In recent news, HAM (amateur) radio operators have offered their voluntary services to support a special task force constituted in Bengaluru. The task force was designed to ensure residents under home quarantine stick to the requisite protocol.
Key Aspects of HAM Radio
HAM radio, also known as amateur radio, refers to noncommercial two-way radio communications. This system involves using a wide range of frequency bands across the radio spectrum, functioning as a real-time communication network, comparable to wireless communication. The process is fast and transparent, facilitating seamless exchange of information.
The Amateur Radio operators are responsible for setting up and managing local communication networks for government and emergency officials, and providing non-commercial communication services for private citizens affected by any disaster. These operators play an active role, particularly after disasters that disrupt regular communication lines due to power failures, destruction of telephone lines, cellular and other infrastructure-dependent systems.
Indian Scenario and Regulation
In India, according to the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules of 1984, ‘Amateur service’ is defined as a service of self-training intercommunications and technical investigation carried out by Amateurs interested in radio technique, without any pecuniary interest. Thus, it is a non-commercial service provided by radio operators, often referred to as ‘hams’.
The term ‘ham radio’ is commonly used to describe the hobby of amateur radio rather than the equipment used. Similarly, ‘Ham’ is a term used to refer to a radio amateur enthusiast and not the equipment. Any Indian citizen over the age of 12 years is eligible to become a ham, once they pass the Amateur Station Operators’ exam (ASO) and obtain a valid Amateur wireless telegraph station license.
Understanding Radio Waves
Radio waves, discovered by Heinrich Hertz in the late 1880s, have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are produced through the accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires and are typically used in radio and television communication systems.
The frequency range of these waves generally falls between 500 kHz and about 1000 MHz. The AM (Amplitude Modulated) band lies between 530 kHz and 1710 kHz, while the FM (Frequency Modulated) radio band extends from 88 MHz to 108 MHz. Higher frequencies, up to 54 MHz, are used for short-wave bands, whereas TV waves range from 54 MHz to 890 MHz.
Cellular phones use radio waves for voice communication, operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. Radio-wave communication signals can travel directly through the air, reflect off clouds or layers of the ionosphere, or be relayed by satellites in space.