By Wyn Purwinto, AB2QV.
Syracuse, New York, 10-01-2004.

The word �amateur� of amateur radio does not necessarily mean amateur as an unqualified or unauthorized operator. All amateur radio operators must pass the amateur radio exam to get a license granted by the FCC. Their license is two in one: operator license and station license. The operator license is one that lets a person operate a transceiver on amateur service frequencies allocated by the FCC. The station license authorizes a person to have an amateur station and its associated equipment. This includes a station call sign given by the FCC.

Some amateur radio operators are radio engineers by education and profession. Many amateur radio operators hold their electrical engineering degree. Moreover, many amateur radio operators do not have physics, electrical engineering, computer science and telecommunication background, yet they learn all of these by doing it. They come from all walks of life. The governmental policy issued by the FCC distinguishes those who do not make money and those who make money in radiocommunication business.

The FCC describes some important terms in Section 97.3 of the amateur rules. The amateur service is �A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.� Pecuniary means related to money, other payment or more than just money such as trading a communications service from a station in return for other type of service or materials. The word �amateur� actually means more toward radio experimentation that licensed operators spend their own expense, time and energy without generating any income out of it. Their radio operation is not for their living. Hence, it falls under amateur category. Some folks just enjoy their electronics hobby, that is all.

This experimenterism is a major component of their hobby. Their experimenterism somewhat contributes to the development of radiocommunication technology since the birth of the very first type of radio transmitters used in the early 1900s. From the tube technology to transistors and integrated circuit technology. They have contributed to the world of commercial and non-commercial radio businesses as well as radio operation for public services so far. This leads toward their principle of volunteerism.

Other than conducting a radio experimentation, the licensed operator also likes to be a volunteer as a radio communicator in time of emergency, sport and other public events. Section 97.401(a) of the Rules says: �When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur ... an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions.� The FCC through its Engineer in Charge may declare a temporary state of communication emergency requested by licensed amateur radio operators.

In Section 97.1 of its Rules, the FCC describes five principles of amateur radio including: 97.1(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. 97.1(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur�s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. 97.1(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. 97.1(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians and electronics experts. 97.1(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur�s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

More and more folks have challenging, enjoyable and satisfied experiences with amateur radio (hamradio). From Italian inventor and experimenter Guglielmo Marconi who launched the Age of Wireless in December 1901, to the first generation of American hamradio operators with their homebuilt transceiver gear, Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, who found the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in 1914 as a national organization, the astronaut hams who transmitted from a space shuttle, and many youngsters from all over the world who have been granted the advance amateur radio license. They enjoy several different modes of operation including phone, Morse code (or CW = Continuous Wave), RTTY (radio teletype), radio packet, PSK-31, Pactor, AMTOR, SSTV (slow scan tv), fax, digital voice and many more.

They can communicate locally by using their low power handheld transceivers (HTs) through simplex operation or the repeaters on VHF and UHF frequencies. Through Internet-Radio link such as IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project), EchoLInk and eQSO, they can use their HTs to communicate with the operators around the world who use their local Internet-Radio linking nodes, reflectors or repeaters. The intermediate and advance level operators are also authorized to communicate long distance (DX), radio to radio through High Frequency (HF). Or they can communicate in distance by using earth-moon-earth (EME) operation that is also called moon-bounced, or even through a hamradio satellite. For example, with various kinds of operation and infrastructure an operator in Central New York can communicate with his hamradio pals in European countries, Virgin Island, Hawaii, Japan and even Australia.

A decade or so after Marconi�s experimental effort, there were several American universities established their amateur radio clubs. For example, the first hamradio club at Syracuse University was pioneered by alumnus Charles Floring, W2AK, and his engineering college mates in 1934. They used to conduct an open house for local high school students and operated on the frequencies of 5 meters (was equivalent to 6 meters today). The student hams during 80's have made hundred contacts with the radio stations all over the world. They collected many QSL cards (a proof of contact) from the stations they have contacted.

Hamradio skills and knowledge can also be used to support the school projects. For instance, building a tiny transmitter for radio direction finding. Building a crystal radio, a short wave radio and a single side band transceiver. Building a four wheeler robot complete with its VHF/UHF radio for remote control. Building many different antennas for different radio operation. Experimentation on digital voice. Hamradio has unlimited possibilities to help students complete their indoor or outdoor electronics or science projects.

Experimenterism and volunteerism of hamradio have been enjoyed by almost one million American hams and almost three million hams from the rest of the world. More information on hamradio can be found at www.arrl.org, www.eham.net, www.qrz.com and through www.google.com by searching: hamradio or amateur radio. Several hamradio magazines including CQ, Popular Communications and World Radio can be found in major bookstores, as well as QST for ARRL members only.

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* Wyn Purwinto, AB2QV, is the trusty of Amateur Radio Club at Syracuse University (ARC@SU), Syracuse, New York. eMail: AB2QV