Ham radio operation: A not-so-amateur pastime: From computer applications to space technology, amateur radio presents a unique opportunity for technical innovation and experimentation

There is a group of people around the world whose spare time is spent behind metallic boxes laden with audio and frequency controls. These are not people listening to Bruce Springsteen or The Cars on their Yamaha or Marantz stereos. Rather they are amateur radio enthusiasts, or ham operators, as they are frequently called.