OK, what is Amateur Radio? Well a paragraph taken from an ARRL (American Radio Relay League) publication called 'The Radio Amateur's Handbook' probably sums it up pretty well:-
Amateur radio is a scientific hobby, a means of gaining personal skill in the fascinating art of electronics and an opportunity to communicate with fellow citizens by private short-wave radio. Scattered over the globe are many hundreds of thousands of amateur radio operators who perform a service defined in international law as one of "self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried on by . . . duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest."
Many people associate amateur radio and CB radio as being the same thing. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth - they are like chalk and cheese. Amateur radio is much, much more interesting and rewarding than CB radio could ever be. Operators can build and operate their own transmitting and receiving equipment for many different modes of communication. The amateur radio fraternity even have their own satallites orbiting earth for talk through communication.
Ever wonder what astronauts do in their spare time out there in space? Well, some astronauts are also amateur radio operators and they communicate with other amateurs using a variety of communication modes.
If you would like to know more about amateur radio, take the time to follow some of the links below and get an insight into the Fascinating World of Amateur Radio.
Wireless Institute of Australia, Queensland Division
Wireless Institute of Australia, Federal
David's Amateur Radio and Antenna Page