| How to Become an Amateur Radio Operator or
"Ham" |
| To be an amateur radio operator, you must be licensed
by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), and that requires some basic knowledge
about radio and Federal Regulations. But don’t let the fact that you need a license
scare you away. The average person can learn the basics and master the required material
with a few weeks of study and some coaching from someone who already has an amateur radio
license. |
There are three levels of licensing in the amateur
radio hobby, but to get started, you only need to focus on the first level…The
Technician License. Here is what you need to do…
|
1. 1. Contact the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and ask them to send you the
ARRL license manual called "Now Your Talking". This manual costs about $20, plus
shipping, and contains everything you need to know to pass a licensing test. After you
have passed the test, you can apply to the Federal Communication Commission for a
Technician Class License.
American Radio Relay League
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111-1494
Phone: (860) 594 0200
Fax: (860) 594 0259
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.arrl.org
|
2. 2. Locate an Amateur Radio Test session in your area to take the test. The
Volunteers at the test session will help you fill out the license application for the
Federal Communication Commission. http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml lists test session, and is
searchable by state or location. There is contact information for each session listed.
|
| It is not difficult to become a licensed amateur radio
operator. Regardless of what you may have heard, you do not need to learn Morse code to
get started in this hobby. |
| Here are a couple of ways to get in touch with other
hams. |
1. 1. Visit with one of the amateur radio operators at the Plymouth Historical
Museum Radio Station. There is usually a "ham" in the station from 1:00 PM to
4:00 PM on Saturdays or:
Email Rob Giuliano … [email protected]
Email Robert Laundra … [email protected]
They are commonly at the museum on Saturdays, and are willing to
help.
|
2. 2. Go to an Amateur Radio club meeting and tell them you want to become a
"ham". Many Clubs are listed on the ARRL website and direct access to their
search function is http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml.
Or to review the information for getting started, visit http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html.
|
The Stu Rockafellow Amateur Radio Society, which is an open amateur
radio club, meets on the third Tuesday in March, April, May, September, October, and
November. They meet on the third Monday in January and February. The meetings start at
7:30 PM and are located in The Plymouth Township Hall.
|
| If you have the desire, you can have a FCC license to
operate amateur radio in just a few weeks |
