This question is one I get quite a bit when people see my ham radio being used, or see it clipped to by belt.  This web page is a question and answer page for "ordinary people" to find out what that radio is, and answer some basic questions that us Ham Radio people get quite a bit.   This document will attempt to explain things in simple terms.

What is that thing?  

Many people who have heard of Ham Radio have been exposed to hams using less modern technology.  A ham radio is considered by many to be a large metal box with glowing tubes.  With this predisposition, one might expect the small, high-tech radios hams have nowadays to be worthy of special explanation.

Nowadays, a ham radio rig can be a credit-card sized, high-tech looking radio.  Most are a little larger, but it is definately no longer necessary to have a basement full of glowing tubes to talk on ham radio.    If you see me, or anyone else carrying around a radio like that, it is most likely a VHF or UHF FM rig.   Other types, although getting smaller, are usually still too big to carry around.   In a nutshell, all this means is that these radios have more or less limited range because of the frequencies they use. (see range question below).  

What is it used for?

Ham Radios can be used for a lot of things, but mainly are used to talk to other hams.   In addition, hams have established community service organizations to use their ham radios for the public good.  You might have heard of one of them - SKYWARN.   Skywarn works closely with the National Weather Service to monitor and report weather conditions using Ham Radio spotters.  Using ham radio operators for them is important, since telephone-based spotters can often be unable to report when storms render phone and/or power systems unavailable.     Hams also have organizations for disaster assistance, message handling, and non-emergency communication assistance.

How much range can you get?

This is probably the most common question people have when they see my radio!    Of course, it is also a tricky one to answer because "radio-to-radio" range is not the only type of technology we hams have to talk to each other.  For the purpose of this explanation, I will limit this answer to what is possible with a small, hand-held radio.   Of course range does depend on how much power your radio puts out.   Most ham radio hand held radios put out 5 watts of power.  This is actually quite a bit, but hams can use up to 1500 watts!    

Simple, Radio-to-Radio range

Going from one 5W radio to another directly would give you a range of about 15 miles.     (on VHF or UHF)     That is the simplest answer, but us hams can do a lot more.  

Range extending using repeaters

One thing hams can do is send their signal to a tower, where it is re-transmitted with greater power for a longer range.   This is called using a repeater.    Doing this can extend your range very considerably, up to 100 miles in some cases.  That's quite a bit of range for a radio that can sit in your pocket, yet it is still small potatoes compared to other technologies available to us!

Range extending using sattilites in Earth Orbit

Another range extension technology hams have is very high-tech.   Using a ham radio you can transmit to a sattilite in earth orbit, and have your signal sent back down to earth.   This technology allows hams to talk from one state to another using a small handheld radio.   Sattilite use can be inconveninet, though, because the timing must be just right for the sattilite to be overhead.   Believe it or not, even this is not our most capable range-enchancing technology.

Range extending using the Internet

The most versitile range-enhancing system we have today involves connecting repeater towers together with the internet.  Basically, in addition to retransmitting your signal, your voice is also sent to antother repeater tower somewhere else in the world through the internet.   This makes it possible for two people with low-power radios to talk from one country to another  free of charge - for the most part as easy as making a telephone call.  

Range extending the old-fasioned way

In the old days,  before sattilites and internet, Hams were still capable of world-wide communications.   The method used then was to use shortwave frequencies (HF) which, unlike UHF or VHF, have a tendency for worldwide communications by their very nature.   Hams still use this technology, and although many people still consider their old tube radios perfectly good, we also have modern, high-tech radios which can be mounted in a house or car.   Using shortwave frequencies, it is possible to talk form one country to another directly from radio to radio.    Most radios that can do shortwave are still too big to carry around, although there are a few small enough to walk around with.  


How does Ham Radio compare to FRS (personal radios often advertised as "2M range")?

FRS is very similar, in many respects, to some Ham Radios for radio-to-radio communication.   There are two main differences.  First of all, FRS cannot take advantage of some of the range enhancing technology that hams have.   Secondly, FRS is limited to much lower power.    (500mw)   On the other hand, FRS does not require any kind of license.

How does Ham Radio compare to GMRS  (personal radios often advertised as "5M range")?

GMRS can do one of the range-enhancing tricks that hams use (Repeater operation).  Unfortunately, though, repeaters on the GMRS band are very rare.  GMRS is also limited to less power (2 watts for units that also use FRS frequencies), although GMRS has nearly four times as much power as allowed for FRS only. Some GMRS units can operate up to 50 watts for GMRS-only radios.   GMRS is similar to ham radio in the respect that users require a license, but the licenses are very different.  The GMRS license is more or less just a bunch of paperwork to send in.  The ham radio license issued after taking an actual test.  

One other difference is that one GMRS license allows any family members to use the equipment without getting separate licenses.   Ham radio licenses do not cover use by other family members.  Other people in your family can use ham radio, but only if you are there to supervise them.

Do you get police/fire/medical stations on that?

Most ham radio receivers are capable of receiving public service communication, just like a scanner.  In some states, a Ham Radio license is required to lawfully carry a police scanner in a car.   Hams can also transmit on public service frequencies when given written authorization  Also, in certain emergencies hams can use any frequency to call for help or to answer a request for help.

Some public utilities are switching to a new, digital system for communcations, based on cellular phone technology.   These communcations generally require a digital capable scanner to be received.    There are pros and cons to police use of this new technology, but in general ham radios do not easily receive the new digital signals.  

Can you receive baby monitors, cordless phones, etc on that?

While of questionable legality, most scanners and ham radios are capable of receiving signals from cordless phones or baby monitors.   If you use either of these devices, you should be aware that the signal generated by them can frequently travel for many blocks - the signals do not stop at the walls of your house!   With this in mind, you may want to avoid disclosing anything of a private nature on a cordless phone, or within earshot of a baby monitor.   Even telephones that advertise security frequently can be picked up easily with the right equipment.     The best policy is to keep this in mind when using these devices.