What Is Ham Radio

Amateur radio, commonly called ham radio, is a worldwide radio service that lets licensed individuals communicate, experiment with radio technology, develop technical skills, and serve their communities.

Unlike commercial radio services, amateur radio is operated for personal, educational, experimental, and public-service purposes rather than for financial gain.

The Federal Communications Commission describes amateur radio as a service for self-training, communication, and technical investigation. In the United States, amateur radio operators must be properly licensed before transmitting.

What Can You Do With Ham Radio?

Quite a lot.

Amateur radio isn’t limited to two people talking through handheld radios. Depending on your interests and license privileges, you can explore many different forms of communication and technology.

Voice

Hams can talk with other operators using local repeaters, direct radio-to-radio communication, or HF stations capable of reaching across the country and around the world.

A conversation might be with someone across George County or someone thousands of miles away.

Digital Communications

Amateur radio and computers work very well together.

Hams use a variety of digital modes to exchange information over radio. Digital operation can range from keyboard-to-keyboard conversations to weak-signal modes capable of making contacts under conditions where ordinary voice communication may be difficult.

Digital voice systems such as DMR and System Fusion combine radio with digital technology and networked repeater systems.

Images and Television

Amateur radio can also be used to exchange images and operate amateur television systems.

Some operators enjoy experimenting with slow-scan television, digital image transmission, and other visual communication techniques.

Satellites

Yes, ham radio has satellites.

Licensed amateur radio operators can communicate through amateur satellites orbiting the Earth, providing another challenging and rewarding part of the hobby.

Portable and Field Operation

Ham radio doesn’t have to happen from a permanent station at home.

Operators routinely take radios into parks, campgrounds, emergency exercises, public events, and other temporary locations.

Activities such as Field Day give operators experience setting up antennas, radios, computers, and power systems away from their normal stations.

Experimentation

Amateur radio has a long tradition of experimentation.

Hams build antennas, modify equipment, write software, experiment with digital communications, study radio propagation, work with software-defined radios, and explore countless other technical interests.

You can buy equipment and simply enjoy operating it, or you can spend years disappearing down technical rabbit holes.

Both approaches are perfectly acceptable.

Emergency and Public-Service Communications

Public service has been part of amateur radio for generations.

The FCC specifically recognizes the amateur service as a voluntary, noncommercial communication service with particular value in providing emergency communications.

Amateur radio operators can train to provide supplemental communications when normal systems are unavailable, overloaded, or otherwise disrupted.

Organizations such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) give operators opportunities to develop those skills and work with emergency-management and public-service organizations.

Amateur radio is also used to support community events where additional communications can be helpful.

Do I Need a License?

You need an amateur radio license to transmit on amateur frequencies in the United States.

You do not need a license to listen, learn about the hobby, attend George County ARES meetings or public events, or begin studying.

Most new operators begin with the Technician license and can later upgrade to General and Amateur Extra for additional operating privileges.

George County ARES can help with that too.

Want to Give It a Try?

You don’t need to own a radio, understand electronics, or already have an amateur radio license to come meet us.

Visitors and non-hams are welcome and encouraged at George County ARES meetings and public events.

Come see radios in operation, ask questions, meet local operators, and discover which parts of amateur radio interest you.

If you’re ready to take the next step, see our:

How to Get Your Amateur Radio License

George County ARES conducts quarterly amateur radio e an examination fee**. Special examination sessions can also be arranged for shut-ins who are unable to attend a regular session.

You can also check the /calendar/ for upcoming meetings, weekly nets, training sessions, examinations, and special events.

Ham radio can be a communications tool, a public service, a technical laboratory, a worldwide community, or simply a lot of fun.

The best way to find out what interests you is to come see it for yourself.