Amateur radio

Subject classification: this is an engineering resource.

Subject classification: this is a technology resource.

Educational level: this is a non-formal education resource.

Amateur radio is hobby or pastime enjoyed by many. But with readily available cell phone and internet communications it is now usually practiced by an enthusiast rather than for practical reasons. Amateur radio is often used in remote areas where there is little communications infrastructure or when infrastructure is damaged due to a disaster. Amateur radio includes communicating locally or world-wide by two-way radio. It can include striving for "DX" receptions that are challenging, usually because of weak signals due to the distance. Communicating with very low power transmitters (referred to as QRP) is also popular.

Obtaining a license

Obtaining a license to operate an amateur radio station requires passing an examination covering technical topics and operating procedures. The exact nature of the assessment varies in each country and by the class of amateur radio license the applicant is seeking. In many countries there are different classes of amateur radio license with different privileges.

Licensing by country

/United Kingdom

Operating on popular amateur bands

To operate on different bands you need different antennae and radios.

ITU frequency bands used in telecommunications:^[1]

Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) 0.03 Hz – 300 Hz
Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) 300 Hz – 3 KHz
Very Low Frequency (VLF) 3 KHz – 30 KHz
Low Frequency (LF) 30 KHz – 300 KHz
Medium Frequency (MF) 300 KHz – 3 MHz

High Frequency (HF) 3 MHz – 30 MHz
Very High Frequency (VHF) 30 MHz – 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) 300 MHz – 3 GHz
Super High Frequency (SHF) 3 GHz – 30 GHz
Extremely High Frequency (EHF) 30 GHz – 300 GHz

Here are standard antenna lengths for 1/2 wavelength long dipole antennas and 1/4 wavelength long vertical antennas for some of the popular amateur bands:

Band	Frequency type	Frequency range	Dipole	Vertical
Band	Frequency type	Frequency range	Antenna length
160m	Medium	1.8 – 2.0 MHz	234 ft	117 ft
80m	High	3.5 – 4.0 MHz	117 ft	58.5 ft
40m	High	7.0 – 7.3 MHz	64 ft	32 ft
30m	High	10.10 – 10.15 MHz ??	46 ft	23 ft
20m	High	14.00 – 14.35 MHz ??	32 ft	16 ft
17m	High	18.07 – 18.17 MHz ??	26 ft	13 ft
15m	High	21.00 – 21.45 MHz ??	22 ft	11 ft
12m	High	24.89 – 24.99 MHz ??	18 ft	9 ft
6m	Very high	50 – 54 MHz	8 ft	4 ft
2m	Very high	144 – 148 MHz	3 ft	1.5 ft

Equipment

Antennas

There are two basic types of antennas, antennas that propagate equal in one direction, i.e. "unidirectional propagation" or antennas that propagate in all directions, i.e. "omnidirectional propagation"