"Amateur radio" or "ham radio" is a class of noncommercial radio licensees in the US and many other countries. There are reserved radio bands, various rights an

"Amateur radio" or "ham radio" is a class of noncommercial radio licensees in the US and many other countries. There are reserved radio bands, various rights and obligations, and perhaps most importantly a large community of people using similar technology. Think of it as the open-source version of CB radio. The radio might be handheld or vehicle-mounted or a fixed installation occupying hundreds of feet on a side. (Conversely just because something is handheld doesn't make it amateur: your cell phone is a commercial radio service; walkie-talkies and FRS and wifi are unlicensed services; etc. Type-approval is different from licensing.)