Radio amateur (also called a ham)

    Radio amateur (also called a ham) with a wireless set can talk to ageologist in the Antarctica,astronauts on the ISS (international space station), or the captain of an Italian ship sailinq in the Pacific Ocean.Hams communicate with other hams, around the block, on a distant continent or from orbiting space station! Some talk via computers, others prefer to use regular voice communications and still others enjoy using one of the oldest forms of radio communication - The Morse Code. . Ham radio operators are a group of people nurturing a special interest in wireless communication technology. One of the most important contribution of amateur radio to the society is rending support during natural calamities. And they are called on their duty by Govt of India (or any other authorised department of communication of an indivisual country) when normal channels of communication break down by voluntarily establishing communication links between the affeacted area and rest of the world. Apart from making friends, personality development and many other uses. Those with keen interest in Communications or Electronics can find this hobbby as a hotline to the outside world (free of cost). I've made this page for all You, who like to experiment and create. Especially for you who like to make and experiment with transmitters. To start with you need to get a license from the Government of your country to go on air. 

   Radio communication establishment with other amateurs all over the world and construction of radio equipment are the main features of amateur radio. Radio amateurs have discovered a richly rewarding high-tech hobby that has many different appeals to different people. Whether it is the ability to talk to local friends over the radio waves using a hand-held transceiver, communicating digitally with packet radio to exchange personal messages or vital information in an emergency, talking to other hams anywhere in the world, or engaging in contests with other Radio Amateurs over the airwaves,    (Communicating by bouncing signals off the moon is another interesting activity that radio amateurs are into. You can experience thrill of hearing your own signal returned from space by an orbiting "repeater in the sky" - a ham radio satellite Mobile ham stations can remotely text message or send e-mail via the VU2NCT IGate even without a direct Internet connectivity. So should you need help/assistance in some way throughout the project, do not hesitate to call upon me!  there is something for everybody.

    A ham radio operator is a radio enthusiast who by virtue of his fascination towards wireless communication technology enables himself to establish his own two way radio station and communicate around the world for sheer joy, thrill and excitement involved in successfully establishing radio contacts around the world.Ham Radio operators can talk to those on the other side of the earth with nothing more than a simple short wave transceiver (transmitter + receiver) and a simple dipole antenna.Ham Radio (amateur radio) is a popular hobby amongst electronics enthusiasts all over the world. Basically the hobby involves a person in making his own gear consisting of a receiver and transmitter or a transceiver (a receiver and a transmitter in one unit) after procuring a licence from the Ministry of Communications.Whether you would like to chat with your friends connect to others via a repeater or an amateur radio satellite, or volunteer for emergency services, amateur radio is the first and foremost about communication. Radios can be hand-held transceivers similar to a walkie-talkie, a mobile unit for use in a car or other vehicle, or a base station with an outdoor antenna used for local or distance communication. Regardless of the type of equipment radio amateurs have a wide range of activities they can pursue. There are VHF (Very High Frequency) repeaters across India which can amplify the signals from your walkie-talkies and re-transmit it across huge distances. Some of these repeaters are interconnected through VOIP (Voice over internet protocol) on the internet using a technology called Echo Link. This enables a ham enjoying a long drive in the Cannat place of New Delhi to talk to his counterpart in United States or a holiday maker in the coast of Hawai Isles. If computers are your favorite aspect of today's technology, you'll soon discover that you can connect your computer and ham radio equipment and operate on such digital modes as packet radio and PSK-31. With packet, you can leave messages that other packet enthusiasts will pick up and answer later.

    Ham radio operators communicate using voice as well as Morse Code, but computer to computer on-the-air communication is also popular among hams. Hams have their own wireless BBS (Bulletin Board Service) and E-mail system in which a ham from any part of the world can get access to another ham's computer and exchange information on-the-air.Hams also obtain their own Orbital Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR). Some satellites have Robots which will respond to the call and reply back and some work as repeater. Hams can exchange pictures on-the-air through Slow Scan Television (SSTV) or Fast Scan Television (FSTV).There are different modes of on-the-air computer to computer communication. Radio Teletype (RTTY) is used for transferring text messages. Packet Radio, Amateur Teleprinting Over Radio (AMTOR), Packet Teleprinting Over Radio (PACTOR) can even transmit data or files.

    Hams regurlay use Amateur Radio satellites, In Gujarat as a result of the destructions caused by the earthquake in 2001, many  emergency ham stations were installed and they rendered effective communication services in the areas affected. During the Bhopal gas tragedy, radio amateurs set up a VHF communication network in the city for the benefit of people who had vacated their houses while the deadly MIC gas was being neutralized. During the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq when civilian telecommunication links to the beleaguered country were snapped, it was a lone south Indian who conveyed messages on ham radio news about stranded Indians to their relatives in India. In December 2004, when the quake triggered tsunami slammed on the Indian Coast, hams from across the country set up communication links in order to help coordinate the relief efforts.

   Hams come from all walks of life: Students, Teachers, Doctors, Engineers, Architects, Businessmen, Scientists, Film Stars, Kings and Prime Ministers making it a well knit international fraternity. Some prominent radio amateurs are late Prime Minister Sri Rajiv Gandhi(VU2RG), Smt. Sonia Gandhi(VU2S0N), Mr. Amitabh Bachchan(VU2AMY), late King Hussein of Jordan(JY1), Actor Kamal Hasan(VU2HAS), late astronaut Kalpana Chawla  ( crew of Indian-origin at Discovery Shattle which.......  KD5ESI). (also king of Jordan, Spain, Thailand, & Moroco) and there are many more popular personalities ... packet radio satellite that allows messages from Earth to be stored and forwarded back down to Earth when the spacecraft is within range of the designated station Hams in India have built their first ever Indian amateur satellite called HAMSAT, along with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). Radio Amateurs have always been in pace with the advancements made in the field of technology and have side by side contributed to it immensely in the form of inventions and developments. During the late 1990s, the shuttle crews requested that NASA include a SAREX payload on their flights. An amateur station was one of the first "extra" items installed in the International Space Station. Amateur Radio operators living on the International Space Station enjoy using its on-board ham station during their off-duty hours. They enjoy conversations with their friends, school students and hams around the world by voice and packet radio. Many astronauts are ham radio operators. To become a radio amateur requires a license authorized by the appropriate governing body in your country hams get a call sign, a set of letters and numbers, assigned to them by the Ministry of Communications. No one else "owns" your call sign-it's unique. Indian call signs begin with VU2, VU3, VU4 or VU7 with some combination of letters that follow.

    Home brewing or self construction, an integral part of the hobby, has been sadly neglected in our country, despite the fact that various institutions with governmental help have come into being recently.Hams aboard can buy the latest transceiver off the shelf at a reasonable price and go on the air immediately. But in India, with a sixty per cent duty involved (now changed?), a commercial transceiver would cost a whopping Rs: 50,000. Hence, it is beyond the reach of an average Indian Ham.The Indian ham is often handicapped for want of ham gear. To overcome this shortcoming a small receiver and a transmitter can be home brewed with indigenously available components. The total outlay may not exceed a few hundred rupees

    Generally, radio telephony consists of FM (frequency modulation), AM (amplitude modulation) or SSB (single side band). FM is mostly used for VHF (very high frequency) communications and it' not reflected by ionsfare.. AM, because of its inherent disadvantages, has become outdated for hams.A modulated AM signal consists of a carrier and two symetrically spaced side bands. The two side bands have the same amplitude and carry the same information. In fact, the carrier itself coveys or carries no information. In a 100% modulated AM signal 2/3 rd of the power is wasted in the carrier and only 1/6th of the power is contained in each side band. SSB is the most popular mode used by hams all over the world. It permits them to have long rag-chews (long radio contacts). In addition to this, we have exotic digital modes like packet radio, SSTV (slow scan TV) and satellite communications.In our country, we can see much of the amateur activity on 7000 - 7100 KHz (40 meter ham band) and 14000 - 14350 KHz (20 meter ham band). You have several options to setup a Ham Radio station. If you are good in or interested in assembling electronics circuits, you can assemble ham radio rig your self or get it assembled by some one.

    The Amateur is Considerate He never knowingly uses the air in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others. The Amateur is Loyal.. ... He offers his loyalty, encouragement and support to his fellow radio amateurs, his local club through which Amateur Radio is represented. The Amateur is Progressive ..... He keeps his station abreast of science. It is well-built and efficient. His operating practice is above reproach. The Amateur is Friendly .... Slow and patient sending when requested, friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance, co-operation and consideration for the interests of others: these are marks of the amateur spirit. The Amateur is Balanced ..... Radio is his hobby. He never allows it to interfere with any of the duties he owes to his home, his job, his school, or his community. The Amateur is Patriotic .... His knowledge and his station are always ready for the service of his country and his community.

    This webpage has just been put on the internet. If you spot something not right or errors in typing, please do not hesitate to call upon me and let me know. Should you happen to spot something that looks 'not quite right' or something that I might have not explained in more detail...do drop me a line and I will get back with you on it. With both our heads, we will have a 'near perfect' webpage on plans for the Hams. If there is any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me a letter. I am here to help in any way that I can...

    Should you need help on design or theoretical explanation of circuits, do post your question on sandeep_lohia12@rediffmail.com. along with other knowledgeable visitors, I’ll be more than happy to shed more light on your quary, and  more than happy to help!

    ......your friend, Sandeep(sucessifully qualified waiting for TICKER. 73)