**************************************************************************** F R E Q U E N T Q U E S T I O N S A B O U T A M A T E U R R A D I O **************************************************************************** ** What is Amateur Radio? (HAM RADIO) Amateur Radio is a non-commercial radio communication service whose primary aims are public service, technical training and experimenta- tion, and communication between private persons. Amateur Radio operators are commonly called hams. Hams often communicate with each other recreationally but also provide communications for others at public events or in times of emergency or disaster. ** Who can become a ham in the United States? Anyone who is not a representative of a foreign government can be an Amateur Radio operator in the USA. There are tests that you must pass to get a license, however the tests are not insurmountable. ** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio? Your local Radio Shack sells some ham radios and Amateur Radio license books. Books can also be obtained through the mail from ham radio organizations, such as ARRL in Newington, CT (203-666-1541) and W5YI in Dallas, TX (1-800-669-9594). There may be one or two ham radio stores in the local area (ie, within 50 miles). Try looking in the Yellow Pages under Radio Communications. The ARRL Education Activities Department has several programs to help amateurs (or prospective amateurs) to get started. Ask for a "New prospect package" available free of charge, from ARRL HQ, Educational Activities Department, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. ** How much does it cost? To take the tests, for any class of amateur radio licen, there is a smallse charge (around $6 currently) to cover copying costs and running the testing sessions. The cost of a radio is really dependent on what you want to do. You can make your own radio and antenna for under $150. You can buy a used single-band radio for $150-$300. Or you can buy a new multi-band multi-mode radio with all the doodads for $300-$3000. I'd suggest you learn more about ham radio, talk to local hams, find out what you want to do with ham radio first. ** Where can I take the tests? The Novice tests can be given by any two qualified hams of General class license or above. The Technician tests and all higher class license tests are given by three qualified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who volunteer their time. To locate an ARRL testing session in your area, you can contact ARRL at 203-666-1541 x282 or 1-800-32-NEW-HAM. ** What are the tests like? First off, come prepared to VE sessions. Bring: TWO forms of ID, one of which has a picture on it; a calculator (if necessary); a pen and two pencils; the applicable examination fee (around $6-$7 for 2000); the original AND a copy of your current Amateur Radio license (if you have one); the original AND a copy of any CSCEs for tests you've already passed (if you have any). Each of the written tests (Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra) are generally a multiple choice test of approximately one-tenth of the question pool. For example, if the question pool is approximately 300 questions, then the test will be a 30-question test. You need to get 75% correct to pass. Note that they truncate to determine the correct number of questions. That means for a 30 question test, you need to get 22 right, which is actually only 73.3%. Once you've paid the small fee for Technician-Extra tests, it costs no extra to take another test, so I'd suggest you keep taking the next more advanced test until you fail. If you pass the written but not the Morse code (or vice versa) for a specific class license, you have up to one year to take the other test before you would have to retake the written test again. Note that some VEs will not allow you to take the written test unless you've first taken the Morse code test. The Morse code test is a receiving test only. The test run 5 to 7 minutes. After the test, you are given a fill-in-the-blank test. Passing grade is 7 or more. If you fail the 10-question test, the examiner team will examine your copy sheet to see if you have 1 minute of solid copy with no errors. For 5 wpm, that's 25 characters, If they can find 1 minute solid copy, you've still passed. Hints on Morse code tests: Generally, it will be a standard QSO (conversation), and it MUST contain at least one of each of the following: 26 letters A-Z, 10 numbers 0-9, comma (,), period (.), slant or slash (/), question mark (?), double dash prosign (BT), end of message prosign (AR), end of contact prosign (SK). The letters count as one character, all others count as two characters. There are a couple other prosigns which are worth knowing, but will not be on the test, like "I'm done talking, next" is K, "I'm done talking, back to you" is KN, "Please wait" is AS. ** What can I do with a ham radio license? There are so many things, it's a difficult question to answer, but here's some ideas: * Talk to people in foreign countries either by ionispheric propagation, or via amateur satellites. * Talk to people (both local and far away) on your drive to work. * Help in emergencies by providing communications. * Provide communications in parades or walkathons. * Help other people become hams. * Hook your computer to your radio and communicate by computers. * Collect QSL cards (cards from other hams) from all over the United States and foreign countries and receive awards. * Participate in contests or Field Day events. * Provide radio services to your local Civil Defense organization thru ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service). * Aid members of the US military by joining MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System). * Participate in transmitter hunt games and maybe build your own direction-finding equipment. * Have someone to talk to on those sleepless nights at home. * Receive weather pictures via satellites. * Build radios, antennas, learn some electronics and radio theory. * Talk to astronauts in space, or use the moon to bounce signals back to people on the Earth. * Experiment with Amateur TV (ATV), Slow-Scan TV (SSTV), or send still-frame pictures by facsimile. * Experiment with amateur satellite communications. ** Should I build my own equipment or antenna? "Homebrewing" is a fun and educational part of ham radio. It is a thrill to build your own transmitter and put it on the air. However, building your own receiver can be quite complicated; if you don't have electronics experience, you may want to buy a receiver instead. Most homebrew transmitters are QRP (transmit very low power). That's fine for an experienced ham with a very good antenna, but a Novice ham will just get frustrated. Your first rig, therefore should NOT be a home- brew. Antennas can be much simpler projects than the transceiver, though some types are also quite involved. Most hams build their own anten- nas for base station use and buy antennas for mobile (car) use. Most beginner ham books describe how to build different types of antennas. Order of difficulty, from easiest to more difficult, for some common antennas are: wire dipole, Zepp, Yagi, Quad, and Log-Periodic. Books from many sources, including ARRL and several Hams, discuss antennas in depth. When building or even understanding antennas, it is good to know the relationship between the antenna element length and the frequency or 0wavelength it is designed for. An antenna performs best at multiples of 1/4 of that wavelength, though 5/8 wave also has beneficial qualit- ies. The wavelength is related to the frequency with the following formula: wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency (in megahertz) You do not need a huge antenna or tower like ones you may see around your neighborhood. Large beam antennas and 40-foot towers are very expensive. As a beginner, a simple dipole antenna is perfectly adequate. As you gain experience (and money :-), you may want to invest in something bigger. If you can afford new rigs and antennas, there are many mail order stores that advertise in ham radio magazines. If you want to buy a used rig, the best place is at a "hamfest" (ham flea market). You should take along an experienced ham, since some of the used equipment may be inoperative, overpriced or poor quality. You can also answer ads in ham magazines or posted at ham radio stores, although often, by the time you call, the equipment has already been sold. ** What are the different US amateur classes and what can each of them do? Technician - has full privileges on all VHF/UHF bands above 30 MHz. Required a 25-question Tech test. General - has all Technician privileges, plus larger access to more HF bands, including CW and Voice on 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter bands. A General class amateur can give Novice tests. Required are 5 wpm Morse code test, Tech and 25-question General test. Advanced - has all General privileges, plus wider band access on 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands. An Advanced class amateur can also become a VE and give tests to Novice and Tech tests. Required are 5 wpm Morse code test, Tech, General and 50- question Advanced test. The Advanced test is the most difficult of the five written tests. Amateur Extra - has full privileges on all amateur bands. An Extra can become a VE and give all amateur tests. Required are 5 wpm Morse code test, Tech, General, Advanced and 40-question Extra test. ** What is the best way to learn Morse Code? This is becoming an increasingly common question as many "no-code" Technicians realize they can add more privileges to their license if they learn Morse Code. The following list of suggestions should be helpful in finding ways to approach the effort. * Listen to code at a rate faster than you can copy. * Participate in Novice-Roundup and/or Field Day. Practice whenever you get the chance! * Avoid the "deciphering" plateau around 5 WPM and and character plateau at 10 WPM by listening to the fast Farnsworth-paced "beat" of each letter and the "beat" of common words. (See the question on Morse code speed for more information on Farnsworth pacing.) * Practice to develop a "copy buffer" so you copy about 5 characters behind. (This is not easy but it's how the higher speeds are done.) * Practice both with headphones and "open-air" copy as the code test may be in either format. (If you only practice one, you may fumble on the other.) * Most of all, don't give up! Recognize when you reach plateaus and keep trying until you break through them. ** I'm confused. What do all those abbreviations mean??? AM Amplitude Modulation AMSAT Amateur Satellite Corporation AMTOR Amateur Teleprinter Over Radio. A more sophisticated version of RTTY. Also used commercially as SITOR (Simplex Teleprinter Over Radio). ARRL American Radio Relay League ATV Amateur Television - a way to see who you're talking to! CAP Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization that searches for downed aircraft and missing kids and uses frequencies just outside of the ham bands and often uses modified Amateur radios CB Citizen's Band radio, this is NOT part of Amateur Radio and does not require any license to operate CQ An on-the-air request for a conversation with anyone "dupes" A dupe sheet is a duplicate check sheet, in matrix format, used to quickly check that you have not had a "duplicate" contact with someone (on a specific band or mode) in a contest Elmer An amateur radio mentor, or "Master Craftsman" to a new ham. Could refer to anyone, regardless of age or gender. FCC Federal Communications Commission, the "law enforcers" FM Frequency Modulation FieldDay A June activity to practice emergency communications for 24 hours....wives call it 'an exercise in male bonding' :-). HF High Frequency - 3 MHz to 30 MHz HT Handy-Talky, a shorthand for "hand held radio" LF Low Frequency - 30 kHz to 3 MHz MARS Military Affiliate Radio System, military affiliated Amateurs who provide free communications for overseas GIs and other Federal services. MARS operators are licensed under DoD instead of FCC. NTS National Traffic System, a way to send radiograms OF Old Friend, or Old F#$%, used to denote an older ham OM Old Man, refers to any ham, including female hams PRB Private Radio Bureau, administers Amateur and CB services QSO One of the Q signals used in Morse code to mean "conversation" QCWA Quarter Century Wireless Association, membership means you've been a ham for more than 25 years RTTY Radio Teletype - older form of computer communications on HF SAREX In Amateur Radio talk, Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, a chance to talk to astronauts in space. In CAP talk, Search and Rescue EXercise, practicing for the real thing. SK Silent Key, a nice polite way to say a ham has passed on "to that great antenna farm in the sky" SSB Single Side Band - need less band width than AM or FM SSTV Slow Scan TeleVision - REALLY slow, low data rate, typically used on the lower frequency bands UHF Ultra High Frequency - 300 MHz and above ULF Ultra Low Frequency - 30 Hz to 300 Hz VHF Very High Frequency - 30 MHz to 300 MHz VLF Very Low Frequency - 300 Hz to 30 kHz, audio frequencies WARC World Administrative Radio Conference, a summit meeting that occurs every few years, required by international treaty to determine how the spectrum get sliced up to all vying communications services (last one was in 1992) XYL eX-Young Lady, or wife YL Young Lady, non-ham girlfriend or female ham 2m Shorthand for "2 meters" (144-147.995 MHz), which is a reference to the wavelength of a common Amateur frequency band used for local communications ** What do all those "tones" mean? Sub-Audible Tone: A low tone that you're not supposed to be able to hear. It's used as a "PL Tone." PL is "Private Line", a trademark of Motorola for their implementation of CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System). Basically, the transmitter sends the signal with the Sub-Audible tone and the receiver only opens when it hears signals with that tone. Signals without the proper tone are ignored. This is useful for "closed" repeaters, or for repeaters on the same frequency that have overlapping geographic areas. Tone encode refers to the feature of providing the tone on transmit. Tone decode refers to the feature of responding to the tone on receive. Tone squelch refers to all of the above. DTMF refers to Dual Tone Multi-Frequency, or "Touch Tone" which is a trademark of AT&T. DTSS probably means Dual Tone Squelch System and refers to the feature of providing a predefined sequence of Touch Tone digits to open the repeater for transmit. DTSS is an alternate method from CTCSS, which provides a way to use a "closed" repeater even if your radio doesn't do Sub-Audible Tones. ** How can I get a "reciprocal license" if I am a licensed ham from another country or if I am a FCC licensed ham who wants to operate in another country (on vacation)? For FCC licensed hams operating abroad, the following guidelines apply: * A reciprocal license is required in all foreign countries (that have a reciprocal operating agreement with the US), except Canada, where the FCC license is automatically valid. * Send a SASE to ARRL Regulatory Information Branch, telling them which country you are going to visit and they will send you the info and an application form. Foreign hams can likewise request information from their national Amateur radio society. * Submit your application with a certified copy of your Amateur license (ie, notarized copy), and fee if applicable (use a bank draft of a bank that does business in that country) to the appropriate licensing administration of the foreign country. Processing may take 30 to 90 days. * If less than one month, you could try sending the application and pick up the permit upon arrival in that country. * Most countries will not allow you to bring communications equipment into their country without a license or permit. If you applied, but haven't received the permit yet, show the copy and your FCC license to the customs officer, however, the equipment may still be held at customs until your departure. * Be sure to use only those frequencies covered by your FCC license which are also used in the foreign country, unless otherwise authorized. ** My apartment or housing complex does not allow outdoor antennas, now what do I do? First of all, don't despair. Many hams have similar problems. Many books offer advice for the growing group of hams that cannot put up antennas. Some options are: * Install an "invisible" antenna made of magnet wire. * Disguise an antenna as a flag pole. * Install an antenna in the attic. * ASK the apartment manager. You may find they will let you put up something as long as it "is invisible" or "doesn't disturb your neighbors" or "doesn't attract lightning". * Operate primarily from your car. * If the restriction is due to local ordinance, you may have relief via PRB-1. Meet with the local government and seek an informal compromise. It is possible to win in court...but it's expensive and time consuming. * If you are restricted by "covenants" attached to the deed of your home, your options are severely limited. Covenants are considered to be private, voluntary contracts between individuals and are outside of the intended application of PRB-1. In many cases, you can petition the Homeowner's Association for an exception. Sometimes you can win in court on the basis that other violations of the covenants by others without action taken constitutes abandonment of the agreement. * For further information, contact the General Consel's office of the ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. ** I got TVI...HELP!!! Here's some hints on Television interference, but this is not a complete list. There are also books on the subject available from ARRL. * If cable TV is an underground feed, look for central distribution box. Check for a grounding rod. * Try installing torroids on the cable TV cable close to the TV, and maybe torroids on the AC cord as well. * VCRs are notorious for RF leakers, try disconnecting the VCR. * Check to see if interference is better or worse when cable is disconnected and you use rabbit ears instead. It could be the cable company's problem! * Calling the cable company may get results, since they are also responsible for RF leakage from their equipment. However, they are very often obstinate. Good luck! Try some or all of these suggestions before calling the cable company: 1. Log the interference, noting geographical location, frequency, and characteristics. 2. Bring it to the cable company's attention in writing, preferably addressed to "Chief Engineer", or "Technical Staff". 3. Don't be accusatory, instead ask for assistance in resolving the problem. Try to work it out with someone technically knowledgeable. 4. Do mention your "licensed radio system", but try not to be too specific about "ham" or "CB" unless requested. * Try moving the radio antenna further away from the TV sets. Make sure the SWR is LOW. ** Did you know that you can get college credit for being a ham? It's true! You can receive up to 14 credits in electronics and engineering thru placement tests for CLEP (College Level Entrance Placement) exams and DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support) exams if you have an Advanced or Extra class Amateur license. For more information, ask your campus education office or (for DANTES) your military education office. ** On what frequencies do JPL and GSFC retransmit the shuttle audio? Station VHF 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m Video ======= ====== ====== ====== ====== ===== ===== ====== WA3NAN 147.45 28.650 21.395 14.295 7.185 3.860 W6VIO 224.04 21.280 14.282 7.165 K6MF 145.585 7.165 3.840 W5RRR 146.64 28.495 21.350 14.280 7.227 3.850 W6FXN 145.46 KA9SZX 146.88 426.25 K4GCC 146.94 WA4VME 145.17 All frequencies are in MHz. Use FM on VHF, USB on 10-20m, LSB on 40-80m. WA3NAN - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD W6VIO - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA K6MF - NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, CA W5RRR - NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX W6FXN - Los Angeles, CA KA9SZX - Champaign-Urbana, IL K4GCC - Titusville, FL (near or at Kennedy Space Center) WA4VME - Melbourne, FL (near or at Kennedy Space Center) ** Can I take my HT on an airplane and operate it if I get the permission of the captain? Technically, maybe. But don't count on it. In general, you can't use a radio or scanner on an airline (or charter) *unless* the airline allows it and the pilot-in-command (PIC) determines that it will not interfere with the instruments and radios on that specific aircraft. Very few US airlines allow passengers to use radios so be ready to disconnect the antenna when you ask. (Don't even ask to transmit.) For reference (in the US) the pertinent portion of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) is Part 91, paragraph 91.21. Due to airport security, you may have a little difficulty carrying the HT (or any electronic equipment) onto the airplane. Generally, you can appease the security guards, simply by showing that the unit is operational and doesn't have a bomb inside. For a radio, just turning it on and opening the squelch satisfies them. Expect more difficulty during periods of increased security. On a private airplane, it is legal to operate an amateur radio if you have the permission of the PIC. It is still possible for the radio to interfere with the plane's navigation or communication equipment, so be sure to ask first. Always obey the requests of the PIC. He knows his airplane and radios better than you do. ** How do I modify my current Amateur license? To modify your license (change of address, change of station location, change of name, renewal, or even change of callsign), submit an FCC Form 605 to the FCC. Forms are available from the FCC or ARRL or a local VE session or ham radio store. Do NOT use a photocopy. Check off the appropriate boxes, fill in the new/changed information, SIGN THE FORM, and attach a copy of your current license (or a brief letter of explanation for its absence, ie, "my dog ate it"). NOTE: If you check the box to change your callsign, YOU WILL GET A NEW CALLSIGN, even if all you wanted was to supply a new address; if you want to keep your callsign, DON'T CHECK THAT BOX. Send the form to FCC, POB 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326. Turnaround time (for CURRENT licensees only) is about 2-4 weeks. ANY ham can apply for a new callsign (this is different from the past where you can only get a new callsign if you move or upgrade). You can't specify WHICH ONE you want, a new one comes from the same pool as new licensees for that class of license. The callsign is based on your mailing address. For overseas military and civilians, be sure to specify a station location that is within FCC jurisdiction. New licenses are for 10-year terms. If you apply for renewal before its expiration date, the expired license is valid for 60 days after expiration to allow for the new license to arrive. You have up to 2 years after expiration (5 years for an old 5-year license) to renew before re-examination is required (but you can't operate with an expired license). You will lose your current callsign after 1 year after expiration if you don't renew. ** What do I need to get started in packet radio? Packet radio is a digital form of communication using radios. There are OTHER digital forms, as well, like CW, RTTY and AMTOR. To use packet radio, you'll need a radio (2 meters and 70 centimeters are most popular), a box that converts radio signals to digital signals that a computer can understand (called a TNC or terminal node control- ler) and a computer or terminal. For some computers or TNCs you may need special software as well. However, most TNCs and computers get along quite well with just a terminal emulator software package. Most personal computers can be interfaced to use with packet radio. Since there are many digipeaters, generally even an HT will work with packet radio. Your first source of information on Packet Radio should be the rec.radio.amateur.packet newsgroup. It has its own regularly-posted FAQ that goes into much more depth on the subject than this one can. See also the mailing list and archives info in Part 2. For more information on packet radio, you might try TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio), PO Box 12925, Tucson, AZ 85732 (602-749-9479). ** What do I need to get started in satellite communications? For more information about Amateur Satellite Communications, try AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044 (301-589-6062). They also have an international net on Sundays on 14.282 MHz at 1900Z. ** What are these contests I sometimes hear, and how do I participate? Dozens of contests are held each year, usually at weekends, and can provide useful operating experience. They typically last for 24 or 48 hrs, and are usually on SSB or CW only (the Russian CQ-Mir contest is on both modes at the same time). You can participate by making one QSO or several thousands. In most contests you send a signal report (traditionally 59 or 599) followed by a number that is different for different contests - the most common one is a serial number (so you send 599 001 for your first QSO, then 599 002 etc). The exchange may, however, be your age (All Asian contests), your CQ or ITU zone (CQWW and IARU contests, respectively), your state (ARRL contests) or something else. Read "Contest Corral" in QST for the rules for all major contests - the more serious contester may wish to subscribe to the National Contest Journal, or join the e-mail contest mailing group (write to Trey, WN4KKN, at garlough@tgv.com). Knowing the rules can prevent embarrassment - you will get a cool reception if you are a W or VE and call a W/VE in the ARRL contests, since they can only work non-W/VE stations. Otherwise, QSOs made in contests are just as valid for DXCC (DX Century Club - more than 100 contacts), WAS (worked all states) and other awards as are 30-minute ragchews. Although not strictly a contest, the annual Field Day provides very useful operating experience under less than optimal conditions and is highly recommended for new operators - check with your local club for their Field Day plans some weeks before the (late June) event. ** What magazines are available for Ham Radio? QST, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 - basic projects and contesting CQ The Radio Amateur's Journal, 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801 - beginner ham radio articles 73 Amateur Radio Today, WGE Center, Forect Rd, Hancock, NH 03449, FAX (603) 525-4423, email: COMPUSERVE 70310,775 or Internet 70310.775@compuserve.com - more technical ham radio articles QEX, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 - more technical projects WorldRadio, 2120 28th St, Sacramento, CA 95818, (916) 457-3655. Subscriptions to 201 Lathrop Way, Ste D, Sacramento, CA 95815, (800) 365-SUBS - lots of special interest columns, like QRP, ATV, YL, etc. W5YI Report, PO Box 565101, Dallas, TX 75356, 1-800-669-9594 - up-to-date information on Amateur Radio happenings, including VE information and statistics ** How do I use the incoming and outgoing QSL bureau? To use the outgoing QSL bureau, you must be a member of ARRL. In general, you send a bundle of foreign (not States!) QSL cards to the outgoing bureau in Newington, Connecticut, along with a label off of your QST magazine (which shows ARRL membership), along with $2 per pound of cards (approximately 150 cards) or $1 for 10 cards or less. To use the incoming QSL bureau, you do NOT have to be a member of ARRL. Send one or more Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes (size 5x7 or 6x9, NO BIGGER, NO SMALLER) with one ounce of postage attached and with your callsign in 3/4" letters in top left hand corner where the return address label would go. If you expect a large quantity of foreign QSL cards, attach extra money or postage with a paper clip; do NOT affix extra postage to envelope. Send the envelopes to the QSL bureau for your callsign area. If your callsign is xx3xxx/5, you would send it to the 3rd call area, NOT the 5th call area. Addresses for QSL bureaus are listed in QST and on the ARRL e-mail server (see below); if you don't have access to a QST magazine, ask another ham. IMPORTANT: BE PATIENT! Turnaround time for a US QSL bureau, not considering foreign QSL bureaus, is about 3 months. Foreign QSL bureaus and hams can be as fast as 2 months or as slow as TEN YEARS, while average is about 6-12 months. Addresses for the US incoming and outgoing QSL Bureaus are available from the ARRL e-mail server in the files called "qsl-in" and "qsl-out". See the question above ** What's the name of the QRP club that issues QRP numbers? QRP Amateur Radio Club International, c/o Bill Harding K4AHK, 10923 Carters Oak Way, Burke, VA 22015. ** How do I become a 10-10 member? 10-10 is simply an organization to sponsor the use of the 10 meter band. It was first conceived when propagation was poor on 10 meters, as a method to get more hams to use 10 meters. The past few years have been great for 10 meters worldwide. However, "the bands are closing down" again, and 10 meters will once again be limited more for local communications, except for sporadic band openings, until the next sunspot cycle. To join 10-10, work ten 10-10 members and LOG each 10-10 number, call sign, operator's name and location. Send the list to your numeric call sign or DX area manager (as shown below), with $5.00 U.S. new membership registration fee ($6.00 for foreign addresses). 10-10 International Area Managers: USA 1 - Al Kaiser N1API, 194 Glen Hills Rd, Meriden, CT 06450 USA 2 - Larry Berger WA2SUH, 9 Nancy Blvd, Merrick, NY 11566 USA 3 - Chester Gardner N3GZE, 9028 Overhill Dr, Ellicott Cty,MD 21042 USA 4 - KY, TN, FL, VA, NC, SC only Rick Roberts N4KCC, 7106 Ridgestone Dr,Ooltewah, TN 37363 USA 4 - GA, AL, Puerto Rico only Jim Beswick W4YHF, 112 Owl Town Farm, Ellijay, GA 30540 USA 5 - Grace Dunlap K5MRU,* Box 445, LaFeria, TX 78559 *summer addr Jun-Oct Box 13, Rand, CO 80473 USA 6 - Dick Rauschler W6ANK, 4371 Cambria St, Fremont, CA 94538 USA 7 - Willie Madison WB7VZI, 10512 W Butler Dr, Peoria, AZ 85345 USA 8 - John Hugentober N3FU, 4441 Andreas Ave, Cincinatti, OH 45211 USA 9 - Jim Williams N9HHU, 240 Park Rd, Creve Coeur, IL 61611 USA 0 - Debbie Peterson KF0NV, RR 1 Box 35, Duncombe, IA 50532 All DX- Carol Hugentober K8DHK,4441 Andreas Ave, Cincinatti, OH 45211 ** How do I join MARS? To join MARS, you have to be 14 years or older (parental consent required under age 17), be a US citizen or resident alien, possess a valid Amateur Radio license, possess a station capable of operating on MARS HF frequencies, and be able to operate the minimum amount of time for each quarter (12 hours for Army and Air Force; 18 hours for Navy-Marines). Novices must upgrade to Technician within 6 months, else be dropped from MARS. No-Code Techs can apply, provided they have transmit and receive HF capability for MARS frequencies (they don't need transmit capability for Amateur HF frequencies). For application forms contact: Chief, Air Force MARS HQ AFCC/SYXR (MARS) 203 W. Losey St. Room 1020 Scott AFB, IL 62225-5219 (618)256-5552 Fax: (618) 256-5126 Chief, Army MARS HQ, US Army Information Systems Command ATTN: AS-OPS-OA Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-5000 Chief, Navy-Marine Corps MARS Naval Communication Unit Washington, DC 20397-5161 ** How do I join RACES? Contact your nearest Civil Defense or Emergency Management Agency. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service is a part of a municipal, county, or state government. This does not mean, however, that every such government has a RACES program. If your government does not have a RACES, ask them to refer you to the nearest jurisdiction that does have a RACES program. ** What organizations are available to help handicapped hams? Courage Center Handihams 2915 Golden Valley Rd Golden Valley, MN 55422 (612) 520-0515 ARRL has a Handihams information package "The ARRL Plan for the Disabled", available at no charge from the ARRL Regulatory Information Branch. ** Where can I get ham radio software for my computer? IBM: Pete devolpi, KC3TL, Amsoft Ham Radio Software, PO Box 666 New Cumberland, PA 17070 or call 717-938-8249 Pete is the publisher of THE WORLD OF HAM RADIO & CALLSIGN CD-ROM Atari: John Adams KC5FW, 17106 Happy Hollow, San Antonio, TX 78232 "or tune into the weekly net Sundays 1600 UTC on 14.325 MHz". Mac: John Seney WD1V 144 Pepperidge Dr, Manchester, NH 03103 (sent 2 800k FORMATTED diskettes, one of which contains a TEXT file containing your name, address, home PBBS, your radio & computer interests and equipment). ** Are there Dialup News services or BBSs for Amateur Radio? There are two major news services for ham radio. Both are run by volunteer hams and provide bulletins of specific interest to amateurs, hence they are perfectly legal to rebroadcast on ham bands according to FCC Regulation 97.111B(6). To lessen the load on the dialup lines, consider getting your local repeater operator to rebroadcast it, or tape record it to play at your favorite HF net. RAIN (Radio Amateur Information Network) is produced by Hap Holly, KC9RP, located in Illinois. The news is typically updated 8am CST Fridays. Phone numbers are 1-708-299-INFO (299-4636) and 1-708-827-RAIN (827-7246). NEWSLINE is another, produced by Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. Donations for NEWSLINE are accepted at Newsline Support Fund, c/o Dr. Norm Chalfin K6PGX, Pasadena, CA 91102. Phone numbers are: Chicago 1-708-289-0423 N.Florida 1-407-259-4479 West Palm Beach 1-407-965-1234 Los Angeles 1-805-296-2407 (Instant Update Line) Los Angeles 1-213-462-0008 NYC 1-718-353-2801 Ohio 1-513-275-9991 Seattle 1-206-368-3969 ** Where can I find VE sessions in my local area? VE sessions are often announced in the local newspapers, but more often, they are announced by local radio bulletin boards. The local packet BBS will most likely have a monthly updated schedule for VE sessions. ARRL or W5YI can generally be called and asked for local VE sessions as well. Don't forget that you will need the following when you go in for an upgrade: a copy of your current Amateur license; your original Amateur license; any CSCEs (duplicate not required), if applicable and less than a year old; a picture ID, preferably a driver's license, passport or visa; and the VE test fee (approximately $5 right now). ************************************************************************* ** Many thanks to Internet for the "frequently asked questions about ** ** amateur radio" which was the source for the contents of this file. ** *************************************************************************