Contents
Amateur Radio Fundamentals
How Amateur Radio Works
Types of Amateur Radio
How to Get an Amateur Radio License
Amateur Radio Equipment
How to Set Up a Radio Shack
How to Get on the Air
Amateur Radio Clubs and Activities
Amateur Radio Codes, Abbreviations, and Lingo
FCC Rules and Regulations
Morse Code
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
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- Understand radio waves, the RF spectrum, and the types of amateur radio
- Get licensed to operate your own amateur radio shack
- Choose, set up, and troubleshoot the equipment you need to get on the air
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Amateur Radio Fundamentals
Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby in which radio operators—called hams—communicate with one another using specialized radio equipment. All hams must pass a test to obtain an amateur radio license before they can begin to use amateur radio technology legally. Though these days most enthusiasts pursue the hobby just for fun, amateur radio can also be used for a variety of practical (though not commercial) purposes.
Origins of Amateur Radio
Amateur radio began soon after the discovery of radio waves in the late nineteenth century. In 1901, the inventor Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first transatlantic wireless radio signal. The popularity of amateur radio grew in response to Marconi’s discoveries, and in 1914 Hiram Percy Maxim founded the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to foster a nationwide alliance of amateur radio enthusiasts. Today the ARRL website is the leading source for up-to-date information on all aspects of amateur radio (www.arrl.org).
Past and Present Uses of Amateur Radio
The earliest amateur radio operators got involved for the same reason many hams do today—the simple joy of communicating one-on-one with another person over the radio. While personal conversations on the air, known as rag chewing, remain the most popular form of amateur radio, a variety of other uses have become important as well.
- Emergency communications: During natural disasters and other emergencies, hams facilitate communication among rescue workers to coordinate relief efforts.
- Public service communications: During popular public events such as sporting competitions and parades, hams share event information over the air.
- Long-distance communications (or DXing): Hams use digital and satellite technologies to facilitate radio communication around the world, especially to locations where phones and the internet don’t work.
- Image and data transmission: Hams use slow-scan television technology to transmit and receive data and images over the radio. In the 1960s, astronauts used this method to transmit images from space.
- Radio competitions: Hams hold a number of competitions that focus on contacting as many other ham operators as possible in a limited amount of time.
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