Amateur Radio Fun
by: Matt Hoppes

Almost anywhere you look these days, you can find a computer.   Some of them are small, some of them are large.  In fact, you are probably carrying at least one computer on you now, maybe more.  I personally carry at least two computers at any time, my palm pilot and my cell phone.

 Amateur radio is among the many things that computer technology has changed.   Amateur radio, for those not familiar with it, is a hobby enjoyed by many around the world.  An amateur radio operator uses his or her radio to communicate with other amateur radio operators on the other side of the city, or around the world.  Amateur radio operators are also called upon during emergency situations, for example hurricane relief, to help provide emergency communication to the area when other communication methods are not operational.

An amateur radio operator must be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission before they may transmit.   Getting licensed is easy, and requires only a short test.  With this license an individual can get started in the hobby.
 
Amateur radio is much more then just talking back and forth between individuals.  Through something called Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) an individual can install a radio and a GPS in their car or other vehicle.   Once set up, the device will beacon and report its location every few minutes. Special radio receivers called digital repeaters collect beaconed information.   A beacon can continue through relays until it finds an Internet gateway.  The beaconed information is then collected by several websites that accumulate the data from multiple sources and draw maps.  Along with location information, an APRS device can also transmit speed, altitude, temperature, and much more.
           
One website that aggregates APRS information for central Pennsylvania is: http://www.aprs.serveftp.net:8080/.  If you bring this site up on your computer you will see a real-time display of local amateur radio weather stations and vehicles.  Refresh the page once a minute to see updated information.  Another website, http://www.findu.com,  includes such interesting features as long-term vehicle tracking, which allows you to see, over time, where a vehicle has been.  The website will also show you satellite images of the location where the vehicle or person is, and will place an X on their current position.
           
If you go to: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=wb4apr-9&terra=4  you will see the current location of the person who invented the APRS standard.
           

Besides being able to track vehicles, amateur radio can also relay weather information to the Internet.

A weather station located in Indiana County of Pennsylvania is online here: http://www.aprs.serveftp.net:238/TEXT.HTM

And another example of a weather station, from findu.com is located here: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call=k4hg

Back in the day you used to be confined to the limits of the local repeater, unless you fired up a high frequency radio, and erected a tower outside your house.   Now, thanks to the Internet, the world has, once again, become much smaller.  
 
A piece of software called EchoLink (http://www.echolink.org/) allows you to sit in the comfort of your home and use a technology similar to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to talk to people around the world.   When you fire up your EchoLink software in Williamsport, PA and choose a repeater in Spokane, WA, you can now easily talk to someone miles away.   But it isn't limited to the U.S., as the EchoLink software contains literally thousands of repeaters around the world, at any one time.  
           
Now for those that are wondering, the hobby doesn't have to be expensive.  You might be happy with a low-cost hand held radio, which is all I have.   The hobby can cost as little or much as you want it to.   If you are interested you can find out more from the local clubs.  http://www.qsl.net/bera/ (Bald Eagle Repeater Association),  http://www.kb3dxu.org/ (Lycoming County EMA DCS), and West Branch Amateur Repeater Association (Bud Thomas – 570-322-4314)
         
It's a great way to make new friends, learn about the world, and enjoy a great hobby.