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Amateur radio

1,940 bytes added, 16:23, March 16, 2017
That's like calling a McCoy an honorary member of the Hatfields--cat. fix
'''Amateur Radio''', also called by some "ham radio", is a hobby pass-time 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 licences 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 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.
The portable and "can-do" nature of Amateur Radio has meant that Amateurs have often been first-responders during or just after major disasters, establishing links using procedures tested during regular "field days" or emergency exercises.
The [[International Space Station]] has an extensive suite of Amateur Radio equipment, as did the Russian MIR spacecraft. Most cosmonauts and astronauts are licensed operators. This is perhaps a result of the "technological tinkering" mindset that these people have.
Frequency bands and modes of operation include:
* High Frequency (short-wave) through to microwave frequencies;* voice(referred to by ham operators as "phone")* CW (morse Morse code)* facsimile (fax over radio)* television - slow-scan (similar to fax) and fast-scan (as for broadcast TV)* satellites (over 20 operational in orbit)* digital communications (various formats, the most common being PSK31)
==Amateur Radio and Christianity==
Until the widespread advent of [[telephone]] systems and the [[Internet]] in under-developed countries, Amateur Radio was widely used by [[missionary]] groups to communicate with people across the world. The missionaries operated their radios to talk to their home organsations organisations and pass information to family members.
Additionally, they operated their radios to ==Etiquette in the Amateur Radio Fraternity==When amateur radio operators make contact with 'ordinary' Amateurs and give other amateurs they often mail them highly prized "QSL contact cardcards" (that is, postcards) with a country, state, proviceprovince, or area . In areas where there were very few amateur operators, these can be highly prized. Among Amateur amateur Radio operators in developed countries the missionaries were, and still those from less populated regions are, a very welcome and highly prized group of people, often supported with donations to support their ability to provide the much sought after QSL card, or through having someone manage their QSL card distribution. The usual form of exchange is for the Amateur to send a "green stamp" (a US$1 bill) in exchange for the QSL card. This pays for the mailing of the card, and normally left leaves a little besides as a donation for the missionary.
==Famous Amateur Radio operators and callsigns==
Include:
* [[Walter Cronkite]], CBS news anchorman - KB2GSD * Hussein, King of [[Jordan]] - JY1* [[Bhumiphol Adulayadej]], King of [[Thailand]] - HS1A * [[George PatackiPataki]], Governor of [[New York]] - K2ZCZ * [[Barry Goldwater]], Senator (US) (ret) - K7UGA/K3UIG * [[Burl Ives]], singer - KA6HVA* Dr. [[Alex Comfort]], author of "The Joy of Sex" - KA6UXR* [[Donnie Osmond]], entertainer - KA7EVD (lapsed)* [[Marlon Brando]] aka Martin Brandeaux, actor - FO5GJ* [[Chet Atkins]], guitar player - WA4CZD* [[Cliff Richard]] (Harry Webb), singer - W2JOF*[[Joe Walsh]], guitarist for The Eagles - WB6ACU*[[Leon Schlesinger]], creator of Porky Pig
==External linksSee also==* [http://www.iaru.org International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)]* [http://www.wia.org.au Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA)] - the first national Amateur Radio society* [http://www.arrl.org Amarican Radio Relay League (ARRL)] - hobby society body for USA* [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.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=A http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net]*[Categories[Radio communication technologies]]*[[Amateur radio frequency allocations]]*[[Radio]]*[[Electromagnetic wave]]*[[modulation]]*[[amplitude]]*[[frequency modulation]] (FM)*[[Shortwave]]*[[Walkie-talkie]]*[[Citizens band radio]]*[[Telegraph]]*[[Radio codes and alphabets]]*[[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC)*[[American Radio Relay League]] ==Links: General Organizations==*[http://www.iaru.org International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)]*[http://www.arrl.org American Radio Relay League (ARRL)] - hobby society body for USA, also involved in lobbying and emergency work*[http://www.wia.org.au Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA)] - the first national Amateur Radio society*[http://www.amsat.org The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation] of North America*[http://www.qcwa.org/ Quarter Century Wireless Association] Organization of hams who have been licensed for 25+ years*[http://www.carf.net Christian Amateur Radio Fellowship] ==Links: Morse Code==*[http://www.fists.org/ FISTS: International Morse Code Preservation Society]*[http://www.skccgroup.com/ Straight Key Century Club] promotes manually-sent Morse code ==Links: Emergency/Military Communications==*[http://www.arrl.org/ares ARES] Amateur Radio Emergency Services (branch of ARRL)*[http://www.usraces.org/ RACES] Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (branch of [[FEMA]], activated by the President under [[War Powers Act]])*[http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/ MARS] Military Auxiliary Radio System (branch of US military)*[http://www.skywarn.org/ Skywarn] (branch of [[NOAA]]/[[NWS]], assists during weather disasters) ==Links: Other==*[http://www.oocities.org/SiliconValley/Campus/4400/famous.htm Famous Amateurs]*[http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/ FCC Part 97] Rules governing amateur radio.*[http://www.ac6v.com/ AC6V.com] Links and information on the hobby. [[Category:Hobbies|Amateur Radio]][[Category:Amateur Radio]][[Category:Communications]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Inventions]]
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