One of the most popular radios for both hobbies and work is Ham radio.
This radio is also called amateur radio. Many people love Ham radio because it combines communication and electronics.
If your internet is down and your mobile phone has no service, it isn’t a problem if you have Ham radio. With this radio communicate everywhere and even in space. You don’t need either the Internet and mobile phone connections.
Ham radio is an excellent hobby that can also be useful, especially when there are no other means of communication.
What Is The Appeal Of Ham Radio?
Ham radio’s special attraction is that it gives you a connection wherever you are.
Whenever you are, Ham radio can connect you to whoever you want to talk to.
Ham radio can be your lifeline. Amateur radio can help when other communication modes are not available. This includes emergency situations such as: hurricanes, floods, tornados, earthquakes, etc.
Ham radio helped people ask for help during Hurricane Katrina. At that time, no communications were possible. The only thing that worked was Ham radio. The same situation occurred in 2013, when there was flooding in Colorado.
If you have a Ham radio, it will allow you to get help in difficult times.
However, Ham radio is useful, even in non-emergency situations. You can use it to communicate with friends and other radio amateurs.
It is also possible to connect an amateur radio to a PC or tablet and send some data, text or images. You can even send Morse code.
Do you want to talk to astronauts on the International Space Station? Ham radio allows you to do it.
In space, there are several satellites that will help you talk to astronauts and communicate with other radio amateurs. You can even receive/send some signals to the moon.
Also Read: How to Build a Ham Radio from Scratch – Ultimate Guide
What About The License?
Many radios require a special license from the FCC to use.
With a Ham radio you need a license.
It is easy to get a license. You just need to pass some written tests. You may also need to pass a Morse test (five words per minute). There are different tests for different license types.
There are a number of reasons for this:
- Ham radio works in emergency situations, which requires responsibility.
- Ham radio helps to develops communication and technical skills.
- It allows you to set up international contacts.
Ham radio is an emergency option that can save lives in difficult situations. People initially took Ham radio with them to the sea to communicate with stations on the coast.
It is logical that such a powerful radio requires a license, since you must be responsible when using Ham radio.
What Features Does Ham Radio Have?
First, Ham radio is both a transmitter and a conductor like other radios. The newer models have more complex controls and menus.
Some Ham radio models have its own built-in antennas, while other models operate better using an antenna with a magnetic mount.
Power output is important for the efficient operation of a Ham radio. The power output varies depending on the size and type of Ham radio (portable or desktop).
Ham radio has a potential power output of 1500 watts. This is ten times what is offered by a CB radio.
There are a wide variety of sizes of Ham radio. They can be so small that they easily fit in your pocket, or the radio and associated equipment can take up half of a garage.
The radio propagation is 28 MHz (or 10-meter). However, this is not the same for all radios.
The range is important for antenna selection. If the waves are long, the antenna must be long or powerful.
Ham radio uses different frequencies when setting up a conversation. However, all frequencies are suitable for amateur use, which the FCC is aware of.
Ham radio usually works above the AM broadcasting range, in the gigahertz range.. The frequency range, in this case, is stretched from 1.6 MHz to slightly above the range of 27 MHz.
In the afternoon you will receive from 15 to 27 MHz. This is a good long-distance range. At night, the band is from 1.6 to 15 MHz.
Ham radio is the only device that allows you to listen and even communicate with local emergency services.
It also uses high-frequency bands, which are the best in a major SHTF emergency. High-frequency bands can easily reach hundreds of miles..
Ham radio is not always portable and has its limits. If you want compact equipment that can be used in an emergency, choose a portable size.
What Problems Can Arise In Working With Ham Radio?
It is difficult to call problems troubles. Most likely, this is the usual features of the work.
For example, you may encounter such a situation: several radio amateurs were on the same frequency and in the same state. It may be due to the fact that the variable frequency setting worked in small increments when transmitting the signal.
If you are going to use Ham radio, you have to remember: this radio listens more often than it transmits a signal (despite the fact that it performs both functions).
How Does Ham Radio Work?
Ham radio is both a receiver and a transmitter.
If you have a shortwave receiver, it is important to ensure that it takes SSB. This is necessary for voice communication on short waves.
When working with Ham radio, you will not be able to be jack-tailed. Different operators work at different frequencies. The goal of Ham radio is to be able to contact them.
Two-way conversations are why many people use Ham radio. You can also set up a roundtable with other Ham radio users in different cities, states and countries.
You can set up a whole network and so communicate with people, embrace information about health if it happens in disasters.
Ham radio allows you to use a repeater that receives one signal (from itself) and at the same time relays a signal on another frequency.
It gives you a long range of hundreds of miles. A repeater allows you to have a wireless connection throughout a state and larger area.
A reasonably priced Ham radio offers numerous opportunities. A Ham radio operates on emergency broadcast frequencies that is not possible with CB, FRS, GMRS and MURS.
If you only have basic equipment, you will not be able to contact local emergency services. This is because many police and fire departments use digital and encrypted systems.
The use of a Ham radio allows you to reach like-minded people or people who are facing the same emergency situation.
Ham radio is not only about communication and disasters. You can also use it for listening to commercial AM / FM radio stations.
Recommended Resources:
1. CB vs Ham Radio – What Is The Difference Between Them?
2. How to Make First Contact on Ham Radio
