Amateur Radio

A Vital National Resource for Emergency Communications!

 


This site is in need of Major Revisions.
I have removed any non working links and all of the information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge as of this date Feb 14, 2012

for now I refer you to the ARRL site for licensing information.

To get Local Information about classes and testing in the Greene County Ohio area click on this link

 

Weather Links


Airport Status

NWS Wilmington Ohio

NOAA

Severe Storms Prediction Center

HAM Links

Echo link!

ARRL

SKYWARN


PRACTICE
TESTS


G4FON
CW TRAINER

This is a Great
Program!

Solar Data

Greene County A.R.E.S.

Building Antennas

 


 

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. 

There is just a different kind thrill in Radio.

So what is it?

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 both the entry level technician license, and now the General Class License do not require you to learn Morse Code ( but you are still allowed to use it and we do encourage you to try to learn it at some point.) 
  • "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"

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


Are You Ready?

 

 


 

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