Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a typical geeky pastime. Fundamentally, it entails radio operators talking to one another around oddly sophisticated equipment over UHF and VHF frequencies.
This is an interest that has an old-fashioned reputation. But, this is entirely undeserved since becoming a ham has some serious everyday advantages.
Being Knowledgeable About Local Emergencies.
Being aware of local emergencies, such as a multi-car pile-up, can often help you avoid being stuck in a traffic jam. Finding out in time can be tricky without a ham radio. TV news can be slow in reporting on events at times, and social media is often full of misinformation and hoaxes.
A ham radio for beginners is both reliable and fast, and you will be informed about events from people who live in close proximity to where they are taking place or are witnessing it from their cars since many ham operators have in-car handsets. This is the news you can typically depend on since it comes directly from individuals in the community; people you are able to trust. But this is just the one side to the coin.
Many government agencies utilize the same VHF and UHF frequencies than those of amateur radio equipment to inform people about extreme weather occurrences and disasters. Check out RRD for a wide selection of ham radios.
Stay In Contact When A Disaster Strikes
During the time when hurricane Sandy hit in the US, it caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Houses were stuck without power for weeks on end, and communications were rigorously disrupted. Some individuals who found themselves in distress were unable to get in contact with emergency services to get assistance.
But one thing that the hurricane was unable to disrupt was radio broadcasts. And this is why ham radio operators were so essential in keeping the people safe during the most horrible parts of the storm.
A Skill That Can Be Taught And Maintained
You can’t just purchase a radio set and become a beginner radio operator, not legally. Before you can begin transmitting messages across the air, you must be certified and licensed with the Federal Communications Commission in the US. In order to do so, you must attend classes or self-study.
These courses cover the basics, for instance, the laws in your country with regard to amateur radio broadcasts. But others are more thrilling and are exploring the physics and maths of ham radio and basic electronics.
It Is More Cost-Effective Than You Think
If you are hesitant due to the potential costs associated with becoming a ham, you must read further. In current years, this hobby has become much more affordable.
This is mainly due to the deluge of cheaper handsets that have come onto the market from the factories of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. A Chinese maker, Baofeng, invented amateur radio sets and have done for the ham radio what Xiomi and Huawei did for smartphones.
They have lowered the cost to make these radios affordable to everyone. You can now pick up a hand-held radio for as little as $30.
