What is amateur radio?

There is no better way to explore the fascinating world of wireless communication than by becoming a radio amateur!

Radio amateurs enjoy making use of designated radio frequencies in a number of ways:

• Contacting people all over the world by radio which often leads to developing international friendships

• Technical experimentation – many of the leaps forward in radio technology have been initiated by radio amateurs

• Competing in international competitions to test how effective your equipment is, and how good you are as an operator

• Communicating through amateur space satellites or with the International Space Station (which carries an amateur radio station)

• Providing emergency communications and undertaking exercises to ensure you keep the capability to do so

Amateur radio is a popular technical hobby that uses designated radio frequencies for non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communications.

Did you know? Amateur radio is the only hobby governed by international treaty.

What sort of people become radio amateurs?