How ham radio works

“Ham” radio DJ’s are a community of people that use radio transmitters and receivers to communicate with other Amateur radio operators. The things that amateur radio operators do with their radios are diverse as the people themselves. Amateur radio operators are often called ham radio operators or simply "hams." Amateur radio operators are often called ham radio operators or simply "hams." There are about 600 thousand hams in the United States. Ham radio operators are licensed by the United States Government and enjoy a far more privileges of radio operation than "CB" radio operators do.

The ham radio can fit in your shirt pocket, take up half of an attic or garage, sit on a desk next to the computer or go into a car. Those using ham radio can do a host of cool things including talk around the world - with HF radios hams can talk to other hams in literally any part of the globe, talk around town or within their local community, and they can Communicate with very low power. Right now, it is possible to talk around the world during daylight hours running just a few watts of power. Ham radio operators enjoy a digital network of their own, all without wires!

Radio waves transmit music, conversations, pictures and data invisibly through the air. It happens every day in thousands of different ways! Even though radio waves are invisible and completely undetectable to humans, they have totally changed society. No matter if it’s a cell phone or a cordless phone or any one of the thousands of other wireless devices and technologies, all of them use radio waves to communicate.

Radio is an incredibly simple technology. With just a couple of electronic components that cost at most a dollar or two, you can build simple radio transmitters and receivers. Amateur (ham) radio is a worldwide group of people who communicate with each other over a wide frequency spectrum using many different types of wireless transmitting modes. Hams are able to use many frequency bands across the radio spectrum with frequencies allocated by the FCC for amateur use. Hams may operate from just above the AM broadcast band to the microwave region, in the gigahertz range.

A typical ham radio is a transmitter and a receiver, usually purchased as one unit, called a transceiver. Newer transceiver models often have semi-complicated controls and menu systems that may take some reading of the manual. You may be able to find an older transceiver with controls that are easier to use as a beginner, having the usual analog controls. Hand-held transceivers have their own antennas. Many hams choose to do most operating from their automobile during commute times, using a magnetic mount antenna connected to an under-dash transceiver or a hand-held radio. Be sure any short-wave receiver you buy is capable of receiving single sideband (SSB), used for voice communications on the short-wave bands. On any scanner, you will hear local ham operators using repeaters in the frequency range of 144 to 148 MHz.

Many ham bands are found in the frequency range that goes from above the AM radio band (1.6 MHz) to just above the citizens band (27 MHz). During daylight, 15 to 27 MHz is a good band for long-distance communications. At night, the band from 1.6 to 15 MHz is good for long-distance communications. These bands are often referred to historically as short-wave bands as in "short-wave radio".

Many hams get their start on VHF FM, using battery-operated hand-held transceivers set to transmit on one frequency and receive on another frequency. They use FM repeaters, set up and supported by local radio clubs. These repeaters borrow antenna space from TV-station-tower owners on top of mountains and high buildings to receive and re-broadcast signals to extend the range. The FM repeater receives one signal at a time and simultaneously rebroadcasts it on another frequency using many more watts of power than available from a small hand-held radio. This extends the range of the hand-held radio from a few miles to tens or hundreds of miles. Repeaters use common transmit and receive frequency pairs. The frequency pairs in use are informally assigned by groups of hams so that any frequency pair in use is far enough from another repeater so as not to cause unwanted interference.

Antennas, wire antennas in trees, and antennas atop a tower are all used, depending on the frequency in use. Lower frequencies have longer wavelengths. Longer wavelengths need larger antennas. The same antennas (used to transmit and receive) can be small, portable, put in trees or on the trunk of a car. The common 146-MHz (2-meter) antenna is a 19-inch quarter-wave whip. A wavelength at 146 MHz is approximately 2 (300 divided by 146) meters, and a quarter wave of 2 meters is about 19 inches (50 cm). Hams enjoy the fun of experimenting with various types of antennas. Some antennas are made of wire strung between trees.

You need an easy-to-earn license to transmit on an amateur radio frequency. License tests cover electronics theory and amateur radio rules and regulations. Study guides are readily available. There is no age restriction. Each country has its own licensing arrangements. Many countries share many of the same frequency bands with hams in the United States. Each license class allows operation in certain bands, using certain modes. You need an easy-to-earn license to transmit on an amateur radio frequency. License tests cover electronics theory and amateur radio rules and regulations. Study guides are readily available. There is no age restriction. Each country has its own licensing arrangements. Many countries share many of the same frequency bands with hams in the United States. Each license class allows operation in certain bands, using certain modes.

Well, that’s just the basics folks. There are plenty of website for you to get more information on the finer intricacies on broadcasting via ham radio. However, this information will get well on your way to becoming the next great “ham”.