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What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur radio is a
community of people that use radio transmitters and receivers to communicate
with other Amateur radio operators. The things that amateur radio operators
do with their radios are
as
diverse as the people
themselves.
Amateur radio
operators are often called ham radio operators or simply "hams." (The origin
of this nickname is for all practical purposes lost. Although some people
still speculate about, few agree and even few care. Amateur radio operators
proudly call themselves hams and nobody knows why.) There are about 15000
thousand hams in India.
Amateur (HAM) Radio
is both a Hobby activity and Service. It is an activity of Self Learning,
Inter-Communication & Technical Investigation carried on the duly authorized
persons (i.e. Amateur Radio Operators) for a personal aim and without
pecuniary interest. There are over 30 lakh people all over the world who
pursue this activity in their free time, in India we have around 15000
amateur radio operators.
Amateur Radio
Operators have to qualify in an examination conducted by Ministry of
Communications, Government of India and obtain license for operating /
possessing a Radio Station.
Amateur Radio
operators in their free time use their radio stations and conduct two-way
communication and exchange cultural, personal, technical information with
other amateurs not only within India but all over the world. The two-way
communications using Radio Transmitters, receivers, antennae can be either
through Voice, Morse Code, Digital (Video & Data) or through Satellites.
Things you can to do
with amateur radio
•HF radios hams can talk to other hams in literally any part of the globe.
•VHF and UHF
transceivers hams enjoy extremely reliable communications within their local
community.
•QRP - Communicating
with "very low power" is a challenge that many hams enjoy. QRP is usually
practiced on the HF bands.
•There
are several Digital Amateur Radio communication techniques that allow Hams
to exchange text messages, send emails or even connect to Internet.
•Amateur television -
It's just like real television because it is real television.
•Slow Scan TV - Send
pictures around the world for little or no cost.
•Contests - You can
put your radio operating skills up against other hams and teams of hams.
•Emergency and other
volunteer services - Floods,
landslides,
earthquakes,
Cyclones,
Accidents (Rail / Road / Air).
when ever `normal' communications go out, hams are ready to use their radios
to provide emergency communication services to their communities.
•Satellite
communications - Hams
operate
using their own
satellites
for world
wide communication using Walkie-Talkies.... They
are easy to use too. |
