Glossary

This is a glossary of common amateur radio terms.

Band

A band is a contiguous segment of the radio frequency spectrum. For example, the 2 meter band, the most widely used VHF amateur radio band, extends from 144 to 148 MHz (megahertz). (Megahertz are a measurement of frequency.) Bands can overlap; for example, VHF itself is the band of frequencies from 30 to 300 MHz.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the width of the band occupied by a particular signal. It varies significantly with the mode in use; an FT8 signal has a bandwidth of about 50 Hz, while an SSB signal is typically about 3,000 Hz (3 kHz). All else being equal, a signal with a narrower bandwidth will be received more strongly than a wider signal, but will not convey as much information in a given period of time.

Packet Radio

Packet radio is a digital system that creates computer networks using radio links. APRS is a popular use of packet radio.

Sound Card

A sound card is a computer peripheral device that encodes and decodes audio signals. They can be built into the computer or connected externally by USB. The SignaLink is a special sound card designed to connect to ham radio transceivers for digital modes such as FT8 and the Fldigi modes.

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