What are the equipments used by HAMs?

Amateur Radio operators use various communication equipments and provide essential service to the people by way of coordinating on-the-air emergency traffic, establishing emergency communication network during natural calamities or any other disaster. It is difficult to list “all” the equipments used by HAMs. Following is the list of bare essential equipments used by HAMs.

Transceiver : A wireless transceiver; which is a unit of a Wireless Radio transmitter and a Wireless Radio Receiver combined together. In Radio terminology, a transceiver means a unit which contains both a receiver and a transmitter. It was quite common to have these units separated. Ham Radio operators can build their own equipment and it is always easier to design and build a simple unit having one of the functions, transmitting or receiving. Almost every modern amateur radio equipment is now a transceiver but there is an active market for pure radio receivers, mainly for Shortwave listening operators. An example of a transceiver would be a walkie-talkie, or a CB radio. (Source: Wikipedia)

Antenna : An antenna is used for transmitting and receiving Radio signals. Antennas have practical uses for the transmission and reception of Radio frequency signals (Radio, TV, etc.). In air, those signals travel close to the speed of light in vacuum and with a very low transmission loss. The signals are absorbed when propagating through more conducting materials, such as concrete walls, rock, etc. When encountering an interface, the waves are partially reflected and partially transmitted through. (Source:Wikipedia)

Antenna tuners : Antenna tuners are used to tune antennas for better transmission/reception of Radio waves. An antenna tuner, transmatch, or antenna tuning unit (ATU) matches a transceiver with a fixed impedance (typically 50 ohms for modern transceivers) to a load (feed line and antenna) impedance which is unknown, complex or otherwise does not match. This mismatch is usually caused when using a non-resonant antenna (one that is not the correct electrical length as compared to the wavelength of the signal). An ATU allows the use of one antenna for a broad range of frequencies. A tuned antenna is never as good as a naturally resonant antenna due to additional induced losses on the feed line due to the SWR (multiple reflections), and losses in the ATU itself.

Strictly speaking the ‘ATU’ is only an antenna matching unit, as it is unable to change the resonance frequency of the aerial.

Morse key: A Morse key is used to transmit telegraphic Morse coded messages on the air. Telegraph key, also known as a Morse key, are generic terms for any switching device used primarily to send Morse code. Similar keys are used for all forms of manual telegraphy, such as in electrical telegraph and radio telegraphy.

A straight key is the common telegraph key seen in old movies. It is a simple bar with a knob on top and a contact underneath. When the bar is depressed against spring tension, it forms a circuit and allows electricity to flow. Traditionally, American telegraph keys had flat topped knobs and narrow bars (frequently curved.) British telegraph keys had ball shaped knobs and thick bars. This appears to be purely a matter of culture and training, but the users of each are tremendously partisan. (Source:Wikipedia)

Computers : Computers are used for digital communication. HAM operators often use programs for digital communications via a sound card of the computer. Supported modes are  RTTY, ASCII, PSK31, SK63, AMTOR-FEC, MultiFSK-16, MultiFSK-8. HF-PACKET and UHF-PACKET are supported in KISS-TNC emulation mode. SELFEC SITOR, AMTOR-ARQ and DTMF-code decoding is also possible. No additional hardware is required. You only need a transceiver and computer with a sound card. A simple circuit for PTT-control can be used. It is fast and convenient to use with many macros for transmitting.