Amateur Radio, commonly known as "HAM Radio", is another one of my hobbies. It is, for the most part, an obsolete way to communicate with others around the world.
It's "obsolete" until an emergency like during a natural disaster or when normal communication channels fail. That's when we come in and provide links between sites that cannot be serviced by other methods (ie: telephones/cellphones/landlines).
A recent example includes the tragic events of Sept 11/2001 where the cellphone and landline systems got overloaded. Ham radio provided emergency communications and helped coordinate rescue efforts.
It's "obsolete" until an emergency like during a natural disaster or when normal communication channels fail. That's when we come in and provide links between sites that cannot be serviced by other methods (ie: telephones/cellphones/landlines).
A recent example includes the tragic events of Sept 11/2001 where the cellphone and landline systems got overloaded. Ham radio provided emergency communications and helped coordinate rescue efforts.
Where's the fun you ask?
Well, between emergencies, we get to "talk" to each other about technical and personal matters. I enclose talk in quotes because voice is just one of the modes we use to communicate.
We use Morse code, teletype, many chat like modes with computers and terminals and even live video. We bounce our radio emissions on satellites, the ionosphere, meteors and even the Moon! That bounced radio signal comes back and reach many distant parts of the world. There are operators that run very low power output and still reach every corner of the world.
Oh, by the way, there's no charge to make these calls.
Well, between emergencies, we get to "talk" to each other about technical and personal matters. I enclose talk in quotes because voice is just one of the modes we use to communicate.
We use Morse code, teletype, many chat like modes with computers and terminals and even live video. We bounce our radio emissions on satellites, the ionosphere, meteors and even the Moon! That bounced radio signal comes back and reach many distant parts of the world. There are operators that run very low power output and still reach every corner of the world.
Oh, by the way, there's no charge to make these calls.
Interested? Here's how to get started in Amateur Radio:
1 - Get licensed. The entry level exam is just 35 questions about operating rules and general electronics. The questions and answers pool is readily available so you can practice before the test.From there, we have other levels that include an easy Morse code test where you need only to copy 5 words per minute. This comes out to one word every 12 seconds; try taking 12 seconds to say the word 'Paris'.... slow huh? My license is K4JRG. This type of license is called "vanity" because I chose the letters and had to pay a premium for it: $20 for 10 years :-). J.R.G. are my initials.
You can certainly find all the information you need on the Net, for free. But if you need to be guided and have practice exams, etc., I highly recommend the NuTest and NuMorse programs.
1 - Get licensed. The entry level exam is just 35 questions about operating rules and general electronics. The questions and answers pool is readily available so you can practice before the test.
You can certainly find all the information you need on the Net, for free. But if you need to be guided and have practice exams, etc., I highly recommend the NuTest and NuMorse programs.
News flash! For better or worse, since early 2007, a Morse code exam is no longer required for an amateur radio license with HF privileges
2 - Get a radio. You can find used, very inexpensive radios that will let you gain experience with the technologies and help in emergencies (if you wish). These radios can go for as low as $50. A brand new walkie-talkie type radio can be had for $100 and you can take it with you all over town.
Amateur Radio!
Questions? You can search the Net or send me an email and I'll be happy to try and answer them. Here's my email address, disguised so spammers don't send me unsolicited emails: spam.me.not-k4jrg@k4jrg.org-spam.me.not. Get it? Remove the "spam.me.not-" part and send the email to k4jrg.