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So, what exactly is "Amateur Radio"?
The Amateur Radio Service is an international radio service, which, in the
United States, is governed by the Federal Communications Commission.
The Amateur Radio Service exists for the:
 | Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the
public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with
respect to providing emergency communications.
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| Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute
to the advancement of the radio art.
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| Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which
provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of
the art.
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| Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of
trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
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| Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance
international goodwill.
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Copied from the Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 part
97.1 (this is the law that governs the Amateur Radio Service)
So, What can I do as a "ham"?
| Talk around the world - With
HF radios hams
can talk to other hams in literally any part of the globe. |
| Talk around town - With small portable
VHF and UHF transceivers
hams enjoy extremely reliable communications within their local community.
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| QRP - Communicating with "very low power" is a challenge that many
hams enjoy. QRP is usually practiced on the
HF bands. |
| Packet radio - The internet over ham radio? Not really ... but ham
radio operators enjoy
a digital
network of their own, all without wires! |
| International Morse code - Forget it ... You can get a license
without knowing Morse. If you want to,
though, it's still allowed. |
| Amateur television - It's just like real television because it is
real television. |
| Slow Scan TV -
Send pictures around the world for little or no cost. |
| Contests - You can put your
radio operating skills up against other hams and teams of hams. |
| Emergency and other volunteer services - Floods, hurricanes,
mudslides, earthquakes, ice storms ... when ever `normal' communications go
out, hams are ready to use their radios to provide emergency communication
services to their communities. |
| Satellite communications - Hams have
their own satellites
... really! (Amateur's satellites are
easy to use too.
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| Traffic handling - "Ham telegrams" are used to send messages to
people around the world at no cost to the sender or the recipient; all done by
ham radio operators volunteering their time and resources. |
Adapted from A Beginners Guide to Ham Radio.
http://www.irony.com/ham-howto.html
Great, so where do I start?
All hams in the United States are licensed by the FCC. Getting a "D" on a
mutliple-choice test and paying about six dollars is all it takes. The FCC
doesn't even give the test ... Hams volunteer to give the test to people that
want to become hams. These volunteer examiners then file the paperwork with the
FCC and your ham radio license is set to you in the mail.
There are many ways to go about preparing for and taking your ham radio
license test.
| ARRL - The American Radio Relay League is the national association
of Amateur Radio operators. They have a great web site with lots of
information to help you get started. Click here
to visit the ARRL Home Page |
| Local Clubs - For those that like a structured approach, many clubs
organize meetings and classes to teach the basic skills of radio operation and
prepare people for their ham radio license test. At the end of the classes, a
test is given. If you pass, you're a ham! To find a club in your area, visit
the ARRL Club
Page |
| Elmer - An elmer is the ham equivalent of a "Yoda." Many new hams
are taught by other hams. (Helping people is a common thread throughout the
ham radio hobby.) An elmer knows the stuff you need to pass your test and will
help you prepare. While an elmer can not give the FCC examination, he or she
will be in touch with other hams in your area and know where public
examinations are held. |
| Self-study - It doesn't seem right to tell you about going it
alone, because then you're not doing it all by yourself! Taking a class or
having an Elmer is a far better way to get your license; and when you pass
your test you will already have friends to talk to. Many hams however, have
passed the test just by studying on their own. |
Adapted from A Beginners Guide to Ham Radio.
http://www.irony.com/ham-howto.htm
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