什麼是業餘無線電?
What is Amateur Radio?

業餘無線電是人們出發自對無線電的興趣而以工餘、非牟利形式從事的無線電通訊活動, 目的為互相通訊, 自我訓練及技術研究。  

業餘無線電操作涉及電訊，工程，科學， 地理，氣侯，緊急救援以至不同地方風土文化的知識。據了解，業餘電台曾經在2001年美國911事件，2004年南亞大海嘯以及2011日本東北大地震中，在災區提供通訊。 業餘無線電具有社會意義。

1894年, 俄國物理學家波波夫(Alexander Stepanovich Popov)製成第一架無線電接收器, 1895年, 製成接收閃電發出的電磁波的裝置, 1896年在彼得堡大學成功地進行 250米發送和接收電磁波信號的實驗 。後來，他為俄國海軍設立無線電站。

1896年，意大利工程師 馬可尼 (Guglielmo Marconi, 1909年諾貝爾物理學獎得主) 在前人已掌握的電磁學知識的基礎上，實現無線電通訊，成功地在英國進行14.4公里的通訊，並取得專利。1901年，成功進行 3500 公里橫跨大西洋通訊 (Poldhu, Cornwall, England to St John's, Newfoundland, Canada).

他們都被後人視為人類無線電通訊的始創人。

Amateur radio is a form of wireless communication pursued by enthusiasts as a non-commercial, recreational activity. Its purposes include mutual communication, self-training, and technical experimentation.

Operating amateur radio draws upon knowledge from telecommunications, engineering, science, geography, climate, emergency response, and even local culture. Amateur radio has played a vital role in disaster zones, providing communication during crises such as the September 11 attacks in the United States (2001), the South Asian tsunami (2004), and the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011). Its social significance is undeniable.

The origins of radio communication trace back to the late 19th century. In 1894, Russian physicist Alexander Stepanovich Popov built the first radio receiver. By 1895, he had developed a device capable of detecting electromagnetic waves produced by lightning. In 1896, at St. Petersburg University, he successfully conducted experiments transmitting and receiving signals over 250 meters. Later, he established radio stations for the Russian Navy.

Meanwhile, in 1896, Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi—who would later win the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics—advanced wireless communication by building upon existing knowledge of electromagnetism. That same year, he achieved a 14.4-kilometer transmission in England and secured a patent. By 1901, Marconi had successfully carried out transatlantic communication across 3,500 kilometers, from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

Both Popov and Marconi are remembered as pioneers of human radio communication. Amateur radio, inspired by this legacy, continues to thrive as a pursuit of curiosity, learning, and service to society.

Guglielmo Marconi © www.wikipedia.org	Alexander Stepanovich Popov © RIA NOVOSTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

業餘無線電的興起
The Rise of Amateur Radio

直到20世紀初，業餘電台開始出現，包括中國和美國開始有業餘無線電活動，同時，"HAM"一詞亦開始成為業餘電台操作員的代名詞。

隨著人類電子技術不斷進步，人類社會對無線電的應用不斷增加。2006年，估計全球總共有大約三百萬個業餘電台。業餘電台的操作形式亦十分多元化，有直頻通訊，中繼站轉發，電離層反射，衛星傳送，甚至EME月面反射、QRP極小功率通訊和IRLP無線電互聯網連接計劃。

時至今日，地球上絕大部份的國家和城市均把無線電頻譜上的某些部分劃作業餘無線電之用。一般來說，有關國家和城市的人民經過考核合格，便能獲得一個由國際電訊聯盟(ITU)協調發出的國際呼號(callsign)識別身份，合法地在業餘無線電頻帶上操作自己的業餘電台。VR2 就是香港區業餘電台呼號的字首。

在香港，VHF 144.0 - 146.0 MHz ，UHF 430 - 431.0 MHz 及 435.0 - 439.8 MHz 均為常用作通訊的合法業餘無線電頻帶，此外，常用作國際業餘通訊的還有 7，14，21，28，50 Mhz Band 上的 HF 頻帶。

作為一個頻譜使用者，合法操作的業餘電台持牌人體現了對社會無線電頻譜資源的承擔，作為一個無線電愛好者，業餘電台亦不時發揮對無線電追求的精神。
By the early 20th century, amateur radio stations began to appear, with enthusiasts in countries such as China and the United States taking part in this new form of communication. Around the same time, the term “HAM” emerged as a popular nickname for amateur radio operators.

As electronic technology advanced, society’s reliance on radio grew steadily. By 2006, it was estimated that there were about three million amateur radio stations worldwide. The methods of operation became increasingly diverse, ranging from direct frequency communication and repeater relays to ionospheric reflection, satellite transmission, and even more specialized techniques such as EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) moonbounce communication, QRP low-power operation, and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) connections.

Today, nearly every country and city on Earth has allocated portions of the radio spectrum for amateur use. Typically, individuals who pass the required examinations are granted an international callsign—coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)—which legally authorizes them to operate on amateur bands. In Hong Kong, for example, amateur callsigns begin with the prefix VR2.

The commonly used amateur bands in Hong Kong include:

• VHF: 144.0 – 146.0 MHz

• UHF: 430 – 431.0 MHz and 435.0 – 439.8 MHz

• HF bands: 7, 14, 21, 28, and 50 MHz, often used for international communication.

For licensed operators, amateur radio is more than a hobby—it represents a responsibility to use society’s shared spectrum resources wisely. At the same time, it embodies the spirit of curiosity and passion for radio that continues to inspire enthusiasts around the world.

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