When most people think of ham radio, they think of big antennas and Morse code. While those are certainly aspects of the hobby, there’s so much more to it than that.
Amateur radio is a great way to stay connected with friends and family around the world, participate in emergency communications, and explore new technologies. Ham radio, as it is also known, is a form of communication using voice, text, digital modes, and even TV. It’s a great way to stay connected and can be a fun hobby too.
Amateur radio is a great hobby because it teaches you about electronics, antennas, and communication theory. You can also become involved with supporting public service efforts or emergency communications.
We’ve all heard the horror stories where people’s phone lines are down for days following a natural disaster like an earthquake or tornado.
During these times, amateur radio operators will set up shop in their local community to provide communication services for first responders and other affected citizens.
Many have even helped rebuild communication infrastructures after being devastated by disasters.
It’s a truly global activity with radio amateurs across the globe in most continents and countries.
Is amateur radio legal?
There are many myths surrounding the legality of ham radio, but it is indeed legal .
The frequencies used to communicate via radio are regulated locally by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in the USA or OFCOM in the UK.
International agreements are in place to ensure that radio amateurs have access to certain areas of the radio spectrum either on a solo basis or alongside other radio users.
You do need a license to operate on these frequencies and, depending on your country of residence, you may need to renew your licence after a defined period.
To qualify as a radio ham you’ll normally need to pass an exam which will allow you to transmit ( often with some restrictions ).
As you gain more experience and knowledge you can take further examinations which will afford you more scope as an operator.
What do radio amateurs do?
Amateur radio operators communicate with one another over the airwaves and many design and build their own equipment, as well as using commercially available radios.
Most amateur radio operators will try to contact other operators in other countries ( and even continents) and will exchange signal reports and other information during their contacts.
The challenge of reaching out to far flung operators allows radio amateurs the scope to experiment with equipment, antennas and other techniques to see how far they can broadcast.
Many ham operators use voice for their primary communications mode, however technologies such as Morse code, data and even slow scan television are available for amateurs to use.
The breadth of activity can be quite varied, from mobile operations, setting up radio stations when camping, using hand held devices from mountain tops, running a station from home, running events and radio competitions, and even assisting the emergency services during times of disaster.
What do you need for amateur radio?
At the most basic level you’ll need:
A transceiver for the radio bands that you wish to transmit and receive on
A suitable antenna that will work on those bands
A source of power for your radio
The relevant licence – the requirements of which will depend on where you live
Most radio amateurs build their own equipment. This is a fantastic learning curve and the ultimate satisfaction is to receive a signal or contact from another country using your own station.
For a newcomer to amateur radio, building kit might be beyond the knowledge and skills and, in some countries ( such as the UK ) beginners are subject to restrictions when using home made devices.
Many beginners to amateur radio often start their journey with a hand held radio.
These are a great way to get an understanding and experience of being a radio operator and, one of the main advantages is the cost.
Good quality, reliable, hand held radios can be purchased for less than $50 in most countries and you can find some of these online at places such as Amazon and similar.
Can you listen to ham radio without a licence?
Yes you can. As an unlicensed listener ( or known as a “wannabe” on the airwaves ) you can tune in and listen to amateur radio operators broadcasting on HF, VHF and UHF frequencies.
Many amateur radio enthusiasts began their radio journey as listeners before taking the plunge and obtaining a licence to transmit.
You don’t need any expensive equipment either as their are now some great online services known as Web Based Software Defined Radios, that you can access, free of charge, to tune in and listen.
One of my top choices for this is a service based in the Netherlands at the University of Twente – you can tune in online and listen to operators on different bands from all over the world.
Where can I get a radio amateur licence from?
Most countries around the world will have an organisation that issues licences to those wishing to become a ham.
Most countries require new hams to pass a multiple choice exam covering technical and operating questions on topics such as antenna theory, power lines and other electrical principles.
They’ll normally ask you about what you need to know before you sit the exam including how to use your equipment safely and some basic operating procedures.
You may be asked about propagation conditions , what frequencies used for different purposes and even why some frequencies are better as a source of communication than others as well as some basic electrical theory.
What are the different amateur radio licence classes?
As with most countries there is a one or two tier licensing system. There’s normally a Foundation Class that will grant you some basic privileges and an Advanced Class, known as “Class 2” ( in some cases ) for those wanting to use more frequencies , carry out minor repairs to their equipment and run higher power levels.
There are also licences designed for particular purposes such as FM voice modes, data modes , CW ( Morse Code ) and even Technical class licences that allow hams to conduct modifications on their transceivers which can affect the emission levels etc.
In short – if you’re thinking of getting into amateur radio then seek out your country’s licence structure first to see what’s involved.
Final Words
Amateur radio is a hobby that has been around for over 100 years and is enjoyed by people across the world of all ages and walks of life.
Whether you would like to chat with friends in your town or make new connections halfway across the globe, amateur radio could be right up your alley.
If you’re interested in getting involved yourself, there are plenty of resources online on how you can start your own station or learn more about what it means to be an amateur radio operator.
Read Next
- What is amateur radio?
- Can a TV antenna be used for ham radio?
- How far can you talk on ham radio?
- What does VFO mean on a ham radio?
- Can I listen to ham radio online?
- Can ham radio interfere with tv reception?
