Amateur Radio

When Amateure Radio is mentioned,most of us would not understand what it is all about.One might think that its about a Radio unit like the one in the market where the radio is use to listen music,news and so on.

In Malaysia, out of almost 27 million people,only a small numbers are Amature Radio operators.Last count is around 3,800 members.

Lets have some basic knowledge of what this Amature Radio is all about.

Amature Radio has been trace to at least around  the late 1800s, but Amature Radio as practice today did not begin until the early 1900s.

In Malaysia it started in the early 50s when the British was at one time accoupied Malaya now know as Malaysia. and in 1952 the first society that was registered is known as M.A.R.T.S( Malaysia Amature Radio Transmitters Society).

During that time,only those with money and knowledge in english has the ability to own a Amature radio Unit as it was quite expensive and difficult to operate.further more the unit itself was limited.

As time pass by,and Malaysians began to be more knowledgeable,more and more people begun to take up Amature Radio.Today a unit of this Amature Radio can be bought at a very reasonable price... from RM 500 (basic vhf/uhf) to  up the line unit that will cost to the thousands.

What does Amature Radio Operators realy do...and who are they.

Here are some examples,

First and the most important thing that we need to understand is that,...this is a Hobby.

Amature Radio Operators are also commonly known as HAMs.They are peoplethat come from all walks of life..in Malaysia now this HAMs consist of people who are taxi drivers to royalties....even our astronauts are Amature Radio Operators.

Basically Amature Radio Operators communicate among themself locally and around the world by using thier radio unit which uses various frequency of radio wave.

During any Emergency that arised....most of the time there will be a Amature Radio Operators involved by giving a helping hand in Communication.they are there as a volunteers.

Other contribution that involved Amature Radio Operators are towards Science,Engineering,Industry and Social service.

Every Amature Radio Operator has a callsign,this callsign is given according to region and countries.In Malaysia where we are in region 3,the callsign given starts with 9W/9M which states that this is Amature Radio operators for Malaysia followed by number 2 for Penisular,6 for Sabah and 8 for Sarawak.

One might ask,what 9W and 9M stands for.

9W is for those who has past the R.A.E which stands for Radio Amature Examination,which qualified for class B lisence.(vhf/uhf/limited hf and satellite freq)

9M is for those who obtain class B for at least 1 year with minimum age of 18 years and pass the Morse Code Exams in receiving and sending morse codes 12 WPM (words per minute).


here are the callsign for Amature Radio Operators from penisular.

Class B......9W2 follow by own 3 letter code(alphabet)...example mine is 9W2IYZ
Class A......9M2 follow by own 3 letter code(alphabet)

For those from Sabah,the callsign is

Class B......9w6XXX
Class A......9M6XXX

For those from Sarawak the callsign is

Class B......9W8XXX
Class A......9M8XX

Anyone can sit for the Exams held by M.C.M.C as long as they are intrested .

Now come the best part.....fees.

For the exam(R.A.E) is only RM 50.00.

Lisence for Class B is only RM 24.00 per year.

Lisence for Class A is only RM 36.00 per year.

Theres a saying among Amature Radio Operators,we are brothers and sisters always.

People will be surprise what this hobby can do.

Information can be obtained from any Amature Radio Society in Malaysia....please look through those near you....


Regards

9W2IYZ
(mat kopi)