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Lat 53.54817 Lng 02.15357 IARU IO 83 WM Alt 140M ASL (450') |
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What is Amateur Radio? Amateur radio permits people all over the world to communicate with each other using their own radio stations in their own homes. A typical amateur radio station consists of a transceiver (transmitter & receiver) and an antenna. The size of antenna depends on your domestic circumstances. Amateur radio antennas come in all shapes and sizes and can range from a small piece of wire less than 1 meter in length to a multi element antenna over 8 meters long. Radio amateurs can use many different types of transmission these include, speech, television, computer data, Morse code and pictures etc. The distances obtained are governed by several factors, the frequency used, time of day, your station and it's antenna. Radio amateurs have a wide range of frequencies at their disposal, these are High Frequency (HF - short-wave), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Super High Frequency (SHF).
On the HF frequencies worldwide communication is possible using simple wire antennas and a transceiver with an output power of approximately 100 watts. This can be done with less power but it's more difficult. Good quality amateur radio contacts from the UK to Europe and North America can made with 50 Watts. These distances are achieved because radio waves are reflected off the ionosphere (located between heights of 80 Km to 400Km above the earth) and land in another part of the world.
On VHF and above the range is much shorter, in most cases the signals pass through the ionosphere and out into space, but not always. Radio amateurs have access to two VHF bands 50 MHz & 144 MHz. During the spring and summer good quality radio contacts within Europe are possible using 50 MHz and 144 MHz, however this is not the case with UHF and SHF frequencies.
UHF & VHF Operations. Firstly, worldwide communication is possible. Radio amateurs have their own satellites orbiting the earth! Transmitted signals pass through the ionosphere out into space where they are received and retransmitted back to earth by the satellite. Any radio amateur with suitable equipment (VHF/UHF/SHF transceivers and antenna etc.) with an unobstructed path to the satellite can have a contact. Occasionally NASA permits Amateur Ratio to be used onboard the ISS and contacts are quite easily made between the crew and UK amateurs. The UHF & SHF frequency allocations are large enough to carry television pictures. This enables radio amateurs to transmit their own colour TV signals to each other. To be able to transmit you need a license. Before you can obtain a license to transit you must pass a three stage examination. This tests you on basic radio theory and license conditions. Once you have passed the examinations you can apply to the Radio Authority for a license, allowing you to operate on HF, VHF, UHF and SHF with your own unique call sign.
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