Ham Radio Communication

Syllabus :GS3/Science and Technology

In News

• Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla  interacted with the students using a ham radio from the International Space Station (ISS).

Ham Radio

• Ham Radio is popularly known as Amateur radio.
• It is a licensed radio service that relies on radio waves for establishing communication. 
• It is largely deployed for educational and knowledge purposes, for emergency or SOS communication.
  • Using a dedicated frequency, a transceiver and an antenna, communication can be set up between two licensed hams by trained ham operators.
• The communication can be hyper-local, global, and in space.
• In India, any individual above the age of 12 is permitted to operate a ham radio.
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issues these licences.

Uses in Space 

• Amateur radio was first used on a space shuttle in 1983 for communication between space and Earth. 
• The ISS also hosts an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) system, which facilitates astronaut-student interactions to inspire the younger generation.
  • ARISS project is supported by amateur radio organizations and space agencies from the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe
  • It  provides equipment and operational support.
    •  Radio outages are scheduled during critical activities like docking to avoid interference.

How will the Axiom-4 crew use ham radio?

• During the Axiom-4 mission, astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will use ham radio to communicate with their home countries twice during their 14-day stay at the ISS.
  • The communication will occur when the ISS passes over the horizon for brief windows of 5-8 minutes.

Significance 

• Ham radio remains a reliable and stable mode of communication, especially during emergencies.
• It has been crucial when traditional communication systems fail due to conflicts or natural disasters. 
• In India, ham radio has been used during major events like the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, providing vital emergency contact when needed most.

Source :IE