little slang in your post. But it would not be polite for me to point it out.

This is a hobby for many people here on the forums. Let them play.

 

[pb_lonny]

The more you read the forums, the more you will pick up on. If not, a basic search on Google will find you the answers.

 

[trentbob]

As one of those people that started as a kid and now I'm retired I can understand how you feel.

With today's radio's if I didn't have the lifelong experience that I have and was new to radios I can understand being lost.

If I might suggest. Use Google, you don't have to worry about being embarrassed by asking a very fundamental question or stupid question as Google doesn't judge. It'll just direct you towards the threads in RR or other resources that'll help you

Any question you have, just ask Google.

 

[trentbob]

Sorry pb lonny I just saw your post, don't know how I missed it. I guess we were thinking alike.

 

[pb_lonny]

Sorry pb lonny I just saw your post, don't know how I missed it. I guess we were thinking alike.

Yes. How I learnt.

 

[tvengr]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone using the wrong terminology. I expect that from someone new. I have been involved with communications and scanners all of my life. How do you expect someone who is just getting started to know all of the proper words? Nothing makes me feel better than doing things to help others. There is no such thing as a stupid question if you don't understand something. I try to put myself in their position when I was just getting started learning about communications and make my explanations as easy as possible to understand. In fact, I am still learning from people in these forums. I want anyone joining these forums, especially the newbies, to know that you are welcome and that we are here to help you!

 

[trentbob]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone using the wrong terminology. I expect that from someone new. I have been involved with communications and scanners all of my life. How do you expect someone who is just getting started to know all of the proper words? Nothing makes me feel better than doing things to help others. There is no such thing as a stupid question if you don't understand something. I try to put myself in their position when I was just getting started learning about communications and make my explanations as easy as possible to understand. In fact, I am still learning from people in these forums. I want anyone joining these forums, especially the newbies, to know that you are welcome and that we are here to help you!

I've definitely seen you in action Jim. I've seen you go to Great Lengths to help people out.

Again, if I didn't have my life-long experience and come from a family of radio Geeks Who started me at around 11 years old I would be lost in today's world of sophisticated radios.

I wouldn't know where to begin.

I too learn something new everyday, and also, everyday I see something I don't understand or that is new to me.

 

[ab5r]

Many THANKS for all the opinions!

NO, I did not expect that learning from a course was a PREREQUISITE to becoming a member. Not at all.

I just wished there was a broader, perhaps more broad glossary, for newbies to learn from. But, I guess this forum is not designed for that purpose.

YES, it is ok for them to use whatever they want in describing their posts, but might be easier to HELP if it was clearer written, But then, this is a plug and play world and some, maybe most, want immediate gratification. (I must admit to that category sometimes.)

Regards,
Jerry

 

[KK4JUG]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone using the wrong terminology. I expect that from someone new. I have been involved with communications and scanners all of my life. How do you expect someone who is just getting started to know all of the proper words? Nothing makes me feel better than doing things to help others. There is no such thing as a stupid question if you don't understand something. I try to put myself in their position when I was just getting started learning about communications and make my explanations as easy as possible to understand. In fact, I am still learning from people in these forums. I want anyone joining these forums, especially the newbies, to know that you are welcome and that we are here to help you!

Am I missing something? I'm not sure I understand. "Nothing wrong with someone using the wrong terminology?" Actually, by definition, it's wrong. The word is there but correcting them is now they learn. Maybe I'm trying too hard but if someone refers to a capacitor as a resistor, well, ya gotta say something.

 

[tvengr]

I don't want anyone new to feel out of place in these forums due to their lack of knowledge. If someone says something wrong or has a misconception, I will let them know. Give them time to learn.

 

[ab5r]

Tvegr, I agree wholeheartedly. I would be nice to have a "goto" suggestion rather than a cold rely: Google Is Your Friend.

 

[KK4JUG]

Tvegr, I agree wholeheartedly. I would be nice to have a "goto" suggestion rather than a cold rely: Google Is Your Friend.

Your point is well-taken. Google can also give them access to other sources of information. Exploration on Google can help them find new sources and in many cases, it might behoove them to do both.

(Behoove? I can't believe I said that.)

 

[W5lz]

I can certainly understand both 'side' of this topic, mainly because I fall into the "what'd he/that say?" category. The one thing that really sticks out to me is the use of abbreviations that's 'suddenly' cropped up. I think I understand why they are showing up so much, it's from the convenience of using a very cumbersome 'keyboard' that are the problem such as cell phones, tablets, etc. Four possible 'pushes' to get just one letter of a word? So, abbreviate the @#$ thing, right? Which then carries over into situations where a 'real-live' 'qwerty' keyboard is available and... you see what I mean?
Another problem I've noticed lately is the idea that there is a good excuse for every wrong interpretation/meaning of a word. There are definite reasons for knowing the correct definition/meaning of things!! This, and the several prior posts are an absolute perfect example of that! "What the hell did he say?"... How about 'AES'? To me that means Amateur Radio Supply, which is certainly not how it's meant now, right?
So, please how about cutting some of us some slack? I certainly don't want to appear to be stupid by asking what something means, especially since if it were explained in the 'right' way (as opposed to the 'wrong' way) I just might know more about a particular subject/thing as the one explaining it. "Know what I mean Verne?" You old enough to know where that phrase comes from? ... OR that ellipes(sp)? That "..." thingy? Which is a 'pause' to let someone think, or interject something? A real RPITA thingy, right? Does that "R" mean 'real', or 'royal'?? Same meaning in context, which can be different from 'experience'. Everybody knows what that stuff means, right? Wrong!

 

[tglendye]

...
Does anyone know of such a very basic radio communication course or glossary? I truly believe many members could benefit!

Regards to ALL,
Jerry AB5R

www.ScannerSchool.com has podcasts (I believe approaching the 100th episode) with everything from the basics to more technical.

 

[tvengr]

Another thing to remember is that not everyone has an interest in electronics. They don't care about the difference between capacitors and resistors. They just want to learn how to operate a scanner. Also, I don't do this for immediate gratification. I do it because helping others is the right thing to do.

 

[trentbob]

I'm one of those guys that started as a kid and slowly developed along with the radio equipment I was buying, I'm retired now and I'm embarrassed to say how much equipment that is and we are basically talking shortwave and AM radio distance listening and public service monitoring, that hobby turned into a career as a newspaper reporter. A strong knowledge of scanners made all the difference for me. I always got the story.

When trying to help someone new to the Hobby I always try to keep things on a level that walks you through it rather than some people that just go into these long technical explanations with charts and ratios and abbreviations that I don't even know what they are. My eyes glass over and it doesn't help me. It's certainly not impressive because I just need a simple answer.

There are people here who will always help, not to impress but to get somebody pointed in the right direction so they can move on and learn something else. The people that will help you the most are out there.

 

[AK9R]

The RadioReference Wiki can be a useful resource. We have many articles that explain different aspects of radio. Most of these are in various "wiki categories". When you click on a category, you'll see a list of articles in that category. You can then click through to any of those articles to see what they have to say about that subject.

For example:

Category:Amateur Radio Glossary - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Category:Professional Radios Glossary - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Category:Scanners Glossary - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Remember, the RadioReference Wiki is a user-supported resource. Articles are written by RR users and can be edited by RR users.

 

[Phoenix805]

The one thing that really sticks out to me is the use of abbreviations that's 'suddenly' cropped up.

LOL Oops, I should say laughing. I can relate to this comment. I subscribe to 2 different groups that consist (to a large degree) of many of the same people. And they uses shortcuts and abbreviations like you wouldn't believe. I've been around radios for 50 years and I'd like to think I have a broad understanding of terms, but these guys drive me crazy. And much of it involves fire/LE (oops, Law Enforcement) traffic. And while there is a lot of uniformity, most communities have their own lingo. Ie: someone will say 'I just saw an LT go by. Lieutenant? Ladder Truck? Lunch Truck? Light Tower?