A abridged tour through Ham Radio

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:49:44 -0600

So with Ham radio you get
Local and distant Communications via
VOICE (AM/FM/ SSB and more) and Data communications using everything from simple morse code to sophisticated frequency shift keying methods.

Television both fast scan and slow scan

remote control of drones (Airborne, land/ sea and even space)

APRS Get telemetry on where you are or where other items are in real time. “The original lojack”

Satellite communications around the globe, even talk to the astronauts themselves.

Experimental communications via as to now untried and undiscovered modulation techniques, “Go where no man has gone before”

Although ham radio is a hobby that has essentially existed since the first days of radio itself, hams continue to pursue new technical challenges. For example, ham radio operators were among the first to explore using microwave frequencies for communication, among the first to use meteor tails and the moon as a satellite (moon-bounce radio signals), and ham radio operators have been and continue to be pioneers in antenna design, signaling protocols, low-power/emergency radio station design (solar panels, backup equipment, etc.), radio propagation and many other topics.

The process of acquiring a ham radio license varies from country to country. In the United States, it's a matter of taking a written FCC exam in front of volunteer examiners. The FCC publishes the question pool and there are many study guides and courses to help your prepare for your ham radio exam.
Ham Radio and your interests....
Because ham radio has so many interesting facets, it attracts a broad range of people to the hobby itself. Perhaps ham radio offers something that interests you?

Quite often, someone will enter ham radio thinking that their interest is strictly one particular facet; for example, using FM repeaters to participate in storm spotting activities or to talk with buddies across town. Many of these hams are surprised to discover a new aspect of the hobby that originally had no interest to them. Local ham radio clubs, magazines or "elmers" (ham radio mentors) are usually a catalyst - opening a door to a part of the hobby for others to explore.
That is one of the things that makes ham radio great - if you ever get bored with one part of the hobby, there are plenty of other challenges around the corner; and a great collection of resources to help you get started.
Here is a list of activities within Ham Radio that may interest you. Maybe you weren't aware that ham radio operators were active in these things and you'll be encouraged to dig a little deeper into the hobby and even pursue obtaining a ham radio license. I hope you will.

1. Technical / Experimentation facets of ham radio
2 Antenna design
3 Propagation studies
4 Circuit design
5 Kit building
6 Social facets of ham radio
7 Local contacts with your buddies
8 Emergency preparedness Communications when other means fail
9 Operating Skills
10 Contesting
11 Global facets of ham radio, learn about different cultures by
DXing - “Making contact with far away places”. What better way to learn world geography?

LIKE AN ONION OR AN ICEBERG?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:54:17 -0600

YOU MIGHT HAVE THE PERCEPTION THAT AMATEUR RADIO “HAM RADIO” IS JUST TWO OR MORE LICENSED PEOPLE, TALKING ON THE RADIO TO EACH OTHER. THIS IS JUST THE VERY TOP OF THE ICEBERG AS FAR AS DESCRIBING THIS EXTRAORDINARY HOBBY. SOME HAMS DON’T EVEN HAVE A MICROPHONE. THEY USE THEIR RADIOS IN OTHER WAYS.

LIKE:
AMATEUR TV: YES JUST LIKE THE STANDARD DEFINITION TV SETS MOST OF YOU GREW UP WITH AMATEURS ARE ALOWED TO TRANSMIT TV SIGNALS.

REMOTE CONTROL CRAFT: FROM MODEL AIRPLANES AND VEHICLES TO WEATHER BALLOONS AND EVEN REAL LIFE ORBITAL SPACE CRAFT, LICENSED HAMS CONTROL AND OPERATE SUCH DEVICES WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR RADIO LICENSE.

Amateur Radio Works

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:16:10 -0600

So what exactly is amateur radio? Well it’s similar to the fable of the SIX blind men describing an elephant. Ham radio has something for everyone and amateur radio operators, “hams” come from all walks of life, EDUCATION levels, and professions.

Amateur radio means many things and has many definitions: But the best synonym for ham radio is “FUN”.

But you say wait, isn’t ham radio just CB Radio? No, that is like comparing a raggedy ann Doll to a daughter.

So what sets Amateur “Ham” Radio apart from CB RADIO, FAMILY RADIO SERVICE OR OTHERS?

FIRST OFF, YOU MUST OBTAIN A LICENSE FROM THE FCC TO BECOME A HAM. THE LICENSE IS YOUR KEY INTO A ECLECTIC FRATERNITY OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

Past pages

A abridged tour through Ham Radio

LIKE AN ONION OR AN ICEBERG?

Amateur Radio Works