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Introduction into Ham Radio
Steve Adams ( KF4NAT) Valdosta,
Ga. U.S.A ( Picture of Steves Ham Shack
)
To become a ham, you must obtain a license from the FCC
(Federal Communications Commission). To get the license, you must pass a multiple
answer test on simple radio theory, radio frequencies, and radio protocol.
This test is given by a group of special local hams in your area. Watch your
newspaper's local events section for upcoming test dates. These hams will
be nice and helpful as much as they can. After all, we all want to see more
hams in our hobby. Radio Shack has books to help you prepare for the test
and there are websites that will give you practice exams. If you are handicapped,
the testgroup will work with you any way they can to be sure you get a fair
chance to join. There are many handicapped hams.
To get on the HF bands where you can talk around the
world, you will have to pass a test on Morse Code. You will listen to 5 minutes
of Morse Code at the rate of 5 words per minute. You will then be given a
test on what you heard. Pass the test and you are on the air! If you have
never studied Morse Code before, anticipate one full month of nightly practice
before you are ready to test.
Learning Morse Code used to
be hard but now there is Code Quick, (its been around for some time but I
just found out about it) it works when others dont because it goes to the
speech / language center of the brain, not only will you learn it fast you
will retain it. "Just Do It"
Super nice Guy too His website CQ2K.com
There are 3 classes of ham
radio operators, and each requires a different written test. Each class,
or level, will be tested on more advanced radio theory to prove you are ready
for the next step. Each higher class allows access to more HF frequencies.
Most hams have their computer close to their radio. The
computer is used to verify callsigns and addresses, convert the SSTV audio
into pictures, or to operate a Bulletin Board System on ham radio packet stations.
Most radios can be programmed through the computer or controlled by a computer.
Now a days the computer and radio go hand in hand.
If you are new to this hobby, you are in for a treat.
Ham radio covers so many things that it can take years to accomplish all of
it. Most hams never do. Most new hams start out on VHF (we call it 2 meters)
with voice and repeater communications. Next you might jump into digital communications
with packet and/or APRS. You might also jump into Slow Scan TV (SSTV). Next,
many jump into UHF on the 220 or 440 MHz band. From there you might progress
into Amateur TV, satellite work, or Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) bounce. From there
you might progress into microwave and light-wave communications, or you might
jump into the HF bands where you can talk around the world with your own
station.
Many hams love to experiment with radios and antennas.
This hobby allows to build your own transmitters, receivers, and other equipment
Although most hams buy manufactured radios first (and forever), most will
try their luck at building an antenna. It's quite easy and works well. There
are hundreds of different types of antennae to choose from and experiment
with, or start a design from scratch. Hams are known for their ability to
turn almost any metal object into an antenna. With pratice, you will too.
After getting involved in ham radio, you will find there
is another side to it also. Community involvement. Hams are frequently asked
to join in emergency planning and drills, weather spotting (or chasing if
you are courageous)for the National Weather Service, providing communications
for special events like parades and the Special Olympics, and finding equipment
that is jamming or interfering with other communications. And in natural disasters
like floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, major traffic
accidents, and others; you can always expect hams to come running and start
getting emergency messages out. To most hams, the big event each summer is
Field Day, where we drag our equipment out to a field, set up antennae, batteries,
generators,and our radios, and then spend 24 hours seeing how many other
stations you can contact. This is a great test, practice and experience for
true emergencies where our help is needed.
By the way, the reason it is called Amateur Radio is
because we are not allowed to accept money for our services or communications.
Our license can be revoked for accepting money for services performed. There
are Professional Services like Paging and Cellular phone that are licensed
to get paid for their service. Our service is not designed to compete with
them or deprive them of their rightfully due money. This is why you will see
hams working closely with charity organizations. Many hams are in professional
radio service as well and get paid for their knowledge and work on the professional
systems. Most ham radio systems are built the same as a professional service.
Hams are well known for finding interfering equipment.
One sideline of ham radio is Fox Hunting. This contest consists of one ham
hiding a radio and other hams have to go find it. Usually the winner is the
first to find it, but sometimes the rules are modified so the winner is the
one who traveled the least. Although prizes may be given out to the winner,
the best prize is he gets to become the "fox" and gets to hide the next radio.
Now he gets to match his wit on radio signals and radio wave bouncing against
his fellow hams. In most events, the "fox" radio is disguised so you cannot
recognize it. I have seen it disguised as grave marker, a For Sale sign, and
inside a McDonald's bag lying on a picnic table. Fox hiding and hunting can
be quite a challenge.
Hams take pride in trying to be a self-policing group.
We try to correct our own minor discrepancies first. If a ham refuses to obey
by the rules, any ham can report him to the FCC. The FCC will investigate
and can impose heavy fines and/or suspend or revoke licenses when necessary.
This does not happen often. Most hams take pride in the station and operation.
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Getting started From Wiki
Many people become started in amateur radio
by finding a local club. Clubs can provide information about
licensing in their respective area, local operating practices
and technical advice. (See Category: Amateur radio
organizations) They also may study independently by purchasing
books or other materials.
In many countries, amateur licensing is a
routine and civil administrative matter. Amateurs are required
to pass an examination to demonstrate technical knowledge, operating
competence and awareness of legal and regulatory requirements
in order to avoid interference with other amateurs and other
radio services. In the majority of countries, there are a series
of exams available, each progressively more challenging and granting
progressively more privileges in terms of frequency availability,
power output, and permitted experimentation than previous exams.
In some countries, however, amateur radio
licensing is either inordinately bureaucratic (for example in
India) or challenging because some amateurs must undergo difficult
security approval (as in Iran). A handful of countries,
currently only Yemen and North Korea, simply do not
permit their citizens to operate amateur radio stations, although
in both cases a limited number of foreign visitors have been
permitted to obtain amateur licenses in the past decade.
A further difficulty occurs in developing
countries, where licensing structures are often copied from European
countries and annual license fees can be prohibitive in terms
of local incomes. This is a particular problem in Africa
and to a lesser extent in poorer parts of AsiaLatin America.
Small countries or those with weak administrative structures
may not have a national licensing scheme and may require amateurs
to take the licensing exams of a foreign country in lieu.
and
Amateur radio licensing in the
United States serves as an example of the way some countries
award different levels of amateur radio licenses based on technical
knowledge. In the past, there were also Morse Code exams, but
the Federal Communications Commission created a "No-Code
Technician" license in the late 1980s, and has announced an end
to the Code requirement for all classes of license, effective
in early 2007. This is in keeping with changes in international
law, which no longer mandate Morse Code for use on the HF bands.
The portions of the ham bands devoted to CW will remain.
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