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Getting started in Ham Radio

M

Mike

Guest
I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio, something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as licensing and equipment?

Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I couldn't find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
 
> I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> licensing and equipment?
>
> Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I couldn't
> find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
>


The Ham board is long gone, but congrats on your decision to get into the hobby...you'll love it!

The best resource for you right now is the American Radio Relay League. Go to their site at www.arrl.org. They will give you an overview of what is necessary to get a license.

You can try practice exams at www.qrz.com.

As for equipment, an easy way to get in is with a portable 5 watt radio. Using a repeater (which is explained at the ARRL site) you can cover quite a bit of territory.

That is simply the beginning. Take a look, and feel free to ask questions. Plenty of Ham types hang out here!

73 de W9JOL (Means "Best wishes from W9JOL" in "Ham Speak")<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> licensing and equipment?
>
> Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I couldn't
> find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
>
Ham radio board has been gone for a while.

There are several ham radio sites on the web - ARRL.org. qrz.com, eham.com

Basically the FCC dropped code morse above 30 MHz several years ago and may drop the code for everything shortly (within months).

The exam for "no-code tech" is 35 (or so questions) all published in advance. Multiple choice and the answers don't change (until July 1st when they start a new question pool). You need 72% to pass. Good local operation using simplex or repeaters.

QRZ.com has sample exams. Take the practice exam to your hearts content until you feel ready. Typical exam is $14. License is 10 years and free. Go to W5YI.com or ARRL.org for locations.

You might want to invest $12.95 for the ARRL question pool book (with explanations)(remember the questions change July 1st so you need to take the exam by then using the current book).

If you have more questions e-mail me at [email protected]

And good luck !!!

John
K6JHU

"No-code tech gives operating privleges on 6m, 2m 220, 440, 1.2 GHz, and up.
 
>
>
> The Ham board is long gone, but congrats on your decision to
> get into the hobby...you'll love it!
>
> The best resource for you right now is the American Radio
> Relay League. Go to their site at www.arrl.org. They will
> give you an overview of what is necessary to get a license.
>
> You can try practice exams at www.qrz.com.
>
> As for equipment, an easy way to get in is with a portable 5
> watt radio. Using a repeater (which is explained at the
> ARRL site) you can cover quite a bit of territory.
>
> That is simply the beginning. Take a look, and feel free to
> ask questions. Plenty of Ham types hang out here!
>
> 73 de W9JOL (Means "Best wishes from W9JOL" in "Ham Speak")
>


Good suggestions from RadioDoc. I will add that many counties, especially around modest to large cities, have amateur radio clubs. They often provide classes and examinations for a modest fee as well as a warm welcome to the hobby, and lots of opinions about radio equipment. That's how I started and a couple of years later I was teaching the classes. Web search on a city or county amateur radio club near you (for example "Metropolis amateur radio" or "Washington county amateur rado", etc.) and you will probably find information. Most clubs I know of don't use "ham" in their titles. Good hunting!

73

Neil
 
Depending on the nature and level of the activity around where you live, there's a good chance you'll enjoy it. One place where I lived (population 3,400) had a ham club with 125 members and operated many mountain-top repeaters to cover a good 150-mile radius with VHF, UHF linked back to a central hub. On the other hand, where I live now, I attended one club meeting and discovered that, at 64, I was the youngest person there and the terms UHF and VHF were taboo! I'm soon moving back to a place much closer to where I got into the hobby. In fact, I'm
leaving this week to go back there to assist with the safety/support services of the local ham club for a 200-mile snowmachine (snowmobile) race and a part of The Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

I think it's AARL that offers a book with a title like: "Now You're Talking" or "Look Who's Talking". Inexpensive and very effective. Over 2/3's of the questions on the technician test are pretty close to just plain common sense and I've seen more than one person just read through the book, take the test without any real studying, and pass with decent marks.

With a 5-Watt hand-held you can have lots of good chats through local repeaters but also, if there's a "node" in your area you can get on the Internet-based "IRLP" (I think I got the letters right) and pretty much talk nationwide, maybe even worldwide, with no additional license requirement!

KL0OG
<P ID="signature">______________
When you're done impeaching the prez, keep on going; recall every member of congress and lock 'em up! Let's try NO govt. for a while.</P>
 
Practice Tests

I highly highly recommend the online practice exams. They help you really understand what kind of questions you'll be asked.

The tech class is easier if you have some RF and basic electronics knowledge.
(Yeah, ask me how long I remembered sun spot cycles after I passed my exam!)
but anyways, it's a great hobby to get into.

73's
 
> > I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> > something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> > exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> > licensing and equipment?
> >
> > Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I
> couldn't
> > find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
> >
>
>
> The Ham board is long gone, but congrats on your decision to
> get into the hobby...you'll love it!
>
> The best resource for you right now is the American Radio
> Relay League. Go to their site at www.arrl.org. They will
> give you an overview of what is necessary to get a license.
>
> You can try practice exams at www.qrz.com.
>
> As for equipment, an easy way to get in is with a portable 5
> watt radio. Using a repeater (which is explained at the
> ARRL site) you can cover quite a bit of territory.
>
> That is simply the beginning. Take a look, and feel free to
> ask questions. Plenty of Ham types hang out here!
>
> 73 de W9JOL (Means "Best wishes from W9JOL" in "Ham Speak")
>

Another good site is www.eham.net.
ASK QUESTIONS!!!

73's from...well K9EZ
 
> I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> licensing and equipment?
>
> Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I couldn't
> find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
>


I will make you a deal......

You get your license... a license that will give you SW capabilities (not just VHF), and I have a Kenwood TS-430 tranceiver for you for free. It is a tad beat up (scratches and the like) but I used it from 20 different states running mobile and worked over 150 countries with it.
 
This is a great hobby that can last a lifetime. As a "radio-junkie" for over 40 years and an amateur radio operator for 21 years, I can tell you that you'll have a blast! I know that I wanted to be a ham ever since I was 7. I monitored the HF bands for years. The late, the great Jean Shepherd (K2ORS-SK) indirectly jump-started my interest in ham radio back in the 1970's, ever since I heard him talk about it on his radio show. Finally, I got the "ticket" (license) in 1985 and have had a great time ever since! I'm hoping my son or daughter will take the test and get their licenses. One of my daughter's closest friends got her "ticket" at 15 and (co-incidentally) is in now in college at a local Poly-Tech Institute.

Chances are that there is an amateur radio club in your area. Check out the arrl.org or qrz.com websites for more information. Good luck and 73!

Pete (K1XRB)


> I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> licensing and equipment?
>
> Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I couldn't
> find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
> <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>
 
Yep thats a great Deal
back when a ham Ticket had a value ( pre no-code)
I made a deal with a neighborhood kid.
He Got his General class at 13 WPM. and I gave him my first Rig
a Heathkit HW-101 with the CW filter ,powersupply speaker. and the Heathkit
Keyer I even helped him Put up the antenna.....
I did not need the rig anymore I had just bought My first 2 solid state rig
a kenwood TS-120S and an atlas-215.
Go For it... I know my license class is grandfathered
Im an Advanced.. and I believe the extra( what a joke) is now 5 wpm?
what class's are left.. Novice is no longer given( if you have it its Grandfathered) there is Tech, and No code tech whats the Difference these days/ do they still have General? and whats its code speed 5 wpm?
another joke... Advanced is No longer given( but is grandfathered..
did they create a New Class???
BTW I love the guys that Get on echolink or IRLP work repeaters or just on their laptops no HF radio required and Try to QSL and say they worked a new country..The internet has changed ham radio.
Yes Im a grummpy old ham.
of almost 30 years in the hobby. started with a WN call novice 2 year NON renewable. let it lapse. then retook the tests and got back into it. in 1977 when they came out with the KA calls..
Neal..aka Groucho
Ka2caf
CE-WTTM,WYGG,WUPC,W220AA
and Others




> > I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> > something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
> > exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> > licensing and equipment?
> >
> > Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I
> couldn't
> > find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
> >
>
>
> I will make you a deal......
>
> You get your license... a license that will give you SW
> capabilities (not just VHF), and I have a Kenwood TS-430
> tranceiver for you for free. It is a tad beat up (scratches
> and the like) but I used it from 20 different states running
> mobile and worked over 150 countries with it.
>
 
Got my license when I was 14. Still operate CW!!! Had a HW-100, amongst other OLD OLD radios.

Echolink can be fun, but not for QSLing~

ANYWAYS, I am sounding grumpy too....

K9EZ


> Yep thats a great Deal
> back when a ham Ticket had a value ( pre no-code)
> I made a deal with a neighborhood kid.
> He Got his General class at 13 WPM. and I gave him my
> first Rig
> a Heathkit HW-101 with the CW filter ,powersupply
> speaker. and the Heathkit
> Keyer I even helped him Put up the antenna.....
> I did not need the rig anymore I had just bought My first 2
> solid state rig
> a kenwood TS-120S and an atlas-215.
> Go For it... I know my license class is grandfathered
> Im an Advanced.. and I believe the extra( what a joke) is
> now 5 wpm?
> what class's are left.. Novice is no longer given( if you
> have it its Grandfathered) there is Tech, and No code
> tech whats the Difference these days/ do they still have
> General? and whats its code speed 5 wpm?
> another joke... Advanced is No longer given( but is
> grandfathered..
> did they create a New Class???
> BTW I love the guys that Get on echolink or IRLP work
> repeaters or just on their laptops no HF radio required
> and Try to QSL and say they worked a new country..The
> internet has changed ham radio.
> Yes Im a grummpy old ham.
> of almost 30 years in the hobby. started with a WN call
> novice 2 year NON renewable. let it lapse. then retook the
> tests and got back into it. in 1977 when they came out
> with the KA calls..
> Neal..aka Groucho
> Ka2caf
> CE-WTTM,WYGG,WUPC,W220AA
> and Others
>
>
>
>
> > > I've decided to take a leap and get into ham radio,
> > > something I've wanted to do for a number of years - what
>
> > > exactly do I need to do to get started - both as far as
> > > licensing and equipment?
> > >
> > > Also, if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry. I
> > couldn't
> > > find the HAM Radio Board, if there still is one.
> > >
> >
> >
> > I will make you a deal......
> >
> > You get your license... a license that will give you SW
> > capabilities (not just VHF), and I have a Kenwood TS-430
> > tranceiver for you for free. It is a tad beat up
> (scratches
> > and the like) but I used it from 20 different states
> running
> > mobile and worked over 150 countries with it.
> >
>
 
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