Saturday, November 14, 2009

Amateur Radio / What They Actually Do


Amateur Radio is not only a grand and glorious hobby, Radio Amateurs serve people through providing emergency communication systems; especially in natural disasters or in other emergencies as a voluntary, noncommercial communication service. Amateur Radio experimentation is yet another reason many people become part of this self-disciplined group of trained operators, technicians and electronics experts are the assets to a country. Hams pursue their hobby purely for personal enrichment in technical and operating proficiency, without any consideration for payments. Below are some examples.

1. During any natural disaster, Amateur Radio operators set up and operate organized local and long-distance communication, as backup of the Government and emergency official communication system, as well as non-commercial communication for private citizens affected from the disasters. Amateur Radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters that damage regular lines of communication due to power outages and/or destruction of the telephone infrastructure.

2. Talk around the world - With HF radios hams can talk to other hams in literally any part of the globe. They can talk from the top of the mountain to deep sea.

3. Talk around town - With small portable VHF and UHF transceivers hams enjoy extremely reliable communications within their local community. They can talk with a minimum range of 20 Kilo Meters up to 500 Kilo Meters by using multiple repeaters.

4. QRP - Communicating with "very low power" is a challenge that many hams enjoy. QRP is usually practiced on the HF
bands.

5. Packet Radio - The internet over ham radio? Not really ... but ham radio operators enjoy a digital network of     their own,
all without wires!

6. Amateur Television - It's just like real television because it is real television. Slow Scan TV Send pictures around the world for little or no cost.

7. Contests - They can put their radio operating skills up against other hams and teams of hams.

8. Hopefully they will use their radio less for calling the fireman, the police, and emergency road-side assistance, 911 and other telephone-linked services.

9. Emergency and other volunteer services - Floods, hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes, ice storms ... when ever normal communications go out, hams are ready to use their radios to provide emergency communication services to their communities.

10. Satellite Communications - Hams have their own satellites. Amateur's satellites are easy to Use. Even Hams can talk with the astronauts of ISS (International Space Station or Alpha Station) and they used to talk with MIR station on the space.

11. Emergency Traffic Handling - "Ham Telegrams" are used to send messages to people around the world at no cost to the sender or the recipient; all done by ham radio operators Volunteering their time and resources.

12. Emergency Medical Support - Ham Medical Team formed with some Doctors who are HAM. This kind of team work on any natural disaster and urban incident.

This unique mixture of fun, convenience and public service is the distinguishing characteristics of Amateur Radio. Although people get involved in amateur radio for many reasons, they all in common have the basic knowledge of radio technologies, regulations and operating principles, which is demonstrated through passing an examination leading to a certificate of proficiency. And through getting an authorization to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands." Radio amateur reserve these bands for use at intervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the way up into high microwave frequencies.
Hams exchange pictures of each other using television. Some also like to work on electronic circuits, build their own radios and Antennas. Anyone above the age of 12, no matter gender or Physical ability and educational qualification can become a Ham. There are Actors, Politicians, Astronauts, Engineers, Doctors, Bankers, Pilots, Sailors, Kings and Queens are Hams.
Hams also swing into action during the emergencies and natural calamities such as cyclone, storm, earthquake, floods and other disasters. Amateur Radio Stations act as the 'SECOND LINE' of communication when existing public or government communication links fail to act.


Hams also assist in sport events like the ASIAD, CAR RALLY and many other CAR AND MOTORCYCLE rallies taking place throughout the year. They provide vital communication links from the remote rally routes assisting the sports officials and they really enjoying doing it.

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