[SFDXA] "Wave of popularity" - From American Legion Magazine by N4KC

[Bill]

   From American Legion Magazine March 2015.


  http://www.legion.org/magazine/226238/wave-popularity


  Terrific well written article. Spot on...Bill W2CQ


  Wave of popularity


      In a digital world, ham radio endures, as a hobby and means of
      emergency communication.

By Don Keith - March 1, 2015
<http://www.legion.org/print/226238>
Featured in The American Legion Magazine <http://www.legion.org/magazine>

What comes to mind when you hear the term “ham radio”? Maybe, when you 
were a kid, it was the fellow with the tall tower in his backyard that 
was blamed for causing squiggly lines on neighborhood TV screens. Or the 
guy at work with antennas bristling from his car who spends his lunch 
hour eating a sandwich and talking on a radio. Or maybe you’ve read a 
news story about “ham” operators helping in the aftermath of a natural 
disaster.

Whatever your impression of the hobby, you may have no idea how dynamic 
and fun ham radio is, or just how crucial it can be when other forms of 
communication fail. And it’s a perfect fit – both nationally and at 
local posts – with many American Legion missions, including civil defense.

Every time you send a text on your phone, watch a TV show or use Wi-Fi 
at a coffee shop, you use technology developed in part by early hams – 
an old railroad telegraphers’ term for “inexperienced operator” – 
experimenting with newly invented radio in their basements and attics. 
And throughout amateur radio’s 100-year history, these cellar alchemists 
have helped create and refine innovations in the field. Meanwhile, 
others have helped save lives and ease human suffering during 
catastrophic events such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Along the way, they’ve formed a tight-knit community that has a heck of 
a good time.

In the early 1900s, with radio in its infancy, its possibilities 
appealed to a group of early adopters. They took the work of scientists 
and pioneered the first practical uses of wireless technology. 
Meanwhile, world governments saw the need to formalize regulation of 
this new communication medium to prevent on-air chaos. In the United 
States, the Federal Radio Commission was created for that purpose. Most 
regulatory agencies recognized the contributions of those early hams  
and saw them as a willing and valuable resource. They designated 
portions of the radio spectrum for amateurs to continue to experiment 
and provide backup communications as a public service.

Fast forward a century, and the hobby is still as vibrant as ever. This 
surprises some people, who assume that smartphones, Facebook, online 
chat rooms and texting have made a pastime like ham radio obsolete. 
Yes, communicating with others is the ultimate goal of amateur radio 
enthusiasts, and there are plenty of ways to do that these days. But 
there is so much more to the hobby than simply talking to another person.

It can be difficult to convey the attraction to others, but there is a 
certain magic in connecting with another person using a radio station 
that you put together yourself, possibly one you designed and built from 
scratch. There’s a thrill that comes from bouncing a signal off the 
atmosphere – maybe even off a satellite, the surface of the moon or the 
tail of a comet – using newly developed digital modes of communicating, 
and conversing with someone who shares that passion, whether he’s down 
the street or on the far side of the globe.

Amateur radio is not for everyone. But for those who are interested and 
want to join in, it can be an almost perfect avocation, offering 
opportunities for learning, experimenting or combining the pastime with 
other interests.

Campers, whether in RVs or tents, take radios with them for 
companionship and emergency situations when other means of communication 
are unavailable. Some hams hike to mountaintops or venture to remote 
islands with tiny, low-power transceivers and portable antennas, putting 
those locations on the air for others around the world to contact. Many 
use radio to control model aircraft, boats or robots, or as payloads in 
weather balloon launches. A wide range of special-interest groups meets 
regularly on the amateur radio bands in what are called “nets,” 
discussing such subjects as antique cars or gardening. There are nets, 
too, for veterans to connect on the air and talk about their experiences.

Those with technical flair learn, design, build and try out new ideas. 
Right now, satellites designed and built by amateurs are orbiting the 
earth and can be accessed by other hams using relatively simple gear. 
Computer technology is a big part of amateur radio today, and the latest 
advances in combining digital content with radio frequency waves put 
today’s hobbyists on the cutting edge just like their predecessors a 
century ago. Others pay homage to their forerunners by restoring and 
repairing antique radio gear and returning it to the airwaves. For many, 
amateur radio has been the gateway to careers in engineering, 
electronics and communications.

However, technical aptitude is not required to join the fun. The hobby 
offers plenty for those not electronically inclined. For example, many 
enjoy what they term “radiosport,” using their radios and the airwaves 
for spirited competition and contacting as many other stations as they 
can in a set period of time. “Fox hunting” – searching for a hidden 
transmitter – is a popular activity. Others work toward awards for 
contacting as many fellow hams as they can in countries around the world.

Of course, many amateur radio enthusiasts simply enjoy having 
conversations with a group of friends or someone new each time they fire 
up their stations. You never know who you might encounter on the ham 
bands. That leisurely chat might be with a music or TV star, a member of 
Congress, the king of a European country, an ice fisherman on a lake in 
Manitoba, a Nobel Prize winner, a missionary on a South Pacific island, 
a group operating from an isolated chunk of glacier in the Antarctic or 
even an astronaut in outer space. Most crewmembers aboard the 
International Space Station are licensed hams and frequently converse 
with school groups and other individuals back on Earth.

*Ready to serve***With all this fun, competition and camaraderie, it is 
important to note that amateur radio has a serious purpose, too. When 
the Federal Radio Commission – now the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) – created the amateur radio service, it made it clear why hams 
deserved vast slices of the radio spectrum. One, as mentioned, was to 
allow them to continue experimenting and contributing to the field. The 
other was to provide a pool of trained operators with working radio 
stations to assist in providing emergency communications.

But have cellular technology, satellites and the like negated the need 
for amateur radio operators in emergencies? We only have to consider 
recent events – wildfires in the West, a volcanic eruption in Japan, 
Superstorm Sandy in the Northeast, the terrorist bombing at the Boston 
Marathon – for examples of normal communication infrastructure becoming 
overwhelmed or failing completely. In each case, hams were called upon, 
and they were ready to serve. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf 
Coast in 2005, the first structures to topple were cellphone towers. 
When tornadoes ripped through Alabama in 2011, hams were on the ground, 
first as trained “storm spotters” helping track the storms for the 
National Weather Service. Then they operated around the clock for weeks 
afterward, assisting relief operations.

 From the American Red Cross to The Salvation Army to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), numerous organizations rely heavily 
on amateur radio groups. The American Legion has been closely aligned 
with the hobby since the 1930s and signed a statement of affiliation 
with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2006. That agreement 
was reaffirmed last year in “Disaster Preparedness and Response for 
American Legion Posts,” a handbook published by the Legion. Also, at the 
92nd National Convention in Milwaukee in 2010, the Legion adopted 
Resolution No. 134, which urges posts and departments to assist DHS 
efforts in local communities – including disaster preparedness, which 
dovetails perfectly with amateur radio and its purpose.

But it doesn’t take a major disaster to demonstrate the value of amateur 
radio. Hams regularly provide communications for bicycle races, 
charitable running events and civic festivals. Operators are often 
involved in rescues of injured hikers or climbers, boats in jeopardy at 
sea or groups endangered by sudden weather. As we know, cellphones do 
not always work. Hams have plenty of experience in communicating under 
marginal conditions and regularly employ those skills to help others.

*How to get started *A good first stop to learn more about amateur radio 
is the website of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) at 
*www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org>*. ARRL publishes books, study guides 
and other materials to help beginners get started and gain the most from 
the hobby.

A license is a prerequisite, and that requires passing an examination. 
You only need a basic knowledge of radio theory, operating practices and 
FCC rules. Many study guides and online teaching programs are available. 
While the material requires some study, it is not daunting. Children 
younger than 10 have passed the test and received their licenses.

At one time, would-be amateur radio licensees were also required to pass 
a Morse-code proficiency examination. That is no longer the case. Morse 
code is still used by ham radio operators alongside 21st-century modes 
of communication, but it is no longer necessary to know the dots and 
dashes to obtain a license.

The test is administered by volunteer examiners. The ARRL website can be 
used to find nearby amateur radio clubs and exam sessions. A Google 
search for “amateur radio club” plus your city or state can also be a 
good guide to locate active clubs or groups near you. Many clubs offer 
free or inexpensive license-exam preparation classes. When you receive 
your license – and your own unique radio call sign – clubs can also help 
you put together a station and get on the air, so that you can start 
helping in public service and emergency communications.

If there’s already a club or a station at your American Legion post, the 
active amateurs there can tell you more about the hobby and how it can 
further the Legion’s mission.

If you know a post member who is already a licensed ham, suggest that he 
or she contact The American Legion Amateur Radio Club (TALARC) and join 
if not already a member. The club can offer ideas for how each post can 
participate, from conducting exam preparation classes to starting a ham 
radio station at the post for use by licensed Legionnaires.

The hobby of amateur radio continues to evolve, providing unique 
opportunities for education, experimentation, fellowship and public 
service. It fits well with other interests. It is also an enjoyable 
pastime that can be pursued no matter a person’s age or health.

Most of all, amateur radio is simply a lot of fun while offering the 
chance to give back to your community and country. That is why so many 
hams, particularly veterans, consider their hobby to be just about perfect.

/Don Keith is a former award-winning broadcaster and the best-selling 
author of more than a dozen books, including “Riding the Shortwaves: 
Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio.” He has been an active amateur 
radio operator since he was 13. His call sign is N4KC. Visit his website 
at /*/www.donkeith.com <http://www.donkeith.com>/*/./