Getting into Amateur Radio

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby enjoyed by 2.6 million men and women from all walks of life worldwide. More than 755,000 of them are in the United States. They communicate by voice, Morse Code and digital modes and even television on short wave, high frequency and microwave, using satellite, moon bounce, aurora propagation, meteor scatter, and other exciting methods. In addition to general communication and fellowship, many hams contribute to public safety as storm spotters and provide communication in emergencies.  In other words, there is something for everyone in this growing and dynamic hobby.

To operate as a radio amateur, you must have a radio license. There are three license levels in the United States. The Technician Class license is the starter level, and is the most popular in the United States. With a Technician License you can use all amateur radio privileges above 30 MHz, including the very popular 2-meter band. They can also operate phone (voice), Morse Code (CW), and digital modes on the 10m band and CW on the 80m, 40m, and 15m bands. The 80m, 40m, 15m, and 10m bands are in the shortwave portion of the radio frequency spectrum, and are the bands most commonly used for long-distance communications.

The General Class license allows amateurs to operate all modes on a wider range of frequencies on all amateur bands. The highest level is the Amateur Extra Class, allowing operation on all authorized amateur frequencies. All licenses are issued by the Federal Communications Commission through local examination sessions.

What does it cost? You don’t need a lot of money to get into amateur radio. For $50 to $100, you can get started on VHF repeaters (2 meters). Generally speaking, with the help of local hams, you can often find good deals on used equipment through local hamfests and swap meets.

Becoming a ham is not difficult. With a little study, most people can obtain the “entry level” Technician Class license, which is the most common in ham radio. To get a Technician Class license, you must take a test with 35 multiple-choice questions. The test covers basic regulations, operating practices, and simple electronics theory. If you are someone who can learn on your own, there are several study guides available that will teach you what you need to know to get a Technician Class license.

Here is information on how to get study guides for your license:

• The No-Nonsense Technician Class Study Guide, by Don Romanchik. Download this study guide for FREE at http://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2010/06/2010_Tech_Study_Guide.pdf. This study guide will help you get your license, but getting your license is only the beginning. There is still much to learn, and to get the most out of amateur radio, you will have to continually learn new things.

• HamElmer.Com Technician Test Study Guide. This study guide is also FREE and can be downloaded from HamElmer.Com. This study guide explains topics in more detail.

• The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 4th Edition, is published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and costs about $25.  The ARRL has online classes as well.

• Gordon West Study Guides: Also costing about $25 https://www.gordonwestradioschool.com/main/page_w5yi_training_resources.html

• Ham Study by Signal Stuff: https://hamstudy.org/

• Ham Radio University from Amateur Logic TV: amateurlogic.com

• Hamexam.org is test and practice site that includes flashcards for the Android phone.

On line tests are a great way to check your progress and determine the areas that need extra study. There are many sample test sites, but here are a few to get you started:

• http://www.arrl.org/exam-practice

• http://aa9pw.com/

• https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/

• http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

Amateur radio examinations are administered by Volunteer Examiners all over the country.  The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club holds testing sessions on the third weekend of February, April, June, August, October and December. Tests are also administered during Superfest (the club’s annual electronics swap meet and flea market) in September. More information can be found on the Testing page on this web site. To find an exam session near you, go to the ARRL website – http://www. arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session.

At one time, proficiency in Morse Code was required, but the Code section was eliminated many years ago. Although code is no longer needed, it is still a popular mode among many hams. You may want to consider learning it. It’s not that difficult, and is a lot of fun. There are many computer programs and web sites available to help you learn Morse Code.

What are digital modes? Digital takes many forms, and helps long distance (DX) communication, even in poor conditions. These take the form of voice systems using radio and internet to talk around the world, as well as data transmission of text, images and video. Hams have helped pioneer many of these systems to expand enjoyment of the hobby.

Once you get your license, join a club. Experienced amateurs mentor new hams to help them get started and explore this fascinating hobby. The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club is a good place to start. Visit their website (www.w9uvi.org). If you don’t live in our area, you can easily find a club near you by visiting ARRL.org. ARRL, or the American Radio Relay League is a national organization of amateur radio operators that represent our interests to regulatory agencies and provide a unified voice, connecting hams around the country with news, information and education. The ARRL as well as your local club make our hobby enjoyable and meaningful.