A Chiangrai Times article says: Amateur radio has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, a hands-on hobby for tech-minded individuals who enjoy making their equipment and communicating with one another. The hobby even survived a short-lived ban by the government after World War II, when authorities outlawed citizens owning communications devices without the proper licensing. Luckily, the ban was lifted in 1957.

New amateur radio enthusiasts can find themselves overwhelmed when trying to find which equipment is right for them, especially since there are so many manufacturers out there for them to choose from. After all, they want something that will last them (and their families) for years to come. For that reason, we’ve put together this buyer’s guide for amateur radio equipment.

First, learn the language of Amateur radio.

The best way to learn the language of amateur radio is to listen, listen, listen. The airwaves are full of conversations about everything from equipment to news around town to emergency preparedness.

A few things to look for when listening are:

Does it sound like they all know what they are talking about (when transmitting)?
Are they talking about local news and events?
Is their signal clear and easy to understand?
Are they talking on a more narrow band (higher frequency) or more commonly on a wider broadcast band (lower frequency)?
Is the repeater talk-in (listen-only) or open (listen and speak), or is one of those two more popular? Generally, the wider the band, the more open it is, whereas more congested bands can be talk-in only.

The second step is to decide what type of communication you want.

Amateur Radio or "Ham Radio” is a great hobby that can save your life during any disaster. What many people don’t realize is that Amateur Radio can be used for more than just communication. It can also be used to monitor the Emergency Alert System (EAS), helping you to know when to tune in to local TV or radio broadcasts after a major event. Amateur Radio can also be used to monitor high-level government communications, allowing you to follow the news even if the internet is down after an event.

Super Tip: The most important piece of equipment for amateur radio is the transceiver.

Read the full Chiangrai Times article here:
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/events-activities/a-buyers-guide-for-amateur-radio-in-2022/