Amateur Radio (Ham Radio)

Frequently Asked Questions about Amateur Radio for INDIANS

Compiled by Raj VU2ZAP

• What is Amateur Radio?
• Who can become a ham?
• What can I do with a license?
• What can't I do?
• How do I get a license?
• What grades of License are there?
• What are the exams like?
• What does it cost?
• How do I join ARSI?

WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO?

Amateur radio is a non-commercial radio communication service. Amateur radio aims to provide emergency public service communication; technical training and experimentation. Amateur radio operators are commonly known as hams. The term "Ham radio" is used to describe the hobby of Amateur radio and not the equipment. Similarly the term "Ham" is used to describe a radio amateur enthusiast and not the equipment.

Indian Wireless telegraph rules 1978 Quote G.S.R 1499-78:

2(a) " 'Amateur service' means a service of self training intercommunications and technical investigation carried on by Amateurs that is, by persons duly authorized under these rules interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest."

WHO CAN BECOME A HAM?

Any citizen of INDIA who is above 12 years of age can become a ham by qualifying in the Amateurs station operators' examination (ASO) and obtaining a valid Amateur wireless telegraph station license.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A LICENSE?

You can:

1. talk to other hams using voice, Morse code or computers.
2. build radios, antennas and learn electronics.
3. help in emergencies by providing communications.
4. help others become hams.
5. participate in contests and field days events.
6. participate in transmitter (fox) hunt games.
7. transmit and receive pictures.
8. experiment with satellite communications.

WHAT CAN'T I DO?

You can't:

1. use it for transacting business.
2. cause interference to other hams or radio services.
3. use indecent language or profanities.
4. broadcast music.
5. send messages to or on behalf of non hams.

HOW DO I GET A LICENSE?

You have the pass one of the grades of Amateur station operators examination and then apply for the license.

WHAT GRADES OF LICENSE ARE THERE?

Advanced, grade-1, grade-2 and restricted. These grades have different examinations and Morse code requirements.

WHAT ARE THE ASO EXAMINATIONS LIKE?

If you have passed your high school, then the exam is very easy. Some 12 year old have passed the exam and abtained a license.

The examinations consist of a written paper and a Morse code test. The written paper consists of two parts, the first on electronics and the second on rules and regulations for amateur service. The Morse test has two parts, the receive and sending test, both at the same speed.

Morse pass requirement: Receive without mistakes for 1 minute

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Cost of attending classes for ASO exam depends of the organization conducting classes. Fees are mainly for notes and materials for the classes. To take the exam it cost Rs. 20 to 25 and the license costs between Rs. 12 and 25 per year.

The cost of the radio equipment depends of what you want to do. You can either build your own radio equipment or buy ready manufactured. Ham radio equipment is not made in INDIA so it has to be imported. Due to the poor value of the rupee, you can expect to spend upwards of Rs. 10,000/-. Since our late prime minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi VU2RG introduced duty concessions, hams equipment is imported under a concessional duty on your ham license. You can build your own equipment for a much smaller amount. Second hand equipment can be bought from hams at a cheap price.

How do I join ARSI?

Download and fill the ARSI application form. [PDF]   [MSWord]  
Send the filled form along with the payment for the appropriate membership category.

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VU2ZAP - Raj
Founder member - Repeater Society of Bangalore (RSB - VU2RSB, VU2TWO)
Life member - Bangalore Amateur Radio Club (BARC - VU2ARC)
Life member - Amateur Radio Society of INDIA (ARSI)