History of amateur radio

[1] Throughout its history, amateur radio enthusiasts have made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, and social services.

Research by amateur radio operators has founded new industries,[2] built economies,[3] empowered nations,[4] and saved lives[5] in times of emergency.

[1] In 1912 after the RMS Titanic sank, the United States Congress passed the Radio Act of 1912[8] which restricted private stations to wavelengths of 200 meters or shorter (1500 kHz or higher).

[9] These "short wave" frequencies were generally considered useless at the time, and the number of radio hobbyists in the U.S. is estimated to have dropped by as much as 88%.

[10] Other countries followed suit and by 1913 the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was convened and produced a treaty requiring shipboard radio stations to be staffed 24 hours a day.

On October 10, 1982 he was canonized by Pope John Paul II as Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Apostle of Consecration to Mary and declared a Martyr of charity.

[19] Ham radio enthusiasts were instrumental in keeping U.S. Navy personnel stationed in Antarctica in contact with loved ones back home during the International Geophysical Year during the late 1950s.

During the Falklands War in 1982, Argentine forces seized control of the phones and radio network on the islands and had cut off communications with London.

[25] During 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav amateur radio operators exchanged information from posts in public shelters.

For many years, amateur radio operators were required by international agreement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to use frequencies below 30 MHz.

In 2003 the World radiocommunications conference (WRC) met in Geneva, Switzerland, and voted to allow member countries of the International Telecommunication Union to eliminate Morse code testing if they so wished .

[28] On December 15, 2006, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Report and Order eliminating all Morse code testing requirements for all American Amateur Radio License applicants, which took effect February 23, 2007.

Amateur radio emergency communications assisted in disaster relief activities for events such as the September 11 attacks in 2001,[30] Hurricane Katrina in 2005,[31] and the Sichuan earthquake in 2008.

[32] In 2017, the Red Cross requested 50 amateur radio operators be dispatched to Puerto Rico to provide communications services in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

RMS Titanic (April 2, 1912).
Two radios in the ARC-5 series. Unit on the left is a BC-453-B, covering 190-550 kHz; the one on the right is a BC-454-E, covering 3-6 MHz. Both have been modified for Amateur Radio use by replacing the front connector with a small control panel.
A U.S. Postage Stamp from 1964, commemorating amateur radio.
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Adrey Garret uses a ham radio at Williams Air Operating Facility during the 1956 winter. Ham radio was the only means of voice communication with friends and family back in the U.S. for navy personnel living and working in Antarctica in the days before satellite telephone technology became common. [ 21 ]