In the United States, the use of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, better known as the FCC. The FCC determines who can use what parts of the spectrum (which frequencies, or range of frequencies), what testing is required for a particular license, and other rules regulating actual on-air operation.

The FCC has set aside some portions of the spectrum for aviation, industry, government, commercial broadcast, maritime use and … amateurs.

In this case “amateur” just means “non-commercial.” There’s really nothing “amateur” about amateur radio operators. I was a “professional government land mobile radio user” for almost 15 years. All I knew how to do was turn the radio on, select a channel, and how to talk on it in a way that made sense to my industry. I’ve learned far more about how radio actually works in the months I’ve been studying for my FCC exam than I did in over a decade as a “professional” radio user.

So, what is amateur radio?

Officially, it is for “…qualified persons of any age who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. These services present an opportunity for self-training, intercommunication, and technical investigations.” That’s right outta the FCC website.

Basically, it’s for average Joe’s like you and me to learn how radio works and be able to experiment with it in a real world way. In fact, radio “amateurs” probably have more wide-ranging authority to act within their spectrum allocations than anyone else. As a “professional radio user,” I couldn’t modify my radio. I couldn’t change the frequencies it transmitted or received on. I couldn’t modify power output or use any mode other than the voice mode it was set up for.

As a licensed “amateur” operator, I can modify my equipment, completely control the frequency I operate on, choose from one of many dozens of operating modes, including Morse code, several voice modes, dozens of digital modes for everything from keyboard-to-keyboard messaging to e-mail, and communication via satellites. I can even bounce radio signals off the Moon to communicate with other radio amateurs on the other side of the Earth! Wait … yeah. I can even talk to the International Space Station. No need to go through Mission Control in Houston — there are hams onboard the ISS with amateur radio gear, and anyone with a Technician-class license or better can talk to them. If you learn how.

Some radio amateurs aren’t even really interested in talking to other people. Some enjoy setting up repeaters for emergency communications, or building the most efficient antenna possible, or tinkering with electronics gear and actually being able to test it, legally, in a real-world environment. Some hams like having long conversations with people a world away, and some like chasing awards for how many separate countries they can contact, purely via radio.

As old as it is, amateur radio still has something for almost anyone who has even the slightest interpersonal or technical inclination.