Basic information about Ham/Amateur Radio.

• What is Ham/Amateur Radio?
• What does "HAM" mean?
• Who do I contact to come a HAM or for more information?
• Who can come a Ham?
• Who test for Ham/Amateur Radio licenses?
• Do you have know Morse Code to come a Ham?
• What can't I do with a Ham/Amateur Radio license?
• Do Hams have to follow a Band Plan?
• Other question(s).

Other Information about Ham Radio.

• How much do you have to increase your power to gain 1 S-Unit and what is a S-Unit?
• Who invented radio?
• Do you have a band helper?
• What is Packet?
• Other question(s).

What is Ham/Amateur Radio?

Take a look at my Amateur/Ham Radio infomation section.

What does "HAM" mean?

No one really knows the origin of the word HAM. "HAM" first appeared in QST magazine (QST is done by the A.R.R.L) November 1916.

One popular theory is that three Harvard students who supposedly had an amateur station in their teens. Their names were supposedly Hyman, Almay, and Murray. They operated a little station with a call-sign of HAM. The problem Harvard has no record of a little station HAM.

Who do I contact to come a HAM?

You can contact the American Radio Relay League (A.R.R.L.) toll free at 1-800-32-NEW-HAM (1-800-326-3942). Yes the phone number is one digit to long but it works. Ask for a "prospect package" available free of charge, from ARRL HQ, Educational Activities Department, 225 Main St., Newington, CT., 06111. A.R.R.L.'s web page is at http://www.arrl.org. You can request a lot of information from the A.R.R.L. about Ham Radio and how to come a Ham for FREE.

Who can come a Ham?

Anyone can come a Ham except a representative of a foreign government. Theirs NO age limits, race, looks, likes, other hobbies, religion, etc. That can stop YOU from coming a Ham (If not a Ham now).

Who test for Ham/Amateur Radio licenses?

A VE/VEC are volunteers who give out the test(s) for new and upgrades in licensing. The F.C.C. (Federal Communication Commission) does not test for Ham/Amateur Radio licenses anymore. If you are looking for a VE testing try searching A.R.R.L.'s online VE testing search engine.
The meaning of VE and VEC.
V.E.C.-Volunteer Examiner Coordinator.
V.E.-Volunteer Examiner.

Do you have know Morse Code?

No, you do not have to know Morse Code to come a Ham. You can get a Technician class license now and know NO Morse Code at all and get all VHF/UHF privileges.

What can't I do with a Ham/Amateur Radio license?

You can't transact business of any kind over Ham/Amateur Radio. You may not interference with other Hams or services (communications). Obscene, profane or indecent language is not tolerated. Music and public broadcasting are not allowed on Ham Radio bands. Some personal conversations may not be appropriate/decent for Ham/Amateur Radio communications. All these are rules are in Part 97 of Title 47 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) and will be enforced by the F.C.C. (Federal Communication Commission).

Do Hams have to follow a Band Plan?

How much do you have to increase your power to gain 1 S-Unit and what is a S-Unit?

To gain one S-Unit you have to increase your power by 4 times. So if you are using 10 watts you need to increase your power to 40 watts to have a gain of one S-Unit. One S-Unit is 6db. A db is the smallest change that can be notest by the human ear. For beginners a S-Unit is a measurement on a radio (Signal Strength). The stronger the signal the larger the S-Unit.

Who invented radio?

Were not 100% sure who did but most people think it is Marconi and some others think it was Poppov or Stubblefield.

Do you have a band helper?

I made this up. Its just spoused to help you remember if the frequency is MF, HF, VHF or UHF. What I mean by digits is like 160 having three digits.

What is Packet?

Other Question(s)

Any other question(s) about Ham/Amateur Radio E-Mail me at ac6xi@linkline.com or E-Mail me via submit form.