Hamming it up at Sea Lyn Battle
Following on from my story about using HF (High Frequency) radio to chat with operators all around the world on the Ham bands... just how do we become “a Ham”? There are various ways to achieve our amateur radio or ‘Ham’ licence and regulations vary, depending on the country in which you are currently located. The best thing to do is check with locals to see if there is an amateur radio club nearby. They often run training courses or can point you in the right direction. If you have access to the internet, you can google local training bodies, but it’s always helpful to have a supportive ‘Elmer’ (qualified Ham mentor) to shepherd you along the way; I know I always like to have a sounding board for those silly questions that we seem to be too embarrassed to ask the experts! The first question usually is: “What’s the difference between ‘amateur’ and ‘Ham’ radio?
ABOVE: Amateur Radio magazine covers featuring Emma VK2FEMM at JOTA Scouts' Jamboree On The Air (left) and Bron VK3DYF (now *Silent Key) and young boy in buggy (right).
opposed to ‘commercial’. In the cliquey ways of the world, the professionals referred to them with the derogatory term: ‘Hams’, which, in turn, has become a badge of honour. We are now proud of our Ham heritage and, dare I say: “As happy as a pig (Ham) in the mud!” Gone are the days when you had to learn Morse Code to get your licence, whether you ever intended to use that mode of communication or not, and this has resulted in two things: 1. People who struggled with Morse Code are now finding it easier to attain their license; and 2. More people are now taking an interest in Jenny VK3WQ.
The answer: same-same! The technical term is ‘Amateur Radio’, because in the early 19th century days of wired telegraphy, only professionals such as shipping and railway telegraphists used the system. The term ‘ham -fisted’ was used to describe someone with poor Morse-key operating skills. When laymen were granted experimental licenses in the early 20th century, they were ‘amateur’ as SisterShip 20
