A Simple Guuide To Ham Radio Broadcasting
Once the technology became affordable almost immediately people began forming amatuer radio clubs intrigued by the possibility of long distance communication. Unlike regular CB radio amateur radio is not restricted to only 4 watts. In addition to a larger selection of frequencies you can also be granted access to radio teletype and even some TV frequencies.. With the addition of satellites no portion of the world is beyond your reach. The issue is that ham radio is licensed and there are tests you must to pass before you can acquire the license.
ham radio offers a selection of licenses for individuals of every skill level.
Acquiring a Novice licence means you can access some HF frequencies and transmit between 28.3 and 28.5 MHz and also between 28.1 and 28.3 for radio teletype. To access these channels all you need is a 10 Meter Radio Although these radios are commonly referred to as a 10 Meter CB Radio they are actually quite different as a CB radio does not require a license and a 10 Meter Radio does. SSB and FM broadcasts are allowed between 222.01 and 223.91 MHz and 1270 to 1295 MHz.To gain a Novice license you have to pass a theory examination and operate at a minimum of five words per minute in Morse code.
Acquiring a Technicians license opens up the VHF and UHF bands.~The Technicians license means that you can now transmit on the UHF and VHF frequencies. Getting a Technicians License is not that problematic, you need to complete a radio theory exam and FCC regulations test..
The next step is the General Class. A General Class operator can access on High Frequency, Very High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency. To get this level of license you need to complete a test on general radio theory, fcc rules, and a Morse Code speed test..
If you can pass a more advanced radio theory test the Advanced Class license gives access to even more frequencies.
The highest license you can acquire for ham radio is the Extra Class license. Acquiring the Extra Class Licence means you are granted access to every frequency assigned to amatuer radio operators. For this license you must already have passed the General and Advanced tests, be able to operate Morse code at twenty words per minute and complete an examination on the more advanced aspects of radio theory, operations and FCC rules.
An organization called The American Radio Relay League assists in providing all the information you may need to pass your license exam..
Like many people you probably dont really care to undergo all that testing, try CB radio. There are no examinations to pass and there is no licensing requirements. CB’ers use a lighter language and there is never any Morse code. Just go get a radio and an antenna and are ready to go. Sound interesting?
Things You May Want To Know About CB Radio
Unlike Television or broadcast radio waves, with a cb radio we can talk back. CB radio is a short range communication method which is used in most parts of the world and while you might imagine that CB would have been wiped out by the invention of the cellphone, the opposite appears to be the case.
1. Licensing. Unlike CB users in the UK and Europe, CB users in the USA do not need a license. CB radio is regulated by the FCC inside the USA and you are required to have a copy of the applicable rules. CB in the USA uses AM radio. In the UK and Europe most CB radios use FM.
2. ‘Rig’ setups. CB radio sets come in three possible types. These are CB Base Station ,mobile in-vehicle units and Handheld CB Radios. Handheld CB Radio units can be very useful, but usually have more limited range than in-vehicle or base station radios, this is partly because they are lower power, and partly because they have much shorter antennae.
3. Handles. Although official call signs in the US are long gone, in Europe they are still somewhat common. US CB users are identified by self-designated ‘handles’.
4. CB Radio Channels. The American CB radio user operates on 40 channels. Channel 9 is regulated to be the emergency channel, it is reccomended to avoid channel 8 and 10 to allow channel 9 to come through loud and clear.
5. Squelch. The squelch dial can help eliminate background noise. If you tune your squelch a little you can eliminate irritations noises. You should be able to hear any station trying to break through.
6. Long Distance Communication. CB radio communication is only consistent over relatively short ranges. If the conditions in the ionisphere are right you can talk over hundreds or even thousands of miles. If you are chatting with someone far away be careful. Communicating by CB radio with someone more than 150 miles way is not legal in the USA.
7. Cb radios have other uses besides communicating from a vehicle to your home base. Base stations cb radios can be life savers in an emergency and people often set them up to run on alternative sources of energy.
The ability to meet new people will probably continue to keep cb radio alive despite the threat of advancing technology. The beauty of cb radio is it allows communication even in isolated areas to break up the monotony.