My Amateur Radio Hobby

 

One of my most enjoyable hobbies is Amateur Radio. I hold an Amateur Extra Class Amateur Radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC. My call sign is WR1B. Amateur Radio, or ham radio, is a technical hobby because we are allowed to build and modify our own equipment. Licensed Amateur Radio operators have the opportunity to learn about electronics, communications techniques, and experience all sorts of fun activities over the airwaves.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, Amateur Radio is a radio communication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by licensed individuals interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. (Pecuniary interest means we aren’t paid in any way, either with money or other materials for our operations. I will add, however, that there is a huge payoff in terms of personal enjoyment, sense of accomplishment and learning about so many things!)

The FCC Rules, Part 97 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists some specific purposes for the Amateur Radio Service:

97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an Amateur Radio Service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the Amateur Service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the Amateur Service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the Amateur Radio Service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

Phew! That’s some heavy stuff! It gives the sense that the Federal Government thinks that Amateur Radio is a valuable asset. As Amateur Radio operators, we take on a responsibility to live up to those principles, but often we are having so much fun we don’t even realize we are meeting those purposes! For example, when we are talking with fellow hams in another country, we aren’t really thinking about enhancing international goodwill. We are just thinking about making a new friend or carrying on a conversation with an old one. Still, I often point out that when you have had conversations with real people in other lands, and have become friendly with them, it is much more difficult to view the people of that county in a negative way.

When we help provide communications for a public activity we are having fun operating our radios, and most of the time that’s all we are really thinking about. If we are communicating among ourselves at a parade, road race, triathlon or other event we hope we are just having fun. When a runner falls or a bike rider takes a tumble, though, we are there to call for whatever help is needed. We are serving as the eyes and ears along the course to help make sure everyone is safe.

As far as technical investigations and advancing the “radio art,” I don’t believe there are many things as satisfying as building a piece of your own radio equipment, and then using that equipment to talk with other hams across the country or around the world! Some of the greatest technical advances in communications techniques have been developed by Amateur Radio operators. For example, the voice communications technique we call single sideband, or SSB, was invented by Amateur Radio operators. Today, almost all voice communications on the high frequency bands uses SSB. This method takes up less than half the frequency space used by double sideband amplitude modulation, or AM. That is much more efficient! Hams have also developed a range of new digital communications techniques, such as packet radio and the very popular APRS, or Automatic Packet Reporting System, used not only by hams, but finding increasing uses in many other areas.

Part of the idea of having trained electronics technicians and skilled communicators is that we are prepared to step in and help our fellow man at a moment’s notice. When “normal” communications links go down, such as in a natural or man-made disaster, and electrical power is out, phone lines are down, and cellular circuits are overloaded, we have the knowledge and experience to help. We can quickly set up communications links under “field conditions” in which we can provide our own sources of power, such as generators, solar panels, batteries, and even human-powered generators to run our radio equipment. We can quickly deploy antennas and set up “field stations” to provide the necessary emergency communications links.

Not only is Amateur Radio a ton of fun, it is also a valuable community resource! If you want to learn more about Amateur Radio, and how you can become involved, leave me a comment on this blog and also check out the American Radio Relay League’s website.