Amateur Radio

We also offer digital amateur radios based on Icom's own D-STAR system. In addition, we can also provide Icom infrastructure for VHF, UHF and 1.2Ghz bands for the digital amateur radio system. Our range of Sirio and Diamond brand antennas includes recessed and magnet mount antennas specifically for the amateur band, rooftop antennas and handheld radio antennas.

Framework for Amateur Radio

Amate radio operators are people whose hobby or passion is to operate (or perhaps build) radio transceivers, with an official licence from the authorities of the country concerned, and to use them to establish contact with amateur radio operators elsewhere in the world. Radio amateurs also carry out radio orienteering, gyro-gramming and speed radio (Morse code), all of which are radio activities of a sporting nature. The DND Telecom Center webshop makes it easy to get the equipment you need for all these activities.

About the Icom brand

The founder of the Japanese company, Tokuzo Inoue, became obsessed with radio as early as high school. And after a visit to a radio shop, he decided to dedicate his life to wireless communications. It was in this spirit that he founded Icom in Osaka, Japan, in 1954. Today, the company's products are found all over the world, and Icom has offices in the US, England, France and Germany.

Icom founded the company in Oceania, Japan, in 1953.

About the Midland brand

A US company that has been at the forefront of radio technology for 50 years, with CB radios and 14-channel FRS radios offering ground-breaking solutions, and a Kansas company that is a market leader in radio stations, transceivers and emergency radios. With a product range that is popular in Europe and Asia as well as America, Midland amateur radios are a reliable and safe choice.

What you need to know about the amateur radio exam

Amateur radio licence can be obtained after passing the amateur radio exam. The CEPT-type exam gives amateur radio operators the right to operate their radio stations without a special licence during short visits to CEPT member countries.If you want to become an amateur radio operator, you can choose between three options: basic, intermediate or harmonised amateur radio operator exam (HAREC level). The minimum age for the basic and HAREC exams is 14 years, while the minimum age for the entry level is 16 years. For all three examinations, it is possible to combine them with a Morse code examination, either simultaneously or separately.

The detailed conditions are laid down in the NMHH Decree 15/2013 (25.IX.) on the Amateur Radio Service, but the law does not specify how to prepare for the exam. Therefore, there are several options: preparation courses, radio club preparation, online learning or the classic textbook solution.

The exam itself consists of an oral and a written part. The latter consists of a multiple-choice test, some easy calculations, a drawing and a few essay questions on basic technical, safety and legal knowledge, radio distribution and abbreviations. The oral part is also an exercise, as the candidate has to conduct real, regular radio communications with the examiner in the other room. After a successful examination, the amateur radio licence is issued. After that, you can indulge in your passion and use your desktop, mobile or hand-held amateur radio.

What frequency range do amateur walkie-talkies cover?

In our country, it is currently possible to radio in two frequency bands, subject to the rules, without a special licence. One is the frequency band between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz, the other is the so-called PMR frequency band, which modulates between 446.00625 MHz and 446.19375 MHz. However, with a CEPT exam, several other amateur radio bands can be used.

What is the power and range of amateur radio?

This largely depends on what kind of amateur radio you are using. Most of the Icom mobile and desktop amateur walkie-talkie radios available in the DND Telecom webshop have a maximum RF output power of 100W, but you can also choose one with a RF output power of 50/15/5W. However, the handheld amateur radios have an output power of up to 5W RF. Amateur radios have a long range of up to hundreds or thousands of kilometres.

When using amateur radios, is it possible to transmit at different power levels?

Amateur radios mostly operate in two frequency bands. One is UHF, which uses 400-480-520 MHz, and the other is VHF, which broadcasts between 136 and 176 MHz. In addition, amateur radios have their own memory, so they can save many channels. Most of these types of radios are dual-channel, i.e. you can listen to two frequencies at the same time, but only one channel at a time. This is a big advantage, as it makes your job much easier.

What types of modulation does amateur radio support?

Amateur radios use a variety of modulation types. For example, the single sideband mode, abbreviated SSB, the telegraph mode, abbreviated CW, AM and FM, and USB modulation, which covers the upper sideband and LSB, which covers the lower sideband, but also worth mentioning is RTTY modulation, which is used by radio amateurs at 45 baud.

Does your amateur transceiver radio include a noise cancelling function?

The Icom and Midland amateur radios available in the DND Telecom webstore support noise cancellation for clearer sound. But it's worth choosing a radio that also has a wind noise suppression function. When used in a windy environment, the amateur radio will automatically switch to Speaker-As-Mic mode, which stands for SAM.

But the automatic acoustic feedback attenuator function can also be useful when two amateur radios are near each other. Without this feature, sound quality can deteriorate. Therefore, if crystal clear sound is important to you, make sure you have it.

What power sources does your amateur radio use?

Handheld amateur radios are mostly powered by a 2280 mAh Li-Ion battery, but if you are running a desktop amateur radio, you can do so with a mains plug.

What are the connectivity options for amateur radio?

It depends a lot on what kind of amateur radio you have, handheld or desktop. There are desktop amateur radios that have a built-in Bluetooth and WLAN unit, but there are also those that have optional Bluetooth panel integration. For mobile amateur radios, use an SD memory card or USB Type-C connector to save data.