I was playing ham radio in the park and was mistaken for a spy

"CQCQCQ, this is BH9EMQ, calling friendly station on the frequency, please reply if you receive it, over."

One morning, as usual, I took my portable shortwave radio, set up the portable antenna in a park near the school, turned on the radio and tuned it to the 14Mhz frequency band, calling my friend in Guangdong who was 1,300 kilometers away.

CQ means seek you; BH9EMQ is my call sign, which is my ID in the world of radio communication丨pixabay

Soon, I was surrounded by elderly people doing morning exercises, all of whom took out their phones to take pictures of this "original and novel" gadget. Then, a patrol policeman came up to me and checked my operating license. After checking that everything was fine, he told me to "be careful" and left.

This is the fifth time I have been mistaken for a "spy".

I am an amateur radio operator, informally called a "HAM". The reason why I was not taken away as a "spy" is that it is completely legal for us to transmit radio waves - we need to obtain a radio operator certificate and apply for a license.

In China, there are 170,000 certified HAMs like me, accounting for about 0.01% of the country's population, and there are nearly 3 million of them worldwide.

Amateur radio is not "amateur" at all.

What do the "hams" do?

HAM's activities fall into three main categories: communications, competitions, and emergency communications.

Communication is the main activity of amateur radio. Simply put, it is to use amateur radio to communicate with other enthusiasts using airwaves. The content and form of communication are varied, mainly voice, image, wireless telegraph (Morse code in spy movies), and digital mode. Enthusiasts generally exchange necessary information and discuss technology.

When I was a junior in college, I would stay in the dormitory and operate the radio whenever I didn’t have classes, just to send the signal to farther places. Sometimes rare prefixes would appear on the frequency, such as those of countries and regions such as Tonga and Brunei, and major event commemorative radio stations (the call sign of each country and region begins with a "prefix"). For example, the prefix of the commemorative station of the Winter Olympics that just ended is BY1CRA/WO22.

My radio equipment in the dormitory | provided by the author

When a rare call sign appears on the radio waves, indicating that it comes from those rare areas, a large number of HAMs will immediately flock to it to try to communicate with it by radio. Many competition enthusiasts take pride in collecting the radio station letters they have communicated with, just like we collected Yu-Gi-Oh cards when we were young. The proof includes QSL cards, ARRL digital communication records, etc.

When you have enough letters, you can apply for certificates of corresponding levels from organizations and websites such as ARRL and QRZ.COM. These certificates are like medals, which are a symbol of the technical level of HAM operation.

The QSL cards and commemorative letters I received | Photo by the author

One evening in the summer of 2019, I was on duty at the radio station when I suddenly received a call from Iceland. I immediately replied with the call sign and the quality of the received signal, but after several minutes, the other party still did not reply. I was extremely anxious.

It was just when the sun was setting, and the ionosphere in the atmosphere was most efficient in reflecting shortwave signals. If this signal from distant Iceland missed the "window period" for communication, it would be hard to say when it would be encountered again next time.

I hurriedly ran to the rooftop to rotate the antenna and fine-tune the length of the antenna to resonate with the frequency of the other station. Then I ran downstairs and stared at the radio waterfall chart, not caring that my sweat soaked the table. Finally, after 15 minutes of "extreme pulling", the other station finally replied that it had received my call sign and reported my signal quality. The excitement of that moment is still unforgettable.

Communication record with a Swedish enthusiast, her call sign is 3M3LIV | provided by the author

During the two years of shortwave communications, I have successfully communicated with 149 countries and regions, from Montenegro in the east to Brazil in the west, from Antarctica in the south to Norway in the north. There are also some names I have never heard of, such as the Isle of Man, Ceuta and Melilla.

Among the several communication modes, I like the FT8 digital mode the most. FT8 is a digital communication mode that uses computers and radios to communicate with remote radio users by sending data packets through the radio, which is similar to fax. Its advantages are its strong anti-interference ability and excellent modulation and demodulation mechanism, which can effectively separate effective signals from noise.

With amateur radio, we can even communicate with astronauts on the ISS (International Space Station). But this is extremely challenging for the comprehensive technical level of the radio operator.

Astronaut Reid Wiseman (call sign KF5LKT) communicating with HAM in June 2014 | NASA

Generally speaking, if astronauts have amateur communication plans, they will announce them in advance on ariss.org. Amateurs around the world need to prepare Yagi antennas and radio equipment with stronger directivity, use satellite monitoring tools to understand their in-orbit operation status, and call the astronauts within a few minutes when the ISS passes over them on the day of communication, and finally complete the communication.

Yagi antenna | Wikipedia

It should be noted that you cannot chat with the astronauts, such as asking them "what did you eat for lunch", because there are many HAMs waiting by the radio station. It is uncivilized to occupy the frequency for too long and will be despised by people in the circle. In the radio circle, it seems that everyone abides by a principle: communication should be concise, efficient, and no nonsense.

In order to improve communication efficiency, HAMs also created a set of commonly used English abbreviations: GM = Good Morning, 73 = Best Regards, 88 = Love and Kisses, etc.

If you have a set of equipment that can communicate with astronauts, you can also receive data sent back from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather satellites, and then play back the recorded audio to the computer decoding software, you can get a clear satellite cloud map. You can do a simple "weather forecast" at home.

Although amateur radio is a small community, it is still attracting enthusiasts. Every year, enthusiastic new HAMs flock to the competition arena.

Using FT8 mode at home for shortwave communication competition | Photo by the author

Whether international or regional, amateur radio competitions are held throughout the year. There are competitions organized by global organizations such as the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and the American Amateur Radio League (ARRL), as well as regional competitions held long-term by official organizations such as the Amateur Radio Branch of the China Radio Association (CRAC).

Contestants represent their own countries and regions and compete with HAMs from all over the world. Usually, they work individually or in groups to contact as many radio stations and regions as possible at the same time.

I also made a video of my experience playing amateur radio and posted it to my B station channel "HamZone". I remember there was a popular comment: "When the world ends, it's up to you to contact each other."

"Safeguard" technology in the face of disasters

Amateur radio is a decentralized communication resource that can operate as an independent unit. It is the communication means with the highest survival rate and the strongest self-recovery ability in sudden disaster events, especially when other modern communication means are destroyed.

Amateur radio stations around the world share frequency resources. At any given moment, a certain number of radio stations are listening on the frequency. Many enthusiasts also have good discrimination capabilities for weak signals, which makes it easier for distress signals sent from disaster areas to receive a response.

In 2008, the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan paralyzed communications within a radius of nearly 200 kilometers from the epicenter. In addition, severe weather conditions prevented satellites from taking effective pictures, and information from the worst-hit areas could not be sent out.

Within 12 minutes of the earthquake, HAM in Chengdu established an emergency communication network in the VHF (very high frequency)/UHF (ultra high frequency) frequency bands, quickly learned the direction and situation of the major disaster, and drove to the earthquake zone with amateur radio equipment.

The VHF/UHF frequency band is used by walkie-talkies and car radios. The antenna is easy to set up, plug and play, and is compatible with military and government radio frequencies. It can also communicate with ordinary consumer walkie-talkies.｜Unsplash

In the following days, HAMs from other parts of Sichuan, Beijing, Henan, Jiangsu, Hong Kong and other places also formed teams and drove to the hardest-hit areas to set up temporary VHF/UHF amateur relay stations and provide communication services for rescue through mobile radio stations. In Hanwang and other areas, amateur radio became the first platform for radio emergency command communication and information release systems opened after the earthquake.

Later, the American Amateur Radio Association awarded the 2008 Humanitarian Medal to amateur radio enthusiasts in China and Sichuan Province.

The advantage of amateur radio is its flexible configuration and relatively standardized organization. When disasters prevent basic communications from working properly, people can still use local amateur radio to transmit a large amount of information.

Last July, torrential rain hit Zhengzhou and the city suddenly lost the Internet. Internet applications such as payment, taxi-hailing, and hotel reservations became ineffective almost instantly.

At that time, amateur emergency frequencies were immediately activated as part of the disaster communication network: Zhengzhou Radio Management Bureau temporarily coordinated four pairs of emergency communication frequencies for HAM to cooperate with the actions of flood control and disaster relief departments, provide communication services with the permission of relevant departments, and provide temporary information transmission services for local residents.

How to become a HAM?

Many people are unfamiliar with the words "amateur radio": "Radio? Or the amateur kind?"

Radio, which is a technology that uses electromagnetic waves to communicate and transmit signals, has long been embedded in every corner of our lives. In addition to the most easily thought of broadcasting, bus cards that can be swiped successfully with a "beep", Wi-Fi, and even satellites that connect the earth and the sky are all built on radio applications.

The name "amateur" does not mean "unprofessional", but more like "civilian". HAMs use their own radio equipment and antenna systems (a system that radiates electromagnetic waves from the antenna to the surrounding space) to make voice calls, send Morse code, discuss technology, and hold communication competitions within the legally allocated radio frequency bands. These activities are purely personal hobbies and cannot be for profit.

Radio communication began in 1897 when Marconi successfully conducted a radio communication experiment across the Bristol Channel with a communication distance of 14 kilometers.

Marconi built the first radio transmitter, which could transmit radio signals via Morse code | Wikipedia

Just as cars need traffic rules when they develop to a certain level, invisible and intangible radio waves also need to be regulated. In 1903, amateur radio services were established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through the Radio Regulations. All countries and regions that have joined the United Nations should follow these regulations to negotiate frequency allocation and communication.

In 1982, collective amateur radio stations (radio stations applied for by units) that had been silent for many years in the country were allowed to resume operation. In 1992, amateur services were fully opened. Over the following twenty years, the number of amateur radio stations and operators in the country increased by more than two orders of magnitude, and the popularity expanded rapidly. Since then, a large number of enthusiasts, especially young enthusiasts, have continuously joined the ranks of HAM.

As of now, about 170,000 people in the country have obtained legal operating procedures from radio management departments at all levels and obtained their own call signs.

The proportion of HAM in each country in the global total丨Chart by the author

Nowadays, more and more people drive to the wild, but there is often no public network in those areas, so it is essential to buy a car radio to keep the information flowing. But if people want to use the radio, they must first obtain the "People's Republic of China Amateur Radio Station Operation Certificate", then purchase relevant radio equipment that meets national standards, and submit information to apply for the "People's Republic of China Radio Station License", and then they can officially use it after the application is passed.

In 2018, I learned about amateur radio online and immediately decided to become a HAM because I was surprised to find that I could explore the world completely without the Internet. First, radio communication does not require a base station, it actually sends out radio waves and does not rely on any network; second, it can pull myself back from the overly immersed Internet.

Licenses issued by domestic regulatory agencies and amateur radio associations | Photographed by the author

That year, I "brushed" through the question bank provided by the CRAC official website, obtained a Class A operator's license, was assigned a call sign, assembled a radio and antenna system, and was often active in the air above Area 9. Half a year later, I successfully obtained a Class B operator's license, which allowed me to use more frequency bands and the communication distance was no longer so limited. I could connect with HAMs all over the world.

China Amateur Division Map | China Radio Association Amateur Radio Branch

Some people jokingly call radio an "infinite pad". After buying an entry-level handheld radio and radio, I will continue to pursue more advanced equipment. In the past three years, I have spent about 30,000 yuan on equipment.

Gandhi and Zhou Haiying both have call signs, why not one?

"Is it that the cell phone is inconvenient or the computer is not working well? What's the point of doing these things?"

Such questions often come to the ears of HAMs. Compared with the current high-speed and convenient mobile communication network, amateur radio seems so "primitive". The Radio Society of Great Britain filmed a video interviewing HAMs, and one of the interviewees expressed my thoughts: "I like amateur radio because I want to have a better perception of advanced technology. We spend a lot of time on smartphones and computers, but often don't know how they work."

Under the wrapping of technology, many things are encapsulated. For example, artificial intelligence, one of the most famous technological black boxes of this era, controls the flow of information on mobile phones and controls users' attention, but most people do not understand its essence.

Many HAMs discovered during the “playing” process that they only wanted to transmit radio signals at the beginning, but looking back, they were surprised to find that they had learned a wide range of knowledge in antenna technology, radio frequency circuits, basic physics, communication engineering, computer technology, foreign languages, geography, etc. They understood where the signals they sent came from and where they went. It is not difficult to understand why HAMs are so excited just because of successful communication and simple exchanges.

Before this, they had spent a lot of time and energy, and in exchange for those connections, even if they were short-lived, they knew what it meant: those simple, short-term air contacts were actually opening up a packaged technical black box.

This hobby with the word "amateur" in it has also cultivated countless talents: Mr. Zhou Haiying, son of Mr. Lu Xun, was very fond of amateur radio when he was a child. In 1952, he was admitted to the Radio Major of the Physics Department of Peking University. His call sign was BA1CY; the "Indian Mahatma" Gandhi had the call sign UA1LO; Sony founder Akio Morita had the call sign JP1DPJ; Nobel Prize winner Professor Martin Ryle had the call sign G3CY.

The above is a radio waterfall chart in a good electromagnetic environment. The clean spectrum is light blue. The following is the electromagnetic environment where I am, with very strong interference. | Photo provided by the author

I live in Xi'an, a city with a population of tens of millions, where electromagnetic interference is very serious. What is less known is that low-quality electric vehicle chargers and switch power supplies on storefronts are all interference sources. Since these devices generally do not use corresponding electromagnetic shielding processes to save costs, the stray signals they generate will interfere with our commonly used radio frequencies in a "full-band blocking" manner. Many HAM radio wave signals are submerged in the frequency.

A small electric vehicle charger can affect an area of ​​hundreds of meters in extreme cases. When the epidemic first broke out in 2020, I moved my shortwave radio to my home in Xi'an. The electromagnetic interference in the community could even drown out the signal of the Central Broadcasting Station at night.

Setting up a shortwave radio station outdoors for communication | Photo provided by BG7XWF

Some hams who pursue excellent signal-to-noise ratio will "escape" from the urban area and carry dozens of kilograms of equipment to set up stations and communicate in places such as coastlines, reservoirs, and national nature parks around the city. Many people jokingly call amateur radio "simply a sport."

Later, I couldn't stand the electromagnetic interference in the city, so I sold the shortwave equipment. After graduation, when I have a stable place to live, I will bring the radio station back. I look forward to meeting you in the air.

DE BH9EMQ

References

[1] Some data are from http://www.iaru.org/

[2] Radio Regulations https://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR-2016

[3] “Regulations on the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations” http://www.gov.cn/flfg/2012-11/08/content_2260255.htm

[4] “Striving for recognition and promoting development together – 40th anniversary of the resumption of amateur radio activities” http://www.crac.org.cn/News/Detail?ID=9b8f95fdd9814a628f34440dc9caea84

[5] “Research Report and Overall Plan of Amateur Radio Electronic System for Public Emergency Information Radio Release System” http://www.crac.org.cn/wp-content/uploads/2014/04

[6] Amateur Radio Introduction Course http://www.bjtzh.gov.cn/bjtz/n644/n8895306/n8898237/c8899064/content.html

[7] Temporary coordination of 4 pairs of emergency communication frequencies, Zhengzhou Radio Management Bureau supports flood prevention and disaster relief https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Z_WP_nYf_bYAFTvWtE1zyQ

[8] Tong Xiaoyong; Chen Fang. Amateur Radio Communication 4th Edition. Beijing: Posts and Telecommunications Press. 2015 [2017-07-07]. ISBN 9787115386359. OCLC 953252675

[9] Ward, Silver, H.; Debra, Johnson. What do hams do?. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual Third edition. Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League. 2016: 1–8 [2018-08-20]. ISBN 9781625950130. OCLC 883414262

[10] Hawaii's False Alarm Missile Threat Highlights Use of Ham Radio | NBC Left Field https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO09aMGMizM

[11] 1901 Marconi Demonstrates His Telegram Machine www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsiAwqyTVNo

[12] Wars in the history of Chinese Army www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z99xOfLWaI

[13] Amateur Radio - a 21st Century Hobby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x6x_6mDVlQ

Author: Li Yanping

Editor: biu

This article comes from Guokr and may not be reproduced without permission.

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