*** Copyright c 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1995 by Nicholas Johnson. Conditions: This material is copyright by Nicholas Johnson. However, permission is hereby granted by him to download, copy and distribute the text to others if (1) the text is not altered, and (2) there is no charge to the recipient, and (3) this copyright notice and conditions are attached. It is a copyright violation to distribute this material altered, or without the copyright notice and conditions attached, or to use the material in any way for which remuneration is received without the prior permission of Nicholas Johnson. Contact: 1035393@mcimail.com; Box 1876 Iowa City IA 52244; 319-337-5555. Anyone using this material should also be aware that, as a syndicated column, copyright may also have been retained by the syndication services. During the 1982-86 period of publication syndicators included: The Iowa City Press-Citizen, Gannett Corporation, Register and Tribune Syndicate, Cowles Syndicate, and the King Features Syndicate. *** How to Become a Radio Ham Have you taken a look at amateur radio recently? You should. Has it changed! Many tell me they'd like to understand the communications revolution, but don't know what to do. Amateur, or "ham," radio's a good place to start. It provides a basic understanding of electronics anyone can grasp. An opportunity to communicate around the world. Vital community services. A licensed recognition of your progress. Bonds with hams world-wide. Who are "hams?" They're America's electronic enthusiasts. Much of this nation's progress has come from people innovating, for fun, with cars and farming techniques, in metal and woodworking shops -- and with broadcasting and electronics. "Can do" is what got the pioneers across the continent, Lindberg's "Spirit of St. Louis" across the Atlantic and the astronauts across moonbeams. It put the first broadcasting stations on the air. It then gave us FM, VHF television, UHF, color, communications satellites, integrated circuits -- all the electronic miracles touching our lives. Many of the men and women who did it were "radio amateurs," however professional their regular work. Most hams are not professionally trained or employed in electronics. They are teachers and truck drivers, farmers and doctors, youngsters and the retired. To operate any broadcasting station, you need a license from the FCC. CB licenses only require the ability to sign your name. Amateur licenses require a theory examination and a proficiency with Morse code. When I was a kid, the examination seemed over my head. There was no easy entry level. No local exams. Now there are. Simple theory and five-words-a-minute code. It's the "Novice" license. A year ago I went for it and passed. You can, too. (Get cheap text and tape, called "Tune in the World with Ham Radio," from the amateurs' organization: ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, Conn. 06111.) Check your phone book or library for the local amateur radio club. It may offer courses. You can at least meet some hams. Don't be put off by code. Code is fun. It's very much in use. It's an efficient conserver of frequencies. It gets through when voices don't. Its equipment is cheaper to buy, and possible to build. Want to talk to machines? Code's one of few languages humans can use. Code transcends human language barriers. It's an "equal opportunity employer" -- sex, age, ethnicity or handicaps vanish in dots and dashes. It's a vital part of a well-rounded communications hobby. And it's easy to learn in a couple weeks with the ARRL tape. Try and see. Theory's another matter. But five- and six-year-old kids have passed; as well as people 40 years away from school books. I did. So can you. You can do a lot as a Novice. Your license gives you access to some of the best frequencies, and enough power to put your code around the world. The technician, general, advanced and extra class licenses provide voice and more frequencies. But there's no need to rush. Hams like community service, helping new comers and sharing their hobby. You don't have to buy or build everything to see it work. A farmer near me built his own 42-foot communications dish to bounce signals off the moon -- as hams were doing long before our astronauts got there. Some transmit color TV pictures. Others use teletype. Computers have been connected to ham stations. Amateurs designed and have been using their own communications satellites since 1961. Many would be pleased to explain and show you what they do. Next week we'll take a further look at this fascinating hobby. [ICPC August 16, 1982] # # # How Radio Amateurs Help Us What attracts radio amateurs to their hobby? Last week we explored the basics of amateur radio -- licensing, Morse code, and some hams' experiments with new technology. Why do they do it? There are as many motives and interests as there are amateurs -- now more than 400,000. Some like to tinker with equipment and antennas. Others would rather talk. Some use a local service, called "two meters," like a morning coffee club. Others want to contact as many strangers as possible -- one averaged 88 contacts a day for five years. Some stay home. Others go on "expeditions" to broadcast from remote islands or mountaintops. Some carry transmitters -- in their car, or pocket. Some use maximum legal power, and multiply it with antennas -- one has more than 20 towers. Others are challenged by contacts using as little power as possible. Some want to buy the latest, most expensive equipment. Others get satisfaction from building it cheap and simple. The competitive urge moves some to contests -- number of contacts during a day, number of countries, code speed. Some collectors acquire postcards from every contact. Some want to push to the outer reaches of the hobby -- with satellites, computers, bouncing signals off the moon, color television stations. Others are content to improve -- or just enjoy -- their code and voice contacts. Many are attracted by the involvement and public service aspects. Hams were among the first to hear of the release of hostages in Iran, the conditions inside Poland, or see Voyager 2's view of Saturn. An amateur eye bank network has brought together 10,000 patients and doctors. Hams provide communications for the New York City Marathon, local bicycle races and other events. They offer regular "nets" to relay messages around the country -- or the world. They often are the only contact with family and friends abroad. They've even been used for long- distance marriage ceremonies. Ham radio brings the world to the handicapped and home-bound, seniors' centers and science classrooms. Amateur communications often are all that exist after tornados, earthquakes or floods. Hams work closely with the Red Cross. The stories of their hours of unpaid service are legion. Hams' reputation for essential emergency services underlies much public and official support -- including the Federal Communications Commission protection of their frequencies. It's a source of pride. With increasing dependency on electronics for everything from garage door openers to microwave ovens, occasional interference is inevitable. But much can be prevented by quality equipment, proper manufacture and installation. For example, sloppy installation by cable companies now is causing interference to amateurs. Hams usually try to help, even though, with their knowledge and quality equipment the problem is rarely their fault. Filters can help. They may have other suggestions. Is ham radio for you? We need some way to keep up with the communications revolution in our homes and offices. Ham radio can do it. You can start with as little ability as it takes to get your FCC novice license. You can progress through the Extra Class level -- or not. Spend as little or as much money want. Stick with the code on Novice frequencies, or bounce signals off the moon. The challenge is endless for any taste. You'll learn what electronics and communications are about in the 1980s. You'll meet a lot of fine people. And most of all, you'll just have a lot of fun. For more information write: ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, Conn. 06111. [ICPC August 23, 1982] END OF FILE