Much of the modern phone tech you use now. Is based on principals amature radio experimenters developed.
The hobby has been an active part of electromagnetic research since the 1920s. And while all the protocols etc are upgraded to fit with commercial use. The basic theories were discovered by hobbyists.
We have even funded a few Leo satellites over the years. Many were launched in the 90 to early 2000. As Russia was using disabled ICBMs to send them up while meeting disarmerment treaties. US spent a fortune Russia profited from Thier disarmament.
Look up amsat AO 51. I watched that launch (via video link) in 2004 but that and a small donation to it is my only sat input. I tend to play with HF or Shortwave radio more. Getting signals to travel world wide with 0 inferstructure and often low power is more my interest.
But amature radio covers such a wide field nowadays. Most with some technical interest can find something they like.
If you look up M0IXP it was not valid in 2004. I had a US licence under KG4ZGG from the FCC then. And have had 2 other between. M0IXP is mine for life now. As it is a level where much of the world either let’s me use it(lookup CEPT and amature radio). Or will issue a new local call sign if I show them the UK one (reciprocal licence agreements with the UK in non CEPT member nations). The others were all at lower levels. This leads many full licence holders to use the hobby as an excuse to travel. Tend to call them DXpeditions when groups do it.
Yes this is a vain attempt to sell my hobby. Ignore if not interested. But it’s good to find newbies if folks are. It can also be way cheaper now then it was when I started. Due to hams developing SDR and huge commercial use of that tech. But cheaper is not always cheap. Depending on what type of radio interests you.
Look up amature radio. Or ham as the nickname.
I am M0IXP
TIL 🙏
Some fun facts.
Much of the modern phone tech you use now. Is based on principals amature radio experimenters developed.
The hobby has been an active part of electromagnetic research since the 1920s. And while all the protocols etc are upgraded to fit with commercial use. The basic theories were discovered by hobbyists.
We have even funded a few Leo satellites over the years. Many were launched in the 90 to early 2000. As Russia was using disabled ICBMs to send them up while meeting disarmerment treaties. US spent a fortune Russia profited from Thier disarmament.
Look up amsat AO 51. I watched that launch (via video link) in 2004 but that and a small donation to it is my only sat input. I tend to play with HF or Shortwave radio more. Getting signals to travel world wide with 0 inferstructure and often low power is more my interest.
But amature radio covers such a wide field nowadays. Most with some technical interest can find something they like.
If you look up M0IXP it was not valid in 2004. I had a US licence under KG4ZGG from the FCC then. And have had 2 other between. M0IXP is mine for life now. As it is a level where much of the world either let’s me use it(lookup CEPT and amature radio). Or will issue a new local call sign if I show them the UK one (reciprocal licence agreements with the UK in non CEPT member nations). The others were all at lower levels. This leads many full licence holders to use the hobby as an excuse to travel. Tend to call them DXpeditions when groups do it.
Yes this is a vain attempt to sell my hobby. Ignore if not interested. But it’s good to find newbies if folks are. It can also be way cheaper now then it was when I started. Due to hams developing SDR and huge commercial use of that tech. But cheaper is not always cheap. Depending on what type of radio interests you.