One good book about the technical history is "200 Meters and Down" an ARRL
book that was published in the 70s.

Another theory on why we're called hams was that very early hobby radio
included providing entertainment over the radio.  Allegedly, hams would get
their families and sing or play instruments, thus "hamming it up."
Remember, this was before the FCC and other rules came into being.  This,
too, might just be a false legend.


Jim Kutsch
Jacksonville, FL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Elliff" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 01:16
Subject: Re: why are you called hams?


hey cool! I didn't know. this new ham is facinated! are there any good
amature radio history books or anything? i'd like to read the history of
this great hobby, but dunno where to get anything like that. like how it
originated etc etc.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: why are you caled hams?


> No one knows for sure. Here are some theories:
>
> 1) Ham, short for ham-fisted (i.e. can't send code for !@#$%^!!!)
>
> 2) Ham, short for Amateur
>
> 3) HAM was the callsign used in around 1908 before official ones were
issued, for a station that was owned by three people whose last initials
spelled out HAM (thus, the station's call...sorry, I don't recall the whole
story)
>
> Betcha a cold cheeseburger there are more, but none, so far as I know, is
definitive.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV/3    | But I will lay my burden
> Email: [log in to unmask]   | in the cradle of your grace,
> ICQ: 36621210              | And the shining beaches of your love,
> http://www.ycardz.com      | and the sea of your embrace.--Dave Carter
>