Amateur Radio popularly known as HAM Radio is primarily a hobby and a service in which participants, called “Amateur Radio Operators” or "HAMs," use various types of radio/ wireless communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training. At the same time, the HAMs often support the communities and administrators with emergency and disaster communications at the time of need.
For operating / possessing a Radio Station, Amateur Radio Operators have to obtain license after qualifying the specified examination conducted by Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India. The subjects of examination are: - i) Morse Code (Transmission & Reception) ii) Communication Procedure iii) Basic Electronics. Amateur Radio Licence is granted to the candidates qualified in the examination by the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of Ministry of Communications & IT, Govt. of India after verification of their antecedents.
In the aftermath of Super Cyclone, 1999, HAM Radio was found useful in establishing communication with the affected areas in which HAMs from other states participated in this activity. Based on the said experience, initiatives have been taken to train the volunteers in HAM Radio with technical assistance of National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), Hyderabad in order to enable them to qualify in the prescribed examination and obtain the required licence to operate HAM stations in our State.
Traning programmes organized:
During the year 2002-03, HAM Radio training was organized for the volunteers under the Block Disaster Preparedness Programme implemented with support of United Nations Development Programme in 10 project blocks namely Ersama, Kujang and Balikuda under Jagatsinghpur District, Rajnagar and Mahakalpada under Kendrapada District, Astarang under Puri District, Ganjam under Ganjam District, Kantapada under Cuttack District, Balianta under Khurda District and Bahanaga under Balasore District.
In 2004, with support of Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India , NIAR, Hyderabad organized HAM Radio training at Bhubaneswar and Puri under the project on ”Digital Connectivity – Urban/ Rural/ Remote Areas through Amateur Radio Centres”.
In 2007-08, OSDMA organized 5 batches of training at Bhubaneswar in which 291 volunteers drawn from different parts of the State were imparted training on procedure, use and operation of HAM Radio communication equipment.
OSDMA organized refresher training for the HAM volunteers from April 27 to May 3, 2009 at Udayanath College of Science & Technology, Adaspur. 44 HAM volunteers from different districts participated in the said training programme. The participants were especially oriented on the practical aspects of HAM communication including setting up temporary HAM station at disaster site. Mock drill was conducted by the volunteers at the end of the training.
HAM Radio Stations:
21 HAM Radio stations have been set up at the following locations in the State to be operated by the licenced HAM volunteers. The stations will also be used to provide training to new volunteers. Apart from these stations set up by OSDMA, volunteers who have obtained required licence from WPC can set up their own HAM Radio communication stations.