Just Imagine....

 ..... the excitement of talking to someone in another state, or another country 
without the use of telephone lines or computers. 
I'm not talking about typing words on a screen, but actually hearing their voice and the sound of their enthusiasm. 
The internet has been a lot of fun for "chatting", and is very useful to ham radio, but it is not the same. 

Amateur Radio, or HAM radio is about people. Just plain old everyday folks like you and me. Your doctor, lawyer, your bus driver, your grocery store manager, the kid who delivers your newspapers could be a HAM. 

Many well known people have gotten their Ham Licenses like Entertainers Patty Loveless, Ronnie Millsap, Joe Walsh, Timothy Gaines,  World Figures like King Hussein of Jordan SK, Senator Barry Goldwater SK,  Walter Cronkite and WDTN Meteorologist Carl Nichols are all hams!!! (the SK indicates Silent Key, a term for Hams that are no longer with us.)
 
Below we answer some of the common questions people have about Ham Radio. read on.

• "Is there an age limit?"- NOPE - there are hams as young as 4 years old. 
• "Is it expensive?"- NOT ANY MORE!  Like most of the electronic toys these days, Ham radio's have become quite affordable. 
• "I'm not technically oriented." -You don't have to be a Techno-Wizard. Since you are reading this page, you are obviously  smart enough to use a computer and the internet. So you should be able to handle a few buttons on a radio. . 
• "Will I have to build my own equipment?"- NOPE-
• "I could never learn Morse code!"- NOT NECESSARY!- For the entry level license, which gives you access to several practical frequencies, 
  there is NO CODE NEEDED! 
• "License? What license!"-- To operate a radio, you do need a license from the FCC. BUT, it is not hard to get. And once you do--- the fun you will have is terrific, and the friends you will make are just wonderful, helpful people. 
• "What about those family radios that everybody is selling? Are they Ham Radios?"- VERY CLOSE. They are a great way to get a feel for the usefulness of personal radio communication. But their range is very limited. They'll work around the campground, or at Wal-Mart, but  Ham radio can  reach across neighborhoods, counties, states, even countries!! 
• 
  "Is it like CB Radio?" - A little - See answer for family radios above.

go to these Links for details on 
"How to Get a Ham Radio"

Getting Started

Frequently Asked Questions

Benefits of  Ham Radio

If  a Local or National Emergency happens while you are asleep, and you need to take action, 
How would you Know?

---

Are You Ready?

Emergency Preparedness Site

Red Cross Family Disaster List

Red Cross Workplace Disaster Supplies

FEMA.Gov "Are You Ready?"

If you are already a Ham Operator, I urge you to take the  FREE!  FEMA ICS courses soon. These will better equip us to understand the communications and the needs of an Emergency Communications Event

 

Weather Net Reporting Guidelines

 

The shortest quiz on the Internet!