Sir John Robert on neocities

Ham Radio: Officially known as the Amateur Radio Service

What is Ham Radio?


First off, it's not an acronym...
Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It's fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.-ARRL
So where did the term "Ham" come from? It is likely a reference to the term "Ham Handed", which Cambridge Dictionary defines as "Doing things in an awkward or unskilled way when using the hands". Morse Code requires a certain "cadence" or flow in keying that is expected by the operator on the decoding (receving) end. Imagine playing "Name That Tune" but the tempo of the song is sped up and slowed down during the audio clip. It makes it hard to decode and understand. Non professional operators have yet to develop their precision in code keying, sometimes miskeying characters etc. This name of "ham" could very well have been what Professional Morse Code operators would have called Amateur (Hobbyist) Radio Operators back in the day.