ISED RBR-4 Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Study Lab

Pass: 70% (VHF/UHF) | Honours: 80%+ (All HF Privileges)

ISED Regulations & Qualification Tiers (RBR-4)

  • Regulatory Authority: Managed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) under the Radiocommunication Act and RBR-4.
  • Basic Qualification (70% – 79%): Grants access to all amateur bands above 30 MHz (6m, 2m, 70cm, etc.).
  • Basic with Honours (80%+): Grants operating privileges on all amateur bands, including below 30 MHz (HF).
  • Basic Power Limits: Max 250 W DC input power to the anode/collector circuit of the final RF stage, OR 560 W PEP output for SSB (~190 W carrier for AM/CW/FM).
  • Advanced Power Limits: Max 1,000 W DC input power (~2,250 W PEP output on SSB) and privileges to build transmitters and install club repeaters.
  • Station Identification: Must transmit call sign in English or French at the beginning, at the end, and at least every 30 minutes during communication (max 15 seconds for unmodulated test carriers).

Canadian Call Sign Prefixes

Prefix Province / Territory
VE1, VA1Nova Scotia
VE2, VA2Quebec
VE3, VA3Ontario
VE4, VA4Manitoba
VE5, VA5Saskatchewan
VE6, VA6Alberta
VE7, VA7British Columbia
VE8Northwest Territories
VE9New Brunswick
VO1 / VO2Newfoundland / Labrador
VY0 / VY1 / VY2Nunavut / Yukon / P.E.I.

Essential Mathematical Principles & Safety Rules

1. Ohm's Law & Power:
Voltage E = I × R and Power P = E × I = I2R = E2R
2. Wavelength & Resonant Antennas:
Free space: λ = 300f (MHz)
Half-wave dipole (with ~5% end-effect): L (m) = 142.5f (MHz)
Quarter-wave vertical: L (m) = 71.25f (MHz)

3. Decibels (dB) Power Ratios:
+3 dB = 2× power +6 dB = 4× power +10 dB = 10× power −3 dB = ½ power
4. RMS vs. Peak Sine Wave Voltage:
VRMS = 0.707 × Vpeak and Vpeak = 1.414 × VRMS
5. Safety Code 6 & Bandwidth Rule:
Health Canada Safety Code 6 sets human RF exposure limits. Under RBR-4, bandwidth is measured at −26 dB (6 kHz max on most HF bands; 30 kHz on 6m/2m).

Interactive Circuit Flow Animation

Watch the animated charge carriers accelerate as current (I) increases, while the load resistor glows hotter as dissipated power (P) rises.

Live Ohm's Law & Wattage Sliders

Voltage (E) 13.80 V
Current (I = E / R) 0.28 A
Resistance (R) 50 Ω
Power (P = E × I) 3.81 W

Solve Any 2 Known Values

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation & Physical Antenna Scale

Full Wavelength (λ) 21.13 m
½λ Dipole (142.5 / f) 10.04 m
¼λ Vertical (71.25 / f) 5.02 m

Interactive Emission Modes: CW, AM, FM & SSB

Randomized Canadian Basic Qualification Test

Score: 0 / 0 (0%)

Interactive RF Schematic Transceiver Circuit & Component Simulator

Adjust Voltage, Bias & Bleeder Resistors, LC Tank Tuners & Antenna Impedance
Adjusts supply voltage feeding the final RF power transistor collector.
Lower resistance increases base bias current (IB = V / Rbias), driving higher RF output power.
Harmonic Low-Pass Pi-Network. Keep near 50% for maximum fundamental transfer and harmonic suppression.
Match to 50 Ω coax for 1.0:1 SWR. Mismatches reflect power back into the final amplifier stage!
DC Input Power (PDC) 110.4 W
Forward RF Out (PFWD) 66.2 W
Reflected Power (PREF) 0.0 W
Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) 1.00 : 1
PA Heat Dissipation 44.2 W