Needing a helping ham? An old hobby tackles today\'s communications demands - ham radio
When fighting in Bosnia created gaps in communications, the only workable bridge was found in a hobby that may seem antiquated by todays standardsham radio. Yugoslavian amateur radio operators, or "hams," moved their radios into devastated areas, passing hundreds of thousands of messages safely between local communities and refugee camps on behalf of separated families, without regard to religious or ethnic prejudice.
It may seem ironic that a decades-old hobby should continue to play an important role in this age of satellites, television, E-mail, and instant worldwide communication. Yet ham radio remains unique in its ability to get through in emergencies where other modes are disabled. For example, when Hurricane Andrew devastated Dade County, Florida, knocking out even cellular phone circuits, amateur radio was there to serve a population grown dependent upon communications.
A fascination with amateur radio has led thousands of young experimenters into engineering and science careers since its official sanctioning by the Communications Act of 1934. Many went on to play key roles in developing the communications advances we enjoy today. In 1961, a group of American amateurs built and launched the worlds first nonmilitary satellite. Since then, 16 currently active communications satellites have been launched by amateur groups in the United States, Japan, and Russia.
Hams also established a worldwide computer-controlled network for automatically forwarding packet data years before radio frequency (RF) data transmission was "pioneered" by Apple Computer for its Newton PDA. These days computers are an integral part of modern ham stations. Digital PC-based communications, using a variety of modes with curious names like RTTY, AMTOR, PACKET, and CLOVER, is the fastest-growing segment of ham radio.
David Sumner, amateur call sign K1ZZ, is executive vice president of the largest amateur organization, the American Radio Relay League, founded in 1914. (The hobby existed long before the laws were written.) According to Sumner, the worlds of hi-tech and amateur radio share similar orbits. "For the last 10 years, amateur radio has been an integral part of many space shuttle missions, and the astronauts are especially enthusiastic about talking from space to students in classrooms around the country," he says. "In fact, the United States astronaut corps probably has the highest concentration of licensed hams of any profession you can find."
Adding to the appeal are compact and immensely capable ham radios to replace the heavy, clumsy rigs of years past. Operating in the very high frequency (VHF) and ultrahigh frequency (UHF) ranges, tiny, shirt-pocketsize FM handie-talkies (HTs) have revolutionized personal and public service ham communications. An estimated 15,000 "repeaters" scattered across the country extend the range of HTs to 50 miles or more. In some cases, linked repeaters can span several states.
Understandably then, the U.S. community of 630,000 licensed amateurs is growing faster than at any time in history. In 1991, the Federal Communications Commission opened the doors even wider by removing Morse code proficiency as a requirement for the Technician class license. Frequencies authorized for technicians include the immensely popular FM repeaters, on-the-air bulletin boards, amateur television, satellite, and "moonbounce" communications.
The codeless license, plus universal availability of HTs and repeaters, has significantly extended ham radios appeal for those interested in personal, noncommercial communications. A written examination is still required to get licensed, but study materials and free, club-sponsored classes are widely available.
Undeniably, many more kids today would rather operate personal computers than radios. Computer bulletin boards, the Internet, and online services indeed offer compelling communications options. "However," says Sumner, "if you want to learn what makes communications work, there is no better experimentation lab going than amateur radio."
Free information on amateur radio is available from the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut 06111-1494.
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