An Amateur Radio Ham

This is my first experience with amateur radio as a scientific hobby.

I had the craze for amateur radio when I was a schoolboy around 1984. I used to listen to sounds and music on the radio from distant stations and wondered where this was coming from. At that time I had a Sony band-spread type receiver and it had a wide band spread unlike the crowded band in some other ordinary receivers. I used to tune to weak signals and tried many different techniques with the antenna and trying many different types, shapes, and arrays to receive the very weak signals intelligibly. This became my everyday activity during those times. I tried many different types of receivers even from relatives homes and tried to listen to the signals and compare it with mine. I was curious to know how the unseen signals are received by the radio and was reproduced. Later it became my quest to know about that and the theory behind that. Later I came to understand that it was the function of small devices in the radio and when the power given, these devices were functioning to convert the radio signals into beautiful voice and music.

I then tried to experiment with the electronic components when I set my hands on the BC reciever first and did all sorts of tricks and tweaks. I was not able to get a performance beyond a particular level. I did try to collect as many literature about the functioning of the radio even from the encyclopedia and understand its theory and principles. From there I got some circuit and drawings of the oscillator circuits and amplifier units.

During these times I could not give more time to spend on radio because I was doing my pre degree program and the exams and had to complete it. So for 2 to 3 years I was not able to involve in any type of radio-related activities. After those years of studies I was able to get into a medical degree program and that I was able to study a subject of my interest. During that time, the thought reemerged in my mind and my curiosity to know more about the functioning of the radio. This was the time when I came to know about the Trivandrum Amateur Radio Society and later joined the club. The club was interesting with its founding member VU2TF and VU2KGB and other famous personalities and the varied activities. I used to attend the meetings of the club on a regular basis. Now I was understanding more about the radio, its functioning and beyond the radio into the higher end of the spectrum into microwaves and lasers and gamma rays. I learned a lot about satellite communication and communication through space and digital communication on HF with the use of computer on modes such as packet, AMTOR etc.

Although I was more involved in the radio and had got better knowhow about its construction and various circuit ideas, I could not do any further activities in this hobby because I was not licensed. The licensing is a must for even testing or possessing of any kind of radio equipment. Now I began to study Morse code and the rules and regulations for obtaining a license. In the beginning I was not able to get any help or guidance for the preparation of the exam. The only info I got about the exam was that I have to submit an application to the WPC wing in the DOT and that I could write the exam at a nearby Wireless Monitoring Station. I did not have much idea about the nature of the exam or its conduct. So with very little help or guidance, I studied Morse, electronics theory, and the rules & regulations. I filled out the application form and did all that is necessary to undergo a formal test for obtaining a wireless license. I appeared for the exam at the Wireless Monitoring Station, did well at the exam, and passed out the exam. I was very happy to obtain a wireless license grade 1, which I am able to hold to this day.