About Amareur Radio 

Amateur Radio, also known as ham radio, is a popular hobby enjoyed by over a million worldwide that bring people, electronics and communication together. Amateur radio operators, who call themselves "radio hams" or simply "hams” use Amateur Radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space. It might be surprising to say that this all is done without the Internet or cell phones and its history traces back to the first decade of the nineteenth century when students at Columbia University formed the Wireless Telegraph Club of Columbia University, now the Columbia University Amateur Radio Club. 

Although Amateur Radio operators get involved for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles, and pass an examination for the Amateur Radio license to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands." These bands are radio frequencies allocated by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) for use by Amateur Radio operators in Nepal. Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of life and are of all ages, sexes, income levels and nationalities. Whether through Morse Code on an old brass telegraph key, voice communication on a hand-held radio or computerized messages transmitted via satellite, all hams use amateur radio devices to reach out to the world.

Beginning of Amateur Radio in Nepal

In 1951, after being transferred to Godavari St. Xavier School, Nepal, Father Marshall D. Moran set up an Amateur Radio station with the callsign 9N1MM as the very first Amateur Radio operator in Nepal, and in no time he was in touch with other operators all over the world. His call sign Nine En-One Mickey Mouse, his rare location, and his pleasant demeanour on the air made him one of the most famous radio hams of his time. His death in 1992 was noted in amateur radio magazines around the world.

In 1993, radio communication license rules were enacted and tested. Until 2011, only two amateur radio license exams had been held with a total of five licenced amateur radio operators in Nepal. Then, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) renewed interest in amateur radio licensing, and Tribhuvan University encouraged its students to get involved. Around the same time, Nepal's first Amateur Radio repeater, set up in 2012 by the National Society for Earthquake Technology had a dozen hams who previously engaged in simulated emergency tests. Since then, the MoICT has been conducting amateur radio exams every year, and there are now about 250 amateur radio operators in Nepal. Out of these, the majority of amateurs belong to the Institute of Engineering (IOE) Amateur Radio Club Station. 

IOE Amateur Radio Club Station and Dr Sanjeeb Pandey’s Enthusiasm 

Amateur Radio During the Gorkha Earthquake

Immediately after the first jolt of the 7.8-MMS earthquake on April 25, 2015, many ham operators were using handy talkies (HTs) communicating with each other on the only ham-radio repeater available in Nepal. Some radio operators set up an emergency communications net at 14.210 MHz and started passing emergency traffic, much of which was information about missing foreign visitors. A couple of days after, the IOE Amateur Radio operators: 9N1SP along with 9N1AJ, 9N1SH and 9N1DI passed traffic to Tim Mcfadden (T6TM), an operator from the U.S. Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) located in Afghanistan, and transmissions were sent daily on 21.360 MHz emergency net. Transmission content included authenticated situation reports and Slow-scan television (SSTV) images which were received from different local newspapers, and from Nepal’s home ministry websites. McFadden then posted the information on the All Partners Access Network (APAN) portal. Occasionally, Koji Shimabukuro (JS6QFM) from Okinawa, Japan joined the emergency net and monitored communications as well.

Zero‐operation‐cost Technology for Nepal

Operating an Amateur Radio is fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need, and that is one of the main reasons hams do it. Amateur Radio can provide communication during states of emergency. Amateur Radio works even when all other services fail as messages can be sent in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. Emergency Communication Systems including Amateur Radio which are pivotal in managing disasters should have not only appropriate technology and adequate infrastructure, but also need proper backup and redundancy mechanisms. Amateur Radios are found globally as one of the best options in such adversities. Nepal can also benefit from this zero‐operation‐cost technology particularly in case of emergencies not only due to earthquakes but in all types of disaster situations. The need is hence to extend and strengthen amateur radio capacities throughout the country.