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| Activity | "Buzzwords" |
Web Sites |
Brief Description | Special Equipment or Requirements |
| Alternative Energy Operation | solar, wind, water power | ARRL | Operating amateur radio stations on non-commercial (alternative) and emergency power sources | Alternative energy source (solar, wind, water, etc.) |
| Amateur Television (ATV) | ATV, television | ATNA, BRATS, BATC | ATV can transmit full-motion video over the air compatible with standard television. | ATV Transmitter, receiver, television |
| Antenna Design & Building | Antennas, Numerical Electromagnetic Code (NEC), Quads, Beams, Verticals, etc. | NEC
Archives, Autek Research, MFJ |
The design, construction and testing of homebrew antennas. | Antenna Modeling Software, Antenna analyzer |
| Antique Radio Collecting & Repair | Boat Anchors, antiques | NJ Antique Radio Boatanchors |
Collecting, repairing, and maybe selling old broadcast receivers and other radios. | Manuals, patient spouse |
| Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS) | ARISS, SAREX, NA1SS | see Space | Students talk with astronauts aboard the Space Station using amateur radio; Also regular ham contacts with astronauts | see Space |
| Astronomy, Radio | Radio Astronomy, SETI | SARA, SETI |
Amateur radio astronomy, and the use of radio to "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" (SETI) | Large-dish antenna, or home computer for SETI |
| Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) | APRS, GPS, digital | APRS, findU | Use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide one's location over the air, which can then be plotted on a map on a computer screen. | GPS receiver, laptop helpful |
| Awards ("Certificate Chasers") | Awards, Paper Chaser, Certificates, Wallpaper, SLY, DXCC, WAC, WAZ, WAS, County Hunters, 10-X / 10-10 | ARRL CQ |
Collecting awards and certificates for various achievements, such as Worked All Continents (WAC), Zones (WAZ), States (WAS), Counties, club members, etc. | Scrapbook or plenty of wall space; A good logging program which handles awards is helpful |
| Backpacking Operations | Backpacking, QRP | Backpacking radio/antenna to remote locations to operate, usually low power, usually on mountain peaks, but also to active "grid squares" | Backpacking equipment, light-weight radio and antenna; Good physical condition | |
| Ballooning, High Altitude | Edge of Space, Balloon, Amateur Television (ATV) | EOSS | Use of high altitude balloons, reaching to the edges of space, for experiments and use of Amateur TV, long-distance contacts, tracking, etc. | 2-meter, Amateur TV, and/or Slow Scan TV equipment; Ballooning software |
| Civil Air Patrol (CAP) | CAP, aircraft, flying | CAP CAP links |
Assistance in locating downed aircraft and other support functions. | Radio which can be modified for CAP frequencies |
| Classic Amateur Radio Equipment | Boat Anchors, antiques, classic rigs, vacuum tubes | antique wireless | Collecting, repairing, and use of old two-way radio equipment. | Manuals, patient wife |
| Clubs | ARC (Amateur Radio Club), ARA (Amateur Radio Association) | ARRL qsl.net |
Membership and participation in radio clubs. | Social skills :) |
| Coast Guard Auxiliary | USCG, Auxiliary | CG Aux | Assisting the United States Coast Guard in various functions, including communications | Love of water helpful; Coast Guard provides training |
| Community
Service (see also Emergency Management, Public Service) |
Community Service, walkathon, bikeathon, parades | ARES RACES |
Use of amateur radio in support of community activities, such as charity events, civil celebrations, etc. | Mobile or handheld amateur radio equipment (typically VHF/UHF) |
| Contesting | Contest | ARRL CQ SM3CER |
Trying to communicate with as many other stations as possible. | Log book or computer, Contest Calendar, rules of contest |
| County Hunting | MARAC, County Hunters | MARAC | Attempt to work hams in each county of each state | HF Radio, County List |
| Digital Modes | Packet, PACTOR, AMTOR, PSK, Clover, RTTY, Olivia | AC6V
List TAPR, HAL, PSK31, Olivia |
Digital operating modes that do not use voice | TNC/Modem, Computer, Software |
| Direction Finding (DF) & Tracking | Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF), DF, Fox Hunt, Homing, Radio Direction Finding (RDF), T-Hunt, Tracking, Triangulation, SAR | BMG Homing In Projects PSRDF IARU Reg 1 |
Locating a transmitter using direction-finding techniques. Useful for Search & Rescue (SAR), Balloon tracking, and "Fox Hunting" or "Transmitter Hunting" (a competitive game where participants compete to be the first to find a hidden transmitter). | DF Antenna (can be homebrewed), radio |
| Distant Stations (DX) | DX, DXCC, DXCluster | qrz
dx dx.qsl.net DX Cluster |
Trying to work as many stations in distant and remote locations as possible. "DXCC" refers to working 100 countries or more. An on-air packet network called DXCluster provides "spots" of rare stations. | Amateur or Shortwave Radio |
| DXpeditions | DX, DX Expedition | NODXA Daily DX |
An expedition to a remote location where few or no amateurs already live in order to permit other hams to "work" a new country. | Lots of money & time off, Financial Sponsor, Permission from foreign country |
| Education | Elmer | ARRL EAD K8ZT's Teachers Resources |
Teaching others, especially school children, about amateur radio, and science/electronics in general, often leading to the earning of a license | Teaching skills, text books |
| Emergency Communications | ARES, RACES, Field Day EMCOM, EMCOMM |
links ARES RACES |
Using amateur radio to provide backup communications during emergencies and disasters, such as floods, storms, etc. | Handheld radio, battery operation |
| Emergency
Management (see also Community Service, Public Service) |
OEM, Emergency Management, Civil Defense, ARES, RACES | links ARES RACES FEMA EMWIN |
Planning for and assisting in emergency preparedness for state, county and local governments. | Handheld radio, battery operation |
| Extraterrestrial Intelligence Search | SETI, ET | SETI SETI@Home |
Searching for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life through detection of radio signals | Extremely sensitive antenna, or your desktop PC (see SETI@home) |
| Famous Hams | Famous hams | N2GJ | Collecting QSL cards from famous hams | HF radio, or VHF radio and a lot of traveling |
| Foxhunt (see Direction Finding (DF) & Tracking) | ||||
| Hamfest (Flea Market) | Hamfest, flea market, auction, swapfest | ARRL SNJ/EPA/DEL |
Flea markets where you can buy or sell used or new equipment, supplies, books, etc. | Pocket money, free Sunday mornings (early!) |
| HF Fax (Facsimile) | HF Fax | HF-Fax | Sending/Receiving faxes via HF radio | HF radio, modem or PC with sound card |
| Homebrewing & Kits | Kits, home built, homebrewing | NJQRP | Building one's own amateur radio equipment from scratch or from kits. Often involves original designs. | Electronic Test Equipment, Junk Box |
| Hurricane Tracking | Hurricanes, weather | watch
net maritime frequencies |
Tracking hurricanes & storms, providing health & welfare services | HF Radio, Phone Patch useful |
| Interference | EMI, EMC, RFI, TVI | ARRL | Tracking down, isolating and suppressing interference from/to amateur radio equipment (and others) | Good Interference handbook, direction finding equipment, test equipment |
| Internet Linking | Internet Relay Linking Project (IRLP), EchoLink, eQSO, WIRES-II, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) | EchoLink eQSO IRLP.net WIRES-II ARRL Book |
Use of the Internet to relay amateur radio calls around the world, creating networks linked by VoIP | Internet access, Radio (typically 2-meter) |
| Islands On The Air (IOTA) | Islands, IOTA | RSGB | Contacting as many different islands as possible | HF radio |
| Light, Modulated Light DX | Optical, Laser | VK7MJ | Using optical light to communicate at distances over 100miles | Light source & sensitive receiver; Mountain peaks helpful |
| Lighthouses | Lighthouses | ARLS | Operating from, and making contact with other lighthouses and lightships around the world. | HF radio |
| Low Power Operating (QRP) | QRP | NJQRP, NORCAL, QRPARCI | Transmitting using very low power (typically less than 5 watts). Usually uses Morse code. | Patience |
| Maritime | Maritime mobile, /MM | maritime | Monitoring and communicating with ships at sea using amateur radio, including distress calls. | HF radio |
| Meteor Scatter | Meteor Scatter | 6m
world IARU |
Bouncing radio signals off ionized trails left behind by meteors | High gain steerable antennas |
| Microwave Communications | Microwave, Line of Sight | RSGB, San Bernardino |
Communicating with or experimentation with microwave band equipment | Microwave test equipment, components |
| Military Affiliate Radio (MARS) | MARS, Army, Navy, Air Force | MARS links | Health and welfare communications support to the military. | Radio which can be modified for MARS frequencies |
| Military Radio operating/restoration | Military, AN/SRR, AN/URC, AN/ARC, RT-xxxx, etc. | one-electron | Collecting, restoring and operating old military radios, especially WW-II vintage. | Vacuum tubes, space, test equipment, hamfests |
| Missionary Support | Missionary | ARMS,
MARA, NARF, RadioMinistries |
Provide HF communications with overseas missionaries | HF radio |
| Mobile Operations | Mobile | Communicating via amateur radio while mobile (in car/truck/RV, aircraft, ships, etc.). Also, installation and testing of mobile stations. | Portable amateur radio, mobile platform (car, truck, RV, plane, motorcycle, etc.) | |
| Moonbounce | EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) | W6/PA0ZN | Communicating between amateur radio stations by bouncing one's signal off the moon. | Very large high-gain antennas |
| Morse Code, Telegraph | CW, Code, key, keyer, bug, straight key | FISTS, W1TP Telegraph |
Using telegraph keys to send "dits" and "dahs" to communicate. Also includes collecting old wireless and telegraph keys. | Morse code key |
| Museums | Museum, collections, antique radios | TPN's list | Collecting and displaying antique amateur radio equipment; Operating amateur radio stations from museums for the public. | Museum, radios |
| Museum Ship Radio Clubs | Museum Ships, Museum Ship Special Event | BNJARS Museum Ships, USS Salem |
Operating radio stations aboard museum ships; Restoration of museum ship radio rooms | Museum Ship, interest in Navy/Marine radios and equipment |
| Narrow Bandwidth Modes | QRSS (very slow speed CW), Coherent CW (CCW) | QRSS,
ON7YD CCW, W0CH |
Communications using very narrow bandwidths (sub-1 Hz) at extremely low data rates | PC with sound card, special software |
| Official Observer | OO, enforcement, "frequency police" | ARRL Field Org. | Individuals appointed by the ARRL section managers to voluntarily observe amateur on-air operations and notify offenders of operating/technical irregularities before they come to the attention of the FCC (Self Regulation) | Amateur Radio station |
| Packet Radio | TNC, AX-25, Clover, PSK, DX Cluster | TAPR DX Cluster |
Using digital communications, where information is transmitted in short packets of data. DX Clusters tell others when unusual stations are on the air. | TNC, computer |
| Personal Conversations | Rag Chewing | Just passing the time talking with others, either friends or strangers, often in distant or exotic locations. | Lots of time or long commute | |
| Propagation | HF Propagation, MUF, Ionosphere, Gray Line | KA0JPM | Calculating the optimal times, frequencies, and paths for long distance communications | Access to solar data |
| Public
Service (see also Community Service, Emergency Management) |
ARES, RACES | ARES RACES |
Using amateur radio to assist the general public, such as providing communications to civic organizations, emergency management/police/fire, etc. | Portable radio, jump kit of essential equipment, some training preferred |
| Radio Teletype (RTTY) | RTTY, teletype, digital, TNC | DXZone links | Communicating using teletypewriters (or modern computer-based equivalent) instead of voice. | Teletype and modem, or computer and TNC (Terminal Node Controller) |
| Recreational Vehicle (RV) Operations | RV, RV Caravan, Mobile Operation, International RV Service Net | Wally Byam
Caravan Club RV Web Network RV Radio Network |
Use of Amateur Radio to communicate while RV camping, touring in an RV, or participating in an RV Caravan | RV with mobile radio setup |
| Remote Control | RC, remote controlled planes, remote control vehicles | Similar to regular remote controlled devices, but using amateur radio frequencies with greater power/range | Model plane/boat/etc., Remote Controller | |
| Repeaters | Repeater, Controller, Frequency Coordinators | ArtSci
directory ARRL directory |
Repeaters permit communication over increased distances by retransmitting received signals on another frequency at higher power using high-gain antennas elevated high above the ground. | Repeater, Controller |
| Satellite Communications | Satellite, OSCAR | AMSAT | Communicating with other hams using amateur radio satellites as an overhead repeater. | High gain, steerable antenna |
| Scouting | JOTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, radio merit badge | ARRL BSA Merit Badge |
Contacting scouts across the country and around the world (Jamboree On The Air). Boy Scout Radio merit badge. | Registered with BSA to be a Radio Merit Badge Counselor or Girl Scout equivalent |
| Search and Rescue (SAR) | SAR, CAP, Mountain Rescue | Area-Ham.org SARBC Civil Air Patrol NASAR 1SRG |
Searching for lost hikers, children, boaters, downed pilots, etc. Amateur radio can play critical communications roles | Radio equipment, SAR training, Emergency Communications training, EMT/Medical training |
| Slow Scan Television (SSTV) | SSTV, TV, image, scotty | KB4YZ J Langners WB6FZH/KH6 HF-Fax |
Transmission of still photos or images. | Video source (camera or scanner), PC, special hardware or software |
| Solar Activity | Solar flare, solar flare, A index, K index, CME, sunspots | spacew, Quick Guide | Use of solar activity reports to calculate propagation | Internet access |
| Space Communications | Space Shuttle, Mir, ISS, ARISS, SAREX, ISSpedition | AMSAT, ARRL, MAREX, NASA, launch info | Use of amateur radio to communicate with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard manned spacecraft. | High gain antenna |
| Special Events | Special event station, commemorative station | ARRL, CQ (Sp Evnt Menu) | Radio station set up to celebrate a unique event, activity, anniversary, etc., usually in a public place | Radio station that can be set up at event site |
| Sporadic E-Layer | Sporadic-E |
Defined
Reference |
VHF/UHF communications using refractions from the E-layer of the ionosphere (which occurs infrequently and sporadically) | High gain VHF/UHF antenna; radio |
| Spread Spectrum | SS, spread spectrum, Hedy Lamarr | TAPR, KC6YJY |
Using "spread spectrum" techniques to optimize bandwidth utilization and greater immunity to interference | Special SS equipment and wide bandwidth radio |
| Teaching | Elmer, school clubs, volunteer instructor | ARRL, W5YI | Teaching others about amateur radio so that they may obtain their own license, or introducing kids to the hobby. An "Elmer" is an amateur radio mentor. | Teaching skills |
| T-Hunt (see Direction Finding (DF) & Tracking) | Transmitter Hunt | |||
| Traffic Handling (message traffic) | Traffic, Nets, National Traffic System (NTS), Official Relay Station (ORS), RadioGram | K2UL's
website ARRL NTS NTS Canada |
Amateur radio stations that relay voice or data messages, between amateur stations or between hams and non-hams (public service) | HF radio station |
| Very Low Frequency (VLF) Operation | VLF, Loafer | ARRL VLF | Communications using frequencies below the AM broadcast band. | Very long antenna |
| Volunteer Examiners (VE) | VE, VEC, Exam | NCVEC, ARRL,
Laurel,
W5YI List of all VECs Delaware Valley |
VE's conduct amateur license exams to others on a volunteer basis. This is the only way to get a license today. | VE certificate |
| Weak Signal Digital | JT65, WSJT (Weak Signals by K1JT), EME, Meteor Scatter, Tropo Scatter | WSJT, Olivia | Using digital signal processing techniques to communicate at signal levels less than that required for CW or voice. Used for meteor scatter, EME, VHF/UHF, etc., including HF communications where the signal is below the noise floor. | VHF/UHF SSB radio, high gain antenna, PC with sound card, special signal processing software |
| Weather (WX) | Weather, SKYWARN, EMWIN, Hurricane Watch Net, Maritime Mobile Net, Seafarer's Net | Coast
Guard Skywarn EMWIN |
Weather watching & reporting on land (SKYWARN), maritime/boating, and Emergency Management (EMWIN) | HF Radio, Weather Training |
| Weather Satellites | WEFAX | HF-Fax | Receiving weather satellite images | HF Radio, modem or PC with sound card |
Who was the first "amateur" radio operator? Einar Dessau of Denmark is regarded as the first ham radio operator with his transmission using a shortwave radio set to communicate with a government radio post six miles away on 18 March 1909. However, very little information is available on Einar Dessau or this event, and web searches result almost exclusively in a short blurb noting this event as a "day in history."
Web Sites
Providing Introductory Information on Amateur Radio
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) - National organization for Hams (1-800-32-NEWHAM)
ARRL Introductory book "Now You're Talking"
How Stuff Works - General information on the hobby
Other Web Sites Providing Amateur Radio Links
AC6V's Gateway to Ham Radio (incredible list of links & reference info)
ARRL Site Index (list of topics on ARRL's web site)
Want to add a category or suggest a web site for this table? Please e-mail your suggestions!
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