In the world of radio communications, you might often hear talk of the call sign. But what exactly is a call sign and what does it mean to have one? If the 70’s novelty song ‘Convoy’ can be believed, a call sign could be something like “The Rubber Duck.” Well, […]

An amateur radio club is one of the best resources any young ham can search for when first entering the world of the ham radio. From information to helping you find a place to take the licensing exam, to holding monthly meetups and hosting competitions, joining a club can elevate […]

It’s a common conception among some that using amateur radio is exactly the same as using a walkie-talkie. It’s another common conception that they aren’t able to be used together. Even more often, ham radio is lumped in with walkie-talkies and CB radios as one entity. How true is any […]

So why is amateur radio so common among the doomsday prepper subculture? There are a number of reasons why it appeals, ranging from logical to ludicrous, but the one that gets brought up most often is that in the case of an electromagnetic pulse—an EMP—the ham radio is going to […]

When it comes to owning and using an amateur radio, the word itself ‘amateur’ can be quite misleading. Much like the nickname ‘ham’, it gives off the impression that the operator is untrained, doesn’t know what they’re doing, and blundering their way through it. But I know for a fact […]

CB refers to Citizens Band, a particular radio band within the 27 MHz band. It is separate from amateur radio, more often used by businesses. When you think of truckers communicating back and forth, they typically use a CB radio. It is due to the popularity of CB radio that […]

One thing you have to deal with when delving into the world of amateur radio is the terminology. Words like ‘frequency’ and ‘bands’ get tossed around with little to no definition, and someone who knows absolutely nothing about ham radio might hear about bands and think it refers to a […]

Listening to your local radio stations can easily leave you tired. All that the AM stations play is the news and traffic reports, and most of these segments are so depressing that you wouldn’t want to hear any more than you have to. FM stations, on the other hand, play […]

We’re living in an age where everyone around us has a cell phone. They’ve become the dominant form of communication, to the point where most young people don’t bother with landlines anymore. So naturally, the question occurs—could you communicate, using an amateur radio, with cell phones? There’s a number of […]

A frequent claim purported by those against amateur radio is that it will interfere with nearby television sets. A cursory search on the Internet does nothing to help prove one side or the other. Several videos litter the web of disgruntled neighbors filming their TV screens. “This is what ham […]