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| Become
A Ham |
| Interested in becoming an Amateur
Radio operator? |
| You've
come to the right place. Attend one of our meetings. Browse and explore
our website. We can assist you with training and licensing.
Contact Us with any questions or request you many have. Start
by
clicking on the link below to watch a brief video about amateur radio. |
| What is Ham Radio? |
| A
unique mix of fun, public service and convenience is the distinguishing
characteristic of Amateur Radio. Although hams get involved for many
reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology
and operating principles, and pass an examination for the FCC license
to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands." These
bands are radio frequencies reserved by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) for use by hams at intervals from just above the AM
broadcast band all the way up into extremely high microwave frequencies. |
| Who is the Typical Ham? |
| Amateur
Radio operators come from all walks of life -- movie stars,
missionaries, doctors, students, politicians, truck drivers and just
plain folks. They are all ages, sexes, income levels and nationalities.
They say Hello to the world in many languages and many ways. But
whether they prefer Morse code on an old brass telegraph key, voice
communication on a hand-held radio, or computerized messages
transmitted via satellite, they all have an interest in what's
happening in the world, and they use radio to reach out. |
| What's the Appeal of Ham Radio? |
| Some
hams are attracted by the ability to communicate across the country,
around the globe, or even with astronauts on space missions. Others may
like to build and experiment with electronics. Computer hobbyists enjoy
using Amateur Radio's digital communications opportunities. Those with
a competitive streak enjoy "DX contests," where the object is to see
how many hams in distant locations they can contact. Some like the
convenience of a technology that gives them portable communication.
Mostly we use it to open the door to new friendships over the air or
through participation in one of more than 2000 Amateur Radio clubs
throughout the country. |
| Why Do You Need a License? |
| Although
the main purpose of Amateur Radio is fun, it is called the "Amateur
Radio Service" because it also has a serious face. The FCC created this
"Service" to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide
backup during emergencies. In addition, the FCC acknowledged the
ability of the hobby to advance the communication and technical skills
of radio, and to enhance international goodwill. This philosophy has
paid off. Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act
as emergency communicators to render aid, whether it's during an
earthquake in Italy or a hurricane in the U.S. |
| How to Become a Ham |
| Amateur radio is the
premier high-tech hobby. It's enjoyed by people from all walks of life
from around the world. The rules for becoming an amateur (ham) radio
operator vary from country to country around the world. On this page
we're going to tell you a little about the hobby and how you can obtain
the necessary license to operate in the United States. |
| It's
never been so easy to get into ham radio. All ham radio operators must
be licensed before they can legally operate. This differs a great deal
from the CB (i.e. truckers) and FRS (i.e. dimestore walkie-talkie)
services which require no licenses. |
| Amateur
radio operators must be licensed because they are given transmitting
privileges on a wide variety of frequencies and are allow to use just
about any equipment imaginable, even home built radios. Amateurs are
allotted not single specific frequencies but usually whole ranges
(bands) of different frequencies to operate on. These frequencies and
methods of transmission are are specified by FCC rules and so it is
therefore necessary to be generally familiar with your operating
limitations in order to transmit lawfully. |
| In
order to qualify for an amateur radio license, you must pass certain
tests to determine that you have the required knowledge. Fortunately,
the tests are not terribly difficult for most people. There are three
license levels (known as classes) where each class grants greater
privleges to the individual. There is a single written test for each
license class. |
| The license classes are: |
| Technician Class
- this is the entry level license. It gives privileges on all amateur
frequencies above 50 Mhz and is the most popular. It requires only a
written test. |
| General Class -
this is the mid-level license. It enables privileges on most amateur
frequencies below 50 Mhz and includes global HF (shortwave)
communications. It has its own written test and requires that you also
have passed the Technician class written. |
| Extra Class
- this is the highest level license. It grants privileges on all
amateur frequencies. It has its own written test and requires that you
also have passed all of the Technician and General class written. |
| Okay, so where do I start? |
| This
part is easy. The first thing you should do is contact Bastropares.org. We
will help you obtain the home study materials and tutoring to prepare
you for the test. This will give you the background that you'll need to
understand the gist of what the tests are about. |
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