Bridging the Digital Divide through Amateur Radio

The ROAD to AMATEUR RADIO in Bangladesh

A fascinating hobby for the twenty first century

By: AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR

Amateur radio, popularly known as Ham Radio is a scientific, fun evolving, beneficial hobby for personal enjoyment and accomplishment. The person who operates the amateur station is called a HAM.

Amateur Radio is as old as the history of radio itself. Not long after Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian experimenter transmitted the Morse Code letter "s" from Newfoundland to England in 1901, amateur experimenters throughout the world were trying out the capabilities of the first "spark gap" transmitters

HAMs are different from others, just one way their circles of friends are not limited by distance, geographical locations or race. They visit (communicate) other HAMs across the towns, countries and continents using the simplest radio. Apart from making friends and personal development, one of the most important contributions of Amateur Radio to the society is rendering voluntary support during natural disasters.

When normal means of communication breaks down, voluntarily established (by HAMs) communication links between affected area (s) and rest of the country and world could become the only means for Emergency rescue and Medical traffic.

A HAM must be FRIENDLY, CONSIDERATE, PROGRESSIVE, BALANCED, LOYAL and PATRIOTIC. HAMs have a unique ability and responsibility to enhance international goodwill.

Amateur radio has a history of a hundred years but it is very much hobby for the twenty first century.  From the very earliest days of experimental wireless to the present day of worldwide communications, radio amateurs have been at the forefront of developments. Communication over distance, with out wires, is as exciting today as it was to the early pioneers. 

Radio today is a vital part of the modern world.  Just think of all the areas in which the transmission and reception of radio waves is an essential part of life today, television, broadcasting, satellite communications, mobile phones, GPS, emergency services, air traffic control, shipping etc.  Radio amateurs, by international agreement, have access to a wide range of wave bands that allow them to transmit using techniques that have been developed over the years and those that are still very experimental.  Every thing from Internet linking to Morse code.  It’s this huge variety of ways in which radio can be used that makes amateur radio such a fascinating hobby.

What is all about?

Amateur radio operators use their ham radios to communicate with others around the world.

This unique mix of fun, public service and convenience is the distinguishing characteristic of the hobby called Amateur Radio. Although hams get involved in Amateur Radio for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology, regulations and operating principles, demonstrated by passing an examination for a license to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands." These frequencies are reserved by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and respective Governments for use by hams at intervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the way up into extremely high microwave frequencies.

Who's an Amateur radio operator or Ham?

Ham is a nickname for amateur radio. Amateur radio operators, also known as Hams come from all walks of life -- movie stars, missionaries, doctors, students, truck drivers and just common people. They are all ages, sexes, income levels and nationalities. But whether they prefer Morse Code on an old brass telegraph key through a low power transmitter, voice communication on a hand-held radio, they all have an interest in what's happening in the world, and they use radio to reach out.

The Appeal of Amateur Radio

Some hams are attracted by the ability to communicate across the country, around the globe without frontiers, even with astronauts on space missions. Others build and experiment with electronics. Computer hobbyists find packet radio to be a low-cost way to expand their ability to communicate. Those with a competitive streak enjoy DX contests, where the object is to see how many distant locations they can contact. Some like the convenience of a technology that gives them portable communication.

Amateur Radio Operations Useful in Many Situations

Although the main purpose of Amateur Radio is fun, it is called the "Amateur Radio Service" because it also has a serious face. This service is created to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide alternate emergency communications. In addition, we acknowledge the ability of the hobby to advance the communication and technical skills of radio, and to enhance international goodwill. This philosophy has paid off. Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act as emergency communicators to render aid, whether it's an earthquake in Italy, a flood in Bangladesh or a hurricane in the U.S.

What one can’t do…

There are some specific activities one can’t do on amateur Bands. These are:

** Accepting direct & indirect payments for operating an Amateur Station.

** Broadcasting

** News Gathering

** Transmitting Music

** Aiding Criminal Activities

** Transmitting Code and Cipher

** Engaging in Obscenity, Profanity and Indecency

** Political discussions

Call Signs, Frequencies Modes

ITU radio regulations outline the basic principles for Amateur call signs. According to the regulations S2A- S3Z has been allocated for Bangladesh.

ITU has allocated the frequencies for various purposes such as Broadcasting Bands, Casual Bands, Citizen Bands (CB) and Amateur Bands only for Radio Amateurs. One can’t be interfered by others.

There are several modes used in Amateur Radio communication. CW, AM, FM, SSB for code and voice. AMTOR, Packet, PACTOR etc. for Digital communication. These days HAMs relay signals through their own satellites OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio).

How many Radio Amateurs exits!

According to the most recent statistics of the International Amateur Radio Union, there are 2.6 million licensed radio amateurs in the world.
Japan has half of the world Amateur Radio population: 1.3 million.
The United States has one-fourth of the world radio amateurs.
Germany has the largest number of amateurs of any European country with  57,000 members.
The United Kingdom has nearly as many amateurs as Germany.

Indonesia’s position is on top-10 list having 27,815.

Spain is another country where Amateur Radio has experienced rapid growth in recent years, currently having 58,700 Hams.
Russia has the estimate of 38,000 HAMs.
Italy has about 30,000 amateurs, making it either the fourth or fifth largest country in Europe in terms of amateur population.
Finally, Brazil is the lone South American country on the top 10 list, although in fairness to Argentina it must be said that our LU friends are close behind, in position number 11, with 24,000 licensees.
By ITU Region, the IARU statistics show there are 417,000 amateurs in Region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union), 780,000 in Region 2 (the Americas), and 1.4 million in Region 3 (the rest of Asia and Oceania).
A country that should soon join the Top 10 is Thailand, where 92,000 operators licenses have been issued and 38,400 have re quested a station license!

Regulations and Licences

A licence is necessary in order to transmit on the Amateur Bands, or frequencies. In most countries an Amateur Radio Licence is issued, for the purpose of self training, by the individual concerned, in the art of (all forms) of Radio Communication. A licence is not usually needed to "listen in" to Ham Radio transmissions.
Transmitting licence regulations vary in detail from country to country, but are broadly similar. Generally you will need to pass some form of technical exam.
Arrangements vary for different countries. To transmit on the LF & HF short wave bands (Frequencies below 30MHz ) some countries may still require the applicant to pass some form of morse code test in addition to the technical exam.
To encourage newcomers to the hobby, many countries now allow access to the HF (Short Wave ) bands with minimal qualifications, but with reduced privileges, such as only using low power and certain frequencies. These are often called Novice Licences.

Use and available activities

Licensed Amateur Radio operators enjoy personal two-way communications with friends and complete strangers, all of whom must also be licensed. They support the larger public community with emergency and disaster communications. Increasing a person's knowledge of electronics and radio theory as well as radio contesting are also popular aspects of this radio service. A good way to get started in Ham Radio is to find a club in your area to answer your questions and provide information on getting licensed and then getting on the air!
Ham Radio offers the licensed operators a variety of radio modes that help to ensure reliable communications in pre, during and post disasters. Many of these rely on the "simplex" mode, that is direct, radio-to-radio, avoiding the problems associated with networks that might fail. In Ham Radio simplex communications would allow skilled radio operators to talk across town on VHF or UHF frequencies, or across the world on the HF (shortwave) bands of frequencies. Hams also have another powerful tool available, repeaters. Repeaters are radio relay devices usually located at height, on a tall building for example. A repeater allows the licensed Ham to have radio coverage for tens of miles from just a small walkie-talkies or mobile two-way radio.
Within amateur radio, one can pursue interests such as providing communications for a community emergency response team; antenna theory; disaster response; packet radio; DX communication over thousands of miles using the ionosphere to refract radio waves; and super low-power or QRP operation.

Frequency Allocations and QSOs

Radio amateurs can contact each other on a variety of frequencies, or bands, that are allocated for their use. The bands are usually known by their approximate wavelength, e.g. 20 metres, which is a popular band for international communications, this wavelength corresponds to a frequency of around 14MHz The most popular bands are the HF, High Frequency, or short-wave, bands. These are in the 1.8MHz to 30MHz frequency range and the VHF or Very High Frequency. 144MHz, band, often referred to as 2 metres, from its wavelength.
Amateurs can make contact with others using speech, Morse, (CW), Radio Teleprinter (RTTY), digital techniques (including Packet Radio), Television (Fast and Slow Scan), and other modes.

A contact between two stations is known as a QSO (part of the International Q Code, used, when sending morse, to reduce the number of characters that need to be sent. It also helps to cross language barriers).
This is usually initiated by an amateur putting out a "CQ", or general call, to announce that they are looking for a contact. Another amateur who hears this call can then reply, and brief exchange of station details will then probably result. The contact may consist of little more than an exchange of signal reports, or it may develop into a longer, more conversational, exchange.

QSL cards and awards

Some amateurs exchange "QSL" cards to confirm the contact. These are often collected and can be used as proof to claim an award for contacting so many countries, states, or having collected so many points etc. To save money, such cards are often sent via a QSL bureau staffed by volunteers, or National Society. In this way, cards can be sent in bulk for one payment of postage. Some amateurs prefer to send their cards direct, then you get to collect the postage stamps as well as the QSL cards! Increasingly cards are being sent electronically using e-mail.
ADD QSL Card photo here

Equipment

Transceivers

In order to communicate via radio, you need a transmitter, or transceiver, such as the one on the photograph. A transceiver is simply a transmitter and receiver combined into one unit.
Transmitters range from simple low power, low cost, devices, often only capable of sending morse, to complex multipurpose high power ones, and can be home built or commercially manufactured, the latter being the more common. Usually, modern transceivers have HF, VHF and UHF build into them

Cost

You don't have to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment to enjoy amateur radio, this is just the impression you could get from reading radio magazines!
Many 'hams' do not spend a lot of money on their hobby.
There are low cost kits so you can build up your station in easy stages.
To be able to build your own equipment, or modify existing, and use it on the air, generally you need to have a full amateur radio licence. The various kinds of novice licence usually mean you have to purchase low cost, low power commercial equipment.

Past, present, and future

Despite all these exciting specialties, many hams enjoy the informal contacts, long discussions or "rag-chews", or round table "nets", whether by voice transmission (SSB, AM, or FM), CW (morse telegraphy), or one of the digital modes (RTTY, PSK31, and others).
Even with the advent of the internet ham radio is not diminishing in countries with advanced communications infrastructure. Amateur radio remains strong even today, as figures from the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) will prove. This may be partly because Hams enjoy communicating using the most minimalist simple hardware possible as well as finding the most technically advanced way, advancing the art of radio communication at both ends, frequently beyond what professionals are willing to try and risk.
In times of crisis and natural disasters, ham radio may be the only surviving means of communication. It has been found all too often that both wire and cellular telephone systems either fail or are overloaded in times of crisis and radios dedicated to emergency services fare little better. In areas where known disaster problems exist, amateur radio has a long-standing tradition of cooperation with local emergency services.


Bangladesh Context
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is the authority for Amateur Radio in Bangladesh. The law is governed by the Amateur Licence Provisions and Conditions made under Chapter V, Article 35.1 of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Act 2001.

Two types of licences are provided, Intermediate and General class. BTRC conduct Amateur Radio exams time to time.

Since, Amateur Radio is an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) entity, this should enjoy all the benefits of ICT structure in Bangladesh.