Ham
Ham Radio
From ARRL: Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is a popular hobby and service in which licensed Amateur Radio operators (hams) operate communications equipment. Although Amateur Radio operators get involved for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles, and pass an examination for the FCC license to operate on radio frequencies known as the “Amateur Bands.”. These bands are radio frequencies reserved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by ham radio operators.
The role of amateur radio has obviously changed with the presence of the internet. Remarkably, amateur radio today offers unique opportunities and capabilities due to its independence on commercial infrastructure. For example, it is a legal ground for hands-on experimenting with wireless communication technology and it allows communication in emergencies and from remote areas.
What can you do as a ham?
Talk to people (near and far)
Build stuff (amps, sdr’s, antennas, receivers)
Emergency communications (emcom)
First person view (FPV) vehicles (drones) at much higher power
Hit satellites, moon, meteors, airplanes (with radio waves! … not something else)
Digital communication with Automatic Positioning and Reporting System, packet radio
Use Repeaters covering bay-area, California and the United States, mesh networks
ham in EE123
Each student will get a license
Each student will get a radio and an audio interface to a computer
Labs and a project based on the radios
Getting a License
* Important: please read this:
Exam
Date: TBD
Bring:
Bring your own pencil, pen
$15 or a check for $15 made out to ARRL-VEC
A legal photo ID (passport, driver's license); school ID is not sufficient alone, but must be combined with social security card, birth certificate, or other documents
Apply for a Federal Registration Number (FRN) before the exam, and have that number with you at the exam
If you already have a license, bring both original and photocopy of the license (or CSCE) ro the exam
You could also get licensed on your own: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
Exam Preparation (Very easy… but we will still help you prepare):
Get the Book Technician Ham Radio License Manual 21$ Amazon
On Campus Lectures: TBD
Practice Amature Exam On-line (Needs registration – free) QRZ.com
* Mailing list: eecs-ham@lists.berkeley.edu
Links
Earth-Moon-Earth communications: Moon Bouncing, Easy moonbouncing presentation
Aircraft Scattering Communications by bouncing off radio waves from airplanes