Exam and Element 1
Not publishedof exam
Element 3 Foundations
Not publishedof exam
Element 3 Radio Systems
Not publishedof exam
Element 3 Applications
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- License
- GROL code PG
- Required
- Written Elements 1 + 3
- Element 1
- 24 multiple-choice questions
- Element 1 pass
- 18 correct
- Element 3
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- Element 3 pass
- 75 correct
- Pool date
- June 25, 2009
- Session timing
- COLEM determines
- License term
- Lifetime
- Technical scope
- Adjust, maintain, internally repair
- Eligibility
- Eligible for U.S. employment
- Language
- Send and receive spoken English
- Application
- FCC Form 605
- PPC window
- 365 days
- Included authority
- MP + RR
- Ship radar
- Element 8 separate
Traffic Priority
Distress, urgency, safety, routine
MAYDAYPAN-PANSECURITERoutine
Element 1 vs Element 3
Element 1
- Radio law and practice
- 24 questions
- 18 correct passes
Element 3
- Technical radio knowledge
- 100 questions
- 75 correct passes
Pass both for GROL
License Path Picker
- Want base GROL→Pass Elements 1 + 3(Written elements)
- Already hold valid MROP→Claim Element 1 credit(Verify license credit)
- Need MROP only→Pass Element 1(Marine operator permit)
- Need ship radar work→Add Element 8(Separate endorsement)
- Need GMDSS operation→Pass Elements 1 + 7(Different license)
- Need GMDSS maintenance→Pass Elements 1 + 3 + 9(Different license)
- Elements are passed→Obtain COLEM PPC(Proof of passing)
- Ready to apply→File FCC Form 605(Within 365 days)
GROL vs Radar Endorsement
Base GROL
- Elements 1 + 3
- Radiotelephone scope
- Code PG
Ship radar endorsement
- Element 8
- Ship radar service
- Added endorsement
Element 3 radar is not endorsement
License Path
- GROL
- Elements 1 + 3PG
- MROP
- Element 1 onlyMP
- Ship radar
- Add Element 8
- GMDSS operator
- Elements 1 + 7
- GMDSS maintainer
- Elements 1 + 3 + 9
- Exam manager
- FCC-authorized COLEM
- PPC
- Proof of passing
- License term
- Holder's lifetime
Element 1 Map
- 1-A Rules
- 6 exam questions
- 1-B Procedures
- 6 exam questions
- 1-C Equipment
- 6 exam questions
- 1-D Other gear
- 6 exam questions
- Element 1 pool
- 144 published questions
- Element 1 exam
- 24 selected questions
- Passing mark
- 18 of 24
- Subject
- Maritime law and practice
Distress Priority
- MAYDAY
- Distress traffic
- PAN-PAN
- Urgency traffic
- SECURITE
- Safety traffic
- VHF Channel 16
- 156.8 MHz voice
- VHF Channel 70
- DSC only
- MMSI
- Nine-digit DSC identity
- False distress
- Cancel; broadcast correction
- Minimum power
- Effective communications only
VIRP Core
V equals IR; P equals VI
V: voltsI: amperesR: ohmsP: watts
Voltage vs Current
Voltage
- Electrical potential
- Measure in parallel
- Unit volts
Current
- Charge flow
- Measure in series
- Unit amperes
Potential across; flow through
Element 3 Map
- 3-A Principles
- 8 exam questions
- 3-B Electrical Math
- 10 exam questions
- 3-C Components
- 10 exam questions
- 3-D Circuits
- 4 exam questions
- 3-E Digital Logic
- 8 exam questions
- 3-F Receivers
- 10 exam questions
- 3-G Transmitters
- 6 exam questions
- 3-H Modulation
- 3 exam questions
- 3-I Power Sources
- 3 exam questions
- 3-J Antennas
- 5 exam questions
- 3-K Aircraft
- 6 exam questions
- 3-L Installation
- 8 exam questions
- 3-M Communications
- 3 exam questions
- 3-N Marine
- 5 exam questions
- 3-O RADAR
- 5 exam questions
- 3-P Satellite
- 4 exam questions
- 3-Q Safety
- 2 exam questions
ELI the ICE Man
E leads I inductive; I leads E capacitive
ELI: inductorICE: capacitorE: voltageI: current
Inductor vs Capacitor
Inductor
- Magnetic field
- XL rises with frequency
- Current lags voltage
Capacitor
- Electric field
- XC falls with frequency
- Current leads voltage
ELI the ICE man
Formula Deck
- Ohm's law
- V = IR
- DC power
- P = VI
- Inductive reactance
- XL = 2pi fL
- Capacitive reactance
- XC = 1/(2pi fC)
- Resonance
- XL equals XC
- Wavelength meters
- 300 divided by MHz
- Power dB
- 10 log power ratio
- Equal-Z voltage dB
- 20 log voltage ratio
- RMS sine
- 0.707 times peak
- Transformer voltage
- Follows turns ratio
Components and Logic
- Capacitor
- Stores electric-field energy
- Inductor
- Stores magnetic-field energy
- Diode
- One-way conduction
- Zener diode
- Voltage regulation
- BJT
- Base current controls collector
- FET
- Gate voltage controls channel
- Transformer
- Changes impedance and voltage
- Oscillator
- Generates periodic signal
- Flip-flop
- Stores one binary bit
- XOR
- High when inputs differ
Superhet Order
RF, mixer, IF, detector, audio
RF: selectMixer: convertIF: amplifyDetector: recover
Mixer vs Detector
Mixer
- Changes frequency
- Uses local oscillator
- Creates sum and difference
Detector
- Demodulates received signal
- Recovers intelligence
- Feeds audio stages
Convert first; recover later
Receiver Chain
- RF amplifier
- Raises incoming signal
- Local oscillator
- Supplies mixer frequency
- Mixer
- Creates sum and difference
- IF amplifier
- Provides fixed-frequency gain
- Detector
- Recovers intelligence
- AGC
- Stabilizes receiver output
- Squelch
- Mutes weak-signal noise
- Image frequency
- Unwanted mixer response
AM vs FM
AM
- Carrier amplitude varies
- Amplitude noise matters
- Sidebands carry intelligence
FM
- Carrier frequency varies
- Limiter removes amplitude noise
- Capture effect applies
Amplitude changes vs frequency changes
Transmitter Chain
- Carrier oscillator
- Creates stable carrier
- Buffer
- Prevents oscillator loading
- Frequency multiplier
- Raises carrier frequency
- Modulator
- Adds intelligence
- Driver
- Feeds final amplifier
- Power amplifier
- Supplies RF output
- Low-pass filter
- Suppresses harmonics
- ALC
- Limits transmitter drive
Signals and Modulation
- A3E
- AM voice; full carrier
- J3E
- SSB voice; suppressed carrier
- F3E
- FM voice
- F1B
- Frequency-shift telegraphy
- Deviation
- FM carrier shift
- PEP
- Modulation-envelope peak power
- FM limiter
- Rejects amplitude noise
- Capture effect
- Stronger FM signal wins
Antennas and Feed Lines
- Half-wave dipole
- Balanced resonant antenna
- Quarter-wave monopole
- Needs ground plane
- Yagi
- Directional parasitic array
- Isotropic
- Zero-dBi reference
- Characteristic impedance
- Feed-line voltage-current ratio
- Velocity factor
- Wave speed ratio
- SWR 1:1
- Ideal impedance match
- Dummy load
- Nonradiating RF termination
ILS Axes
Localizer left-right; glideslope up-down
Localizer: lateralGlideslope: verticalDME: distance
Channel 70 vs Channel 16
Channel 70
- Digital DSC
- No voice traffic
- Calls and alerts
Channel 16
- Radiotelephone voice
- Distress and calling
- 156.8 MHz
Digital alert then voice
Measurement Picker
- Need voltage→Voltmeter(Connect parallel)
- Need current→Ammeter(Connect series)
- Need resistance→Ohmmeter(Power removed)
- Need waveform→Oscilloscope(Amplitude versus time)
- Need exact frequency→Frequency counter(Stable input required)
- Need RF output→Wattmeter + dummy load(Avoid radiation)
- Need antenna match→SWR meter(Forward versus reflected)
- Need failed stage→Signal tracing(Follow signal path)
Aircraft and Marine
- VOR
- Magnetic bearing guidance
- DME
- Slant-range distance
- ILS localizer
- Lateral runway guidance
- ILS glideslope
- Vertical approach guidance
- Transponder
- Replies to interrogation
- ELT
- Aircraft distress beacon
- EPIRB
- 406-MHz maritime alert
- SART
- Radar search response
- NAVTEX
- Maritime safety broadcasts
- DSC
- Digital selective calling
Test and Repair
- Voltmeter
- Connect in parallel
- Ammeter
- Connect in series
- Ohmmeter
- Deenergized circuit only
- Oscilloscope
- Displays waveform
- Frequency counter
- Measures signal frequency
- Wattmeter
- Measures RF power
- SWR meter
- Reveals mismatch
- Signal tracing
- Locates failed stage
Radar Satellite Safety
- Radar range
- Pulse round-trip time
- Radar bearing
- Antenna direction
- Shorter pulse
- Improves range resolution
- Magnetron
- Microwave oscillator
- GEO satellite
- Fixed equatorial sky position
- Transponder
- Receives then retransmits
- Footprint
- Satellite coverage area
- Stored charge
- Discharge before servicing
- RF exposure
- Observe applicable MPE limits
- Protective ground
- Fault-current path
Common Traps
GROL versus radar
Base uses Elements 1 + 3 ≠ Radar endorsement needs Element 8
Commercial versus amateur
GROL is commercial Part 13 ≠ Ham licensing is Part 97
Timing versus thresholds
COLEM chooses session timing ≠ FCC publishes passing counts
Channel 70 versus voice
Channel 70 carries DSC ≠ Channel 16 carries voice
Meter connection
Voltmeter goes parallel ≠ Ammeter goes series
Ohmmeter safety
Remove circuit power ≠ Never measure energized resistance
SWR versus impedance
SWR reveals mismatch ≠ Impedance causes mismatch
Lifetime versus static rules
License normally lasts lifetime ≠ Operating rules still change
Last Minute
- 1.Base GROL = Elements 1 + 3
- 2.Element 1: 18 of 24
- 3.Element 3: 75 of 100
- 4.Element 8 = separate radar endorsement
- 5.COLEM determines session timing
- 6.File PPC within 365 days
- 7.Use FCC Form 605
- 8.GROL includes MP and RR authority
- 9.V = IR; P = VI
- 10.XL rises; XC falls
- 11.Mixer converts; detector recovers
- 12.Channel 70 DSC; 16 voice
- 13.Voltmeter parallel; ammeter series
- 14.Ohmmeter requires power removed
- 15.SWR 1:1 means ideal match
- 16.Element 3 exam has 100 questions
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