RADIO MERIT BADGE

Radio Merit Badge Checklist for the Scout

1. Understanding Radio Basics
☐ Explain what radio is.
☐ Discuss differences between broadcast radio and hobby radio.
☐ Explain differences between broadcasting and two-way communications.
☐ Describe radio station call signs and their use in broadcast and amateur radio.
☐ Learn and explain the phonetic alphabet and how it is used for clear communication.

2. Radio Waves and Station Identification
☐ Sketch a diagram showing how radio waves travel locally and globally.
☐ Explain how WWV and WWVH help determine what you can hear on shortwave radio.
☐ Differentiate between a distant (DX) station and a local station.
☐ Discuss the role of the FCC and how it differs from the International Telecommunication Union.

3. Electromagnetic Spectrum
☐ Draw a chart of the electromagnetic spectrum from 300 kHz to 3,000 MHz.
☐ Label the MF, HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave sections on your spectrum chart.
☐ Locate at least eight radio services on your chart (e.g., AM, FM, CB, TV, amateur radio bands, police/fire).

4. How Radio Waves Carry Information
☐ Explain how radio waves transmit information.
☐ Know the functions of transceiver, transmitter, receiver, amplifier, and antenna.

5. Radio Equipment and Transmission Modes
☐ Explain the difference between block diagrams and schematic diagrams.
☐ Draw a block diagram of a radio station with a transceiver, amplifier, microphone, antenna, and feed line.
☐ Describe how information is transmitted using:
• AM
• FM
• CW (Morse Code)
• SSB
• Digital transmission
☐ Explain how NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) can alert you to danger.
☐ Describe how cellular telephones work, including benefits and limitations during emergencies.

6. Radio Safety
☐ Understand safety precautions when working with radio gear.
☐ Learn about grounding for DC circuits, power outlets, and antenna systems.

7. Radio Station Visit
☐ Visit an approved radio station (amateur, broadcast, or public service).
☐ Discuss the equipment used, its purpose, licensing requirements, and station purpose.

8. Radio Careers
☐ Research three careers in radio.
☐ Choose one career, learn about its education, training, and experience requirements.
☐ Discuss this career with your counselor and explain why it interests you.

9. Special Option: Choose ONE
Option A: Amateur Radio
☐ Explain why the FCC has an amateur radio service.
☐ Describe activities possible with an amateur radio license.
☐ Differentiate between Technician, General, and Extra Class licenses.
☐ Learn and explain five Q signals or amateur radio terms.
☐ Describe how to make emergency calls via voice or Morse code.
☐ Explain handheld, mobile, and base station transceivers and repeaters.
☐ Conduct a 10-minute amateur radio contact (voice, Morse, or digital) or log five contacts with QSL cards.

Option B: Radio Broadcasting
☐ Discuss FCC broadcast regulations (power, frequency, low-power rules).
☐ Prepare a 30-minute program schedule for "KBSA" including music, news, commercials, and IDs.
☐ Listen to and log 15 broadcast stations; identify formats and target audiences for five.
☐ Learn eight broadcasting terms (e.g., segue, fade, PSA, etc.).
☐ Discuss alternative platforms: internet streaming, satellite radio, podcasts.

Option C: Shortwave and Medium-Wave Listening
☐ Listen during four one-hour periods on shortwave; log stations and locate on a map.
☐ Listen during two one-hour periods on medium wave; log stations and locate.
☐ Compare daytime and nighttime logs; note differences in signal strength.
☐ Explain why distant stations are heard only at night.
☐ Demonstrate listening to a broadcast on a smartphone, including international broadcasts.

Option D: Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF)
☐ Describe ARDF and its importance in activity and competition.
☐ Explain frequencies and equipment used in ARDF/fox hunting.
☐ Build a simple directional antenna for ARDF.
☐ Participate in a fox hunt with your antenna and receiver.
☐ Show on a map how you located the "fox" using your receiver.

Radio Merit Badge Requirements

The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook

1. Explain what radio is. Then discuss the following:

(a) The differences between broadcast radio and hobby radio
(b) The differences between broadcasting and two-way communications
(c) Radio station call signs and how they are used in broadcast radio and amateur radio
(d) The phonetic alphabet and how it is used to communicate clearly.

2. Do the following:

(a) Sketch a diagram showing how radio waves travel locally and around the world.
(b) Explain how the radio stations WWV and WWVH can be used to help determine what you can expect to hear when you listen to a shortwave radio.
(c) Explain the difference between a distant (DX) and a local station.
(d) Discuss what the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does and how it is different from the International Telecommunication Union.

3. Do the following:

(a) Draw a chart of the electromagnetic spectrum covering 300 kilohertz (kHz) to 3,000 Megahertz (MHz).
(b) Label the MF, HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave portions of the spectrum on your diagram.
(c) Locate on your chart at least eight radio services, such as AM and FM commercial broadcast, citizens band (CB), television, amateur radio (at least four amateur radio bands), and public service (police and fire).

4. Explain how radio waves carry information. Include in your explanation: transceiver, transmitter, receiver, amplifier, and antenna.

5. Do the following:

(a) Explain the differences between a block diagram and a schematic diagram.
(b) Draw a block diagram for a radio station that includes a transceiver, amplifier, microphone, antenna, and feed line.
(c) Discuss how information is sent when using amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), continuous wave (CW) Morse Code transmission, single sideband (SSB) transmission, and digital transmission.
(d) Explain how NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) can alert you to danger.
(e) Explain how cellular telephones work. Identify their benefits and limitations in an emergency.

6. Explain the safety precautions for working with radio gear, including the concept of grounding for direct current circuits, power outlets, and antenna systems.

7. Visit a radio installation (an amateur radio station, broadcast station, or public service communications center, for example) approved in advance by your counselor. Discuss what types of equipment you saw in use, how it was used, what types of licenses are required to operate and maintain the equipment, and the purpose of the station.

8. Find out about three career opportunities in radio. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

9. Do ONE of the following options:

(a) Option A: Amateur Radio
(1) Tell why the FCC has an amateur radio service. Describe activities that amateur radio operators can do on the air, once they have earned an amateur radio license.
(2) Explain differences between the Technician, General, and Extra Class license requirements and privileges. Explain who administers amateur radio exams.
(3) Explain at least five Q signals or amateur radio terms.
(4) Explain how you would make an emergency call on voice or Morse code.
(5) Explain the differences between handheld, mobile, and base station transceivers and their uses. Explain the use of amateur radio repeaters.
(6) Using proper call signs, Q signals, and abbreviations, carry on a 10-minute real or simulated amateur radio contact using voice, Morse code, or digital mode. (Licensed amateur radio operators may substitute five QSL cards as evidence of contacts with five amateur radio operators. Properly log the real or simulated ham radio contact, and record the signal report.)
(b) Option B: Radio Broadcasting
(1) Discuss with your counselor FCC broadcast regulations. Include power levels, frequencies, and the regulations for low-power stations.
(2) Prepare a program schedule for radio station "KBSA" of exactly one-half hour, including music, news, commercials, and proper station identification. Record your program on audiotape or in a digital audio format, using proper techniques.
(3) Listen to and properly log 15 broadcast stations. Determine the program format and target audience for five of these stations.
(4) Explain to your counselor at least eight terms used in commercial broadcasting, such as segue, cut, fade, continuity, remote, Emergency Alert System, network, cue, dead air, PSA, and play list.
(5) Discuss with your counselor alternative radio platforms such as internet streaming, satellite radio, and podcasts.
(c) Option C: Shortwave and Medium-Wave Listening
(1) Listen across several shortwave bands for four one-hour periods-at least one period during daylight hours and at least one period at night. Log the stations properly and locate them geographically on a map, globe, or web-based mapping service.
(2) Listen to several medium-wave stations for two one-hour periods, one period during daylight hours and one period at night. Log the stations properly and locate them on a map, globe, or web-based mapping service.
(3) Compare your daytime and nighttime logs; note the frequencies on which your selected stations were loudest during each session. Explain differences in the signal strength from one period to the next.
(4) Compare your medium-wave broadcast station logs and explain why some distant stations are heard at your location only during the night.
(5) Demonstrate listening to a radio broadcast using a smartphone/cell phone. Include international broadcasts in your demonstration.
(d) Option D: Amateur Radio Direction Finding
(1) Describe amateur radio direction finding and explain why direction finding is important as both an activity and in competition.
(2) Describe what frequencies and equipment are used for ARDF or fox hunting.
(3) Build a simple directional antenna for either of the two frequencies used in ARDF.
(4) Participate in a simple fox hunt using your antenna along with a provided receiver.
(5) Show, on a map, how you located the "fox" using your receiver.

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