HAM Radio India Online Examination ASOC ASOL Amateur Radio Course Online EXAM Guide Practice Question Paper Test Syllabus Indian Wireless Telegraph Licence Electronics Theory Morse Code Test Q-Codes communication Information Distance Education

SYLLABUS FOR AMATEUR RADIO STATION OPERATOR CERTIFICATE (ASOC) LICENCE EXAMINATION IN INDIA PART - 1: WRITTEN TEST SECTION - A : RADIO THEORY AND PRACTICE. ELEMENTARY ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM : Elementary theory of electricity: Conductors and insulators, units. Ohm's Law, resistance, capacitance, inductance in series and parallel, conductance, power and energy, permanent magnets and electromagnets and their use in radio work, self and mutual inductance: types of inductors used in receiving and transmitting circuit. ELEMENTARY THEORY OF ALTERNATING CURRENTS: Sinusoidal alternating currents-peak, instantaneous, RMS, average values, phase, resistance, Impedance. Circuits containing resistance, inductance, capacitance-power factor resonance in series and parallel circuits, coupled circuits, transformers for audio and radio frequencies. THERMIONIC VALVES: Construction of valves thermionic emission, characteristic curves, diodes, triodes and multielectrode valves: use of valves as rectifier, oscillator, amplifier, detectors and frequency changers, Power packs, stabilisation and smoothing elementary theory and construction of semiconductor devices, diodes and transistors. RADIO RECEIVERS: Principles and operation of Tuned radio Frequency and superheterodyne receivers, CW reception: Receiver characteristics. Sensitivity, selectivity, fidelity: adjacent channel and image interference: AVC and squelch circuit Signal to noise ratio, TRANSMITTER:principles and operation of low power transmitter, crystal oscillator ,stability of oscillators. RADIO PROPAGATION: Wave Length, frequency, nature and propagation of radio waves: ground and sky waves, skip distance, fading. AERIALS: Common types of transmitting and receiving aerials.FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT: Measurement of frequency and use of simple frequency meters. SECTION - B : RULES AND REGULATION. (a) . Knowledge of (i) The indian wireless Telegraph Rules 1973 & (ii). The indian wireless Telegraph Rules 1978. (b) . Knowledge of international Radio Regulations as relating to the operationa of amateur station with particular emphasis on the Following. 1. Designation of Emission 2. Nomenclature of the Frequency & Wavelength 3. Measurement against Interference 4. Frequency allocation to amateur Service 5. Interference and Tests 6. Identification of stations 7. Distress and Urgency transmissions 8. Amateur Staion 9. Phonetic Alphabet and figure code (c) Standard frequency and time signals services in the world . (d) The following Q codes: QRA,QRG,QRH,QRI,QRK,QRL,QRM,QRN,QRQ,QRS,QRT, QRU,QRV,QRW,QRX,QRZ,QSA,QSB,QSLQSQ,QSU,QSV, QSW,QSX,QSY,QSZ,QTC,QTH,QTR and QUM (e) The following abbrevations: AA,AB,AR,AC,C,CFM,CL,CQ,DE,L,NIL,OK,R,TU,VA,WA,WB (All the above details of syllabus are common for both Grade I and Grade II) Important: For Restricted Grade , candidates are required to answer first 25 objective from both the setions section A and section B, Total 1 hours , No Morse test. For general grade, all questions to be atempted. Total 2 hours . PS. If you are a B.E/B.Tech graduate in Electronics and Communication (E&C only) from any government approved institution, you are excempted from the Section A of the written examination. FOR General GRADE Morse sending and receiving speed is 8 WPM*. The test piece will consist of plain language passage of 200 characters which may comprise of alphabets, numbers, and punctuation (Full stop, comma, semi-colon, break sign, hyphen and question mark) marks. The average words shall contain 5 characters and each numbers and punctuation will be counted as 2 characters. Other conditions are same as in grade II. A candidate is require to pass in Part I(Written) and Part II (Morse) simultaneously in order to qualify for these grades. Amateur radio ============== An example of an amateur radio station with four transceivers, amplifiers, and a computer for logging and for digital modes. On the wall are examples of various awards, certificates, and a reception report card (QSL card) from a foreign amateur station. Amateur radio (also called ham radio) is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication. The term "amateur" is used to specify persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest, and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety (such as police and fire) or professional two-way radio services (such as taxis, etc). Amateur radio operation is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and licensed by the individual national governments that regulate technical and operational characteristics of transmissions and issue individual stations with an identifying call sign. Prospective amateur operators are tested for their understanding of key concepts in electronics and the host government's radio regulations. Amateurs use a variety of voice, text, image and data communications modes and have access to frequency allocations throughout the RF spectrum to enable communication across a city, a region, a country, a continent or the whole world. An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[1] Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Activities and practices 3 Licensing 3.1 Licensing requirements 3.2 Reciprocal licensing 3.3 Newcomers 3.4 Call signs 3.5 Privileges 3.6 Band plans and frequency allocations 4 Modes of communication 4.1 Voice 4.2 Image 4.3 Text and data 4.4 Modes by activity 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]History Main article: History of amateur radio The origins of amateur radio can be traced to the late 19th century though amateur radio, as practiced today, did not begin until the early 20th century. The first listing of amateur radio communications receivers is contained in the First Annual Official Wireless Blue Book of the Wireless Association of America in 1909.[2] This first radio callbook lists wireless telegraph stations in Canada and the United States, including 89 amateur radio stations. As with radio in general, the birth of amateur radio was strongly associated with various amateur experimenters and hobbyists. Throughout its history, amateur radio enthusiasts have made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, and social services. Research by amateur radio operators has founded new industries,[3] built economies,[4] empowered nations,[5] and saved lives in times of emergency.[6][7] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Activities and practices Specialized Interests and modes While many hams simply enjoy talking to friends, others pursue a wide variety of specialized interests. Amateur Radio Direction Finding, also known as "Fox hunting" Amateur radio emergency communications Amateur television Communicating via amateur satellites Contesting, earning awards, and collecting QSL cards Designing new antennas DX communication to far away countries DX-peditions Hamfests, club meetings and swap meets Hand building homebrew amateur radio gear High speed multimedia High Speed Telegraphy Packet radio Portable, fixed, mobile and handheld operation Low-power operation (QRP). Severe weather spotting Tracking tactical information using the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), which may integrate with the GPS Using the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) to connect radio repeaters via the Internet VHF, UHF and microwave operation on amateur radio high bands Vintage amateur radios, such as those using vacuum tube technology v · d · e Amateur radio operators use various modes of transmission to communicate. The two most common modes for voice transmissions are frequency modulation (FM) and single sideband (SSB). FM offers high quality audio signals, while SSB is better at long distance communication when bandwidth is restricted. [8] Radiotelegraphy using Morse code (also known as "CW" from "continuous wave") is an activity dating to the earliest days of radio. It is the wireless extension of land line (wire based) telegraphy developed by Samuel Morse and was the predominant real time long-distance communication method of the 19th century. Though computer-based (digital) modes and methods have largely replaced CW for commercial and military applications, many amateur radio operators still enjoy using the CW mode, particularly on the shortwave bands and for experimental work such as earth-moon-earth communication, with its inherent signal-to-noise ratio advantages. Morse, using internationally agreed message encodings such as the Q code, enables communication between amateurs who speak different languages. It is also popular with homebrewers as CW-only transmitters are simpler to construct. A similar "legacy" mode popular with home constructors is amplitude modulation (AM), pursued by many vintage amateur radio enthusiasts and aficionados of vacuum tube technology. Demonstrating a proficiency in Morse code was for many years a requirement to obtain amateur licenses for the high frequency bands (frequencies below 30 MHz). Following changes in international regulations in 2003 countries are no longer required to demand proficiency.[9] The United States Federal Communications Commission, for example, phased out this requirement for all license classes on February 23, 2007.[10][11] Modern personal computers have encouraged the use of digital modes such as radioteletype (RTTY) which previously required cumbersome mechanical equipment.[12] Hams led the development of packet radio in the 1970s, which has employed protocols such as TCP/IP since the 1980s. Specialized digital modes such as PSK31 allow real-time, low-power communications on the shortwave bands. Echolink using Voice over IP technology has enabled amateurs to communicate through local Internet-connected repeaters and radio nodes,[13] while IRLP has allowed the linking of repeaters to provide greater coverage area. Automatic link establishment (ALE) has enabled continuous amateur radio networks to operate on the high frequency bands with global coverage. Other modes, such as FSK441 using software such as WSJT, are used for weak signal modes including meteor scatter and moonbounce communications. Fast scan amateur television has gained popularity as hobbyists adapt inexpensive consumer video electronics like camcorders and video cards in PCs. Because of the wide bandwidth and stable signals required, amateur television is typically found in the 70 cm (420 MHz–450 MHz) frequency range, though there is also limited use on 33 cm (902 MHz–928 MHz), 23 cm (1240 MHz–1300 MHz) and higher. These requirements also effectively limit the signal range to between 20 and 60 miles (30 km–100 km). The use of linked repeater systems, however, can allow transmissions across hundreds of miles.[14] These repeaters, or automated relay stations, are used on VHF and higher frequencies to increase signal range. Repeaters are usually located on top of a mountain, hill, or tall building and allow operators to communicate over hundreds of square miles using a low power hand-held transceiver. Repeaters can also be linked together by use of other amateur radio bands, landline, or the Internet. NASA astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, Expedition 24 flight engineer, operates the NA1SS ham radio station in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Equipment is a Kenwood TM-D700E transceiver. Communication satellites called OSCARs (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) can be accessed, some using a hand-held transceiver (HT), even, at times, using the factory "rubber duck" antenna.[15] Hams also use the moon, the aurora borealis, and the ionized trails of meteors as reflectors of radio waves.[16] Hams are also often able to make contact with the International Space Station (ISS),[17] as many astronauts and cosmonauts are licensed as amateur radio operators.[18] Amateur radio operators use their amateur radio station to make contacts with individual hams as well as participating in round table discussion groups or "rag chew sessions" on the air. Some join in regularly scheduled on-air meetings with other amateur radio operators, called "nets" (as in "networks") which are moderated by a station referred to as "Net Control".[19] Nets can allow operators to learn procedures for emergencies, be an informal round table or be topical, covering specific interests shared by a group. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Licensing The top of a tower supporting a yagi and several wire antennas A handheld VHF/UHF transceiver In all countries that license citizens to use amateur radio, operators are required to display knowledge and understanding of key concepts. This is usually done by passing an exam; however some authorities also recognize certain educational or professional qualifications (such as a degree in electrical engineering) in lieu.[20] In response, hams are granted operating privileges in larger segments of the radio frequency spectrum using a wide variety of communication techniques with higher power levels permitted compared to unlicensed personal radio services such as CB radio, Family Radio Service or PMR446 that require type-approved equipment restricted in frequency range and power. In many countries, amateur licensing is a routine civil administrative matter. Amateurs are required to pass an examination to demonstrate technical knowledge, operating competence and awareness of legal and regulatory requirements in order to avoid interference with other amateurs and other radio services. There are often a series of exams available, each progressively more challenging and granting more privileges in terms of frequency availability, power output, permitted experimentation, and in some countries, distinctive call signs. Some countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia have begun requiring a practical training course in addition to the written exams in order to obtain a beginner's license, called a Foundation License. Amateur radio licensing in the United States serves as an example of the way some countries award different levels of amateur radio licenses based on technical knowledge. Three sequential levels of licensing exams (Technician Class, General Class and Amateur Extra Class) are currently offered, which allow operators who pass them access to larger portions of the Amateur Radio spectrum and more desirable call signs. In some countries, an amateur radio license is necessary in order to purchase or possess amateur radio equipment.[21] An amateur radio license is only valid in the country in which it is issued, or in another country that has a reciprocal licensing agreement with the issuing country. Both the requirements for and privileges granted to a licensee vary from country to country, but generally follow the international regulations and standards established by the International Telecommunications Union[22] and World Radio Conferences. In most countries, an individual will be assigned a call sign with their license. In some countries, a separate "station license" is required for any station used by an amateur radio operator. Amateur radio licenses may also be granted to organizations or clubs. Some countries only allow ham radio operators to operate club stations. Others, such as Syria and Cuba restrict all operation by foreigners to club stations only. Radio transmission permits are closely controlled by nations' governments because clandestine uses of radio can be made, and, because radio waves propagate beyond national boundaries, radio is an international matter. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Licensing requirements Prospective amateur radio operators are examined on understanding of the key concepts of electronics, radio equipment, antennas, radio propagation, RF safety, and the radio regulations of the government granting the license. These examinations are sets of questions typically posed in either a short answer or multiple-choice format. Examinations can be administered by bureaucrats, non-paid certified examiners, or previously licensed amateur radio operators. The ease with which an individual can acquire an amateur radio license varies from country to country. In some countries, examinations may be offered only once or twice a year in the national capital, and can be inordinately bureaucratic (for example in India) or challenging because some amateurs must undergo difficult security approval (as in Iran). A handful of countries, currently only Yemen and North Korea, simply do not issue amateur radio licenses to their citizens, although in both cases a limited number of foreign visitors have been permitted to obtain amateur licenses in the past decade. Some developing countries, especially those in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, require the payment of annual license fees that can be prohibitively expensive for most of their citizens. A few small countries may not have a national licensing process and may instead require prospective amateur radio operators to take the licensing examinations of a foreign country. In countries with the largest numbers of amateur radio licensees, such as Japan, the United States, Canada, and most of the countries in Europe, there are frequent license examinations opportunities in major cities. The granting of a separate license to a club or organization generally requires that an individual with a current and valid amateur radio license, who is in good standing with the telecommunications authority, assumes responsibility for any operations conducted under the club license or club call sign. A few countries may issue special licenses to novices or beginners that do not assign the individual a call sign, but require the newly-licensed individual to operate from stations licensed to a club or organization for a period of time before a higher class of license can be acquired. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Reciprocal licensing Further information: Amateur radio international operation A reciprocal licensing agreement between two countries allows bearers of an amateur radio license in one country under certain conditions to legally operate an amateur radio station in the other country without having to obtain an amateur radio license from the country being visited, or the bearer of a valid license in one country can receive a separate license and a call sign in another country, both of which have a mutually-agreed reciprocal licensing approvals. Reciprocal licensing requirements vary from country to country. Some countries have bilateral or multilateral reciprocal operating agreements allowing hams to operate within their borders with a single set of requirements. Some countries lack reciprocal licensing systems. When traveling abroad, visiting amateur operators must follow the rules of the country in which they wish to operate. Some countries have reciprocal international operating agreements allowing hams from other countries to operate within their borders with just their home country license. Other host countries require that the visiting ham apply for a formal permit, or even a new host country-issued license, in advance. The reciprocal recognition of licenses frequently not only depends on the involved licensing authorities, but also on the nationality of the bearer. As an example, in the US foreign licenses are only recognized if the bearer does not have US citizenship and holds no US license (which may differ in terms of operating privileges and restrictions). Conversely, a US citizen may operate under reciprocal agreements in Canada, but not a non-US citizen holding a US license. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Newcomers Many people start their involvement in amateur radio by finding a local club. Clubs often provide information about licensing, local operating practices, and technical advice. Newcomers also often study independently by purchasing books or other materials, sometimes with the help of a mentor, teacher, or friend. Established amateurs who help newcomers are often referred to as "Elmers" within the ham community.[23][24] In addition, many countries have national amateur radio societies which encourage newcomers and work with government communications regulation authorities for the benefit of all radio amateurs. The oldest of these societies is the Wireless Institute of Australia, formed in 1910; other notable societies are the Radio Society of Great Britain, the American Radio Relay League, Radio Amateurs of Canada, the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters and South African Radio League. (See Category:Amateur radio organizations) [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Call signs Further information: ITU prefix - amateur and experimental stations An amateur radio operator uses a call sign on the air to legally identify the operator or station.[25] In some countries, the call sign assigned to the station must always be used, whereas in other countries, the call sign of either the operator or the station may be used.[26] In certain jurisdictions, an operator may also select a "vanity" call sign although these must also conform to the issuing government's allocation and structure used for Amateur Radio call signs.[27] Some jurisdictions, such as the U.S., require that a fee be paid to obtain such a vanity call sign; in others, such as the UK, a fee is not required and the vanity call sign may be selected when the license is applied for. Call sign structure as prescribed by the ITU, consists of three parts which break down as follows, using the call sign ZS1NAT as an example: ZS – Shows the country from which the call sign originates and may also indicate the license class. (This call sign is licensed in South Africa, and is CEPT Class 1. Where specific classes of amateur radio license exist, the call signs may be assigned by class, but the specifics vary by issuing country.) 1 – Gives the subdivision of the country or territory indicated in the first part (this one refers to the Western Cape). NAT – The final part is unique to the holder of the license, identifying that station specifically. Many countries do not follow the ITU convention for the numeral. In the United Kingdom the original calls G0xxx, G2xxx, G3xxx, G4xxx, were Full (A) License Holders along with the last M0xxx full call signs issued by the City & Guilds examination authority in December 2003. Additional full licenses were originally granted in respect of (B) Licensees with G1xxx, G6xxx, G7xxx, G8xxx and 1991 onward with M1xxx calls. The newer three level Intermediate licensees are 2E1xxx and 2E0xx and basic Foundation license holders are granted M3xxx, M6xxx call signs.[28] In the United States, for non-Vanity licenses, the numeral indicates the geographical district the holder resided in when the license was issued. Prior to 1978, US hams were required to obtain a new call sign if they moved out of their geographic district. Also, for smaller entities, a numeral may be part of the country identification. For example, VP2xxx is in the British West Indies (subdivided into VP2Exx Anguilla, VP2Mxx Montserrat, and VP2Vxx British Virgin Islands), VP5xxx is in the Turks and Caicos Islands, VP6xxx is on Pitcairn Island, VP8xxx is in the Falklands, and VP9xxx is in Bermuda. Online callbooks or callsign databases can be browsed or searched to find out who holds a specific callsign.[29] Non-exhaustive lists of famous people who hold or have held amateur radio callsigns have also been compiled and published.[30] Many jurisdictions issue specialty vehicle registration plates to licensed amateur radio operators often in order to facilitate their movement during an emergency.[31][32] The fees for application and renewal are usually less than the standard rate for specialty plates.[31][33] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Privileges In most administrations, unlike other RF spectrum users, radio amateurs may build or modify transmitting equipment for their own use within the amateur spectrum without the need to obtain government certification of the equipment.[34][35] Licensed amateurs can also use any frequency in their bands (rather than being allocated fixed frequencies or channels) and can operate medium to high-powered equipment on a wide range of frequencies[36] so long as they meet certain technical parameters including occupied bandwidth, power, and maintenance of spurious emission. Radio amateurs have access to frequency allocations throughout the RF spectrum, enabling choice of frequency to enable effective communication whether across a city, a region, a country, a continent or the whole world regardless of season or time of day. The shortwave bands, or HF, can allow worldwide communication, the VHF and UHF bands offer excellent regional communication, and the broad microwave bands have enough space, or bandwidth, for television (known as amateur television (FSTV)) transmissions and high-speed computer networks. The international symbol for amateur radio, included in the logos of many IARU member societies. The diamond holds a circuit diagram featuring components common to every radio: an antenna, inductor and ground. In most countries, an amateur radio license grants permission to the license holder to own, modify, and operate equipment that is not certified by a governmental regulatory agency. This encourages amateur radio operators to experiment with home-constructed or modified equipment. The use of such equipment must still satisfy national and international standards on spurious emissions. The amount of output power an amateur radio licensee may legally use varies from country to country. Although allowable power levels are moderate by commercial standards, they are sufficient to enable global communication. Power limits vary from country to country and between license classes within a country. For example, the peak envelope power limits for the highest available license classes in a few selected countries are: 2.25 kW in Canada, was 2 kW in the former Yugoslavia, 1.5 kW in the United States, 1 kW in Belgium and Switzerland, 750 W in Germany, 500 W in Italy, 400 W in Australia, India and the United Kingdom, and 150 W in Oman. Lower license classes usually have lower power limits; for example, the lowest license class in the UK has a limit of 10 W. Amateur radio operators are encouraged both by regulations and tradition of respectful use of the spectrum to use as little power as possible to accomplish the communication.[37] Output power may also depend on the mode of transmission. In Australia, for example, although 400w Peak Envelope Power may be used for SSB transmissions, FM and other modes are limited to 120 watts. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Band plans and frequency allocations Main article: Amateur radio frequency allocations The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) governs the allocation of communications frequencies worldwide, with participation by each nation's communications regulation authority. National communications regulators have some liberty to restrict access to these bandplan frequencies or to award additional allocations as long as radio services in other countries do not suffer interference. In some countries, specific emission types are restricted to certain parts of the radio spectrum, and in most other countries, International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member societies adopt voluntary plans to ensure the most effective use of spectrum. In a few cases, a national telecommunication agency may also allow hams to use frequencies outside of the internationally allocated amateur radio bands. In Trinidad and Tobago, hams are allowed to use a repeater which is located on 148.800 MHz. This repeater is used and maintained by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), but may be used by radio amateurs in times of emergency or during normal times to test their capability and conduct emergency drills. This repeater can also be used by non-ham NEMA staff and REACT members. In Australia and New Zealand ham operators are authorized to use one of the UHF TV channels. In the U.S., in cases of emergency, amateur radio operators providing essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available may use any frequency including those of other radio services such as police and fire communications[citation needed] and the Alaska statewide emergency frequency of 5167.5 kHz. Similarly, amateurs in the United States may apply to be registered with the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). Once approved and trained, these amateurs also operate on US government military frequencies to provide contingency communications and morale message traffic support to the military services. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Modes of communication Amateurs use a variety of voice, text, image and data communications modes over radio. Generally new modes can be tested in the amateur radio service, although national regulations may require disclosure of a new mode to permit radio licensing authorities to monitor the transmissions. Encryption, for example, is not generally permitted in the Amateur Radio service except for the special purpose of satellite vehicle control uplinks. The following is a partial list of the modes of communication used, where the mode includes both modulation types and operating protocols. ========================= Hamfest India is a popular hamfest held annually. The venue of the 2008 hamfest was Gandhinagar, The event serves for social gathering and comparison and sales of radio equipment. Most hamfests feature a flea market, where the attendees buy and sell equipment, generally from and for their personal stations. The event also seeks to raise amateur radio awareness in the host city. 'HAMFEST' is a festival of HAMs, the largest gathering of Indian HAMs in one place, conducted every year in different cities of India since 1991. The main objective is to create an awareness of HAM RADIO along with the new technological skills in the field of communication. " As most of us who have experienced the Hamfest will agree, that truly it has attracted Hams and would be Hams from all parts of the country to meet, exchange views, most exciting, the homebrewing and technical aspect of the hobby. Rather than discuss or promote certain individual society, club, association with vested interest while putting others down. We have seen, heard enough of petty politics at club & society levels being blown out of proportion on to national level, so let us put all this away and have one eyeball just to talk of the True Ham Radio. Read the following lines and you will understand the true theme of HAMFESTS: The basic concept of Hamfest has gone into oblivion with new twists & turns, so looking back at the history of Hamfest, most of us will remember that it all started in a very small way by a couple hams like VU2JIM, VU2JLX, and VU2JKV who co-ordinated to form the HI-NET ( Ham Information Net ) in Aug 1991 on 40 metres, with the basic idea of sharing Ham related information like homebrewing, exchanging technical notes, those difficult to find components, etc., which lead to the idea of organising a get together of needy & helpless Hams called the HAMFEST wherein all Hams would come individually irrespective of their club or society but collectively work for the Hamfest and with the spirit of the hobby. Hence HAMFEST 91 was conceived to be held at Kuttikkanam near Kottayam in Kerala and the thought of a Ham Festival brought in a lot of inputs and support from all hams. Ham Radio Guild offered to completely sponsor the first Hamfest 91. As the years passed by the flame of the HAMFEST has moved on from Kuttikkanam 1991 thro’ Alwaye 1992, Salem 1993, Mysore 1994, Bombay 1995, Calcutta 1996, Cochin 1997, Bangalore 1998, Mysore 1999 and in the New Millennium to Hyderabad as Hamfest Y2K, making it a true national event by bringing in Hams / SWLs from all regions together. I still remember that during my visit to Alwaye Hamfest in 92, I saw at the hombrew exhibits many hams practically winding RF chokes, modulation transformers, etc., etching BFO & VFO pcbs, wiring them on the spot and many needy hams benefited by sharing this kind of homebrewing at a common place, while at the Salem Hamfest in 93 there was a complete hombrew workshop to assemble a HF Tx/Rx being conducted. Lastly we would all like to thank the promoters VU2JIM, VU2JLX, VU2JKV and all those individual hams, clubs, institutions and the respective General Convenors associated in conceiving the idea of HINET and HAMFEST making it an individual entity without encumbrances to any society or club. So lets all hold hands together and take this wonderful Festival of Hams called the HAMFEST around to all regions of India, spreading the wonderful hobby of Ham Radio and improving the activity. Contributor: VU2POP - Pratap Kumar Naidu of Bangalore " The 2010 Hamfest was conducted in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. The 2011 Hamfest will be held in cochin, kerala. Conributor -VU@ADV-Jacob Elias The first hamfest began in 1990. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Host cities with Convenors 2011—Cochin 2010—Pollachi 2009 -- Bengaluru - Bangalore 7 & 8 Nov 2009 along with Golden Jubliee of Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC - VU2YZ - Sampath 2008 -- Gujarat Hamfest of 2008 Gandhinagar VU2CPV - Praveen 2007 -- http://www.qsl.net/vu3rsb/hfi/index.html Guntur VU3RSB - Sharat Babu.R 2006—Kollam - VU2KGN - Nadarajan.K.G 2005 -- NOT HELD 2004 -- Mumbai VU2NLF - Nilesh Rathod 2003 -- [1] Gandhinagar SWL SK NANDA IAS] 2002 -- Chennai - VU2MSS - Sarvanan. M 2001 -- Nagpur - VU2SJA - Shrikant Jichkar 2000 -- Hyderabad - VU2CLM - Chalam Chivukula 1999 -- Mysore - VU2MTK - Kesari. M.T 1998 -- Bangalore - VU2RCR - Ramachandra 1997 -- Kochi - VU2SUO - Suresh.S 1996 -- Calcutta - VU2EM - Avinash Misra 1995 -- Mumbai - VU2AF - Adolf Shepherd 1994 -- Mysore - VU2MUD - Madhukar. K.R 1993 -- Salem - VU2RPC - Premchand. K 1992 -- Alwaye - VU2EGM - Om Gopinathan. K.N 1991 -- Kuttikkanam - VU2JIM OM Joseph Mattappally ========================================================== Amateur radio or ham radio is practised by more than 16,000 licensed users in India. The first amateur radio operator was licensed in 1921, and by the mid-1930s, there were around 20 amateur radio operators in India. Amateur radio operators have played an important part in the Indian independence movement with the establishment of pro-independence radio stations in the 1940s, which were illegal. The Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC)—a division of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology—regulates amateur radio in India. The WPC assigns call signs, issues amateur radio licences, conducts exams, allots frequency spectrum, and monitors the radio waves Call-sign Description 2** Callsigns used by early amateur radio operators before 1928. They were later converted to the VU series.[5] (defunct) AT0 AT0A – Antarctic expedition to Dakshin Gangotri in 1983 AT*JCB AT0JCB to AT9JCB – Special callsign allotted to mark the birth centenary of radio scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose in November/December 2007. See also AU*JCB.[6] AT3 AT3D – Special callsign for an Antarctic expedition for a 1994-1996 expedition to Antarctica. AT3ANT – Special callsign for the 3rd and 5th Antarctic Activity Week. AT6 AT6MM – Mahamastabhishekha Celebrations 2006 Special Event Amateur Radio Station[7] AT7 AT7CD – Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC National Disaster Reduction Day[8] AT7LEO – Special Event Station at Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh[9] AT8 AT8LH – Mahaballipuram Amateur Radio Light House Operation International LightHouse and LightShip Week[10] AT8LHC – Kadalur Point Lighthouse - Kerala - ILLW 2009 on occasion of Centenary Celebrations [11] AT8ESP – 5th Asian Congress of Esperanto Special Event Amateur (Ham) Radio Station, Bangalore[12] AT8WWF – India's First Flora and Fauna Amateur Radio Activity at Bannerhatta National Park[13] ATA Time signal broadcast by the National Physical Laboratory of India at New Delhi Antarctic expeditions[14] ATN Antarctic expeditions[14] AU*JSB AU0JCB to AU9JCB – Special callsign allotted to mark the birth centenary of radio scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose in November/December 2007. See also AT*JCB.[6] VT (Aircraft) VU0 Special call sign to celebrate the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi in 1969 VU2 Grade I and Advanced Grade callsigns VU3 Grade II and Grade II restricted callsigns VU4 Special callsign used for an Andaman and Nicobar Islands DX-pedition in 2004 VU5 Callsigns used by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore and Indian railways HF transmitters in pre-independence India. Callsign used by the Lakshadweep Islands[14] Callsign used by a 1960 DX-pedition to the Andaman Islands[15] VU6 Special callsign used by a broadcast station in pre-independence India VU7 Special callsign used by a DX-pedition in the Lakshadweep Islands in 2007 VW (Marine vessels) CR8 Portuguese India (defunct) AC3 Former monarchy of Sikkim (defunct) FN8 French India (defunct) =============================================================================== Amateur Station Operator's Certificate From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mumbai Chennai Delhi Kolkata Bangalore Hyderabad Ahmedabad Nagpur Ajmer Darjeeling Gorakhpur Jalandhar Panaji Shillong Mangalore Ranchi Srinagar Thiruvananthapuram Examination centres Amateur Station Operator's Certificate or ASOC is the examination that needs to be passed to receive an amateur radio licence in India. The exam is conducted by the Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC) of the Ministry of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.[1] The examination is held in various cities in India on monthly or quarterly basis depending on the size of the city. The licence may be awarded to an individual or a club station operated by a group of licensed amateur radio operators. The first amateur radio operator was licensed in 1921 during the British rule. Partly due to low awareness among the general population and prohibitive equipment costs, the number of licensed amateur radio operators remained low for several decades. In 1970, there were less than a thousand operators; by 1980, the number had risen to 1,500. In 2000, there were 10,000 operators and as of 2007, there are more than 17,000 licensed users in India.[2] Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Licence categories 3 Examination and syllabus 3.1 Radio theory and practice 3.2 Regulations 3.3 Morse 4 Regulatory authorities 5 Fees 5.1 Amended Licence Fees (2010)[22] 6 See also 7 Further reading 8 References 9 External links [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]History See also: Amateur radio in India QSL card of a fictitious* amateur radio operator. VU2 is the call-sign of India. The first amateur radio operator in India was Amarendra Chandra Gooptu (callsign 2JK), licensed in 1921.[3][4] Later that year, Mukul Bose (2HQ) became the second ham operator, thereby introducing the first two-way ham radio communication in the country.[3] By 1923, there were twenty British hams operating in India. In 1929, the call sign prefix VU came into effect in India,[5] replacing three-letter call signs. The first short-wave entertainment and public broadcasting station, "VU6AH", was set up in 1935 by E P Metcalfe, vice-chancellor of Mysore University.[3][4] However, there were fewer than fifty licence holders in the mid-1930s, most of them British officers in the Indian army.[6] With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the British cancelled the issue of new licences.[7] All amateur radio operators were sent written orders to surrender their transmitting equipment to the police, both for possible use in the war effort and to prevent the clandestine use of the stations by Axis collaborators and spies. Temporary amateur radio licences were issued from 1946, after the end of World War II. By 1948, there were 50 amateur radio operators in India, although only a dozen were active.[3] Following India's independence in 1947, the first amateur radio organization, the Amateur Radio Club of India was inaugurated on 15 May 1948 at the School of Signals at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.[3] The club headquarters was later moved to New Delhi, where it was renamed the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) on 15 May 1954.[3] As India's oldest amateur radio organization, ARSI became its representative at the International Amateur Radio Union.[8] In 1952, the Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing of the Ministry of Communications was created that specifically handled the issue of licences and legislation. Partly due to low awareness among the general population and prohibitive equipment costs, the number of licensed amateur radio operators did not increase significantly over the next two decades, numbering fewer than a thousand by 1970.[9] CW (Morse code) and AM were the predominant modes at that time. The electronic equipment was mostly valve-based, obtained from Indian army surpluses.[9] During the mid-1960s, the modes of operation saw a change from Amplitude Modulation to Single Side Band (SSB) as the preferred communication mode. By 1980, the number of amateur radio operators had risen to 1,500. In 1984, then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, waived the import duty for wireless equipment. After this, the number of operators rose steadily, and by 2000 there were 10,000 licensed ham operators.[9] As of 2007, there are more than 16,000 ham radio operators in India.[2] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Licence categories The Indian Wireless Telegraph (Amateur Service) Rules, 2009 lists Two licence categories:[10] Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, General Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Restricted To obtain a licence in the first four categories, candidates must pass the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate examination.[11] This examination is held monthly in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, every two months in Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Hyderabad, and every four months in some smaller cities.[12] The examination consists of two 50-mark written sections: Radio theory and practice, Regulations; and a practical test consisting of a demonstration of Morse code proficiency in both sending and receiving.[13] After passing the examination, the candidate must then clear a police interview. After clearance, the WPC grants the licence along with the user-chosen call sign. This procedure can take up to 12 months.[14] Licence category Age[15] Power[16] Examination[17] Privileges Short Wave Listener's Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence 12 — Obtained without appearing for the examination. A user can monitor the airwaves on short wave frequencies. Restricted Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence 12 10 W Minimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall. Terrestrial radiotelephony transmission in two VHF frequency bands. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Grade–II 12 50 W Minimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall. In addition, a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at five words a minute. Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 11 frequency bands. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Grade–I 14 150 W A minimum of 50% in each section of the written examination, and 55% overall, and a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at 12 words a minute. Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 14 frequency bands. In addition, satellite communication, facsimile, and television modes are permitted. Advanced Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence 18 400 W A candidate must pass an advanced electronics examination, in addition to the passing the Rules and Regulations section, and a Morse code proficiency at 12 words per minute. The maximum power permitted is 400 W in selected sub-bands. In a 2005 notification, the WPC proposed an amendment to the 1978 Amateur Service Rules in the rationalization of the licence categories to only two: the Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General) and the Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (Restricted). As of August 2008, amendment has yet to be passed by the Parliament of India.[18] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Examination and syllabus Antennas at a the location of ham operator VU2GMN in Chennai. Knowledge of propagation and antennas is needed to get the licence. The exam consists of two parts:[19] Part I – Written Test Section I: Radio Theory and Practice Section 2 : Regulations Part II – Morse Section 1 : Morse Receiving and Sending : (Speed: 5 words per minute) Section 2 : Morse Receiving and Sending : (Speed: 12 words per minute) The maximum number of marks that a candidate can secure is 100. To pass the examination, a candidate must score a minimum of 40 (50 for Grade I) in each written section, and 50 (55 for Grade I) in aggregate for a pass.[17] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Radio theory and practice The Radio theory and practice syllabus includes eight subtopics:[19] The first subtopic is the elementary theory of electricity that covers topics on conductors, resistors, Ohm's Law, power, energy, electromagnets, inductance, capacitance, types of capacitors and inductors, series and parallel connections for radio circuits. The second topic is the elementary theory of alternating currents. Portions include sinusoidal alternating quantities such as peak values, instantaneous values, RMS average values, phase; electrical resonance, and quality factor for radio circuits. The syllabus then moves on to semiconductors, specifically the construction and operation of valves, also known as vacuum tubes. Included in this portion of the syllabus are thermionic emissions with their characteristic curves, diodes, triodes and multi-electrode valves; and the use of valves as rectifiers, oscillators, amplifiers, detectors and frequency changers, stabilisation and smoothing. Radio receivers is the fourth topic that covers the principles and operation of TRF receivers and Superheterodyne receivers, CW reception; with receiver characteristics such as sensitivity, selectivity and fidelity; Adjacent-channel interference and image interference; AGC and squelch; and signal to noise ratio (S/R). Similarly, the next topic on transmitters covers the principles and operation of low power transmitters; oscillators such as the Colpitts oscillator, Hartley oscillator, crystal oscillators, and stability of oscillators. The last three topics deal with radio propagation, aerials, and frequency measurement. Covered are topic such as wavelength, frequency, nature and propagation of radio waves; ground and sky waves; skip distance; and fading. Common types of transmitting and receiving aerials such as Yagi antennas, and radiation patterns, measurement of frequency and use of simple frequency meters conclude the topic. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Regulations Knowledge of the Indian Wireless Telegraph Rules, 1973. and the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978 are essential and always tested.[19] The syllabus also includes international radio regulations related to the operation of amateur stations with emphasis on provisions of radio regulation nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength, frequency allocation to amateur radio service, measures to prevent harmful interference, standard frequency and time signals services across the world, identification of stations, distress and urgency transmissions, amateur stations, phonetic alphabets, and figure code are the other topics included in the portion. Also included in the syllabus are Q codes such as QRA, QRG, QRH, QRI, QRK, QRL, QRM, QRN, QRQ, QRS, QRT, QRU, QRV, QRW, QRX, QRZ, QSA, QSB, QSL, QSO, QSU, QSV, QSW, QSX, QSY, QSZ, QTC, QTH, QTR, and QUM; and CW abbreviations and prosigns such as AA, AB, AR, AS, C, CFM, CL, CQ, DE, K, NIL, OK, R, TU, VA, WA, and WB. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Morse Chart of the Morse code letters and numerals The syllabus includes the following Morse code characters: all alphabets, numbers, prosigns, and punctuations such as the full-stop; comma; semi-colon; break sign; hyphen and question mark.[19] Receiving: For Grade II, the test piece consists of a passage of 125 letters, five letters counting as one word. Candidates are required to copy for five minutes at the speed of five words per minute, international Morse signals from an audio oscillator keyed either manually or automatically. A short practice piece is sent at the prescribed speed before the start of the test. More than five errors disqualifies a candidate. For Grade I, the test piece consists of a passage of 300 characters: letters, figures, and punctuations. The average words contain five characters and each figure and punctuation is counted as two characters. Candidates have to receive for five consecutive minutes at a speed of 12 words per minute. Sending: For Grade II, the test piece consists of 125 letters, with five letters forming one word. Candidates are required to transmit by using a Morse key for five consecutive minutes at the minimum speed of five words per minute. A short practice piece is allowed before the test. Candidates are not allowed more than one attempt in the test. More than five uncorrected errors disqualifies a candidate. For Grade I, the speed sent is 12 words per minute. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Regulatory authorities The WPC is the only authorised body responsible for regulating amateur radio in India. The WPC has its headquarters in New Delhi with divisional offices in Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Chennai (Madras). It also has monitoring stations in Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Ajmer, Bangalore, Darjeeling, Gorakhpur, Jalandhar, Goa (Betim), Mangalore, Shillong, Ranchi, Srinagar, Dibrugarh, Vishakapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.[12] Set up in 1952, the organization is responsible for conducting exams, issuing licences, allotting frequency spectrum, and monitoring the airwaves. It is also responsible for maintaining the rules and regulations on amateur radio. In India, amateur radio is governed by the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978, the Indian Wireless Telegraph Rules, and the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The WPC is also responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau in running background checks before issuing amateur radio licences.[20] Scheduling of the examination[1] Place Month Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai Every month Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Nagpur January, March, June, August, October and December Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Ajmer, Bangalore, Darjeeling, Gorakhpur, Jalandhar, Goa (Betim), Mangalore, Shillong, Ranchi, Srinagar, Dibrugarh, Vishakapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. January, April, July and October [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Fees Licence fees for different grades in Indian Rupees[21] Grade 2 years 5 years Exam fees Advanced Grade 50 125 25 Grade I 40 100 20 Grade II Grade II Restricted Short Wave Listener 25 60 10 [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Amended Licence Fees (2010)[22] By the Amendment of the WPC Rules Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station (HAM) Licences can be renewed up to 20yrs @ Rs.1000/- and life long @ Rs.2000/- [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]See also Amateur radio in India Amateur radio callsigns of India [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Further reading Verma, Rajesh (1988). ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band. EFY Publications Ali, Saad (1985). Guide To Amateur Radio In India. E.M.J. Monteiro [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]References Note:* Indian call signs do not use numbers as an identifier. This picture is for demonstration purposes only. a b VU3WIJ. "An Introduction to Amateur Radio". The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978. Retrieved 2008-07-19. a b Ramchandran, Ramesh (2005-03-03). "Government to promote amateur radio". The Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-27. a b c d e f Missra, Avinash (1996). Brief History of Amateur Radio in Calcutta. Hamfest India '96 Souvenir. Kolkata. a b Regal, Brian (2005-09-30). Radio: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Press. pp. 77/152. ISBN 0-313-33167-7. Retrieved 2008-06-30. Gellis, Vm J (2007). "Historical Notes on Amateur Radio Development with Official License Records for Maritime Provinces 1911 - 1927". pp. 13. Retrieved 2008-07-28.[dead link] "About us". Amateur Radio Society of India. Retrieved 2008-07-23. Williamson, Owen (Williamson). "The Mahatma's Hams". WorldRadio. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23. "Member Societies". International Amateur Radio Union. Retrieved 2008-07-23. a b c Missra, Avinash (1996). Brief History of Amateur Radio in Calcutta. Hamfest India '96 Souvenir. Kolkata. Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 2009". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 2009. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. Section 7 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. a b Appendix II "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. Annexure III, Appendix I, Section 2.3 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. "Ham operators are a cut above the rest". Times of India (Times Group). 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2008-07-25. Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. Annexure V "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. a b Annexure III, Appendix I "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978". Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. pp. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. "Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 2005" (doc). Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing, Government of India. 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2008-07-23. a b c d Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules "WPC Home". Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing. Retrieved 2008-07-23. "Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978". Retrieved 2008-07-19. [1] This article incorporates text from the "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978" in compliance with the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 Section 52 (1)(q) Amendment in Amateur Radio rule 2010 by WPC (actually based on 2009)[2] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ] =============================== Amateur radio in India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia India Amateur radio operators at a foxhunt in Mumbai Licensed holders 16,000 Call sign blocks VUA to VWZ ATA to AWZ 8TA to 8YZ Zones ITU Region Region 3 ITU Zone 41 49 CQ Zone 22 26 Representation ITU WPC IARU ARSI Amateur radio or ham radio is practised by more than 16,000 licensed users in India.[1] The first amateur radio operator was licensed in 1921, and by the mid-1930s, there were around 20 amateur radio operators in India. Amateur radio operators played an important part in the Indian independence movement with the establishment of illegal pro-independence radio stations in the 1940s. The three decades after India's independence saw only slow growth in the numbers of operators until the then Prime Minister of India and amateur radio operator, Rajiv Gandhi (VU2RG), waived the import duty on wireless equipment in 1984. Since then, numbers have picked up, and as of 2007, there were more than 16,000 operators in the country. Amateur radio operators have played a vital role during disasters and national emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, floods, and bomb blasts, by providing voluntary emergency communications in the affected areas. The Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC)—a division of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology—regulates amateur radio in India. The WPC assigns call signs, issues amateur radio licences, conducts exams, allots frequency spectrum, and monitors the radio waves. In India, the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) represents amateur radio interests at various forums, and represents India at the International Amateur Radio Union. Popular amateur radio events include daily ham nets, the annual Hamfest India, and regular DX contests. Public figures in India who are licensed ham operators include Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi (VU2SON), Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan (VU2AMY), and former Minister for Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran (VU2DMK).[2][3][4] Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Licence categories 3 Call-signs 4 Organizations 5 Allotted spectrum 6 Awareness drives 7 Activities and events 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]History The first amateur radio operator in India was Amarendra Chandra Gooptu (callsign 2JK), licensed in 1921.[5][6] Later that year, Mukul Bose (2HQ) became the second ham operator, thereby introducing the first two-way ham radio communication in the country.[5] By 1923, there were twenty British hams operating in India. In 1929, the call sign prefix VU came into effect in India,[7] replacing three-letter call signs. The first short-wave entertainment and public broadcasting station, "VU6AH", was set up in 1935 by E P Metcalfe, vice-chancellor of Mysore University.[5][6] However, there were fewer than fifty licence holders in the mid-1930s, most of them British officers in the Indian army.[citation needed] With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the British cancelled the issue of new licences.[8] All amateur radio operators were sent written orders to surrender their transmitting equipment to the police, both for possible use in the war effort and to prevent the clandestine use of the stations by Axis collaborators and spies. With the gaining momentum of the Indian independence movement, ham operator Nariman Abarbad Printer (VU2FU) set up the Azad Hind Radio to broadcast Gandhian protest music and uncensored news; he was immediately arrested and his equipment seized. In August 1942, after Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, the British began clamping down on the activities of Indian independence activists and censoring the media. To circumvent media restrictions, Indian National Congress activists, led by Usha Mehta, contacted Mumbai-based amateur radio operators, "Bob" Tanna (VU2LK) and Nariman Printer to help broadcast messages to grass-roots party workers across the country.[citation needed] The radio service was called the "Congress Radio", and began broadcasting from 2 September 1942 on 7.12 MHz. The station could be received as far as Japanese-occupied Myanmar. By November 1942, Tanna was betrayed by an unknown radio officer and was forced to shut down the station.[8] Temporary amateur radio licences were issued from 1946, after the end of World War II. By 1948, there were 50 amateur radio operators in India, although only a dozen were active.[5] Following India's independence in 1947, the first amateur radio organization, the Amateur Radio Club of India was inaugurated on 15 May 1948 at the School of Signals at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.[5] The club headquarters was later moved to New Delhi, where it was renamed the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) on 15 May 1954.[5] As India's oldest amateur radio organization,[citation needed] ARSI became its representative at the International Amateur Radio Union.[9] Partly due to low awareness among the general population and prohibitive equipment costs, the number of licensed amateur radio operators did not increase significantly over the next two decades, numbering fewer than a thousand by 1970.[10] CW (Morse code) and AM were the predominant modes at that time. The electronic equipment was mostly valve-based, obtained from Indian army surpluses.[10] During the mid-1960s, the modes of operation saw a change from Amplitude Modulation to Single Side Band (SSB) as the preferred communication mode. By 1980, the number of amateur radio operators had risen to 1,500. In 1984, then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, waived the import duty for wireless equipment. After this, the number of operators rose steadily, and by 2000 there were 10,000 licensed ham operators.[10] As of 2007, there are more than 16,000 ham radio operators in India.[1] Amateur radio operators have played a significant part in disaster management and emergencies. In 1991, during the Gulf War, a lone Indian ham operator in Kuwait, provided the only means of communication between stranded Indian nationals in that country and their relatives in India.[11] Amateur radio operators have also played a helpful part in disaster management. Shortly after the 1993 Latur and 2001 Gujarat earthquakes,[12] the central government rushed teams of ham radio operators to the epicentre to provide vital communication links. In December 2004, a group of amateur radio operators on DX-pedition on the Andaman Islands witnessed the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. With communication lines between the islands severed, the group provided the only way of relaying live updates and messages to stations across the world.[3] In 2005, India became one of few countries to launch an amateur radio satellite, the HAMSAT. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the microsatellite as an auxiliary payload on the PSLV-6.[13] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Licence categories Main article: Amateur radio licence categories in India An operator monitoring the air The Indian Wireless Telegraph (Amateur Service) Rules, 2005 lists two licence categories:[14] Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General) Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (Restricted) To obtain a licence, candidates must pass the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate examination.[15] This examination is held monthly in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai), every two months in Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Hyderabad, and every four months in some smaller cities.[16] The examination consists of two 50-mark written sections: Radio theory and practice, Regulations; and a practical test consisting of a demonstration of Morse code proficiency in both sending and receiving.[17] After passing the examination, the candidate must then clear a police interview. After clearance, the WPC grants the licence along with the user-chosen call sign.[18] This procedure can take up to 12 months.[18] Licence category Age[14] Power[19] Examination[20].[21] Privileges Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (Restricted) (Formerly Grade II]] 12 10 W Minimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall. Terrestrial radiotelephony transmission in two VHF frequency bands. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General) (Formerly Grade I and Advanced) 12 25 W Minimum score of 50% in each section of the written examination, and 55% overall. In addition, a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at eight words a minute. Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 12 frequency bands. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Call-signs Main article: Amateur radio call-signs of India The generic QSL card created by ARSI for amateur radio operators in India The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has divided all countries into three regions; India is located in ITU Region 3. These regions are further divided into two competing zones, the ITU and the CQ. Mainland India and the Lakshadweep Islands come under ITU Zone 41 and CQ Zone 22, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under ITU Zone 49 and CQ Zone 26. The ITU has assigned to India call-sign blocks 8TA to 8YZ, VUA to VWZ, and ATA to AWZ.[22][23] The WPC allots individual call-signs. Indian amateur radio operators are allotted only the VU call-sign prefix. The V or Viceroy, series prefix was allotted to British colonies.[24] at the 1912 London International Radiotelegraphic Convention.[25] VU call-signs are listed according to licence grade: for General (formerly the Advanced Grade and Grade–I) licence holders, the call-sign prefix is VU2; for Restricted (formerly Grade–II and Grade–II Restricted) licence holders, the prefix is VU3. The VU3 prefix has also been granted to foreigners operating in India. As of 2011, call-signs consist of only letters, not numerals, and can be either two or three characters long. Examples of Indian amateur radio call-signs are "VU2XY" and "VU2XYZ".[citation needed] In addition to individual and club call-signs, the WPC allots temporary call-signs for contests and special events. For example, in November 2007, the WPC temporarily allotted the prefixes AT and AU to selected ham operators to mark the anniversary of the birth of radio scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose.[26] The Indian Union territory (UT) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are given the call-sign VU4 (VU4AN)[27] and VU5;[28] and the UT of Lakshadweep is given VU7 (VU7LD).[29] The WPC had temporarily allotted these call-signs to hamfests and DX-peditions held at those locations. Defunct call-signs include CR8 (for Portuguese India), FN8 (for French India), and AC3 (for the former kingdom of Sikkim, which merged with India in 1975).[30] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Organizations Mumbai Chennai Delhi Kolkata Bangalore Hyderabad Ahmedabad Nagpur Ajmer Darjeeling Gorakhpur Jalandhar Goa Shillong Mangalore Ranchi Srinagar Dibrugarh Thiruvananthapuram Vishakapatnam WPC monitoring stations The WPC is responsible for regulating amateur radio in India. The WPC has its headquarters in New Delhi with divisional offices in Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Chennai (Madras). It also has monitoring stations in Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Ajmer, Bangalore, Darjeeling, Gorakhpur, Jalandhar, Goa (Betim), Mangalore, Shillong, Ranchi, Srinagar, Dibrugarh, Vishakapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.[citation needed] Set up in 1952, the organization is responsible for conducting exams, issuing licences, allotting frequency spectrum, and monitoring the airwaves. It is also responsible for maintaining the rules and regulations on amateur radio. In India, amateur radio is governed by the Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978, the Indian Wireless Telegraph Rules, and the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.[citation needed] The WPC is also responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau in running background checks before issuing amateur radio licences.[citation needed] The Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI), based in Chennai, is a non-profit organization founded in 1954 that represents the interests of amateur radio operators before the India government, provides technical advice and assistance to amateur radio enthusiasts, and supports a number of educational programs throughout the country.[citation needed] ARSI is India's representative at the International Amateur Radio Union.[9] Another notable organization is the non-governmental National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), based in Hyderabad. NIAR was established by the Ministry of Communications in 1983 to promote amateur radio in India. NIAR is also involved in amateur radio educational programs in the country and sponsors several DX-peditions. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Allotted spectrum Main article: Amateur radio frequency bands in India Antennas at the location of ham operator VU2GMN in Chennai. The following 15 frequency bands are permitted by the WPC for use by amateur radio operators in India.[19] Band Frequency in MHz Wavelength 6 1.820–1.860 160 m 7 3.500–3.700 80 m 7 3.890–3.900 80 m 7 7.000–7.200 40 m 7 14.000–14.350 20 m 7 18.068–18.168 17 m 7 21.000–21.450 15 m 7 24.890–24.990 12 m 7 28.000–29.700 10 m 8 50–54 6 m 8 144–146 2 m 9 434–438 70 cm 9 1260–1300 23 cm 10 3300–3400 9 cm 10 5725–5840 5 cm [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Awareness drives Indian amateur radio operator, Bharathi VU2RBI, demonstrates Amateur Radio to local students in Port Blair, Andaman Islands, a few days before the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Indian amateur radio operators number just 16,000 for a population of 1.2 billion, or less than 0.002 percent of the population. Factors for the low numbers include low awareness, high equipment cost, and bureaucratic procedures in obtaining a licence where obtaining a licence can take over a year.[citation needed] After decades of lobbying to include ham radio in school syllabi,[citation needed] efforts paid off in 2006 after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) included ham radio in the chapter of Emergency communications on the subject of Disaster Management.[31] The CBSE is one of the two national education boards. The Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam, in a speech to the International Union of Radio Science held in New Delhi in 2005, stressed on the promotion of the hobby and setting up of ham stations in local panchayat offices, schools and hospitals. They would also act as early warning systems for the village communities in cases of emergencies.[32] Amateur radio clubs across the country many join the hobby by organizing courses in preparation for the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate. The government-funded NIAR is one such organization that actively promotes the hobby by holding regular classes. The Vigyan Parishad, an apex body for science popularization under the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India coordinates simulated disaster communication exercises and also organizes trainings to help people getting ham radio licenses in areas vulnerable to natural calamities.[citation needed] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Activities and events Popular events and activities include Amateur Radio Direction Finding, DX-peditions, hamfests, JOTA, QRP operations, Contesting, DX communications, Light House operation, and Islands on Air. One of the most popular activities is Amateur Radio Direction Finding commonly known as a "foxhunt".[18] Several clubs across India regularly organize foxhunts in which participants search for a hidden transmitter around the city.[33] A foxhunt carried out in Matheran near Mumbai in 2005 by the Mumbai Amateur Radio Society was listed in the 2006 Limca Book of Records under the entry "most ham operators on horseback on a foxhunt."[34] Despite being a popular recreational activity among hams, no organization has yet participated in an international event.[9] Live satellite images such as this are decoded by amateur radio operators to provide accurate weather reports during heavy rains in cities prone to flooding such as Mumbai. Hamfest India is an annual event that serves for social gathering and comparison and sales of radio equipment. Most hamfests feature a flea market, where the attendees buy and sell equipment, generally from and for their personal stations. The event also seeks to raise amateur radio awareness in the host city. In 2008, Gandhinagar hosted the annual hamfest. Bangalore hosted the hamfest in November 2009. The 2010 hamfest would be held at Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Two special international hamfests were organized in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (VU4) in 2006, and Lakshadweep (VU7) in January 2007.[35] As amateur radio activity is not permitted on the two union territories due to security restrictions, special permissions were needed to be secured to host the event.[36] The two events received widespread international participation through contests, DXing, and DX-peditions. Ham nets, where amateur radio operators "check into" are regularly conducted across India. Airnet India, Charminar Net, Belgaum Net, and Nite Owl's Net are some of the well-known ham nets in India.[citation needed] Some amateur radio operators have also provided a service of downloading and decoding satellite signals of the weather over India and publishing them on the internet as a public service.[37] Amateur Radio Light House operations in India was started with AT8LH [1] followed with [2] and we are on ILLW there onwards. World Flora and Fauna operations in India was activated with special event station AT8WFF [3] at Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore. Special Pictorial Cancellation with WFF logo on permanent basis highlighting the Butterfly park is one of the collectors item. In Mumbai, ham operators also help in disaster management during the monsoon season when heavy rain disrupts general life there. In 2008, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, for the first time, formally included ham operators as part of the disaster management plan.[38] Hams in Mumbai also help out at the annual Ganpati Visarjan by providing emergency radio services to civic organizations at the immersion points.[39] The "Island on the Air" is another activity where ham enthusiasts visit remote islands and report on the conditions there, similar to DX-peditions.[18] [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]See also Amateur radio frequency bands in India Amateur Station Operator's Certificate Citizens Band radio in India [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]References ^ a b Ramchandran, Ramesh (2005-03-03). "Government to promote amateur radio". The Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-27. ^ "Bachchan, Gandhi style!". Indian Express (Express Group). 2005-10-15. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ a b Susarla, Ramesh (2007-12-15). "Licence to yak". The Hindu (N. Ram). Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ Ramchandran, Ramesh (2005-01-04). "Sonia helps bridge communication gap". The Tribune. The Tribune Trust. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ a b c d e f Missra, Avinash (1996). Brief History of Amateur Radio in Calcutta. Hamfest India '96 Souvenir. Kolkata. ^ a b Regal, Brian (2005-09-30). Radio: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Press. pp. 77/152. ISBN 0313331677. Retrieved 2008-06-30. ^ Gellis, Vm J (2007). "Historical Notes on Amateur Radio Development with Official License Records for Maritime Provinces 1911 - 1927" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 2008-07-28.[dead link] ^ a b Williamson, Owen (Williamson). "The Mahatma's Hams". WorldRadio. Archived from the original on 2008-06-28. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ a b c "Member Societies". International Amateur Radio Union. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ a b c Missra, Avinash (1996). Brief History of Amateur Radio in Calcutta. Hamfest India '96 Souvenir. Kolkata. ^ Verma, Rajesh (1999). "1". ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band (2 ed.). New Delhi: EFY Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. p. 11. ^ "Indian Hams Put Technology to the Task". American Radio Relay League (ARRL). 2001-02-08. Retrieved 2008-07-23.[dead link] ^ "AMSAT - VO52 (HAMSAT) Information". AMSAT. 2005-05-12. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ a b Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ Section 7 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ Appendix II "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ Annexure III, Appendix I, Section 2.3 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ a b c d "Ham operators are a cut above the rest". Times of India (Times Group). 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ a b Annexure V "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ Annexure III, Appendix I "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2008-08-03. ^ "Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 2005" (doc). Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing, Government of India. 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ International Telecommunication Union. ITU Zone 41 Map [map]. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ International Telecommunication Union. CQ Zone 22 Map [map]. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ "Govt yet to free Indian aircraft from colonial past". Indian Express (Express Group). 2003-08-04. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ "Radio Call Letters: May 9, 1913". Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce, United States. 1913-05-09. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ "Special callsigns for Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose anniversary". Government of India letter "L-14011/640/ 2007-AMT" dated 2007-09-19". Southmate Amateur Radio Club. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ "Hamfest (VU4) India 2006". National Institute of Amateur Radio. Retrieved 2008-08-04. ^ "VU2ANI/VU5 1960 Port Blair, Andaman Islands". Amateur Radio Society of India. 1960. Retrieved 2008-08-04. ^ "Sponsorship". Amateur Radio Society of India. Retrieved 2008-08-04. ^ "Amateur Radio Old Prefixes & Deleted Entities". ARRL. 2004-01-07. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ "Together Towards a Safer India Part-III" (PDF). Central Board of Secondary Education. 2006. p. 69. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ "Rapports des Assemblées Générales de l’URSI" (PDF). URSI (New Delhi) XXVII: 21. 2005-10-2005. Retrieved 2008-07-29.[dead link] ^ "HAM club organising 'Fox Hunt'". The Hindu (N. Ram). 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2008-07-23. ^ editor, Vijaya Ghose.; Limca Team (2006). Limca Book of Records 2006. Limca Books. ISBN 8190283731. Retrieved 2008-04-05. ^ "ARI DX Bulletin" (in IT). ARI - Associazione Radioamatori Italiani. Retrieved 2008-07-23.[dead link] ^ (PDF) Lifeline Systems in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) after the December 2004 Great Sumatra Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ Rasquinha, Gavin Reagan (2007-07-03). "Hum hai na, say Hams!". Times of India (Times Group). Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ "Malabar Hill gets HAM station to combat rains". Times of India (Times Group): p. 4. 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-07-25. ^ Express News Service (2007-09-26). "Lakhs throng beaches on immersion day". ExpressIndia.com. Indian Express. Retrieved 2008-07-25. [ http://study-ham-radio-course-india-asoc-exam-online-practice.ham-radio-india.com ]Further reading Find more about Amateur radio in India on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Verma, Rajesh (1988), ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band, EFY Publications Ali, Saad (1985), Guide To Amateur Radio In India, E.M.J. Monteiro Ham Radio India Vigyan Prasar - HAM radio HAM RADIO CallSign Directory of India ============================================

   

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