Alex Discovers Amateur Radio

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An © Project
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What is amateur radio?
Amateur Radio interests people of all ages, particularly those who are curious about “how
things work”. This exciting hobby provides a unique opportunity to use our own designated
radio frequencies for non-commercial transmission of messages, experimentation,
self-training, and emergency communications – as well as just for fun.
Activities like Radio Direction Finding (similar to orienteering but with a high-tech “spin”),
Field Days, Summits on the Air, and IOTA (Islands On The Air), allow the rest of our family
and friends to enjoy our amateur radio activities as well!
Amateur Radio is the original high technology “social network”. On air you will meet
royalty, celebrities, public figures, those at work or unemployed; and all ages from
youngsters to old timers. Using call signs as identifiers, there is no status on the air, and
you talk, equal to equal, to everyone you contact.
Radio amateurs enjoy their hobby in a number of ways:
• Simply having fun contacting people by radio all over the world, as well as just round
the corner - which often leads to developing lasting local and international friendships.
• Taking part in local, national, and international competitions to test how effective their
equipment is, and how good they are as an operator.
• Technical experimentation including building their own equipment from kits or from
their own designs - many of the advances in radio technology have been developed,
and used first, by radio amateurs.
• Communicating through amateur space satellites, with the International Space Station,
by moonbounce, and the latest integrated internet, digital, and GPS technologies.
• Providing communications at times of emergencies, and keeping in practice by
undertaking exercises and providing communications at local and national community
events such as marathons and sponsored walks and bike rides.
There is no better way to explore the fascinating “ state of the art” world of voice, television,
and data communications involving: radio, computers, GPS, internet and satellites, than by
becoming a radio amateur. Getting started need not cost the earth there is plenty of
inexpensive and second hand equipment available on the internet and at local Rallies.
Whatever your interest in radio communications, you will find others sharing that interest -
from “geeky” experimenters to those just interested in chatting on the airwaves.
LATEST AMATEUR RADIO RIGS FROM ICOM
For details of all the latest Rigs from ICOM go to:
Download this booklet in pdf
format for reading with the
free Adobe Reader
AMATEUR RADIO SMARTPHONE APPS: (search for them on Play Store etc.)
QrzDROID – look up callsigns to see who people are and where their QTH is.
Repeater UK – find the nearest repeater to listen through / transmit through.
APRSdroid – plot your location and see other Amateurs on APRS.fi map.
EchoLink – talk to amateurs worldwide relayed through repeaters or direct.
Morse Decoder – auto-read Morse Code – some free apps and some at low cost.
This booklet presented by:
To find out more about local clubs go to: