What is Amateur Radio

Amateur radio is a community of people that use radio transmitters and receivers to communicate with other Amateur radio operators. If you were to ask a dozen different amateurs what ham radio meant to them chances are you would get 12 different answers. Amateur radio operators are often called ham radio operators or simply "hams" and frequently the public is more familiar with this term than with the legal term Radio Amateur. The source of this nickname is for all practical purposes lost from the beginning.

Amateur (HAM) Radio is truly a hobby but often one that makes a difference especially in emergency or disaster situations. It is an activity of Self Learning, Inter-Communication & Technical Investigation carried on between Amateur Radio Operators. Amateurs talk to local friends over the radio waves using a hand-held transceiver, communicating digitally with packet radio to exchange personal messages or vital information in an emergency, talking to other hams anywhere in the world, or engaging in contests with other Radio Amateurs over the airwaves there is something for everyone.

There are over Lakh people all over the world who pursue this activity in their free time

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What Hams do with amateur radio

• QRP - Communicating with "very low power" is a challenge that many hams enjoy. QRP is usually practiced on the HF bands
• HF radio - Hams can talk to other hams in literally any part of the globe using HF radios
• VHF (2 meters) or UHF (70 cm.) transceivers hams enjoy extremely reliable communications within their local community. You can extend your VHF range up to 50 miles or more by transmitting through a local repeater.
• DXing. DX means distance communication and with the right equipment worldwide communication on the HF bands (10 through 160 meters) is a regular possibility.
• Emergency and other volunteer services - Floods, landslides, earthquakes, Cyclones, Accidents (Rail / Road / Air). when ever `normal' communications go out, hams are ready to use their radios to provide emergency communication services to their communities
• Technical experimenting. Hams come from all walks of life ranging from technicians to engineers, teachers to scientists, and students to retirees. For many of them the attraction to the hobby is to build their own equipment whether it is just a simple antenna, something as complex as a transmitter, or an interface between their radio and a computer.
• Contesting. Contesting is often called the "sport" of ham radio. Almost every all the time there is some form of amateur radio contest. Hams get on the air and compete to see who can make the most contacts in a limited period of time.
• Talk to an astronaut. Yes, it is really possible. Space stations do have ham radio equipment and licensed ham astronauts take the time to make contacts with amateurs on earth. Hams also have satellites where you can bounce a signal to communicate with other hams on earth.
• Use digital communication. Connect a computer to your radio and install some software and you can be communicating digitally over the air. Some of these digital modes can be more effective in marginal transmission conditions and some even sport error free transmission.
• Internet communication. Using some of the latest technologies hams can supplement a modest station with Internet connections. Using features such as URL or IRLP on a local repeater a ham in Toronto can talk to one in Vancouver or even Australia using a simple hand-held transceiver
• Amateur television - It's just like real television because it is real television.
• Slow Scan TV - Send pictures around the world for little or no cost.
• Contests - You can put your radio operating skills up against other hams and teams of hams.
• Satellite communications - Hams operate using their own satellites for world wide communication using Walkie-Talkies.... They are easy to use too.

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How to Become a Radio Amateur

Amateur Radio Operators have to qualify in an examination conducted by Ministry of Communications, Government of India and obtain license for operating / possessing a Radio Station. Any individual above the age of 12 is permitted to appear for Amateur Station Operator License Examination and No Educational qualification is prescribed. It takes just two months (say two hours a day training) to become eligible for the examination. One should qualify a simple test conducted in three subjects namely I) Morse Code (Transmission & Reception) ii) Communication Procedure iii) Basic Electronics.

The Officer-In-Charge, Wireless Monitoring Station, Dept. of Telecommunication under Ministry of Communication, Govt. of India is the authority for conducting these tests in their own town provided there are sufficient number of applicants. The licenses are issued by Wireless Planning & Co-ordination Wing of DOT, Govt. of India after passing the test in any of the following grades:

1. Restricted Grade II -Permitting use of VHF/UHF only (i.e Walkie-Talkies).
2. Grade II - Permitting HF/VHF/UHF frequencies but with limited transmitting power.
3. Grade I- Permitting all amateur frequencies with higher power including latest techniques.
4. Advance Grade- Permitting higher power and advanced techniques including Satellite Communication.

The Morse Code of 5 words per minutes sending-receiving will make eligible to get grade-II and 12 words per minutes sending-receiving will get grade-I. For advanced grade higher level of technical knowledge in electronics is essentially required.

Basic knowledge can be obtained by purchasing study manuals, books on Morse Code from any of the amateur clubs.

• Local clubs - For those that like a structured approach, many clubs organize meetings and classes to teach the basic skills of radio operation and prepare people for their ham radio license test. At the end of the classes, a test is given. If you pass, you're a ham!
• You can do it by yourself. Many books for beginners are available. Some of them are below, for learning Morse code many software are available on this website.
  1. ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band (Rajesh Verma EFY Publications).

Once you are prepared, you can write examination, see Where to take Ham Radio License Examinations

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Who issues Amateur Radio License in India?

Every licensed Radio Amateur is given a call sign that is used to identify you and your location of license. Each country that has Amateur Radio status is allocated a range of call signs by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Amateur Radio License in India are licensed by the Wireless Planning & Coordination wing of Ministry of Communications, Govt. of India and enjoy a far more privileges of radio operation than "CB" radio operators do.

In many countries special call sign allocations may be made to commemorate a special event. These special event call signs usually have an unusual prefix so that the station using the call will be easily recognized. For example the calls M2000A and 7S2000M were heard quite often commemorating the year 2000. CI3O was used in 1996 for the Charles Island DX pedition. Many of these special events also have unique QSL cards that are well worth the effort to make the contact and to send for the card.

With these privileges come responsibilities and rules for the operation of an amateur radio station. Specifically, there are a few things that hams are not allowed to do:

1. Hams are not allowed to do anything with their radios that makes them money in way. Ham radio is a hobby.
2. Ham radio operator cannot `broadcast' to the public. This means that ham radio transmissions are meant to be received by other ham radio operators. While a short-wave radios will allow you to listen to the ham radio bands, what you will hear is hams talking to other hams and not music or other radio programs of `general' interest.

Within these (and other) guidelines, however, hams are empowered to do just about everything that government and private radio stations are allowed to do.
Ministry Website: Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing Go to Top

Subjects of Exam

The examination is conducted in the topics mention below:-

1. Elementary knowledge of Electronics
2. Communication Procedure and
3. Morse Code (No Morse code test for Restricted Grade II)

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Syllubus and the details of examination for the award of Amateur station operator's licence

The examination shall consist of the following two parts:

PART I - Written Test

• It shall comprise of one paper containing two sections as under:
  • Section I: Radio Theory and Practice

    Note :- Applicants holding degree in telecommunication, or electronics and electrical communications, or a degree recognised by the Central Government as equivalent to the above degree shall be exempted from appearing in Section I of the test.

  • Section II : National and International Regulations applicable to the operation of amateur station and those relating to the working of station generally.

PART II - Morse

(i) Receiving, and (ii) Sending.

No Morse code test for Restricted Grade II -Permitting use of VHF/UHF only

Detailed syllabus :

PART I - Written Test (Grade I and Grade II)

1. Section I: Radio Theory and Practice

   Elementary Electricity and Magnetism : Elementary theory of electricity, conductors and insulators, units, Ohm's Law, resistance in series and parallel conductance, power and energy, permanent magnets and electromagnets and their use in radio work; self and mutual inductance; types of inductors used in receiving and transmitting circuits, capacitance; construction of various types of capacitors and their arrangements in series and/or parallel.

   Elementary Theory of Alternating Currents :
   Sinusoidal alternating quantities - peak, instantaneous, R.M.S. average values, phase; reactance, impedance; series and parallel circuits containing resistance, inductance, capacitance; power factor, resonance in series and parallel circuits; coupled circuits; transformers for audio and radio frequencies.

   Thermonic Valves:
   Construction of valves; thermonic emission, characteristic curves, diodes, triodes and multi-electrode valves; use of valves as rectifier, oscillators, amplifiers, detectors and frequency changers, power packs, stabilisation and smoothing, elementary theory and construction of semiconductor devices - diodes and transistors.

   Radio Receivers :
   Principles and operation of T.R.F. and superhetrodyne receivers, CW reception; receiver characteristics-sensitivity, selectivity, fidelity; adjacent channel and image interference; A.V.C. and squelch/circuits; signal to noise ratio.

   Transmitter :
   Principles and operation of low power transmitter; crystal oscillators, stability of oscillators.

   Radio propagation :
   Wave length, frequency, nature and propagation of radio waves; ground and sky waves; skip distance; fading.

   Aerials :
   Common types of transmitting and receiving aerials.

   Frequency Measurement :
   Measurement of frequency and use of simple frequency meters.

2. Section 2 : Regulations :
   1. Knowledge of
      1. The Indian Wireless Telegraph Rules, 1973.
      2. The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978.
   2. Knowledge of International Radio Regulations as relating to the operation of amateur stations with particular emphasis on the following :
      Item : Provision of Radio Regulation
      Nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength, Frequency allocation to amateur radio service, Measures against Interference, Interference and tests, Identification of stations, distress and urgency transmissions, Amateur Stations, Phonetic alphabets and figure code.
   3. Standard Frequency and Time Signals Services in the World.
   4. The following `Q' codes and abbreviations which shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Convention.

      QRA, QRG, QRH, QRI, QRK, QRL, QRM, QRN, QRQ, QRS, QRT, QRU, QRV, QRW, QRX, QRZ, QSA, QSB, QSL, QSO, QSU, QSV, QSW, QSX, QSY, QSZ, QTC, QTH, QTR, and QUM.
      Abbreviations :
      AA, AB, AR, AS, C, CFM, CL, CQ, DE, K, NIL, OK, R, TU, VA, WA, WB.

The syllabus for Grade I licence is the same as that for Grade II licence, but the written examination for Grade I licence is of two hours duration. The maximum number of marks is 100 and candidates must secure at least 40% (50% for Grade I) in each section and 50% (55% for Grade I ) in aggregate for a pass.

Part II - Morse

Morse Code test for Grade II

1. Section 1 : Morse Receiving : (Speed : 5 words per minute)
   The test piece will consist of a plain language passage of 125 letters, five letters counting as one word. Candidates are required to receive for five consecutive minutes at the speed of 5 words per minute from a double head-gear headphone receiver, international morse signals from an audio oscillator keyed either manually or automatically. A short practice piece may be sent at the prescribed speed before the start of the actual test. Candidates will not be allowed more than one attempt in each test. The test may be written in ink or pencil but must be legible. Bad handwriting and over-writing will render a candidate liable to disqualification. More than 5 errors will disqualify a candidate.
2. Section 2 : Morse Sending (Speed : 5 words per minute)
   The test piece will consist of a plain language passage of 125 letters, 5 letters counting as one word. Candidates are required to send on an ordinary key for five consecutive minutes at the minimum speed of five words per minute. A short practice piece may be allowed before the actual test. Candidates will not be allowed more than one attempt in the test. Efforts should be made to correct all errors. However, more than 5 uncorrected errors will disqualify a candidate. The accuracy of signaling, correct formation of characters and the correctness of spacing shall be taken into account.

Morse Code test for Grade I

1. Section 1 : Morse Receiving (Speed 12 words per minute)
   The test piece will consist of a plain language passage of 300 characters which may comprise of letters, figures and punctuations (Punctuations are indicated below). The average words shall contain five characters and each figure and punctuation will be counted as two characters. Candidates are required to receive for five consecutive minutes at a speed of 12 words per minute. Other conditions are the same as applicable to Amateur Station Operator's Grade II examination.
   Note- Test piece may contain only the following punctuations : Full stop; Comma; Semi-colon; Break Sign; Hyphen and question mark.
2. Section 2 : Morse Sending (Speed 12 words per minute) The test piece will be similar to Morse Receiving test. Candidates are required to send for five consecutive minutes at a speed not less than 12 words per minute. Other conditions are the same as applicable to Amateur Station Operators' Grade II examination.
   Note- A candidate is required to pass both in Part I and Part II simultaneously.

Advanced Amateur Station/Operators' Examination

Part I - Written Test

1. Section 1 : Radio Theory and Practice :
   In addition to the syllabus prescribed for Amateur Station Operator's Grade II examination, following items shall be included in the syllabus of Advanced Amateur Station Operators' examinations:-
   1. Motors and Generators : Elementary principle and construction of alternators, motors and Generators.
   2. Alternating current : Constructing of transformers, transformer losses, transformer as a matching device.
   3. Measuring Instruments : Moving coil and moving iron meters, frequency meters.
   4. Semi Conductor devices and Transistors : Elementary principles of conduction and construction, symbols biasing methods.
   5. Power Supplies : Half wave and full wave rectifiers, smoothing and regulating, bridge rectifier.
   6. Modulation: Principles of frequency modulation.
   7. Transmitters and Receivers : Elementary principles of transmission and reception of Facsimile and Television signals, elementary principles of transmitters and receivers employing single side band.
   8. Propagation : Characteristics of ionosphere and troposphere. Properties of different reflecting layers, optimum working frequency, day and night frequencies.
   9. Aerials : Principles of radiation, aerials for different frequency bands including aerials for microwave.
   10. Space Communications : Elementary principles of communication via satellite.
2. Section 2 : Regulations :
   Same syllabus as prescribed for Amateur Station Operators' Grade I examination.

   Note:- The holders of Amateur Station Operators' Grade I Licence shall however be exempted from Part II of the examination.

Part II – Morse

Same syllabus as prescribed from Amateur statopn operators Grade I Examination.

Note:- The holders of Amateur Station Operators' Grade I Licence shall however be exempted from Part II of the examination.

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What are the study Materials required

1. Study Manual
2. Morse code practice book
3. Morse Key
4. Exam application form

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Where to take Ham Radio License Examinations

Once you are prepared to take the examination(s), you'll want to find out where to take the test. Tests are administered by Monitoring stations of Min. of communications throughout the country. A nominal fee is charged to cover the costs of the testing. There are several ways to locate a test session. If you know a local ham, ask him or her about local testing opportunities, or you can write the examinations at the monitoring stations. Find your nearest monitoring station address from below, and send your application. (You can download the application form from Downloads)

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Address of Monitoring stations in India

You can write test in the following Monitoring stations, they are conducting exams in regular intervals. Send your application forms addressed to:

Officer in Charge Wireless Monitoring Station Govt. of India Ministry of Communications,
Department of Telecommunications

1. Opp. Jagat Park Society, Ghatlodiya
   AHMEDABAD-380061, Gujarat.
   Tel: 27484444, Fax: 27433011
   
   
2. Kotra, Pushkar Road
   AJMER-305004, Rajasthan.
   Tel: 2425641, Fax: 2634583
   
   
3. Ministry of Communications & I.T.
   II Floor, Channammanakere Telephone Exchange
   II Cross, IInd Main, Vidyapeetha Road,
   Bangalore 560085
   Karnataka.
   
   
4. E-3/39, Area Colony,
   BHOPAL-462016, Madhya Pradesh.
   Tel: 0755-2464653; Officer in Charge : Mr.Anil Kumar Soni
   
   
5. Kandanchavadi, Perungudi,
   CHENNAI-600096, Tamilnadu.
   Tel: 24960234, 24960811, Fax: 24960235
   
   
6. 7 Oak's Bank, Plot No. 560, Rose Bank
   DARJEELING-734102, West Bengal.
   
   
7. Giridharilal Sardarmalls Bldg., Mancotta Road
   DIBRUGARH-786001, Assam.
   
   
8. Sylvia Road,Chogam Sangolda Road
   Alto Povorim, GOA-403521.
   Tel: 2217245
   
   
9. Guranli, Buzurg, Chhapia PO, Khajani Road
   GORAKHPUR-273005, Uttar Pradesh.
   Tel: 2333709
   
   
10. Main Garha Road, Hardyal Nagar
    JALANDHAR-144022, Punjab.
    Tel:2225210
    
    
11. Indewadi Village, Ambad Road
    JALNA-431203, Maharashtra.
    
    
12. 41, Sector 1, Lane 2, Nanak Nagar
    JAMMU-180004, Jammu & Kashmir.
    Tel: 2430064, Fax: 2433557
    
    
13. Gopalpur, Sarkarpool PO, 24 Parganas,
    KOLKATA-743382, West Bengal.
    Tel: 24012960, 24010151, Fax: 24589407
    
    
14. Fathima Mansion, Pinto's Lane, Bijai
    MANGALORE-575004, Karnataka.
    Tel: 2493960, Fax: 2494249
    
    
15. Gorai Road, Borivli West, MUMBAI-400092
    Maharashtra.
    Tel: 28677307, 28672351, Fax: 28672351
    
    
16. Chindwara Road, Koradi PO
    NAGPUR-441111, Maharashtra.
    Fax: 2581807
    
    
17. Harmv Housing Colony
    RANCHI-834012, Bihar.
    Tel: 2203823
    
    
18. Telecom Engineering Centre Building
    Charlapalli, Hyderabad - 500051, Andhra Pradesh
    Tel: 040-27261516/17/18
    Officer in charge: Mr.S.K.Chauhan
    
    
19. Lapalang, Rynjah
    SHILLONG-793006, Meghalaya.
    Tel: 2230113, 2230893, Fax: 2233727
    
    
20. Kachani P.O., Nettayam
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695013, Kerala.
    Tel: 2373202, Fax: 2364333
    
    
21. 39-27-41, Madhavadhara, VUDA Colony
    Marripalem, Visakhapatnam - 530018.
    Andhra Pradesh Tel No:0891-2539365; 2542402
    Officer in charge: Mr.T.Srinivasa Rao
    
    

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The exam fee is as follows:

Grade II & Restricted Grade II Rs.10 each
Grade I Rs.20 and Advance Grade Rs.25
The exam fee should be paid in the form of Demand Draft drawn only from State bank of India in favor of "Pay & Accounts Officer (Head Quarters), Department of Telecommunications, New Delhi" and payable at New Delhi service Branch No:7687.

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Schedule of examinations

Place	Month of examination
Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras	Every month
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Nagpur	January, March, June, August, October and December
Ajmer, Bangalore, Darjeeling, Gorakhpur, Jalandhar, Goa, Mangalore, Shillong, Ranchi, Srinagar and such other places where a monitoring station of the Monitoring Organisation of the Ministry of Communications is located	January, April, July and October

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Building Your First Radio

Amateur Radio Transceivers can be made by enthusiasts with locally available components. Several Hams have come up with their circuit design, PCBs and construction of low cost amateur Radio equipment. Assume that you have just passed the Restricted Grade-II class "no code" license and are looking for a first radio. Most Amateurs purchase a handheld VHF or UHF (or a combined "dual-band" VHF+UHF) radio. You can optionally connect an external antenna at your home for extended range. A mere handheld, running low power, is sufficient to gain access to most local repeaters so this is plenty to get you started.
There are several International brands that sell their Amateur Radio equipment in India with network chain of Dealers and sub-dealers. You could buy any equipment that fits in your budget across the shelf from these dealers. The price of which can be obtained from them , Make, Manufacturer and features. However, some popular brands are

• ALINCO
• ICOM
• KENWOOD
• YAESU

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What is the benefit for the Students by Joining Amateur Hobby

• He/ She is introduced to the Scientific activity at a very young age and will create an awareness on the importance of Information Technology and Communications in their life.
• He/ She will possess a license from the Ministry of Communications, Government of India and are encouraged to construct their own Transceiver or Purchase or Operate a Amateur Radio Station including Information Technology through Computers.
• He/ She joins the fraternity and interact with other Students, Teachers, Scientists, Doctors, Lawyers, Politicians, Kings and Prime Ministers from all over the World. plan ahead for their future carriers in their lives.
• He/ She can take part or share information on the latest developments in various technologies.
• He/ She can win a lot of Awards and Certificates by participating in various events all over the world sitting in their own room.
• He/ She can discuss their views and ideas freely and can educate themselves & others to improve their knowledge on the Subject.
• He/ She will inculcate the communication and leadership skills

Popular Amateur Radio Frequencies/bands

	Bands(Meter)	MHz
HF	160	1.820 - 1.860
	80	3.5 - 3.7
	40	7.0 - 7.1
	20	14.000 - 14.350
	17	18.068 - 18.168
	15	21.000 - 21.450
	12	24.890 - 24.990
	10	28.0 - 29.7
VHF	2	144 - 146
UHF	0.7	434 - 438
	0.25	1260 - 1300

The frequencies (only shows popular bands) may vary slightly from country to country, for a complete list of frequency allocation in India visit Nation Frequency Allocation Plan in WPC website

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page prepared by vu3wij © HamRadioIndia 2004