A 'Ham', What's That?

So, you are interested in Ham Radio. Maybe you have already read my two-part article entitled "How to Get on the Air with Amateur Radio". If not, you will find it in the archive at Ham Radio Scene. Perhaps you are studying for your first ham radio license or have already passed the exam. Most likely you are trying for the entry-level 'Technician' license. If you have already passed the exam, congratulations!

What is a 'Ham'? "Ham" is what the early telegraph operators called another operator who was not very good at sending. As wireless transmission of those telegraph signals became the norm, the commercial operators increasingly found themselves competing with amateurs for space on the airwaves and began calling the amateur operators, "hams". Well, I guess it stuck. Even though it started out as a derogatory term, hams have adopted it and now wear the label with pride. Today, even though there is no longer a requirement to pass a Morse code test to become licensed, many hams continue to use code because they like it! Another reason is that, as various modes of voice transmission became popular, operators found that when there was a lot of static (QRN) or interference from other stations (QRM), CW could get the message through even when voice could not. The mode of transmitting code is called 'continuous wave', or 'CW' for short.

One great thing about ham radio is that hams can avail themselves of many different facets of this wonderful pastime. For instance, some of the many things that interest hams are: contacting other hams by voice (AM, FM, SSB), CW, radio-teletype (RTTY), slow scan television (SSTV), and digital modes like PSK and packet. Activities that interest hams include: talking to stations in distant counties (DX) or using repeaters to cover a wide area with a hand-held or mobile radio (RPT), or just locally (simplex), making contacts via moon-bounce and via ham radio satellites, operating from a home station (a 'Shack'), mobile communications from a vehicle, portable communications using a hand-held radio, contesting, participating in nets, attending hamfests, providing communications at public service events such as parades or at other public gatherings, practicing for emergencies and disasters through participation in groups such as the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and the list goes on and on. I hope some hams will comment about things they like to do that aren't on this short list.

We will get into what each class of Amateur license allows in terms of kinds of equipment, transmission modes used, frequencies allocated for each license, etc. next time. So for now this gives you the meaning of the term 'ham' and what hams like to do with their radios and licenses. To some being a ham is a hobby and to some it's a pastime and to others it's a calling to public service, but it's always fun!

Until next time...

'73 OM
DE WA2KKG k