About Amateur Radio
Ham Radio is two-way radio communication which is for public service and personal gain without any monetary compensation. You can communicate with people around the world and make good friends. In fact, many hams who are in the hobby for a very long time maintain their bonds for more than a decade-sometimes even longer! I have been a ham since August of 1996, and I can attest to having good ham buddies. (I want to take the time now to say hello to several hams: Bob W6SRQ with YL Helen [both now Silent Keys...I miss you both terribly...and I promised Helen after Bob's death that I'll come over for the weekend during the summer for a bit of shopping and comfort. Alas, she died on Maundy Thursday 2000, shortly after Bob died.], Ev KI6IL, Pat W6JFM, Len KE6ZRK, Steve, Hank N6LRR, Matthew KF6RTB and others [especially from the Noon Group!]. You are all a blessing!) Of course, there are people who disregard the Radio Art, but mostly, we ignore them and enjoy communication. Conversation is indeed an art, and we take it very seriously. We do Morse Code (or CW, as hams call it), voice, radioteletype (RTTY for short- it's talking to one another by computer like a computer chat), packet (another computer-related mode where you leave a "packet" of information and somebody will respond back- it's somewhat related to RTTY), and satellites. These are the lengths we go for enjoyment, and it is worth it!
In America (and territories), it is regulated by the FCC. One must get a license in order to operate a rig, and in order to have a license, you must pass an exam. The FCC used to offer six license classes and this is what these licenses required:
Ham Radio Links
