What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is a hobby where you use all kinds of transmitting equipment to communicate with people in your local area, and all over the world.

Ham Radio is heaps of fun for people of all ages and abilities, you get to use all kinds of technology from old WWII valve driven transmitters to, present day state of the art digital multi mode hand held portable transceivers.

With amateur radio skills you are able to help your community in time of need such as an earthquake or other natural disaster. Ham operators are also involved in civil defense and SAR operations here in New Zealand.

Things that I have done since being a Ham!...

Chatting with Astronauts aboard the Mir Space Station.
Communicating with stations at both the North and South Poles.
Working stations in both Aircraft and Hot Air Balloons.
Monitoring distress communications such as boats sinking people lost in the bush and other emergency situations.

I operate on all bands from 3.5Mhz HF (short-wave) up to 430Mhz UHF (Ultra High Frequency)

Satellite Tracking

You can track orbiting satellites on your home computer, track the Space Shuttle and ISS, see when it will pass over your home!!

To Download the Orbitron satellite tracking software click here

Check out this audio of Hams chatting with the MIR Space Station...

Amateur Radio Web Resources

N.Z.A.R.T...
AMSAT..US...
ECHOLINK.ORG...
I.R.L.P.NET... Orbitron Satellite Tracking

Spaceflight

I also have a great interest in Spaceflight. I have communicated with Astronauts onboard
Mir and the ISS (International Space Station).

I follow all manned spaceflight missions via the internet and track their progress
using my home computer. To do this I use a satellite tracking program.