Amateur Radio is a friendly, Scientific,
Fun-loving, high-tech hobby and is popularly known as HAM
Radio. Any individual above the age of 12 can become an
Amateur Radio operator-no matter what age, gender or physical
ability.
Ham radio operators
use two-way radio stations from their homes to make hundreds
of friends in their town, country and around the world. They
communicate with each other using voice, computers,
and Morse code. Hams use satellites,
exchange pictures of each other using television, Many use
hand-held radios that fit in their pockets. Some also like to
work on electronic circuits, building their own radios and
antennas.
A few pioneers in
Amateur Radio have even contributed to advances in technology
that we all enjoy today. There are even ham-astronauts who
take radios with them on space shuttle missions and thrill
thousands of hams on earth with a call from space! You never
know who you'll run into when communicating with Amateur
Radio: Young people, retirees, teachers and students,
engineers and scientists, doctors, lawyers, mechanics and
technicians, housewives, film stars, prime ministers,
kings
Using
even the simplest of radio setups and antennas, amateurs
communicate with each other for fun, during emergencies, and
even in contests. They handle messages for all kinds of
emergencies including:
Cyclones
Earthquakes
Floods Rail, Road & Air
accidents Fires.
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Why Amateur Radio: |
During Natural
Calamities In contrast to
most professionals in radio communication, who generally are specialists
in restricted aspects of the subject, many amateurs have a uniquely
broad experience covering all aspects. The experience is invaluable in
enabling them to set up from scratch, radio communicating systems under
emergency conditions when normal systems have broken down. For man made
and natural disasters all over the world for the first critical tens of
hours has often been an amateurs radio station. Many
National/International associations, Governments recognise these services
and even give rewards.
Information
Technology - Be a Partner The movement of
promote amateurs radio in the country as part of Information
Technology in the reach of the common man, a movement is now set in
motion. NIAR is strengthened further by the World Bank, Govt. of Andhra
Pradesh and others. Thus NIAR activities are organised in a professional
approach all over the country.
International
Friendship The three
million Radio amateurs (HAM's) all over the world become your
friends, the day you get license and operate amateurs Wireless
Station. You can easily talk to over one hundred Hams a day from different
locations (countries) provided you are able to spare one or two
hours a day. There are many Indians who are able to talk with
more than 10,000 people in a year with about 150 countries. This
facilitates friendship and interaction with all walks of life, eminent
people and common men and woman.
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Today there are
thousands of hams who are enthusiastic about amateur radio and use various
methods to communicate with their counterparts around the
world.
Groups, individuals, and schools are all striving to acquire
radio technology, as they are eager to improve their skill over a wide
spectrum of fields: HF/VHF Communication, amateur satellite
communications, TV broadcasting, Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications,
and so on. The current boom in computers, digital communications (images,
data, etc.) is becoming increasingly popular and these on-going
challenges, attracts numerous eager youths.
Making Equipment
and Learning about Wave Propagation Amateur radio communications is by
nature a scientific hobby.
Amateur Satellite
Communications to-date, over 40 satellites for amateur radio
communications have been launched. Right now, about 20 of these satellites
are orbiting the earth. hams constantly communicate with their domestic
and overseas counterparts by way of these satellites.
DX (D=Distant,
X=Unknown) Communications with Overseas Stations DX-communications refer
to telecommunications between unknown distances in many countries of the
world. Thus Hams contribute to the promotion of international
goodwill. There are many in India who have contacted more than 250
countries (over 300 exist) sitting in their house using these personal two
way Amateur Wireless stations. That too at no cost.
Mobile
Operation Reflecting India's recent boom in motoring, mobile hams are
becoming very common. They install wireless equipment in their vehicles to
communicate with stationary or mobile radio stations while
driving.
Contests In contests, hams communicate with one another, with as many
stations as possible within a given period of time. Contests of varying
scopes ---- some domestic, some international ---- are happening somewhere
in the world every weekend. A top prize requires not only skillful
technique in operating a radio station (including maintenance and repair),
but also atmospheric conditions favorable to radio waves (which is really
a type of good luck).
Awards After a ham's communication which must conform to specified
requirements and QSL cards have been collected, he/she is eligible to
apply for various certificates. These certificates are issued by
organisations, clubs, and even certain individuals. Counting international
certificates, over 1,000 types are available. Some Indian Hams were
invited to USA, Europe, Asian countries for being successful in getting
these Awards.
QSL
Cards After two ham
stations have established contact, they exchange QSL (Acknowledgement)
cards as proof of their communication. Normally, QSL cards are
postcard-sized, with columns for essential entries on one side, and a
picture card, cartoon, photograph, woodblock print, etc, on the other
side. Because each QSL card incorporates a unique idea, design, etc., it
becomes a pleasure to collect them. Exchanging cards internationally is
both interesting and fun.
Repeater
Communications By
means of these repeaters installed, on hilltops and high buildings, it is
possible for hams to communicate with counterparts many kilometers away,
done simply by using a portable transceiver called Handheld (Handy)
Radios.
Amateur Radio
Direction Finding ARDF (Amateur Radio Direction Finding) where hams carry
portable receivers and search for hidden transmitters, is the popular
sport of amateur radio. Every year, such competitions are held throughout
the world.
You'll enjoy this fascinating world of Amateur Radio and
we hope to have the chance of meeting you on the air-when you become an
Amateur Radio operator!
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Radio waves, like
light waves, travel in straight lines and cannot pass through
obstructions. From a practical point of view, the earth's curvature
represents a very significant obstruction. Over a distance of 500
miles, a short distance in communication terms, this curvature is
equivalent to an impenetrable obstruction greater in height than Everest.
fortunately there are various ways, depending on the frequency, in which
signals can avoid this and other obstructions.
Wavelengths Amateurs can communicate on "long wave", "medium wave" and onto
"short waves". The Amateurs wave lengths (or bands) on short waves
are in round numbers, at 160 meters, 40 metres,30 meters, 20 metres,17
meters, 15 metres,12 metres,10 meters. There are also Amateur bands at
wave lengths of 2 meters, 70 cm and 23 cm; going even smaller, we talk
about "microwaves".
Centered at about
250 km (150 miles) above the earth's surface there are layers of ionized
gas called the "ionosphere" encircling the earth. Under certain
conditions, these layers can act as fairly efficient reflectors of "short
wave" signals. Radio signals bouncing off these layers can be reflected
from the earth's surface back into the sky to be reflected again and so
on. A series of hops can carry signals around the world. if a radio signal
continued round the world, it would go seven times around the world every
second.
Shorter Than
Short Radio waves
shorter than 10 meters are not usually reflected back to earth and so you
cannot make long distance contacts by means of your signal hopping
around the world between the ionosphere and the earth's surface. T these
much shorter wave lengths, say of 2 meters and below, amateurs have to
look for an alternation to the natural Ionosphere in order to reflect
their signals over longer distances. Other natural mechanisms help here,
such as:-
Weather
Effects Under
certain whether conditions, usually associated with high pressure (a
"high") layers from in the lower atmosphere at heights of 1 to 2 km (about
1 mile) which are associated with abrupt changes in air temperature. The
boundary between the hot and cold air can also reflect radio waves. When
these "freaks" radio conditions are present (often referred to as
"freak atmospherics") interference to your television picture can occur
from distant stations. However, amateurs take advantage of these
"good" conditions to make contacts with stations typically
1,000-2000km(1,000 miles) distant.
Auora
Borealis Every one
has heard of the "northern lights". Particles radiated from the sun under
special conditions become trapped in the earth's magnetic field and give
off light. Sometimes when this happens the atmosphere becomes ionized. the
ionisation may be sufficiently strong that very short wave length radio
signals can bounce of the "notthern lights". Amateurs also use this
natural phenomena to make contacts over hundreds of kilometers.
Meteors Hundreds of meteors burn up in the outer layer's of the earth's
atmosphere every day. The high temperature of the burning meteor can cause
very high ionisation for a few seconds. By using high speed Morse Code
transmission techniques radio amateurs can exchange much information in
these few seconds and make a worth while radio contact. This is an unusual
side of amateur radio but nonetheless quite popular. Radio Amateurs seem
to thrive on difficulties that professional communicators would not accept
because of the poor reliability.
The
Moon The moon is of
special significance to the hundreds of radio amateurs around the world
who use it as a reflector to bounce signals from continent to continent.
This method of communication is marginal and demands from amateurs very
high standards in design and operation of their equipment. When amateurs
run out of natural things to bounce their signals off, they make unmanned
relay stations which receive transmissions from radio amateurs and
re-radiate them from elevated sites. These "repeaters" are primarily
intended to assist amateurs to communicate from car to car and extend the
range from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers.
International
contacts are possible using the same principle, the elevated site being a
communication satellite orbiting the earth. Several of these have been
built by amateurs for use by amateurs-some are currently
operational. |
A group of
private experiments were wild when at the close of the 19th centaury late
Sir.J.C. Bose of India proved beyond doubt that intelligence can be
transmitted his first wireless Transmitter later. Thus both these renowned
pioneers can be called first amateurs in Wireless Technology. Round about
the year 1894, Bose was successful in sending wireless signals over a
distance of 7 feet with three to four solid walls intervening. After
this he went to England in 1895 and successfully demonstrated it various
learned societies and won admiration from many famous scientists.
It was on
December 12, 1901 Macaroni transmitted signals for over 2000 miles across
Atlantic and later several hundreds of Radio enthusiasts as hobbyists
learnt to develop transmitters and receivers. Years rolled on, the
undaunted group of amateurs started working earnestly in backyards on the
frequency spectrum allotted to them. The undisturbed vast space of
frequencies bellow 200 meters was given to amateurs thinking that
was baseless Medium. A mission of amateurs was sent from USA to Europe in
1921 and several hours of two way communication was confirmed by European
& American amateurs and thus established radio contacts between the
continents thus of the possibility of short wave Dx Communication goes to
the amateurs only and none else. This was the time when Govt. commercial
communication engineers thought it an impossibility.
The entire
spectrum of short wave was an innovation of amateurs which later brought
revolution in communication globally. When commercial, Military &
Broadcast people rushed into the 100 meters region threatening the
amateurs being thrown out of the established region, it became necessary
to protect amateurs interests. In 1910 Wireless Institute of Australia, in
1914 American Radio Relay League, In 1920 Radio Society of Great
Britain (earlier radio club of London) and other societies of
amateurs got organised in several countries in Europe and started
collective action to protect amateurs interest. Due to the lead role
played in 1924 by ARRL, the officials of the first frequency determining
conference allotted bands not only in 80 meters , but at 40, 20, and even
5 meters exclusively for s use.
The components
and equipment developed by the pioneers became a legend and many
commercial production organisations starting taking help from them. It the
technological innovations and social good that brought with the amateur
saw the Governments of USA, UK & Germany etc.., gave recognition to
the amateur organisation and allowed them to the thrive.
FIRST LICENSED
RADIO AMATEURS IN INDIA
From the little
information available about the past history of the amateurs, it is known
that Dr.B.N.Singh and Sri. T.N.Gupta were first issued amateurs license.
Unfortunately no detailed record of their activity or call signs is
available. The officially known first call sign was 2 JK to Mr.A.C.Gooptu
in the year 1921.
Prior to this it
appears over 20 Britishers had Ham license and commercial establishments
of British were permitted to use Wireless. However 2 Jk (A.C.Gooptu)
contacted Australia in 1923. Even in those days 160, 80, 40, 20 meter both
on Telegraphy and Telephony were authorized. In 1926 all these facilities
were withdrawn and the authorities became more strict in the issue of
amateur licenses and their operations. It is mainly because of British
rules realized ingenious effort of Indians and their capabilities to self
develop transmitters/receiving apparatus and feeling a threat of
misuse.
In 1939 when the
clouds of the World War 2 emanated all amateur licenses were withdrawn and
their equipments were sealed by authorities. During the war many amateurs
opted for defense services in USA/UK and became pioneers in developing
Technologies in Electronics & Communication fields. Independent India,
in 1948 had about 50 licensed amateurs, out of which hardly 10 or 12 were
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Amateurs have a
significant role to play in the development of art of radio communication.
In several ways they complement rather than compete with their
professional brothers. Unlike professionals, they are not
required to provide a reliable communication service for general use and
therefore are free to exploit less reliable propagation methods which can
be of little value to professionals who normally demand totally reliable
system. Amateurs operators are also skilled technically and therefore they
may use techniques which are too sophisticated for general use by
technically less skilled operators. There are several students of 12 years
& above and much older people even above 70 years, who pursue these
activities.
Amateur radio is
obviously of special value to the blind and immobile. For them it provides
a unique link to the outside world.
Frequency
Spectrum of Amateurs
1820 - 1860
KHz |
3500 - 3700
KHz |
3890 - 3900
KHz |
7000 - 7100
KHz |
14000 -
14350 KHz |
18068 -
18168 KHz |
21000 -
21450 KHz |
24890 -
24990 KHz |
28000 -
29700 KHz |
|
144 -
146 MHz |
434 - 438
MHz |
1260 - 1300
MHz |
5725 - 5840
MHz |
Government Of
India Gives Licenses
Amateur Wireless
Telegraph Station Licenses are issued in the following grades by WPC Wing,
Department of Telecom , Government of India after duly qualifying a Test
conducted.
Restricted Grade II Permitting use of VHF
only (i.e. Walkie - Talkies) in Amateur Radio. With about 800
Channels. Grade
II Permitting
all frequencies but with limited transmitting power. Grade I Permitting Higher power including
latest techniques. Advanced Grade Permitting higher power and advanced techniques including
Satellite Communication.
About The Examination
The Examination Consists of Three
Parts :
The Morse Code of
5 words per minute sending - receiving will be eligible to get Grade II
and 12 words per minute sending - receiving will get Grade I. For advanced
grade higher level of technical knowledge in electronics is essentially
required.It takes 2 months (Say two hours per day ) training to become
eligible for the examination.If one wishes to get use of
Walkie-Talkies only on VHF. Morse test is not
necessary.
Eligibility for the Test
Any Indian
Citizen over 12 years of age. No educational qualifications is
required.
Details of
Equipment
Amateur Radio licensed operators use either Home Made or
Imported equipment in India.
Issue of License
By wireless Planning &
Co-ordination Wing of DOT, Govt. Of India.
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