There are many reasons to get into ham radio, as a hobby.
For me, there are quite a few reasons I got into it. For starters, I was (and still am) big into anything electronic. I like to tinker, repair, modify, and learn how stuff works. This was the biggest reason I initially got into it. The electronics theory and being able to build/design an antenna was a large part of the initial appeal. Once I was really getting into it, exploring some of the digital modes, I also started to get involved in Skywarn and local emergency preparedness. This is where I really learned about what ham radio could do, and why most people should at least give radio a try.
Ever been in a situation where power was out and your cell phone wasn’t getting a good signal? I was. Back in 2003, I was driving back to the office to drop off some equipment so I could go home for the day. As I was driving along, the radio station I was listening to, went silent. I then noticed all the traffic lights were out. I grabbed my Nextel and tried to walkie talkie my boss to find out what’s up. Dead air. The usual Nextel beep never happened. I tried calling my wife. No signal. With 9/11 being fresh in all our minds, the anxiety was starting to set in.
Since there was no internet, phones, or TV, information was all hearsay. Neighbors were guessing it was another terrorist attack. Other neighbors thought it was just a simple transformer that blew somewhere. This was during a time where I wasn’t really doing much with ham radio. After a few hours wondering what was going on, I pulled out the radio and antenna, and started getting it wired up to the car. Within an hour, I was on the air and talking to local hams that were stationed at the American Red Cross in town. The relief that came, just by simply being able to get reliable information from a reputable source at a time of crisis was immeasurable.
With technology today, the chances of everything failing like it did in 2003, is pretty slim. What if? What if a storm rips through town, knocks out the cell towers, power, and internet lines? How will you get information, or even call for help?
If you are interested in exploring ham radio, the ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) has a great site that is packed full of information. You can learn about how to obtain a license through their web site.