Friday, September 23, 2011

HAM RADIO

HAM RADIO

An example of an amateur radio station with four transceivers, amplifiers, and a computer for logging and for digital modes. On the wall are examples of various awards, certificates, and a reception report card (QSL card) from a foreign amateur station.

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams", use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public services, recreation and self-training.[1] Amateur radio operation is licensed by an appropriate government entity (for example, by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States[2]) as coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union.[3]

An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[4]

The term "amateur" does not imply a lack of skill or quality, but rather that the amateur radio operator is not paid for his or her efforts.

Main articles: History of amateur radio and Etymology of ham radio

Although its origins can be traced to the late 19th century, amateur radio, as practiced today, did not begin until the early 20th century. The first listing of amateur radio stations is contained in the First Annual Official Wireless Blue Book of the Wireless Association of America in 1909.[5] This first radio callbook lists wireless telegraph stations in Canada and the United States, including eighty-nine amateur radio stations. As with radio in general, the birth of amateur radio was strongly associated with various amateur experimenters and hobbyists. Throughout its history, amateur radio enthusiasts have made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, and social services. Research by amateur radio operators has founded new industries,[6] built economies,[7] empowered nations,[8] and saved lives in times of emergency.[9]

[edit] Activities and practices

Specialized Interests and modes

While many hams simply enjoy talking to friends, others pursue a wide variety of specialized interests.

Amateur Radio Direction Finding, also known as "Fox hunting"

Amateur radio emergency communications

Amateur television

Communicating via amateur satellites

Contesting, earning awards, and collecting QSL cards

Designing new antennas

DX communication to far away countries

DX-peditions

Hamfests, club meetings and swap meets

Hand building homebrew amateur radio gear

High speed multimedia and TCP/IP

High Speed Telegraphy

Packet radio

Portable, fixed, mobile and handheld operation

Low-power operation (QRP).

Severe weather spotting

Tracking tactical information using the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), which may integrate with the GPS

Using the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) to connect radio repeaters via the Internet

VHF, UHF and microwave operation on amateur radio high bands

Vintage amateur radios, such as those using vacuum tube technology

Wireless MAN construction

Amateur radio operators use various modes of transmission to communicate. Voice transmissions are most common, with some, such as frequency modulation (FM) offering high quality audio, and others, such as single sideband (SSB) offering more reliable communications, often over long distance, when signals are marginal and bandwidth is restricted, at the sacrifice of audio quality.

Radiotelegraphy using Morse code (also known as "CW" from "continuous wave") is an activity dating to the earliest days of radio. It is the wireless extension of land line (wire based) telegraphy developed by Samuel Morse and was the predominant real time long-distance communication method of the 19th century. Though computer-based (digital) modes and methods have largely replaced CW for commercial and military applications, many amateur radio operators still enjoy using the CW mode, particularly on theHAM RADIO

An example of an amateur radio station with four transceivers, amplifiers, and a computer for logging and for digital modes. On the wall are examples of various awards, certificates, and a reception report card (QSL card) from a foreign amateur station.

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams", use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public services, recreation and self-training.[1] Amateur radio operation is licensed by an appropriate government entity (for example, by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States[2]) as coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union.[3]

An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[4]

The term "amateur" does not imply a lack of skill or quality, but rather that the amateur radio operator is not paid for his or her efforts.

Main articles: History of amateur radio and Etymology of ham radio

Although its origins can be traced to the late 19th century, amateur radio, as practiced today, did not begin until the early 20th century. The first listing of amateur radio stations is contained in the First Annual Official Wireless Blue Book of the Wireless Association of America in 1909.[5] This first radio callbook lists wireless telegraph stations in Canada and the United States, including eighty-nine amateur radio stations. As with radio in general, the birth of amateur radio was strongly associated with various amateur experimenters and hobbyists. Throughout its history, amateur radio enthusiasts have made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, and social services. Research by amateur radio operators has founded new industries,[6] built economies,[7] empowered nations,[8] and saved lives in times of emergency.[9]

[edit] Activities and practices

Specialized Interests and modes

While many hams simply enjoy talking to friends, others pursue a wide variety of specialized interests.

Amateur Radio Direction Finding, also known as "Fox hunting"

Amateur radio emergency communications

Amateur television

Communicating via amateur satellites

Contesting, earning awards, and collecting QSL cards

Designing new antennas

DX communication to far away countries

DX-peditions

Hamfests, club meetings and swap meets

Hand building homebrew amateur radio gear

High speed multimedia and TCP/IP

High Speed Telegraphy

Packet radio

Portable, fixed, mobile and handheld operation

Low-power operation (QRP).

Severe weather spotting

Tracking tactical information using the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), which may integrate with the GPS

Using the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) to connect radio repeaters via the Internet

VHF, UHF and microwave operation on amateur radio high bands

Vintage amateur radios, such as those using vacuum tube technology

Wireless MAN construction

Amateur radio operators use various modes of transmission to communicate. Voice transmissions are most common, with some, such as frequency modulation (FM) offering high quality audio, and others, such as single sideband (SSB) offering more reliable communications, often over long distance, when signals are marginal and bandwidth is restricted, at the sacrifice of audio quality.

Radiotelegraphy using Morse code (also known as "CW" from "continuous wave") is an activity dating to the earliest days of radio. It is the wireless extension of land line (wire based) telegraphy developed by Samuel Morse and was the predominant real time long-distance communication method of the 19th century. Though computer-based (digital) modes and methods have largely replaced CW for commercial and military applications, many amateur radio operators still enjoy using the CW mode, particularly on the

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