Changes

'''Amateur Radio''', also called by some "ham radio", is a hobby followed by people in most countries of the world, using internationally coordinated, specifically designated, frequency bands. Each country or jurisdiction separately allocates the frequencies and licenses its operators to use specific power levels or modes of communication. They are issued a personal callsign that has letters reflecting their country's international callsign area, a number reflecting the state or region, and letters that particularise the callsign to them. See examples below.

'''Amateur Radio''', also called "ham radio", is a hobby followed by people in most countries of the world, using internationally coordinated, specifically designated, frequency bands. Each country or jurisdiction separately allocates the frequencies and licenses its operators to use specific power levels or modes of communication. They are issued a personal callsign that has letters reflecting their country's international callsign area, a number reflecting the state or region, and letters that particularize the callsign to them. See examples below.

Operators set up their stations normally in their homes, and use antenna systems suitable for their domestic situation. This may limit the frequency bands on which they can operate, as longer wavelength transmissions normally require larger antenna. Also, larger aerial arrays are needed to achieve higher transmission gain on higher frequencies. Vehicle mounted radios and antennas can also be used.  

Operators set up their stations normally in their homes, and use antenna systems suitable for their domestic situation. This may limit the frequency bands on which they can operate, as longer wavelength transmissions normally require larger antenna. Also, larger aerial arrays are needed to achieve higher transmission gain on higher frequencies. Vehicle mounted radios and antennas can also be used.  

Frequency bands and modes of operation include:

Frequency bands and modes of operation include:

* High Frequency (short-wave) through to microwave frequencies;

* High Frequency (short-wave) through to microwave frequencies;

* voice

* voice (referred to by ham operators as "phone")

* CW (Morse code)

* CW (Morse code)

* facsimile (fax over radio)

* facsimile (fax over radio)

* television - slow-scan (similar to fax) and fast-scan (as for broadcast TV)

* television - slow-scan (similar to fax) and fast-scan (as for broadcast TV)

* satellites (over 20 operational in orbit)

* satellites (over 20 operational in orbit)

* digital communications (various formats)

* digital communications (various formats, the most common being PSK31)

==Amateur Radio and Christianity==

==Amateur Radio and Christianity==

* Hussein, King of [[Jordan]] - JY1

* Hussein, King of [[Jordan]] - JY1

* [[Bhumiphol Adulayadej]], King of [[Thailand]] - HS1A     

* [[Bhumiphol Adulayadej]], King of [[Thailand]] - HS1A     

* [[George Patacki]], Governor of [[New York]] - K2ZCZ   

* [[George Pataki]], Governor of [[New York]] - K2ZCZ   

* [[Barry Goldwater]], Senator (US) (ret) - K7UGA/K3UIG     

* [[Barry Goldwater]], Senator (US) (ret) - K7UGA/K3UIG     

* [[Burl Ives]], singer - KA6HVA

* [[Burl Ives]], singer - KA6HVA

* [[Chet Atkins]], guitar player - WA4CZD

* [[Chet Atkins]], guitar player - WA4CZD

* [[Cliff Richard]] (Harry Webb), singer - W2JOF

* [[Cliff Richard]] (Harry Webb), singer - W2JOF

* [[Joe Walsh]], guitarist - WB6ACU

* [[Joe Walsh]], guitarist for The Eagles - WB6ACU

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.amsat.org The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation] of North America

* [http://www.amsat.org The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation] of North America

* [http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/4400/famous.htm famous Amateurs]

* [http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/4400/famous.htm famous Amateurs]

[[Category:Hobbies|Amateur Radio]]

[[Category:Hobbies|Amateur Radio]]