# AMATEUR RADIO

## Samuel Morse

## ## Samuel Morse was the inventor of the Morse Code. This is the production of a series of l ong and s hort pulses. Grouped together they represent the letters of the alphabet and punctuation. His concept was to produce an intermittent contact of a hand operated key that would produce pulses of current along a wire . The other end of the wire had an electro magnet that, when the current was live (KEY DOWN) it would pull a piece of metal to it thus creating a clack. It was taken up by railway companies as a means of communicating between stations. Also it was developed into the telegraph system and offshoots using the same principal, such as the ticker tape system.

Marconi, the first radio amateur

## Marconi was the inventor of the early 'wireless' which we know today. He was the first to pull together several previous inventions and discoveries. He produced, using spark electrodes, a means to convert electrical energy into RF (Radio Frequencies) energy. The sparks produced, generated many harmonic's ( multiples of the generated frequency which spreads across much of the radio spectrum). He found that he could listen to th is transmitted energy, at a distance, without there being a physical connection between them. ## An example of how sparks generate Radio Wave Harmonic's is when Buzzes and Crackles are heard on an AM Radio, and when spots and lines can almost blank out a Television Picture. ## These can also be caused by an electric motor ie a power drill, vacuum cleaner, some fluorescent lighting, improperly suppressed thermostats on fridge's and heating systems. Poorly suppressed car ignition systems, are another cause of the phenomenon. ## It was a very crude way to generate RF and his further experiments produced a way of tuning the emitted energy to particular frequency. He combined his own developments, with th at of Morse, and thus a means had been found to communicate, without a physical connection between the sending and receiving stations. Much later experiments then produced a system that allowed the transmission and reception of voice, as well as the M orse code. It was one of the Marconi Company trained operators, who sent the Titanic's distress call. ## ____________________________________________________________________________ ## Long gone are the days of large boxes containing glowing valves, with a birds nests of wire inside, to be replaced by an unbelievable sophistication in small, very portable hi-tech box. ## The image displayed by Tony Hancock's "The Radio Ham", although very amusing even to us, displayed a Radio Amateur as a bit of a nut case..... this was so very far from the actual truth. ## During the last world war, the skills of radio amateurs were highly prized. Many were called upon to use their knowledge to intercept coded axis communications, as well as helping design many of the then new electronics equipment, also helping deal with the more regular, day to day military communications. ## Due to the experimentation of many radio amateurs in the past, we now enjoy a vast array of different uses of the of our privelidged radio spectrum. Ranging from the simple hand held 'walkie talkie' to broadcast radio, television, and s atellite communications. ## A r adio a mateur is someone who uses the radio as an interesting, satisfying hobby, in which you can never stop learning new techniques and tricks. You not only have the opportunity of doing something that has so very many variations on basic voice transmission, but it also enables you to make contact with, and make many new friends around the world. ## Radio Amateurs come from all walks of Life, rich and poor alike. It is not the highly technical, rich mans hobby of the past, but is available to all who might find interest in the hobby. There are many second hand r adios to be had, and technology has produced radios that can fit in your pocket and have a good output power, plus memories to program in various frequencies for quick settings. Even new sets are not beyond reach of he average pocket. ## The basic Radio operation is to use a microphone and talk to people. Radio Amateurs have developed many variations on this. From 'repeaters' that will allow a short range radio transmitter, to have the signal repeated from a repeater in an elevated position covering a wide area. This enables long range communication from a radio that is producing as little as 1/2 a Watt. Digital communications have been developed and are employed in varied forms, from Morse to communication using a computer and keyboard linked into the radio transmitter. ## One development has been amateur television, either fast scan, similar to normal broadcast television, or slow scan which only transmits still pictures . ## The range of different Modes available to the Radio Amateur is very wide. Usually an amateur picks on one or two modes of operation which interests him. When they want to try something else they will move on to other modes. ## There are many amateur radio clubs across the world that have regular meetings to discuss the varied aspects of the hobby, and as a social get together. Through these and simply using the radio, help is at hand to sort out any problems you may have and often the help stretches to supplying difficult to get replacement parts and components etc. ## Amateur Radio is a truly fascinating and rewarding technical hobby that can be entered into with just a little dedication to studying the relatively simple requirements of the RAE (Radio Amateurs Examination).

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