While that question seems pretty straightforward, and should be relatively easy to answer, the fact is, the answer is not so easy. I, personally get asked this question, a lot, in some form or another. A couple days ago, I was asked this question, once again, and just like any other time I had to try to explain it, I did the best that I could, but still felt like I left so much out that I could have told him.
I will not claim to answer the question on this page. I honestly do not think that any single site on the internet can answer it, completely. There is just too much information, and it is constantly evolving.
Before going any further, I will add a couple links to sites on the internet that “try” to answer the question. When I say “try”, I say that with all due respect to the linked websites.
Those linked sites are just the tip of the iceberg, when trying to answer the question. If you do a Google search, you will find many more answers, each different from the other.
The fact is, there is no perfect answer to the question, because Ham Radio is so many different things to every individual. My basic explanation: Ham Radio is 100’s of different things, defined under one heading.
When the question is asked to me, 95% of the time, the person asking the question brings up CB (Citizens Band Radio). My answer to the CB comparison is a little bit vague. I explain that CB radio and Ham Radio use the same type of technology to talk on the radio, but CB is like a “toy” compared to Ham Radio. I talk about limitations in wattage, and distances that can be reached, and also try to explain the much wider radio spectrum (without getting too “deep”) that Ham Radio operators can use, so that, depending on many conditions (atmospheric, solar, etc.), Ham radio can reach much further distances.
Another question is that of distance. Because of the different frequencies, changing conditions, power, location, antenna design, and other factors, I have always found this one hard to answer. I usually just say something simple, like “wherever you want to talk”, or “worldwide”. I may also bring up the ISS, satellites, or moonbounce. A great explanation about distance that I found is rather long to read, but it seems to describe it, nicely. It comes from Onno Benschop (VK6FLAB), who is located in a norther suburb of Perth, Australia. I re-posted the transcript, here.
I try not to talk about any other modes than voice (phone), which is the process of talking into a microphone and listening to a speaker. That’s what most people think of, when they think about communicating via radio. If I do start talking about digital modes or CW, I see that most people quickly lose interest, and they find a way to exit the conversation. Interestingly, with the rise in popularity of FT8, I sometimes think that would spark somebody’s interest… but it doesn’t. In order to appreciate FT8, you really need to understand what the bottom of the 11 year solar cycle means, and know that making a contact at -22db/-24db is something to be proud of. If you know that, you’re probably already an Amateur Radio Operator.
The other question that I get a lot of circles around the topic of “emergency communications”. One question is, “Are Ham Radio operators obligated to assist when there’s a disaster?” While that’s a really important part of Ham Radio, most Radio Amateurs will tell you that it is not the biggest part of it. I know that most of what non-hams hear about Ham Radio comes from what’s in the news, and “emergency communications” is in the news more than any other Ham Radio term. Ham Radio operators are not “obligated” to help when there is any kind of emergency, but a lot of them do.
On the topic of emergency communications, I will sometimes get into the involvement that Ham Radio has in Skywarn. While Skywarn spotters are not usually handling emergency traffic while spotting, I find that more people can relate to severe weather, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. The traffic that is passed during Skywarn activations is very often relayed to the National Weather Service, so they can make determinations on issuing warnings and watches.
The reality is that most Ham Radio operators use their radios every day. They use them for many other things than emergency communications. There are many different aspects to being a Ham Radio operator, and many different things to be interested in. Here are a few of them (borrowed from the Holland Area Radio Club in Holland, Michigan) :
- CW (morse code)
- Contesting
- DXing
- County Hunting
- VUCC (grid squaring)
- VHF Roving
- EME (Earth-Moon-Earth)
- Satellite
- Emergency (disaster) communications
- Portable/Field Day communications
- DF (Direction Finding) VHF/HF
- Traffic handling
- Rag chewing
- Repeaters
- IRLP type modes
- Digital modes: PSK-31, RTTY and more
- SSTV
- ATV (fast scan)
- Meteor scatter
- Propagation watching
- QRP
- DXpeditioning (being in and/or working)
- Mobile (low bands)
- Top Band (160 meters)
- Tube equipment (Hollow state)
- Homebrew radios
- Antenna experimenting and construction
- Microwave
- Fox hunting (same as DF ??)
- Skywarn
- Search and Rescue
- Special Event stations
- Lighthouse stations
- Historical ship stations
- MARS (Army, Air Force, Navy-Marine Corp)
- Six Meters (The Magic Band)
- Operating AM
- Vintage radio (Boat anchors)
- Crystal sets
- FAX by radio
- Computers and Ham radio
- Writing ham radio related software
- APRS
- Downloading and decoding satellite telemetry data
- Public Service (parades, walks, runs, etc.)
- Trade & collect QSL cards
- Short wave listening
- Working weak signal
- Beacon hunting
- Radio Clubs (fellowship with other “Radio Dudes”)
- Missionary Communications
- Radio Control Models (6 meters)
- Spend lots of money
- Spend more money (if you’re single)
- Spend even more money (if rich)
This page will be updated with more information, as it comes to me.