Subj : Interested In Ham Radio? To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Sun Sep 01 2019 12:02 am HAMS ARE "HI-TECH" Amateur Radio has been a "Hi-Tech" hobby longer than the phrase "Hi-Tech" has existed!!! Technical advancement is in our charter from the Federal government. The rules setting up Amateur Radio say one reason the service exists is to continue and extent "the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art." THE "FIRST" HAM He never had a license, but there were no licenses when Giglielmo Marconi invented radio in 1895. Marconi himself said he always considered himself an amateur. We proudly include him in our ranks. TRAILBLAZERS In the early days of radio, the "short wave" bands were thought to be useless and were given to hams for experimenting. Experiment they did, and hams discovered that, far from being useless, these frequencies could provide world-wide communication with relatively small amounts of power. This experimentation in untested areas continues today, and many technical developments pioneered by hams have been adopted by professional radio and TV users, helping improve overall telecommunication abilities. HAM RADIO IN THE COMPUTER AGE Ham Radio and computers are a switch on the old song about love and marriage. You can have one without the other, but having both is a lot more fun!!! Personal computers are finding their way into more and more Amateur Radio stations as their cost comes down and the number of ham-related uses goes up. Computers can be used on the air - to "talk" with other computer-equipped hams, or they can be used in the "shack" to keep track of contacts, write "QSL" cards to confirm a contact, or even to control equipment and antennas. "TALKING WITH COMPUTERS" The popularity of personal computers has been directly responsible for a big surge in the use of Radio-teletype or RTTY, on the ham bands. Stations talking with RTTY or PACKET type their messages to each other on computer keyboards and read incoming messages on their monitor screens. The conversation can also be printed out, giving you a permanent record of the contact. Computers can also be "taught" to send and receive Morse Code, and many hams use the computers own language, ASCII, to exchange programs and other information. An overview of packet is elsewhere in this door. A more recent mode, VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol...allows for such modes as Echolink, IRLP, Wires-II, etc. to allow ham radio operators to talk to stations in many parts of the world...even with just a Technician class license. An overview of Echolink is elsewhere in this area. THE AUTOMATED STATION Computers may be used to automate certain parts of a ham station's operation - even if the station owner isn't home! If a computer equipped ham knows a message will be coming in at a certain time, the computer can be programmed to turn on the radio at the right time, "copy" the message, remember it and play it back later. Hams using the OSCAR satellites can program even the simplest home computer to figure out where the satellite will be at what time - and to automatically move the antenna to follow OSCAR's path. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES The spread of computers and technology into virtually every area of our lives is already translating into vast new career opportunities for technically minded people. Ham radio is an ideal way to "get your foot in the door" of this expanding marketplace. It provides basic electronic training and practice, plus the opportunity to specialize. Many hams will tell you their hobby has been a key factor in landing their jobs. AMATEUR RADIO vs CB RADIO ========================= AmateurRadio and Citizen's Band (CB) are two systems of two-way communications regulated and authorized in the US by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Amateur Radio licensees are sometimes informally called "hams." USES PERMITTED Amateur Radio: Noncommercial public service-oriented communication service. Hobby and experimental communications. Home computing by radio. Emergency and routine public service. Providing reliable two-way radio contact for special community events and activities. Transmission and delivery of free Radiograms on behalf of the general public. CB: Business and casual conversations. Public aid channel for emergencies. OPERATING RANGE Amateur Radio: Unlimited. Amateurs have communicated with orbiting astronauts. International communications are commonplace. CB: Limited by Federal Law to less than 150 miles. CB users typically talk within less than 4-5 miles. FREQUENCIES OFFERED Amateur Radio: More than two dozen Amateur frequency bands are spread across the entire airwave spectrum, from 1.8 MHz to 250 GHz. CB: One frequency band of 40 channels, from 26.96 to 27.41 MHz. POWER PERMITTED Amateur Radio: Up to 1500 watts, if needed. Essentially unlimited antenna height and configuration. CB: Less than 5 watts. Antenna height is limited by Federal Law. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS Amateur Radio: Tests for technical knowledge and operating rules. Exam difficulty progresses by license level. CB: Permit no longer necessary. No exams. HOW TO TELL WHO IS WHO Amateur Radio: Government-issued call signs indicating country/zone of operator and personal identification. Formal station identification is required on the air at frequent intervals. Operators also typically identify themselves in ordinary conversations using their real names. Most states offer licensees special Amateur Radio call sign license plates. CB: No formal system of identification. Users typically identify themselves by aliases or "handles." SIGNALS ALLOWED Amateur Radio: Voice, Morse Code telegraphy, digital computer data, telemetry and visual images using FM, AM, continuous-wave (Morse Code), single sideband, personal computers, teletype, television, satellite, repeater, relay, modulated light beams and spread-spectrum. CB: Voice only on AM and single sideband. Wireless control of hobby gear. AUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT Amateur Radio: Users can design, construct and experiment with home-built equipment, and they can modify, overhaul, repair and improve store-bought gear. CB: Federal Law forbids any adjustment, modification or repair by users. MAIN ATTRACTION Amateur Radio: Ability to experiment by radio, home computer and television. Local, regional and worldwide communications; enhancement of international goodwill. Public service. Mutual cooperation between licensees. Voluntary self-regulation by common tradition. CB: Avoiding speed traps. Motorist pastime. Neighborhood contact. Enjoyment limited by profanity, low power, discourtesy and interference. JOURNALS, CLUBS AND GROUPS Amateur Radio: American Radio Relay League (ARRL), national nonprofit membership association. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). More than 2000 clubs throughout the country. Several major national publications. CB: Some local clubs. Emergency group REACT found in some areas. No national publications. FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO CONTACT: ARRL 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111-1494 Phone: (860) 594-0200 --- SBBSecho 3.08-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)