A Ham And His Radio
The amateur radio is a non-financial service and personal radio service mostly for communication, restricted broadcasting i.e. ham to ham communication, technical studies and research and more importantly as a hobby for self-training. However, to many it is a means of serving the community by establishing liaison during natural and forced calamities when other means of communication fail. To a ham or a radio amateur it is the ability to talk, send pictures and live videos or use the Morse code to communicate all over the globe free of cost.
It is a sophisticated radio art which demands some amount of technical know-how because the ultimate goal of a ham is to establish effective liaison whatever be the situation. Akin to a nexus, hams intend to promote international friendship. Invented before the internet ham radio was an efficient way to know new people just like out modern day networking sites. Ham users belong to every walk of life; a person who has received an early exposure to amateur radio has ended up developing good scientific and mathematical skills by using and improving their amateur radios.
What is exciting is that there is no age limit for being a radio amateur. But a few countries enforce a lower age limit like India for instance distributes ham licenses to people who are above twelve years of age perhaps for security reasons. The procedure for the same is similar everywhere that involves clearing a technical examination both written and practical where the score determines the grade of the license. A better grade means more freedom and possibility to use advanced radios and broadcasting. Most hams are ready to assist new users with their orientation and also conduct lectures over the radio to help people prepare for the license examinations. They can also teach a novice on how to construct a new radio instead of purchasing one. After obtaining a license and a unique call sign one is free to improve one's radio in every regard without national certification as long as the broadcasting and transmission rules are obeyed.
As far as the operation is concerned an amateur radio has a transmitter and receiver, an antenna to increase the range and intercept the waves and a power supply to increase the signals intensity. Information is transmitted at various allotted frequencies. Most licenses allow users to use the VHF and UHF bands. Using an AM or FM transceiver one can now tune to a particular frequency and enjoy a ham radio. In short it is all about an electronic device that can generate a signal at a various frequencies and receive signals from elsewhere at different frequencies.
In the world of internet and 3G ham radios have not lost their importance. Many flight accidents, ship wrecks etc. have been averted by distress signals being received on time by random ham operators as young as thirteen years of age. For those who are driven by curiosity and technicality, an amateur radio can be a source of infinite amounts of fun. Individuals can also refer to the internet to acquire information that is helpful in preparing for licensing examinations.