So ... you want to be a ham!

You’ve got it —– that ham radio bug. It’s hitting a lot of people these days! Do you know how easy it is to earn a FCC Amateur Radio license?

Who are hams and what do they do?

Hams share a fascination with communicating. They are from all walks of life and nearly all nations. They communicate by voice, data (using computers), Morse code and other exciting ways hams have found to make contact with other hams. You never know who you’ll run into — maybe a doctor in France, a neighbor across town, an orbiting International Space Station astronaut or someone aboard a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Who issues Amateur Radio Licenses?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issues Amateur Radio licenses in the US. There are three license classes—the Technician class is the introductory license.

What you can do with the Technician class license?

You can operate an Amateur Radio station on all Amateur Radio frequencies above 30 MHz You can keep in touch through the thousands of FM voice repeaters across the US using a mobile car radio or a hand-held radio. An increasing number of repeaters are linked to other repeaters in the US and around the world via the internet. You can talk to hams around the world using an international fleet of Amateur Radio satellites. You can use your amateur radio communication skills to assist with local and area weather watches, emergency events and public service events.

Do I need to learn Morse Code?

No, Morse code is not required for the licenses any more.

Is ham radio expensive?

No doubt some hams spend a lot of their budget on their radios and equipment. But others work the world with a homemade wire antenna and an inexpensive transceiver. Many people begin with simple radio gear and move on to more sophisticated equipment later.

Okay, how do I get my Technician license?

To earn your Technician license, you will need to pass a 35 question, multiple-choice written test called Element 2. The test covers basic FCC rules, communications methods, basic electronics and RF safety topics. You can study for the exam on your own, or take a class offered through a local radio club. Once you are ready to take the exam, you need to attend a test exam session given by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who are local hams.