Many hams get their start on VHF FM, using battery operated hand-held transceivers set to transmit on one frequency and receive on another frequency. They use FM repeaters , set up and supported by local radio clubs. These repeaters borrow antenna space from TV station tower owners on top of mountains and high buildings to receive and re-broadcast signals to extend the range. Susan Manor, NF0T, is shown helping with communications at the New Braunfels Red Cross office. The FM repeater receives one signal at a time and simultaneously rebroadcasts it on another frequency using many more watts of power than available from a small hand-held radio.
Linked repeaters allow fun wireless communications across an entire state with a hand-held radio.
Repeaters use common transmit and receive frequency pairs. The frequency pairs in use are informally assigned by groups of hams so that any frequency pair in use is far enough from another repeater so as not to cause unwanted interference. Amateur radio satellites are a cutting-edge use of technology in amateur radio. Radio amateurs use their hand-held radios to communicate through an amateur radio satellite, when the satellite is overhead. Ham Radio Station in Automobile Natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes disrupt normal telephone and cell phone systems.