Getting started with a ham radio
Getting started with a ham radio
No doubt you will have heard of the term “Ham Radios” most likely if you are not already an amateur radio enthusiast you would still have come across plenty of movies which have had an amateur radio enthusiast in it. And before you ask no it has nothing to do with a ham radio. However while I am on the topic of ham radios it’s actually not known where the term ham radio actually comes from but it is thought that the ham comes from something to do with the word amateur.
If you are wondering if there is a difference between Am/Fm and ham radios well there is not a lot, in both cases they both receive and send signals they work loosely on the same principles but there are various differences when it comes to using these items especially when it comes to operating the technology, especially ham radios.
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To operate a ham radio you need to have a licence, why, well ham radios work on frequencies that allow over longer distances than other normal radios. Not forgetting that ham radios can be and have been used often in emergency situations. Being able to use emergency frequencies is not something to be taken lightly, if used incorrectly you could endanger others, just one of the reasons that you need to have a licence to be able to operated a ham radio legally.
Ham radios offer the user a two way communication system with other amateur radio operators, in comparison to other Am/Fm radios that only receive broadcasted signals from stations. Hence the reason that ham radios are more expensive so if you are just starting out it would be wise to consider used kit to get started with. Just remember that ham radios do not come in a single unit you will need to by a multitude of different items like transceiver, antenna and wattmeter just to name one or two. You can buy a ready made kit but to get more out of the experience you are better getting your own individual units and setting up your own antenna. You will learn more doing this and getting your hands dirty and feel that you have managed to achieve something when you are up and running.
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 AMATEUR HAM RADIO DATACHART YAESU FT 817  US $10.90
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 YAESU VX 5R VX 5 AMATEUR HAM RADIO DATACHART LTR SZ US $10.90
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 ICOM IC 7000 AMATEUR HAM RADIO DATACHART 8 1 2x11 US $10.90
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 DIAMOND ANTENNA TRIPLEXER MX 3000D FOR HAM RADIO US $9.99
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 Ham Car Radio UHF VHF 45 60W 200CH TH9000 For TYT Radio New Black Single Band US $261.49
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 Page 75 ham linear US $100.00
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If setting up your own kit is not for you then by all means don’t worry about it and go for one of the commercial kits that are available. Think of the benefits of owning a ham radio, it offers a second or alternative way of communications in case of emergency, not forgetting making new friends and as a hobby it’s fantastic and don’t forget your friends are almost never just round the corner as you will be speaking to people all over the globe. There are many websites dedicated to amateur radio enthusiast and many forums so use them. There will be plenty of people willing to help you out there and make friends, doing this will give you the knowledge you need to get up and running and it will allow you to try making contact with these friends.
