ST Wong Amateur Radio and Photography in Lahad Datu.: July 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009

WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO

It is fun to use radio. People use radio to talk across town, across country and even across continent. Email, Data, or even images can be send through without any sort of Internet connection.

Other than that Amateur Radio can be called as Amateur Radio Service cause it has it's use on the serious side as an important emergency communication system other than hobby for fun. When all other mean of communications system down or overloaded, ham radio still gets the message through.

Ham Radio is a hobby and also a vital service that has saved lives again and again when regular mean of communication failed.

Who can be HAMS?

There are millions of amateur radio operator round the world. They comes from all walks of life and background, all professions, ages, sexes or just a plain folks. They are united by their interest in wireless communication technologies.

Amateur Radio Bands

We all familiar with the big dial on the AM radio and you will see these frequencies marked and with KHz and these are the AM Broadcast band. In the radio frequency spectrum, all sorts of radio services are located, such as the police, fire department, aircraft, ships etc. Amateur are to allocated to use the spectrum in the groups of frequency in HF(high frequency), VHF(Very high frequency), UHF(Ultra high frequency) and as well as the SHF(Super high frequency) band.

Why need license?

Amateur radio is as old as the radio itself and has been a licensed service till now. Offering pool of self-trained people able to offer backing up emergency communication when needed. Amateur radio is also controlled by international law and agreements. Radio waves do not stop for international borders and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission acknowledge the ability of the radio hobby not only to advance radio communication technologies skills, but also to enhance international goodwill.

What is the appeal of ham radio?

Hams are attracted by the ability to communicate across town, country, round the globe or even with astronauts on the International Space Station. Its also a gateway for opening door to new friendships over the air or through participation in one of Amateur radio club throughout Malaysia or International. MARTS(Malaysia Amateur Radio Transmitting Society) is Malaysia's main representing club in IARU Region 3(International Amateur Radio Union).

Hams build and experiment with electronics and well may at the cutting edge of many technologies. Experimenting with communication using a simple computer in the shack for sending images and digital text. Even some HAMS goes for off grid power sources to power their equipment.

Well while these cutting edge technologies gadgets move far ahead, the Morse key may still be on the operating position ready to be in action to communicate in the basic way "MORSE CODE".

By 9M6WST Class A Amateur Radio Station Malaysia.

Friday, July 17, 2009

DXing at Tanjung Lipat Kota Kinabalu

On the night of 14/7/2009 I was invited by Go(9M6YBG) to join him for HF DXing at Tanjung Lipat, Kota Kinabalu.

Unfortunately both of us didn't bring along our camera, so no pictures taken.

Setup: FT-897, Buddy Pole and power supply was just a lead acid battery.
Mode: Morse Code.

Nice work Go.

HF DXing mean using HF radio to call for distance Amateur Radio Station.

By. 9M6WST Wong.