In the following text I have been very brief. The numerous links will surely answer all questions. History: The radio technology, on which the hobby amateur radio builds up, began only 1888 with Heinrich Hertz. 

Im succeeded for the first time in generating and transmitting electromagnetic waves. But it was not until 1897 that Guglielmo Marconi  began the history of wireless telegraphy. The regulations of the radio operation, which should serve for a regulated use of the available frequencies, were decided on the Washington world wave conference of 1927. There appeared also for the first time the term radio amateur. Already in May 1914 the American Radio Relay League ARRL was founded in America. They see themselves as the national association of radio amateurs                

   Amateur radio       General

German

French amateur radio station. Source Wikipedia

in the USA. In Germany one could exercise only starting from 1924 officially receiving enterprise. At the end of May 1933, 180 old Schwarzfunkers were Amateur officially licensed. In 1928, American radio amateur Paul M. Segal (W9EEA) wrote a code of honor known as the Ham Spirit (The Amateur's Code).

At the beginning of the Second World War, all previously issued licenses were recovered. After the Second World War, the German Federal Post Office announced that from 1948 amateur radio licenses would be held. But only on 19.01.1949 an amateur radio law came into force. From then on, amateur radio licenses could be issued officially. On 31.12.2016, the Federal Network Agency registered 65095 Class A and E radio amateurs. To work on the amateur radio bands you need, among other things, a radio. A transceiver is most commonly used. This is an artificial word made up of transmit (send) and receive (receive), i.e. a transceiver. The antenna is an important part of a radio system. An overview of antennas can be seen here. Although antennas look rather inconspicuous, antenna theory is very complex. Waveguides are also used for signal transmission at high frequencies. For some years now, transceivers based on the SDR (software define radio) principle have also been used. The weather also plays a major role in shortwave propagation. The so-called radio weather shows the propagation controls on shortwave. The radio weather is shown graphically in the amateur radio magazines. For example, radio weather forecast CQ-DL 3-21 and radio weather radio amateur 3- 21.The reception of amateur radio is generally allowed. There are a lot of royalty-free low-power approvals today. These include, for example Remote controls, wireless microphones, baby monitors, Bluetooth, WLAN, mobile communications. Radio amateurs are bound to certain frequencies during their transmission. These frequencies range from 135 kHz to 250 GHz and are divided into individual frequency ranges. Amateur radio is a very versatile hobby. In addition to technology and self- construction, it is above all the international understanding across national borders. In amateur radio (ARDF), the task is to find in the shortest possible time previously hidden transmitter. That is sometimes in the legs.

Shortwave antenna 14-30 MHz Source Google / Antennas / Images

    Amateur radio diploma from ARRL. Source Google Picture

In addition to the usual kinds of transmission such as telegraphy and telephony with different modulation methods often find digital transmission method use. Packet Radio, transmits digital data in short data packets (usually up to 255 bytes). Relay stations (digipeater) can be used to reach distances of several 100km. Pactor is a digital mode designed specifically

for short-wave transmission. It compensates for fluctuations in field strength and interferences that frequently occur on SW . In APRS the data is transmitted partly over radio links on the 2m, 70cm, and 11m band. If the data encounters a special APRS Digipeater (IGATE for short) they are forwarded via the Internet. The operating mode PSK 31 (Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud) is an operating mode for digital wireless communication and is mainly used on shortwave radio amateurs. With the operating mode (SSTV) still images in SW or color can be transmitted. For this purpose, the brightness information is converted into tones between 1500 and 2300 Hz. SSTV signals are typically transmitted on amateur bands from 80m to 23cm and on the 11m band.) Amateur Television (ATV) broadcasts are moving images, as in television. Because of the higher bandwidth of ATV transmission, transmission is at frequencies above 430 MHz (70 cm). Here is an overview of the operating modes. Relay stations are often used to increase the range of the radio transmission. are often used  The relay stations are located at elevated points (masts, mountain tops) and send out a received radio signal on another frequency again. In an  echolink,  connection, existing relays for transmission are networked via Voice over IP over the Internet. The radio connection via amateur radio satellites allows particularly long ranges, especially at wavelengths below 2m. The first OSCAR Satellite (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) was launched on 12.12.1961 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in America. The radio connection via amateur radio satellites allows particularly long ranges, especially at wavelengths below 2m. In an EME (earth-moon-earth) connection, communication between two distant points is achieved by a radio signal that is sent towards the Moon and reflected back to Earth by the Moon as a passive reflector. In the meteor scatter method, the radio signals are reflected on the tracks of fading meteorites. As a result, distances of up to 2500km can be achieved, lasting from a few seconds to two minutes. On the International Space Station ISS, which has been permanently occupied by astronauts since 2 November 2000, there is also an amateur radio station.  Radio operation can be carried out in different operating modes from the International Space Station ISS. When sparking, the call sign is often spelled after the spelling alphabet for air traffic, NATO, and amateur radio. At DL4FG, the Delta Lima 4 Foxtrott Golf would be. There are still further shortcuts in amateur radio such as the Q groups and abbreviations that are still telegraphic, such as om, yl, 73,55, and so on. The path to amateur radio leads either via the DARC (German Amateur Radio Club) in Baunatal near Kassel or the VFDB e.V. (Association of Radio Amateurs in Telekom and Post e.V.). Also with the numerous local associations in Germany one finds help with the first steps. Of course, the explanation for the name of my website may not be missing here. The name DL4FG is my amateur radio call sign. This was assigned to me on 17.11.1981 after passing Morse examination. Of course, I had no influence on how my call sign is. But there are certainly still radio amateurs in Germany, with whom I look quite old with this call sign (because the callsign is quite old). I'm certainly only born in 1958 AD .. Incidentally, I already had a call sign. This was a call sign of the C license and listened to the name DB7FP. It came from January 1975. Meanwhile, the license classes but have changed and thus the requirements of the test. There are also a number of prominent radio amateurs. Here is a list. Wikipedia

Amateur radio satellites Oscar 69 and Oscar 70. Source Wikipedia.

Picture gallery: Some QSL cards from Germany

Still others collect the so-called QSL cards (confirmation of the radio link) and then apply for amateur radio diplomas. Also, participation in an FM or KW contest is very popular with some radio amateurs. Of course, the technology still plays a big role. In the amateur radio magazines building instructions for antennas, test and measuring devices and other devices for the daily amateur radio operation are often to be found. You'll also find building instructions that do not seem to have much to do with amateur radio at first glance, mind you at first sight.