I started getting into this in the summer of 2021. Before that, I was a ham radio operator, but after spending so much time with antennas, Bilibili recommended Chengdu M to me. After watching his videos of communicating with the whole world while driving, I was completely amazed.
My first impression of amateur radio was that it allows communication with people all over the world.
After a year of waiting and exams, I finally obtained my dual licenses this summer through a relatively straightforward process. These are commonly known as the "Ham" radio operator's license and the corresponding driving permit.
In this article, I want to share what unlicensed individuals can legally do in the amateur radio field over the past year or so. I don't expect any criticism from experienced members, and I welcome corrections if anything is incorrect. Before obtaining a license, any use of PTT (push-to-talk) is illegal! Please remember this!
That's correct; the government has made it illegal to transmit information. However, this hasn't stopped people from doing so. It simply prohibits the dissemination of information that you have received.
We can explore what activities are available from these five perspectives:
Listen with a handheld radio, buy an SDR, listen to satellites, meet experienced ham radio operators, use WebSDR, prepare for the exam.
Handheld radio listening
After I got involved, my first purchase was a relatively inexpensive phone. Not the 999 or 199 yuan models; just 99 yuan! Yes, new phones are currently priced around 99 yuan. If you can catch them during a promotion, that's definitely possible. I bought mine for 90 yuan.
As a person with an engineering background, I still find it helpful to carefully read the instructions and consult various tutorials on B站 (Bilibili) to learn techniques that are not covered in the manuals. For example, using a single frequency antenna is more sensitive than using two antennas simultaneously. Also, I learned how to use the original antenna to communicate with satellites, and after certification, I can even demonstrate using a handheld device to power on a fan…
If you're familiar with handheld radios, one way to learn is to find a local HAM (amateur radio operator) and ask them for help. You can start by searching for a local repeater on a website or app. Once you find the repeater, you can listen in. Some areas will be very busy, while others will be quieter. For example, in our area, we have to go outside and put our hand out to listen to the Ham operators from neighboring cities talking on their repeaters.
Even in a lonely city, don't forget about the internet. You can quickly find organizations through WeChat groups and QQ groups. Once you find your local Ham radio group, you can learn more about local repeaters, including which channels are available and what kind of content is broadcast.
Besides relaying, what else?
It's said that some cities have railway communication, some coastal cities have maritime communication, and some cities also have... I won't say too much.
Purchase an SDR
I was lucky enough to discover this amazing thing shortly after getting started. SDR, in simple terms, is a radio that you use with your computer. For example, the one I have can receive wireless signals from 10 kHz to 2 GHz, and you can also see the spectrum using software on your computer.
With this device, you can listen to radio broadcasts from all over the world, and of course, some will include sounds of people making noise like "bip, bip".
With this device, I can frantically search for any radio signals in the surrounding area. Whether it's something flying in the air, walking on the ground, or swimming in the water, all kinds of devices and appliances can be found.
Through SDR, I wanted to learn more about antennas, such as what types of antennas there are, what parameters they have, what standing wave ratio is, and the relationship between wavelength and antenna length. However, as a young student in the Han community, I didn't want to go too far off-topic.
Then, you can start to assess whether shortwave radio is suitable for you.
As we discussed earlier, the handheld radios use frequencies in the U, V, and H bands, which correspond to shortwave radio. Shortwave signals can travel much farther through the atmosphere.
However, shortwave radio isn't accessible to everyone; the biggest obstacle is whether you have a suitable location for installing an antenna.
Now, you can also start to actively engage with the property management company. For example, I live in a residential complex on the 30th floor, and I'm located on that floor.
I installed the GP4 antenna mount on the same day and was immediately reported to the property management company.
Later, a colleague was testing the antenna, and I eventually obtained my license. We are still in the process of gradually testing their capabilities. It started with very fine wires, which were then gradually made thicker. A friend said that after the antenna came to my house, the food was good.
Someone said, "Why don't you just argue with the property management company?" I think everyone has their own way of dealing with things.
I've seen a lot of articles suggesting ways to approach neighbors, deal with the property management company directly, or even file a police report. I think that's all just for show and doesn't really require so much effort. I'm socially anxious...
Satellite Surveillance
Regarding satellite listening, don't question it. A genuine UV5R antenna for around $100 can be used for listening, and in good weather with few people, you can even establish communication.
Currently, there are three Android auxiliary software options available: Havenabove, Look4Sat, and ISS Detector.
Using software and your phone's gyroscope, you can align your antenna with the satellite. Even a standard antenna can receive signals properly if its center line is aligned with the satellite.
Subsequently, the satellite can also receive SSTV images. In simpler terms, a handheld radio is pointed at the satellite to record the audio, which can then be decoded into an image using Android or computer software.
I recommend setting up a small, isolated antenna at this stage. Many experienced ham radio operators have had similar experiences where their equipment was treated as if it were worth $50,000. I only felt comfortable using my impressive eight-element Yagi antenna on the roadside after obtaining my license.
WebSDR
If neither satellite nor shortwave radio works for you, try WebSDR. In a broad sense, WebSDR refers to SDRs that are publicly available online and can be accessed through a web browser. This allows us to directly listen in on an SDR operated by a university in the Netherlands. By doing so, we can experience firsthand the difference in performance between their location and large antenna and our own setup.
In a narrow sense, WebSDR can be set up privately. While it is not allowed to transmit domestically, there are no restrictions on private individuals setting them up for personal use. I have seen older ham radio enthusiasts building their own, as well as WebSDRs with transmitting capabilities. This means that anyone with internet access can operate a radio from anywhere at any time.
Meeting Old Ham
On September 25, 2021, I met BG9EHO through the ISS (shortwave radio) and learned about various satellite communication techniques from him. He also introduced me to a well-known domestic satellite QQ group. He provided me with a lot of basic knowledge and support for satellite communication. One sentence he said deeply impressed me: "All Ham radio operators are family."
Subsequently, I met various "Hams" through different channels. I believe that the "Hams" help each other, because our country has screened a group of talented and disciplined engineers who share similar interests and values!
Preparing for the exam
Before obtaining the license, the most important thing is to prepare for the exam.
First, registration. Initially, this was based on this answer from Zhihu:https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/104765218 I have found amateur radio stations in Guangdong Province:http://www.ragd.org.cn/ This is the most recent version; we changed the domain name two years ago, so the answers on Zhihu are from the older version.
Then, because my city hasn't held exams in recent years, I had originally planned to take the exam in Shenzhen or Huizhou. However, due to the pandemic, I chose the nearest test center in Chaozhou. I found the WeChat official account of the Chaozhou Wireless Emergency Communication Association through a search. Other friends can check their provincial examination schedules and choose the closest city for the exam, then contact local associations to find the organizers.
As the exam approaches, information about registration will be posted on the provincial government website, WeChat groups, and official accounts organized by the province.http://www.ragd.org.cn/newsinfo/2658246.html
In early April 2022, the WeChat accounts I was following started to publish exam information. I joined the group with the president and entered the exclusive WeChat group for exams.
Registration should begin around mid-April. Successful registration and payment of the ¥300 exam fee will be announced by the end of April. (Recently, there have been news reports indicating that local exam fees will gradually be phased out in the future.)
Next, I reviewed the material using three resources: the article "A Quick Guide to Revising Your China Class A Amateur Radio License," the ZhiPu app, and a small application called "Amateur Radio." I combined these resources for my review.
Here's my current summary:https://jangel.site/?p=165
The exam was on May 14th. I arrived at the test center in neighboring Chaozhou City an hour early, but had to wait for a long time. The actual exam took less than 15 minutes to complete. I waited for the examiner to come and collect the papers, but he said it would be another half hour. So I waited for a long 15 minutes. After submitting the paper, I went to work and started waiting again. Usually, the provincial association's website announces the results about a month after the exam in Chaozhou. This year, however, the results were announced much earlier, on June 6th. I was very happy to see them. The information was first posted in the WeChat group for the exam, and then could also be found on the provincial association's website.
This is my experience of playing around before the exam, and I hope it can help those of you who are preparing for the A-level exam.
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