What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur radio, also known as "ham radio", is a hobby relating to two-way radio communications. It is a hobby that is enjoyed by many people around the world from all walks of life.

Whether you are interested in remote control models, an occasional chat with an astronaut in orbiting space, amateur television transmissions, bouncing signals off the moon back to another place on earth, a Sunday night chat with friends and neighbors, or making contacts with other stations in far away places,enjoyed the chit chating (QSO) inside your car when come back from work place.,Quick information on traffic report from others station on local Repeater ,the hobby of amateur radio has something to offer everyone.

Amateur radio is a wide and diverse hobby and amateur radio enthusiasts, affectionately called "hams", can enjoy a variety of activities. Fox hunts (transmitter hunts), Scouts Jamboree, International Penang Bridge Run, making new friends through amateur radio, digital and satellite communications, building equipment or antennas ( homebrew ), or even sending and receiving old fashioned Morse code, these are just a few of the many different aspects of the hobby. Each "ham" seems to develop their own favorite mode of communication with their own style and characters. 

Community Service

Ham radio operators can also be of service to their communities by becoming volunteers for local emergency management agencies. Such as Highland Tower tragedy etc.Amateur radio operators can provide communications in and out of disaster areas when no phone service nor electricity is available.

Many radio amateurs become trained weather spotters and report local severe weather information via ham radio. These volunteer hams are often members of the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters Society ( MARTS ) http://marts.org.my 

Mixed Modes

Ham radio hobbiest may use several different modes, or methods, of communication to talk to their ham radio friends. Hams may use traditional modes such as radio telephone (AM, FM or Sideband), Continuous Wave (CW) for sending Morse code, or even more moden digital communications using their computers and radio equipment, such as radio teletype (RTTY), packet radio and other digital modes.The latest and very popular now was ECHOLINK http://www.echolink.org/ 

Can I Make Money with Ham Radio?

No. Amateur radio is for non-profit use only and amateur radio operators may not be paid for sending messages by way of ham radio. Communications are generally of personal or technical nature and again are not for profit.

How to Become a "Ham"

Each new amateur radio operator must study and learn about the hobby and pass a test ( RAE or Radio Amateur Examination )of knowledge before they can become licensed radio amateurs with on-air privileges. Obtaining a license issued by the government in which country the amateur radio operator resides is required. In the Malaysia , the license is issued by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission http://mcmc.gov.my .

Study guides are available at Local Club House 9M2YMCA in Penang,or will be announce in local repeater for the RAE Class.  

Meet me on the air ~~ Calling Chanel 147.950 9M2RBB Vhf Repeater.

Amateur Radio is only a Hobby !

Link to Malay Version 9W2XW Web Site.
Malay Version Web Site.