The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A platform for a growing tribe of HAM operators

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Sunday, Nov 08, 2009
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A platform for a growing tribe of HAM operators

Staff Reporter

Over 400 HAM radio operators take part in HAM Fest 2009

Of the 17,000 HAM operators in India, almost 20 per cent of them are from Bangalore
‘HAM radio has huge potential and the licensing should be easier’

Bangalore: Few people know about HAM Radio. Fewer know that Bangalore is considered the HAM capital of the country. Several well-known personalities such as All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi, legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, Kannada film actor Shivaraj Kumar and former Minister Kumar Bangarappa are all part of the growing tribe of HAM operators in the country.

On Saturday, Bangalore Amateur Radio Club (BARC) celebrated 50 years of its existence with its annual HAM Fest 2009 held at Nijagunara Kshetra, Bangalore.

The two-day event witnessed a participation of more than 400 HAM radio operators from across the country.

To mark the occasion, BARC released a Special Cover with a Special Postal Cancellation approved by the Indian Postal Service.

The history of HAM radio goes back to the time of World War I when HAM radios were used to transmit information from one base to another. However, it was soon picked up as a hobby with HAM operators using it as a means for personal communication across the world. India has witnessed a steady growth in the number of HAM operators.

While there are about 17,000 HAM operators in India, almost 20 per cent of them are from Bangalore. The city has many other HAM radio clubs, including UPAGRAH Amateur Radio Club, comprising HAM users from ISRO, besides Indian Institute of HAM and SJRC HAM Club.

Repeaters Society of Bangalore was the first to put up a HAM Radio Repeater in India.

BARC, which comprises about 3,500 HAM users of Bangalore, conducts annual HAM Fests as a platform for interactions between HAM operators across the nation. “I’m a very emotional person and HAM is the best way to interact and make new friends. I’ve learnt a lot from my HAM friends and it is a pleasure to meet them all face to face,” said Govind Girimaji, treasurer, BARC.

In the past few years, HAM radio has seen an evolution in technology. There has been a vast transition in technology from analog to digital morse code.

“HAM radio has seen a tremendous growth in terms of technology. It is now digital and much easier than before. Since it evolved primarily in the West, we pretty much follow their growth patterns,” said Ramesh Kumar, member, BARC.

Getting HAM radio licences can sometimes be tedious since it involves many exams and procedures.

“HAM Radio is growing steadily in India. It has huge potential but licensing should be easier,” said Somasundaram R., HAM operator, Bangalore.

“Some people say HAM is dying. We should promote HAM radio in order to keep it alive,” said Mr. Kumar.

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