Amateur Radio
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What is this guy doing?
If you landed here from one of my QR codes, welcome! I'm an Amateur (A.K.A. "Ham") Radio Operator and I'm communicating to other people with radios. You most likely found me in a park "Activating" that site.
This is a fun hobby for me and I love to share it. Please scroll down to read a little more about the hobby and I'll also be glad to answer any questions you might have!
What is Amateur Radio?
[Amateur] radio is a licensed radio service that enables you to communicate all around the world and even outer space with your own equipment. It’s vital for emergency communications, technological advancement, and it’s an incredible hobby with over 750,000 licensed hams in the United States.
(Source: Ham Radio Prep, https://hamradioprep.com/what-is-ham-radio/)
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Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It's fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.
Although Amateur Radio operators get involved for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles, and pass an examination for the FCC license to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands." These bands are radio frequencies allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by ham radio operators.
(Source: ARRL, https://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio)
What is it Used For?
Ham Radio is used for:
Emergency Communications
Weather spotting and weather alerts
Technological research and advancement
Hobby and contesting (seeing how many people you an contact in a given period of time)
The hobby is just plain fun!
How it Works
Imagine you have a super cool walkie-talkie, but instead of just talking to your friends in the same neighborhood, you can talk to people from all over the world—even as far away as another country! That’s kind of what ham radio is like.
Here’s how it works:
Radio Waves: When you talk into a ham radio, your voice turns into invisible signals called "radio waves." These waves can travel really far through the air.
Antenna: The radio has a special "antenna," which is like a metal stick that helps send those signals high into the sky. The antenna also catches signals from other radios so you can hear them.
Tuning: There are lots of different radio frequencies, like channels on a TV. You can "tune" your ham radio to different frequencies to find and talk to other people. It’s like finding a secret club on each frequency.
Repeaters and Atmosphere: Sometimes, the signal is boosted by repeaters (big antennas that help your signal go even farther). Or, the radio waves can bounce off the Earth’s atmosphere and travel thousands of miles!
Talking to People: You press a button to talk, and when you're done, you let go so you can listen to someone else. It’s a little bit like walkie-talkies, but much more powerful.
Some ham radio users even talk to astronauts in space, or help in emergencies when other types of communication don’t work! Pretty neat, right?
Why Do you Need a License?
The FCC created this service to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide backup during emergencies. In addition, the FCC acknowledged the ability of the hobby to advance the communication and technical skills of radio and to enhance international goodwill. Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act as emergency communicators to render aid, whether it's during an earthquake in Italy or a hurricane in the U.S.
Get Licensed! (https://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed)
Why Are Amateur Radio Operators also called "Hams"?
The first wireless operators were landline telegraphers who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them their language and much of the tradition of their older profession. In those early days, every station occupied the whole spectrum with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous amateur operators all competed for time and signal supremacy in each other's receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful. Two amateurs, working each other across town, could effectively jam all the other operations in the area. Frustrated commercial operators would refer to the ham radio interference by calling them "hams." Amateurs, possibly unfamiliar with the real meaning of the term, picked it up and applied it to themselves. As the years advanced, the original meaning has completely disappeared.
(Source: ARRL, https://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio)
Morse Telegraph, 1837 (Source: Wikimedia)
What is Parks on the Air (POTA)?
Parks on the Air® (POTA) is an ongoing program encouraging amateur radio operators to develop their skills, fostering community, and demonstrating the hobby to the public. Thousands of parks are available in the program worldwide, and each will present a unique experience. Operating styles and seasons will also affect the nature of your experience. (Source: POTA, https://docs.pota.app/about.html)
For me, POTA is one of the most fun Ham Radio activities! It challenges me to operate anywhere and not always with an ideal setup. I've learned a lot from having to filter out noise to hear weak signals, to managing my battery life so I have enough time remote. It's been especially unique to learn how to travel with all of my equipment on an airplane! This is where you'll often find me operating when I'm not at home!
Click here for more information on Getting Started with Parks on The Air (POTA)!
