What is Amateur Radio?
When cell phones, regular phones, the internet and other systems are down or overloaded, Amateur Radio still gets the message through. Radio amateurs, often called hams, enjoy radio technology as a hobby; but it's also a vital service that has saved lives when regular communication systems failed.1
Who can become an Amateur Radio Operator?
Anyone can become an amateur radio operator! There are over two million amateur radio operators around the world, and more than 750,000 in the United States alone. Amateur radio operators can be any age, and you can contact operators as young as 5, or even as old as 100.
What is Amateur Radio used for?
The first and foremost responsibility of amateur radio operators is to be available for emergency communications in tramautic events such as natural disasters. However, in order to maintain their skills, operators participate in many other activities including, but not limited to:
- General operation (conversational between two or more operators at different stations)
- Public service events (providing communications for events such as marathons)
- Foxhunting (hidden transmitter tracking)
- Contesting (attempting to make the maximum number of contacts in a predetermined amount of time)