What the does the term ham radio mean in amateur radio?

Answer 1

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training.[1] Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[2] The term "amateur" is not a reflection on the skills of the participants, which are often quite advanced; rather, "amateur" indicates that amateur communications are not allowed to be made for commercial or money-making purposes.

Answer 2

The origins of the term "HAM" are obscure, and there are several legends.

One explanation was that three early pioneers in radio combined their initials to form the callsign "HAM" and worked the station together.

Another, from the ARRL web site, explains that some poorly-behaved amateur radio operators were running such high-power transmitters that they were hogging the radio spectrum, and some commercial radio stations called these operators "hams".

An alternative explanation comes from the poor skills of some telegraph operators who were known as "ham-fisted". Since amateur radio operators all used Morse Code - more properly called "CW" for "continuous wave" transmission - and their amateur "ham-fisted" skills would have been obvious.