HAMS ARE "HI-TECH"

Amateur Radio has been a "Hi-Tech" hobby longer than the phrase
"Hi-Tech" has existed!!! Technical advancement is in our charter from
the Federal government. The rules setting up Amateur Radio say one
reason the service exists is to continue and extent "the amateur's
proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art."

THE "FIRST" HAM

He never had a license, but there were no licenses when Giglielmo
Marconi invented radio in 1895. Marconi himself said he always
considered himself an amateur. We proudly include him in our ranks.

TRAILBLAZERS

In the early days of radio, the "short wave" bands were thought to be
useless and were given to hams for experimenting. Experiment they did,
and hams discovered that, far from being useless, these frequencies
could provide world-wide communication with relatively small amounts of
power. This experimentation in untested areas continues today, and many technical developments pioneered by hams have been adopted by
professional radio and TV users, helping improve overall
telecommunication abilities.

HAM RADIO IN THE COMPUTER AGE

Ham Radio and computers are a switch on the old song about love and
marriage. You can have one without the other, but having both is a lot
more fun!!! Personal computers are finding their way into more and more
Amateur Radio stations as their cost comes down and the number of
ham-related uses goes up. Computers can be used on the air - to "talk"
with other computer-equipped hams, or they can be used in the "shack"
to keep track of contacts, write "QSL" cards to confirm a contact, or
even to control equipment and antennas.

"TALKING WITH COMPUTERS"

The popularity of personal computers has been directly responsible for
a big surge in the use of Radio-teletype or RTTY, on the ham bands.
Stations talking with RTTY or PACKET type their messages to each other
on computer keyboards and read incoming messages on their monitor
screens. The conversation can also be printed out, giving you a
permanent record of the contact. Computers can also be "taught" to send
and receive Morse Code, and many hams use the computers own language,
ASCII, to exchange programs and other information. An overview of
packet is elsewhere in this door.

A more recent mode, VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol...allows for
such modes as Echolink, IRLP, Wires-II, etc. to allow ham radio operators
to talk to stations in many parts of the world...even with just a
Technician class license. An overview of Echolink is elsewhere in this
area.

THE AUTOMATED STATION

Computers may be used to automate certain parts of a ham station's
operation - even if the station owner isn't home! If a computer
equipped ham knows a message will be coming in at a certain time, the
computer can be programmed to turn on the radio at the right time,
"copy" the message, remember it and play it back later. Hams using the
OSCAR satellites can program even the simplest home computer to figure
out where the satellite will be at what time - and to automatically
move the antenna to follow OSCAR's path.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The spread of computers and technology into virtually every area of
our lives is already translating into vast new career opportunities for technically minded people. Ham radio is an ideal way to "get your foot
in the door" of this expanding marketplace. It provides basic
electronic training and practice, plus the opportunity to specialize.
Many hams will tell you their hobby has been a key factor in landing
their jobs.

AMATEUR RADIO vs CB RADIO
=========================

AmateurRadio and Citizen's Band (CB) are two systems of two-way
communications regulated and authorized in the US by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). Amateur Radio licensees are
sometimes informally called "hams."

USES PERMITTED

Amateur Radio: Noncommercial public service-oriented communication service. Hobby and experimental communications. Home computing by radio. Emergency
and routine public service. Providing reliable two-way radio contact for special community events and activities. Transmission and delivery of free Radiograms on behalf of the general public.

CB: Business and casual conversations. Public aid channel for emergencies.

OPERATING RANGE

Amateur Radio: Unlimited. Amateurs have communicated with orbiting
astronauts. International communications are commonplace.

CB: Limited by Federal Law to less than 150 miles. CB users typically
talk within less than 4-5 miles.

FREQUENCIES OFFERED

Amateur Radio: More than two dozen Amateur frequency bands are spread
across the entire airwave spectrum, from 1.8 MHz to 250 GHz.

CB: One frequency band of 40 channels, from 26.96 to 27.41 MHz.

POWER PERMITTED

Amateur Radio: Up to 1500 watts, if needed. Essentially unlimited antenna height and configuration.

CB: Less than 5 watts. Antenna height is limited by Federal Law.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Amateur Radio: Tests for technical knowledge and operating rules. Exam difficulty progresses by license level.

CB: Permit no longer necessary. No exams.

HOW TO TELL WHO IS WHO

Amateur Radio: Government-issued call signs indicating country/zone of
operator and personal identification. Formal station identification is
required on the air at frequent intervals. Operators also typically identify themselves in ordinary conversations using their real names. Most states
offer licensees special Amateur Radio call sign license plates.

CB: No formal system of identification. Users typically identify themselves
by aliases or "handles."

SIGNALS ALLOWED

Amateur Radio: Voice, Morse Code telegraphy, digital computer data,
telemetry and visual images using FM, AM, continuous-wave (Morse Code),
single sideband, personal computers, teletype, television, satellite,
repeater, relay, modulated light beams and spread-spectrum.

CB: Voice only on AM and single sideband. Wireless control of hobby gear.

AUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT

Amateur Radio: Users can design, construct and experiment with home-built equipment, and they can modify, overhaul, repair and improve store-bought
gear.

CB: Federal Law forbids any adjustment, modification or repair by users.

MAIN ATTRACTION

Amateur Radio: Ability to experiment by radio, home computer and
television. Local, regional and worldwide communications; enhancement of international goodwill. Public service. Mutual cooperation between
licensees. Voluntary self-regulation by common tradition.

CB: Avoiding speed traps. Motorist pastime. Neighborhood contact.
Enjoyment limited by profanity, low power, discourtesy and interference.

JOURNALS, CLUBS AND GROUPS

Amateur Radio: American Radio Relay League (ARRL), national nonprofit membership association. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
More than 2000 clubs throughout the country. Several major national publications.

CB: Some local clubs. Emergency group REACT found in some areas.
No national publications.

FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO CONTACT:

ARRL
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111-1494
Phone: (860) 594-0200
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/20)