Amateur Radio Day 2024 is on Thursday, April 18, 2024: why is the hobby of amateur radio called Ham radio?

Thursday, April 18, 2024 is Amateur Radio Day 2024. April 18 Is World Amateur Radio Day Is World Amateur Radio Day

Amateur Radio Day remembers the beginings from the IARU – the Worldwide Amateur Radio Union – in 1925. They're best recognised for his or her contribution to disaster relief employees in places that communications are little to non-existent.

Early radio operators were either Professional or Amateur, a distinction that was very much stronger then than it is now.

All communications in the earliest days of radio were by means of Morse Code which used a hand operated "key" to send the morse. Clear high speed "sending" required thousands of hours of practice which resulted in a very good "technique".

Amateur operators rarely spent any where near as much time sending and therefore rarely developed first class techniques.

Professionals were sure they could always tell an Amateur operator by the less than perfect technique they used. Amateurs were considered to be "ham handed" or more specifically "ham fisted" in their technique by the Professionals, whether they were or not. They were known as ham fisted operators.

This soon became shortened to ham operators, a badge which Amateurs took on and wore in earnest to spite the Professionals.

What is Armature Radio?

Actually it is Amateur Radio.

It is a hobby to experiment with radio and learn to operate. There is no fee, other than the a few dollars to get the license.

You study about amateur radio, then take a test to demonstrate that you understand the material. You can study the test, as with many things these days, but it really goes against the purpose of ham radio. The more you learn the more privilege you get.

There are many things to try, such as

Talking to people all over the world

learning electronics

Making your own radio gear and antennas.

Communicating with digital modes

Volunteering during emergencies or events

Earning awards

Teaching

It is not to replace phones and cannot be used for business.

I recommend not going to radio shack (expensive and poor quality equipment). But the ARRL web site list swapmeets, called hamfests, in your area (sorry, assuming you are in the USA). By the time you get your license, you should have an idea what equipment you want to get. You can buy new, or find used in your price range depending on what part of the hobby you want to start in..

new to amateur radio, how do you do this?

In fact Amateur Radio is a licensed radio service - in Canada, USA, worldwide. By saying you are "new" - do you mean you just passed your license exam ? If so, congratulations ! Welcome to Amateur Radio - also known as Ham Radio.

Or are you thinking amateur radio is like C.B rsdio or GMRS or FRS. Not the case.

Back to your question. Most backpackers would be using a basic GMRS / FRS type radio on UHF frequencies. Often a great choice, low priced and no license needed for FRS.

And I do not know how to convert "2 or 6 meters" to bigger bands (HF shortwave ?) using antennas. Does not make sense. There are mountain top repeaters on 2 and 6 that can allow remote base operation to HF radios and antennas - some do that.

Ham radio has a great amount of technology available. Get licensed (if not) and give it a try.

Here are some links for more info...

Me: FCC licensed Ham for 25 years

Fun youtube video about a Ham Radio club doing a Field Day contest.