Amateur radio is a popular technical hobby and volunteer public service that is all about the skill and fascination of communicating using radio.
Radio amateurs have their own communications satellites, can talk to astronauts aboard the International Space Station, and are often involved with cutting-edge experimental wireless technology. It is an incredibly diverse and very popular interest with over three million people involved worldwide.
Radio amateurs use a wide variety of radio communications equipment to communicate with each other and provide emergency communications for their communities.
The amateur radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Radio amateurs not only can make and modify their equipment, but can create whole new ways to do things
Watch Introduction to Amateur Radio
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anxoN2wgH04&w=560&h=420]
What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio
Many online amateur radio training courses, such as those provided by Essex Ham, GM6DX and OARC are available free of charge. There is, however, a fee to take the online exam required to get your amateur radio licence. For online courses see https://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/for-students/online-training-resources-for-students/
A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/
Read the RSGB Newcomers page http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/
Watch The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlDwVhx7miQ]