Why the words " HAM " radio ?

[ai4ep]

Why do some of us refer to amateur radio as " ham " radio ?

The word " ham " is not written on my license.

I dont eat pork when I am listening to my rig.

Sausage is only for breakfast.

So why the use of the word " ham " ?

I am not knocking you for the use of the word " ham ", but why use it ? Convenience ? Habit ? because you are hungry ?

[KA9VQF]

It was explained to me that it dates back to the days when the amateur radio operators and the professional radio people were competing for air space. From what I understand the FCC didn’t exactly exist in the very beginning of radio use.

Amateur actors were referred to as hams. The professional radio people simply transferred the term to the nonprofessional radio operator.

Its better than some of the names that might have been used.

[KG4YUV]

Two of the best explanations I've ever heard:

1) On CW when folks started abbreviating EVERYTHING, putting "AM" for "Amateur" didn't make alot of since. So they just stuck an "H" in front and it sounded technical... or I think it does, anyhow...

2) The damn British pronounced it as "hamateur" so "ham" stuck.

But that's just my thoughts and they're not worth much.

[KE5BFE]

I dont remember the names,but I heard that H-A-M where the first letters of the last names of the first 3 people to use radio in an amatuer fashion..I guess i have to update my history on that

[k9kxq]

Pork ain't good for you, it plugs up the veins...and that sausage it's high in colesterol, you better whatch what you eat.

Ain't ham radio awesome !

kxq http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC9ECI]

Tradition.

[KG4YUV]

Quote[/b] (KE5BFE @ Sep. 18 2004,23:49)]I dont remember the names,but I heard that H-A-M where the first letters of the last names of the first 3 people to use radio in an amatuer fashion..I guess i have to update my history on that
HPM: Hiram Percy Maxim

A lower-case "p" looks like an "a" to the illiterate person?? Hence "HAM" http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Ah, I still like my first post's explanation of it better http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KA9VQF]

Pork may not be good for you but it sure tastes good sometimes.

[KE5BFE]

"ham" -- a term with an interesting history. At the start of the 1900s, "ham" was sometimes used to refer to someone as "unskilled" -- "Ham actor" being the most common example. Wire-line telegraphy employees at this time had a rich vocabulary of insults for describing less-than-capable operators

[nz3m]

Some of us who are into VHF weak signal are referred to as......
Half A$$ed Meteorologists.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Dave

[KE5BFE]

Quote[/b] (AB3BK @ Sep. 18 2004,23:13)]Some of us who are into VHF weak signal are referred to as......
Half A$$ed Meteorologists.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Dave
among a few other things to

[w3sy]

Ham is short for "hambone."

And it's never "HAM." It's not an acronym.

As for the origin, good question! I suspect the "unskilled, unprofessional" reference was probably closest to the truth about its origin.

[k9kxq]

Ask our wise and most honorable moderator, Mr Glen !
I'm sure he can answer this question, come on Mr Glen,where did the word ham come into play for amateurs, and when was it first used?

kxq

[KG4ZQZ]

- i like this one i read on another post:

HAM: Haven't Any Money

:-)

- but i did find the ARRL's explanation at:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/history.html#how

"Ham: a poor operator. A 'plug.'"

(termed applied to amateurs in the spark gap era by frustrated commercial operators)

[W3MIV]

The truth behind the term "ham" is a sordid tale of whitewash. The fact is that Hiram Percy Maxim's middle name actually was Alice, but his mother absolutely refused to allow him to change it to "Rock." She insisted that if he were to change it, it must be to "Percy," which is short for Percival -- pronounced Persssssivl (you have to emulate a Frog and try to swallow the ending of the word).

For ever after, he preferred being called "Ham" to Persssssssssssssssssssssssy.

I know this story is true, because it was told to me by Dan Rather.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[K6UEY]

We in "HAM RADIO" must be getting a lot of new people who have just learned to read,this question comes up every couple of weeks and poor Glen has to go through the whole story explaning it again,either that or their attention span is so limited they forgot it was asked and answered!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[ai4ep]

hmmm...so according to ( some one )...most every topic about or concerning amateur radio has already been covered, and that if some one wishes to know something...that the individual only has to go through all 34 ( thirty - four ) pages of TITLES of topics to learn what they need to know.

so---according to ( some one ) there is no need in re-mentioning any topics that have already been covered...and ...if you do not see a TITLE that tells you what you might wish to know, then perhaps you have his/her permission to try to start a thread about such topic.

so apparently ( some one ) does NOT want any " repeats " on any thread already in file...so...just go through the past threads and bring them back to the FRONT page for a single post or two to update with the most current information.

but then. who really cares ?

Should this apply to " on the air " radio talk too ?

NETS would be very quiet, with any one that checked in on ( month / day / year ) be considered to be checked in permanently, and never need to check in again, and the net control ONLY taking NEW check - in s.

Weather folks would not need to repeat a forecast...simply state that tomorrows weather will be the same as on ( month / day / year ) which may have been weeks / months / years ago.

Ordering a meal at a restaurant would be far simplier, just tell the waitress you will have the sdame meal as you had on ( month / date / year ) which of course the waitress will remember you, since you left such a lousy tip or none at all !

This could spread to the personal relationship area...and the situation would not need to occur unless either participitating individual were to actually do something new, exciting and different than at a previous time or theoretically at a different location. After all, we need no repeats in any area.

Now to the political scene...no need in voting...if you voted democratic at any time in your past, then no need in voting in November...same with republicans...same with folks who just talk about politics but that do not vote.

Remember now, no repeats. Everything must be new, exciting and different .

Also, no need in identifying your station every 10 minutes...you already did that ( no repeats ). So you are legal. Now if you are on a different frequency, then you have to I D once, then you are legal.

Questions from the audience ? ( this is not my original idea, refer to a post above this one for more information ) hee hee hee

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Sep. 19 2004,07:12)]hmmm...so according to ( some one )...most every topic about or concerning amateur radio has already been covered, and that if some one wishes to know something...that the individual only has to go through all 34 ( thirty - four ) pages of TITLES of topics to learn what they need to know.

so---according to ( some one ) there is no need in re-mentioning any topics that have already been covered...and ...if you do not see a TITLE that tells you what you might wish to know, then perhaps you have his/her permission to try to start a thread about such topic.

so apparently ( some one ) does NOT want any " repeats " on any thread already in file...so...just go through the past threads and bring them back to the FRONT page for a single post or two to update with the most current information.

but then. who really cares ?

Should this apply to " on the air " radio talk too ?

NETS would be very quiet, with any one that checked in on ( month / day / year ) be considered to be checked in permanently, and never need to check in again, and the net control ONLY taking NEW check - in s.

Weather folks would not need to repeat a forecast...simply state that tomorrows weather will be the same as on ( month / day / year ) which may have been weeks / months / years ago.

Ordering a meal at a restaurant would be far simplier, just tell the waitress you will have the sdame meal as you had on ( month / date / year ) which of course the waitress will remember you, since you left such a lousy tip or none at all !

This could spread to the personal relationship area...and the situation would not need to occur unless either participitating individual were to actually do something new, exciting and different than at a previous time or theoretically at a different location. After all, we need no repeats in any area.

Now to the political scene...no need in voting...if you voted democratic at any time in your past, then no need in voting in November...same with republicans...same with folks who just talk about politics but that do not vote.

Remember now, no repeats. Everything must be new, exciting and different .

Also, no need in identifying your station every 10 minutes...you already did that ( no repeats ). So you are legal. Now if you are on a different frequency, then you have to I D once, then you are legal.

Questions from the audience ? ( this is not my original idea, refer to a post above this one for more information ) hee hee hee
EP:

You need help, OM... professional help.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

QUOTE: K6UEY
-------------------------------------------------------
We in "HAM RADIO" must be getting a lot of new people who have just learned to read,this question comes up every couple of weeks and poor Glen has to go through the whole story explaning it again,either that or their attention span is so limited they forgot it was asked and answered!!
-------------------------------------------------------

Oh no, Glen is no fool...... He has all his stories on file so he can simply cut & paste as the need arises....


And yes EP, PROFESSIONAL help......

[K9STH]

I'll try this one "off the cuff", that is, not "cut and paste"!

Several of the various "stories" as to the origin of "ham" as pertaining to an amateur radio operator have already been posted.

First of all, the idea that it comes from the initials of 3 of the original members of the Hartford amateur radio club (forerunner of the ARRL) can be discounted although this story surfaces almost immediately when the question is asked.

Next, the "Cockney" use of an "h" before many words starting with the letter "a" has a little more possibility of being the source of the term "ham". This comes from the tendency of many people to shorten words for slang and "hamateurs" could become "hams".

But, among all of the stories, tall tales, and so forth, the most likely source does come from the theater where actors and actresses of dubious talent have been called "hams" for centuries. Back in the very early days of wireless there were some very severe "battles" between the "commercial" operators and the "amateur" operators. Frankly, neither side was "lilly white". Since there were no regulations the battles got to be pretty "bloody". Of course the commercial operators thought that they should be "king of the hill" since they were actually being "paid" to communicate and that the amateur operators should not even be allowed to communicate.

Most of the commercial stations (at the time) were using outmoded receivers and the amateur stations (for the most part) were using "newer" technology. The result was that even though the vast majority of amateur radio operators were running much less power than the commercial stations, the amateurs were able to operate among these high powered stations without interference yet the commercial stations, because of their inferior receivers, were being overwhelmed by the low power amateur stations (sort of like some of today's amateur equipment that is easily overloaded unless considerable attenuation is put "in line").

The result was that the commercial operators started using some of the less "politically correct" terms for the amateur operators (and often towards some of their commercial counterparts as well). Since the idea of a "ham" actor was widely know and since that term was both short and known in most "circles" to indicate someone of the lowest capabilities, the commercial operators started calling the amateur radio operators "ham operators". The fact that "am" and "ham" rhyme could definitely have been a residual fact in this as well.

Now, due to the fact that many Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service operators liked to call themselves "hams", especially those who were (and some still are) operating illegally (causing TVI, RFI, etc.), many of the general populace really do not understand the differences between those operators and those operators who are operating legally within the Amateur Radio Service. The result is that when any interference takes place, any antenna is errected, and so forth, it is the tendency of people to refer to such as being some "ham operator" and the term again has very unpleasant connotations.

The end result is that I NEVER NEVER NEVER refer to any of my operations as "ham radio". I ALWAYS refer to any of my amateur radio operations (as compared with commercial radio operations which I have been involved in for many years) as just that, AMATEUR RADIO. I am an AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR and not a "ham radio" operator. I do not give a "you know what" about how the various manufacturers market their equipment. I do not care if the ARRL or any other organization refers to the Amateur Radio Service as "ham radio".

Frankly, I wish that more people would realize that amateur radio is NOT a hobby per se' although operating within the confinements of the Amateur Radio Service can be a hobby in itself. The service is just that, a service as defined by 47 CFR, the Code of Federal Regulations Telecommunication (there is no "s" on the end of Telecommunication) which is the "Bible" of the FCC. Even the Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service is just that, a service. The fact that this service has degenerated seriously as a fact still does not take away from its original purpose and that is as a service and not a "hobby"!

It is a simple fact that I definitely encourage every amateur radio operator to call himself or herself an AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR and NOT a "ham". The term "ham" had negative connotations centuries ago in the theater and it still has today not only in the theater but in the area of telecommunications. The choice is yours. Do you want to be looked down upon by society or do you want to be an accepted member in high standing?

When someone asks if amateur radio is the same as "ham" I try to explain the difference between Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service, "freebanding", and the Amateur Radio Service pointing out that the term "ham" has become too broad in its useage. I try to distance myself from the illegal "freebander" operations and so forth. If done correctly, it is certainly possible to present amateur radio in a favorable light and plant a "seed" towards better understanding of the benefits of the Amateur Radio Service.

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

I think we need to name Glen the Official QRZ Historian. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[W8EFA]

[QUOTE]Frankly, I wish that more people would realize that amateur radio is NOT a hobby per se' although operating within the confinements of the Amateur Radio Service can be a hobby in itself. The service is just that, a service as defined by 47 CFR, the Code of Federal Regulations Telecommunication (there is no "s" on the end of Telecommunication) which is the "Bible" of the FCC. Even the Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service is just that, a service. The fact that this service has degenerated seriously as a fact still does not take away from its original purpose and that is as a service and not a "hobby"!


If it has "degenerated" into a hobby then that by definition is what it is. It is for the most part a hobby. Let's not pretend otherwise. 99% of Amateur Radio operations are hobbyist activities.

[K9STH]

EFA:

If, and when, the FCC decides that the Amateur Radio Service is no longer a "service" but is "just" a hobby, then all justification for amateur radio is lost.

Although one's hobby can be amateur radio, amateur radio is NOT a hobby! I know that sounds like it is just semantics. But, where government is concerned you definitely need to take notice and to treat the subject correctly.

Unfortunately, too many amateur radio operators today have no sense of history and are treating the service only as a hobby. That, more than anything else, may be downfall of amateur radio. However, if those who have come into the service in the past ten to fifteen years would take but a few minutes to learn the history and to recognize the traditions of amateur radio there may yet be hope for the long-term survival of the Amateur Radio Service.

Glen, K9STH

[W8EFA]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Sep. 19 2004,13:40)]EFA:

If, and when, the FCC decides that the Amateur Radio Service is no longer a "service" but is "just" a hobby, then all justification for amateur radio is lost.

Although one's hobby can be amateur radio, amateur radio is NOT a hobby! #I know that sounds like it is just semantics. #But, where government is concerned you definitely need to take notice and to treat the subject correctly.

Unfortunately, too many amateur radio operators today have no sense of history and are treating the service only as a hobby. #That, more than anything else, may be downfall of amateur radio. #However, if those who have come into the service in the past ten to fifteen years would take but a few minutes to learn the history and to recognize the traditions of amateur radio there may yet be hope for the long-term survival of the Amateur Radio Service.

Glen, K9STH
Glen, you may have been around a little longer than me however I was first licensed in 1969. Actually Amateur Radio started me down the path to get my Engineering Degree in college. I was surprised to find out Electrical Engineering was just another word for Math but that is another story.

I don't know if you know this but Amateurs developing packet communication were instrumental in the development of the IP Packet which was key to the development of the internet. Amateurs also were very involved in the early development of Satellite Communications.

However today tell me what innovations we have helped with in the last 10 years. And also tell me what service we provide. I think the only service would be emergency traffic handling which is not as important today as it was 20 years ago with the multiple media type communications available today.

[ai4ep]

Storm spotting would be one area that it would be mighty hard for any other form of communication to capitalize on.

It is hard to beat a person telling / reporting what he is seeing with his own two eyes. No radar can do it.

If that person out in the storm on his amateur radio can talk directly to a person at the NWS office, then information is doubled, if not tripled. He can tell what he sees, and they can ask questions that he can answer to give them MORE information.

Sometimes ( under ideal conditions ) a cell phone might / could do nearly that good, but those occurences are highly unlikely in part due to cell phones faults and you already know what they are.

So a 2 meter rig, with a possible 440 link or 220 link provides good communication for amateurs to report bad weather conditions; when they DO develop. Plus the local power can be off, and via links mentioned earlier, a 2 meter HT or mobile can allow decent communications which benefit us all.

I agree with GLEN s words about using the word " ham " instead of AMATEUR...but I go one step further and you just saw it ; CAPITALIZATION. I think it bugs a few of you to see it capitalized, but there is no insult intended from me.

[w3sy]

Can we agree that the CW part of hamming is a "service," and everything else is a "hobby?"

(Ducking while the tomatoes fly back and forth over my head...)

[K7JBQ]

SY,

Interesting, and would love to say "yes," being primarily a CW op.

But, all things, considered "no." Many fine operators, of the phone and digital persuasions, also contribute to the "service."

But as Glen mentioned, it is not really semantics. I think the main difference lies in one's attitude.

Truth be told, for most of us, most of the time, it's primarily a hobby. But when necessary, it's a service. And yes, when it hits the fan, be glad there are trained CW operators.

73,
Bill

[k8mmg]

Was thumbing through my old boysout "Radio Merit Badge Book" and came across their explanation of where the term "ham" came from:

"The "spark gap" transmitter made lots of radio noise. The part of the spectrum you broadcast on was determined by your antenna length (this is why we still talk about bands in terms of wavelength). All of the users were in competition, and two young amateurs across town chatting about their homework would block commercial communications between shore stations and ships at sea. As one story goes, the commercial operators would complain amoung themselves, calling the interfering amateurs "hams" - telegraph slang for lousy operator (because it sounded like they were pounding on their morse key with a slab of ham). Not understanding that they were being insulted (or maybe not caring), the amateurs picked up the name. Today, "ham" is no longer an insult, as radio amateurs take pride in the professionalism of their operating skills."

[ei5ja]

Quote[/b] (W8EFA @ Sep. 19 2004,14:48)][
However today tell me what innovations we have helped with in the last 10 years. #And also tell me what service we provide. #I think the only service would be emergency traffic handling which is not as important today as it was 20 years ago with the multiple media type communications available today.
I am not too sure as to the answer to the first part of your question, but I will tell you this.

The license I hold is entitled "Radio experimentors license". This is so that I can wander hither and thither with my experiments in communications. Now, I may never come up with any innovation but with so many experimentors(sic) out there, someone, somewhere will come up with something.
Remember, one has to shift an awful of dirt to produce one carat of diamond.

Whenever someone comes up with something new, as evidenced in some posts, commerce steps in and adds it's own pool of knowledge to the equation. This provides the impetus for progress.
The seed idea provided by the experimentor must be considered a 'service' to that progress.

Consider the rig on your bench, if it is not a home brew.
Where do you think all the ideas for the 'bells and whistes came from? No other place than ideas developed down through the years #by experimentors.

So keep plugging away.
Maybe as we write, some experimentor, somewhere is in the final stages of a successful experiment.

Keep fighting the good fight.

73 Ed http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[KI4FVX]

Quote[/b] (K6UEY @ Sep. 19 2004,06:30)]We in "HAM RADIO" must be getting a lot of new people who have just learned to read,this question comes up every couple of weeks and poor Glen has to go through the whole story explaning it again,either that or their attention span is so limited they forgot it was asked and answered!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Maybe it's the name............Orville........kinda like a boy named" Sue.".......makes one grow up mean, nasty and with a chip on his shoulder.

[K4JSR]

Quote[/b] (w8xtr @ Oct. 04 2004,05:16)]Was thumbing through my old boysout "Radio Merit Badge Book" and came across their explanation of where the term "ham" came from:

"The "spark gap" transmitter made lots of radio noise. The part of the spectrum you broadcast on was determined by your antenna length (this is why we still talk about bands in terms of wavelength). All of the users were in competition, and two young amateurs across town chatting about their homework would block commercial communications between shore stations and ships at sea. As one story goes, the commercial operators would complain amoung themselves, calling the interfering amateurs "hams" - telegraph slang for lousy operator (because it sounded like they were pounding on their morse key with a slab of ham). Not understanding that they were being insulted (or maybe not caring), the amateurs picked up the name. Today, "ham" is no longer an insult, as radio amateurs take pride in the professionalism of their operating skills."
XTR, the old BSA "Radio Merit Badge Book" comes close to the truth. #They just did not go far enough.
The commercial ops called our predecessor hams because of all of the "PORK-A-DILLOS" they committed!
Trust me! #I would not lie to any of you...Unless I just
wanted to, or had to! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73, # Cal # K4JSR

Ps. #EFA, Falcons 4/0; #Bungles??
# # #FT might write a song about them... "Yipes, stripes,
# # #Bungles Got 'em!" # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif # and HAW!
# # #(Another check for SY!)

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (K4JSR @ Oct. 05 2004,02:00)]Quote[/b] (w8xtr @ Oct. 04 2004,05:16)]Was thumbing through my old boysout "Radio Merit Badge Book" and came across their explanation of where the term "ham" came from:

"The "spark gap" transmitter made lots of radio noise. The part of the spectrum you broadcast on was determined by your antenna length (this is why we still talk about bands in terms of wavelength). All of the users were in competition, and two young amateurs across town chatting about their homework would block commercial communications between shore stations and ships at sea. As one story goes, the commercial operators would complain amoung themselves, calling the interfering amateurs "hams" - telegraph slang for lousy operator (because it sounded like they were pounding on their morse key with a slab of ham). Not understanding that they were being insulted (or maybe not caring), the amateurs picked up the name. Today, "ham" is no longer an insult, as radio amateurs take pride in the professionalism of their operating skills."
XTR, the old BSA "Radio Merit Badge Book" comes close to the truth. #They just did not go far enough.
The commercial ops called our predecessor hams because of all of the "PORK-A-DILLOS" they committed!
Trust me! #I would not lie to any of you...Unless I just
wanted to, or had to! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73, # Cal # K4JSR

Ps. #EFA, Falcons 4/0; #Bungles??
# # #FT might write a song about them... "Yipes, stripes,
# # #Bungles Got 'em!" # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif # and HAW!
# # #(Another check for SY!)
"Yipes! Stripes!"

By gum, that may be the most obscure reference to ever appear on these pages! I haven't seen that commercial since before I got married the first time!

[More flavor (more flavor) to chew (to chew)...]

[KB1GYQ]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 20 2004,12:39)]Can we agree that the CW part of hamming is a "service," and everything else is a "hobby?"

(Ducking while the tomatoes fly back and forth over my head...)
I wouldn't waste a good tomato on you.... Find your own!

[nz3m]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 19 2004,10:39)]Can we agree that the CW part of hamming is a "service," and everything else is a "hobby?"

(Ducking while the tomatoes fly back and forth over my head...)
heh heh cw RULES, it RULES! hehe
Beavis

[ai4ep]

well at least CW has a lot fewer LIDS than any other mode of communication.

CW can also be used ( in most cases ) when other forms of communication are not as reliable.

What other advantages does CW offer over other modes ?

[KB1GYQ]

Quote[/b] (AB3BK @ Oct. 05 2004,20:56)]Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 19 2004,10:39)]Can we agree that the CW part of hamming is a "service," and everything else is a "hobby?"

(Ducking while the tomatoes fly back and forth over my head...)
heh heh cw RULES, it RULES! hehe
Beavis
Beavis and Butthead, spokepeople for the preservation of CW - how appropre.

[w3sy]

Yipes! Stripes?? What the Hell is that??

When I was in the BALTIMORE Colts Band back in the early 1970's, we used to play the other team's fight songs when they came to town. I remember a song called "Bengals Growl," that had the tubas and trombones play a growling noise. Do they still have that song?

[w3sy]

Oy -- No PRO vs ANTI CW flames puh-lease!

Besides... cw is COOL... heh heheh hehehehehe heh it's COOL... hehhehhehehehe

[K9STH]

GYQ:

Good tomatoes are NEVER thrown! Those are for eating. Now a rotten tomato is another thing.

Glen, K9STH

[kc9dnn]

Ham was a term used to discribe an amateur, it was ment a hundred years ago as an insult but in true yankee doodle stlyle, we put it in our hat and wore it with pride. Today it seems to have a better outlook to use ham radio than amateur radio. Cops and other officials see amateur and think we don't know what we are doing, and that we are somehow inferior. But use Ham and somehow we are experts in radio.

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (kc9dnn @ Oct. 19 2004,10:28)]Ham was a term used to discribe an amateur, it was ment a hundred years ago as an insult but in true yankee doodle stlyle, we put it in our hat and wore it with pride. Today it seems to have a better outlook to use ham radio than amateur radio. Cops and other officials see amateur and think we don't know what we are doing, and that we are somehow inferior. But use Ham and somehow we are experts in radio.
I sorta doubt that... when most people that I run into hear "ham" radio, they think CBs, freebanders, and lots of interference all over their TVs. When people I speak to hear "amateur" radio, that brings up a whole different image.

Besides, my license says "amateur radio license," not "ham radio license." There is something to be said for consistency in terminology.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[ai4ep]

...strange...my license reads AMATEUR also...not " ham "


my CQ magazine mentions AMATEUR radio on the front cover... not "ham " radio

The owners manuals of the various rigs I own refer to it being an " amateur transceiver "...not a " ham " radio

[k6ncx]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Oct. 19 2004,11:16)]when most people that I run into hear "ham" radio, they think CBs, freebanders, and lots of interference all over their TVs. When people I speak to hear "amateur" radio, that brings up a whole different image.
Perhaps we're running into different people.

I've more than once encountered to "Oh, like CB?" response when I've said "amateur radio" but it turned to smiles something and "Oh, yeah, my uncle did that" once the term "ham radio" came up.

[k9kxq]

Quote[/b] (k6ncx @ Oct. 19 2004,22:12)]Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Oct. 19 2004,11:16)]when most people that I run into hear "ham" radio, they think CBs, freebanders, and lots of interference all over their TVs. When people I speak to hear "amateur" radio, that brings up a whole different image.
Perhaps we're running into different people.

I've more than once encountered to "Oh, like CB?" response when I've said "amateur radio" but it turned to smiles something and "Oh, yeah, my uncle did that" once the term "ham radio" came up.
Got the same response today, I was picking up the base I hade made for my tower, and one of the guys asked, whats that? I explained to him it was a base for my tower and antennas, he said oh!, cb ? I said oh no, it's for ham radio, and he immediately replied: #"oh yah, ham radio, I knew a man who was a ham radio operator, real nice gentleman and he had a great setup, you guys do a lot of good for our country."

We talked a little more, found that he is just a mile east of me so I invited him over for a cup of coffe and a look at the shack, needles to say he was impressed, and we had a good visit...

kxq

[kg6saj]

po-tay-toes, po-tah-toes -- point of view -- personal preference

I mean even the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton University says a 'ham' is 'a licensed amateur radio operator'.
(type #define:ham #into Google, if you don't belive me)

Doesn't matter either way to me, somebody says 'ham radio' or 'amateur radio', I still understand what they're talking about. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif