Ham Radio

Traced in the roots of 19th century, Ham Radio paved its way for the general masses by the interest and support of amateur experimenters and the hobbyists. Ham Radio, widely popular as ’Amateur Radio’ is developed along with radio communication and has hit off prevalently in the 20th Century. Ham radio is operated by a community of people who make use of radio transmitters and receivers for communicating with other Amateur radio operators. The participants of the radio are called ’hams.’ Ham Radio is developed with the intension of sharing similar interests, pastime activities, doing some social service as well as sharing thoughts, ideas, culture and wide array of information with the hams across the world.

This radio communication equipment has made it possible to even communicate with astronauts on the International Space Station, as even they have ham radio equipments and the licensed ham astronauts also make contacts with the amateurs on earth. It is a perfect medium that provides the platform to meet interesting people, which could even propel one into exciting careers. Ham Radio can be truly termed as a hobby that is even capable of making a difference, especially in emergency or disaster situations like floods or earthquakes - when other mode of communications goes out.

Approximately, six million people all over the world are engaged with the ham radio. It covers all the methods of Radio Communication from working through the satellites, television and other simple radio contacts. With the ham radio, you could also take part in various contests, orienteering or even contact isolated islands and countries across the world. However, ham radio communications are not allowed to be used for commercial or money-making purpose.

Other service accessible through radio communication is Citizens’ Band radio that is popularly known as CB radio. It is used in many countries for short distance communications for individuals, like personal radio services that operates on selection of 40 or more channels within the 27 MHz (11 meter) band. Whereas, Old-Time Radio (OTR) that was popular in the early 1920’s was used as a predominant home entertainment medium, before the invention of television.

However, today OTR is replaced with AM and FM Channels that are a perfect blend of commercial entertainment. With endless number of FM radio channels going up in the corner of every country, FM Radio Stations are only mounting to be one of the strongest modes of powerful communication. Though FM Channels and Satellite Radio is rapidly gaining superior prominence, Ham Radio’s popularity is equally spiralling. In UK, Radio Society of Great Britain is one of the growing networks of ham radio.

Most of the ham radio users can make their own transceiver equipment. As it is always easier to build and design a simple unit having functions of transmitting and receiving. But to be able to make or use ham radio, it is mandatory to get a ham radio license. This license usually works in three stages: Foundation, Intermediate and Full Licence. The former is designed to get people involved in ham/amateur radio at the earliest whereas the rest of the licenses can be obtained with the growing experience in ham radios. One may also try radio locator to find the various ham radio connections all over the world.