Does Anyone Know How Ham Radios Work??

Question

Or any websites that give information

Answer 1

Ham radios work on a wide range of frequencies depending on the model and how they work depends greatly upon this. The lower frequencies have their signals bounced off an invisible layer of the Earth's atmosphere called the Ionosphere. The exact frequency ranges determine which layer of the ionosphere that the signal bounces off of, or is absorbed by. Sun spots charge up the ionosphere and either cause it to reflect signals better, or make a lot of noise and abosrb signals. Certain frequencies work better at night (like AM broadcast band radio), some work better during the day (similar to CB during skip conditions), some work better for within 500 miles, some you can't hear 500 miles away but can hear 2000 miles + no problem. These lower frequencies are collectively known as HF. Besides voice, many other modes of communication can be employed on these frequencies such as morse code, slow scan television and many different digital modes such as RTTY, PSK31, Packet and others. It is with these frequencies that people can communicate at times anywhere in the world.

Ham radio also covers higher frequencies like VHF and UHF. These are usually for your local communications. Repeaters are set up by other ham radio operators to facilitate longer distance communications and can be linked up with telephone systems or internet VOIP relays. These frequencies don't depend on the ionosphere for use and propagate usually by ground wave although conditions do occaisionally appear which allow for distant communications. Hams also build satellites which operate in the VHF and UHF frequencies that hams around the world can communicate through. Again there are many modes of communication, even TV and EME which involves bouncing a VHF or UHF signal off the surfance of the moon!

Ham radio can cost as little or as a lot as you want it to. There's something for everyone's budget. Joe Walsh from the band the Eagles probably has spent a small fortune on old Collins radio equipment! To be a ham radio operator, most countries don't have an age requirement but all require you to have a license. This involves taking a test. In the US, there is no longer a morse code requirement (effective later this month), and in Canada if you score good enough on the written, you get the same privledges as if you passed the morse code test. Licensing is typically done in different grades of licenses. There are three in the US: the Technician class which gives you all VHF and UHF privledges and some very basic, minimal allocations on HF; the General class which gives you the same as technician plus you get some coverage on every amateur band on HF; and the Extra class which gives you all coverage on every band -- this is the top class.

A good place to start for information is the ARRL -- The American Radio Relay League. http://www.arrl.org
They have links to material you can use to study for a license, where you can go to take the test (and when), hamfest listings, radio information, they have a lot about ham radio in general.

Hope this helps and hope to hear you on the air someday! If you or anyone has more questions about ham radio, feel free to contact me via my email link in my profile.

73!

Answer 2

Ham radio broadcast in all directions, hams generally do not use their radios in a broadcast kind of way as a disk jockey would at a radio station. In normal AM or FM radio, one disk jockey transmits and thousands of people listen. Hams, on the other hand, conduct two-way conversations.

Answer 3

It is easy and GETTING MUCH EASIER!
As of February 13th 2007 the FCC (GOVERNING BODY OF RADIO) has revoked the requirement for Morse code knowledge to obtain ANY CLASS OF AMATEUR (HAM) RADIO LICENSE!

That said what you need to do is start with a novice or Technician license (Easiest) and then get a transceiver and antenna to talk on ham radio after you pass the FCC exam.

40 years ago you normally built your own radio and antenna but the world has gotten so lazy you now just buy them.