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What is Ham Radio?
More than three million people enjoy ham radio hobbies, which is basically amateur radio. These enthusiasts create a network of people that enjoy communicating with one another over different frequencies. However, ham radio operators do use a variety of methods to communicate with one another.
The amateur radio operators are known as Hams, and they communicate with one another for fun, self-improvement, or even public service. These operators communicate by transmitting messages by voice, Morse code, or even messages through computers. There are some new ways that allow hams to communicate via television with pictures that are transmitted around the world.
Ham radio is something that everyone can enjoy. There are people from all walks of life that enjoy this hobby such as homemakers, students, doctors, engineers, and drivers. All of these people have an interest and enjoyment in communicating with others through wireless technology. Many hams get together so that the younger generations can learn from those that have a lot of experience. Licensed hams actually communicate with one another from regional locations such as across town, across the country, although they can even communicate when they are across the world from one another if they so choose.
Hams have different reasons for participating. Many ham radio operators simply enjoy talking to friends, while others enjoy volunteering to help assist people in emergency situations, and are able to transmit messages if normal communications are not possible. Many hams are available to emergency medical teams, specialize in spotting severe weather, and disaster response. Ham radios can even be used to communicate with astronauts in outer space! Astronauts have communicated with many operators such as teachers, parents, and children while they have been in the space station and in orbit.
More than 600,000 Americans have a ham radio license. The Federal Communications Commission must license all people that use ham radios in the United States. To receive the license one must pass an exam. Most of these hams will tell you that they have a dedicated area of their home for their radio and other equipment, this room is often known as the "shack" in ham slang.
Hams enjoy meeting one another and often hold organized events to get together and have a great time. These gatherings are usually called Hamfest, with the largest Hamfest gathering being held in Dayton, Ohio. This is always an exciting event for most ham radio enthusiasts because they get to meet other with similar interests, talk shop, and meet new friends.
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