Amateur Radio Operators, often referred to as HAM Operators, and even at times by some as glorified CB Operators enjoy a Hobby that over the years has seen some decline in interest due in part to the requirements it took to get and obtain an operator's license. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) still grants the license and governs the Hobby, and it is a Hobby, but the requirements for licenses have changed greatly. Also usually the test are given locally by Local Amateur Operators who have qualified and been recognized to Administer the Amateur Radio Test and most often the test are given locally to where a person lives. No longer is there a requirement for the applicant to know CW (Morse code) and the test has been updated to reflect more of technology changes.
So has the hobby changed as well as the equipment. HAM operators buy and supply their own equipment and most is state of the art transmission equipment but still many operators make their own radios and transmitters and receivers. So the point of the post is ... is Ham Radio still relevant today?
Years ago many HAM's would run "phone-patches" for people around the world but with the advent of cell phones and the internet most places around the world have phone service and people just use the phone. Some would say that HAM Radio Operators aren't nearly as important or needed as they once were when disaster communications were not so coordinated. Today with the Internet and Computers and service organizations having their own radios along with most county Emergency Operations Centers disasters are handled fairly well, or that's the way it seems or is in the perfect world.
Frankly I hope that our Nation doesn't reach a point where HAM's are in desperate need for if that time comes then things are and have got extremely bad. The good thing is that there are still plenty of HAM operators out there with enough equipment and talents and knowledge that if needed they would be there. You may not think much about it but the Hobby needs new blood and I encourage each one, regardless of age or what you do, to consider researching the Hobby and think about getting a license. There are still interesting people, all over the globe, that you can talk with in just about every Nation and Country. There are all aspects of the hobby that might be of interest to people from Contesting to working DX (long distance) on extremely little power, to Digital Communications and VIDEO. While this may seem redundant or even duplicated by the Internet which is much easier to use and doesn't need a license, remember that our world is one that is also changing. The internet is great but just how reliable will it be? Some enjoy texting but even though CW (Morse Code) isn't required HAM's still are learning it and using it and for many it's really interesting and fun to communicate with folks around the world using Morse Code so that's also one aspect of the hobby that is optional if you want to pursue it. It's also fun and interesting to set there and listen to many Short Wave Stations and Broadcast from around the world or listen to various Operators discuss the news and their opinions on varied subjects. Often you find various frequencies where people congregate to discuss various topics such as electronics, computers, electronics, TV Shows, or Astronomy.
Last there are many areas, today, that limit people having external antennas. Communities have Antenna covenants and many HAM's are denied the ability to erect antennas. As I said I hope the day never comes when HAM Operators would be the most important people and in demand for if that day was to happen it could mean national conflict such that the Internet was shut down or worse that some Electromagnetic pulse EMP knocked out, along with Satellites, most all communications as we know it. Even Cable TV and most other TV providers use Satellites to get and transmit signals and theoretically, worst case scenario our nation, or parts of it, could be put back to the stone age where there is no Computers, no phones, no internet, no cell phones at all. Even today in Tornados, Hurricanes, or Earth Quakes systems are overloaded and shut down for a time. HAM Radio isn't just glorified CB but rather people who donate their equipment and study to learn communications so that if they are needed they have the equipment and have the knowledge about how to operate, as would be needed, and quite likely could be the only way you would have to contact your loved ones, relatives, or find out information about what's going on. But then that would only be in the worst of scenarios which we all know would or could never happen.
Or could it?
www.arrl.org is only one URL with links to Amateur Radio and the Hobby. I do encourage any of you who might have an interest, who enjoy talking to other's, debating other's, making acquaintance with other interesting people, possibly overseas, in China, Russia, Europe, anywhere in the World and knowing that you could potentially be in a position to assist and benefit your fellow citizens if a real (unsuspected, horrific) need arose. Also keep in mind that if you have a say in your community sometimes having someone with an antenna and transmitting equipment in your neighborhood close by might actually be beneficial if you ever needed to reach out and talk to a family member or friend in the absence of those great conveniences we all take for granted today that could disappear with one PULSE or be overloaded or shut down in time of crisis, usually those are the times you most would want to reach out to friends and relatives for comfort, help, or information.
