Amateur Radio

Where does the radio phrase "Ham" originate?

There are a number of definitions given, so you takes your choice. This is my preferred version: The word HAM is derived from the initial letter of each of three pioneers of Radio;

Hertz, Armstrong and Marconi.

Heinrich H ertz helped to develop the theory of electromagnetic waves. Hertz even detected them with a spark.

Edwin Howard Armstrong started as a teenager as a radio amateur and was a star student in electrical engineering at Columbia. In 1912 he figured out how to improve the audion dramatically. In 1914 Armstrong demonstrated his idea to the Marconi Company, where David Sarnoff realized its importance.

Guglielmo Marconi used sparks to create radio waves. He grew up in Italy the son of an Italian father and a Scotch-Irish mother. In 1899 Marconi successfully linked England and France across the English channel (where there was already a cable)--more significant was transmission from ships. Marconi transmitted signals across the Atlantic in 1901.

Frequencies and Transmitting Modes

Radio Amateurs or "Hams" use a number of different frequencies for communications, these frequencies are allocated by the FCC for amateur use.

Hams may operate from just above the AM broadcast band to the microwave region, in the gigahertz range.
Many Ham Bands are found in the frequency range that goes from above the AM radio band (1.6 MHz) to just above the citizens band (27 MHz).

During daylight, 15 to 27 MHz is a good band for long-distance communications. At night, the band from 1.6 to 15 MHz is good for long-distance communications. These bands are often referred to historically as short-wave bands.

Unlike frequencies used by FM radio stations and TV stations, which are line-of-sight and therefore limited to 40 or 50 miles, short-waves "bounce" off the ionosphere from the transmitter to the receiver's antenna. The higher the frequency, the "shorter" the wavelength.

Morse Code

C-.-. Q--.- C-.-. Q--.-

The Amateur Radio song cq serenade

English vocal version, Words and music are by the late Maurice Durieux VE2QS and VE2BR and played by VE2QS and his orchestra with vocal by Joyce Hahn. it was produced around 1951.

There was also a French vocal version, words and music by the late Maurice Durieux VE2QS and F9KT and Played by VE2QS and his Orchestra. Sung in French by Raymond Girerd

Finally there was an Instrumental version, also played by Maurice Durieux VE2QS and his Orchestra

Amateur radio operators use the very reliable Morse Code, while others use voice. Morse code signals (beeps) often get through when voice transmissions cannot. If your interest is Morse Code, as mine is, I suggest that you look at the "FISTS" website by clicking on the FISTS Logo above.

International Short Wave League

Check out the website via the ISWL LOGO

Radio Society of Great Britain

UK Amateur Radio Band Plans
Links to the
Radio Society of Great Britain

Band Plans

HF Bands VHF Bands UHF Bands

Internet Linking

There are four main voice-over-IP software systems on the Internet: Each of these are linked individually to their own websites where you will get accurate and up-to-date information.