by Scott Seiler AA3HS
What is the advantage of becoming a ham radio operator?: What will you do when your cell phone stops working? Are you prepared to have no internet service and no public radio, no TV channels available for a long, long time?
There are so many good reasons for becoming a Ham Radio Operator and this form of communication using UHF, VHF, and both portable and base HF radios with multiple mediums of communication is open to the public, free of charge, with worldwide communication power of up to 1500 watts transmitter power.
Unlike the walkie-talkies many people buy in local sporting stores the FRS (Family Radio Service), GMDS Global Maritime Distress System, and CB Citizen Band Radios are limited in transmit power and range. Practically speaking you would expect to only be able to talk maybe 2 or 3 miles down the road and all this under the best radio wave conditions. These radios are excellent for hunting, fishing, camping trips, and of course, guarding your personal property but they have no rules (lots of bad language) and have very limited channel capacity. These low-powered unlicensed radios are not good for discovering what happened to a nearby city or a lost family member who is out of state. Remember that in a real emergency (natural or human-caused) these store-bought unlicensed low-power radios will not help you talk much beyond a couple miles of range.
On the other hand ham radio is a very fun and useful hobby that might save your life or the lives of other human beings today and for the rest of your life.
Ham radio operators are allowed opportunities for unfiltered news and are members of a community of volunteer expert technicians not under the stigma of bad manners and unruly behaviors. But to be granted this powerful communication privilege you must obey all rules of courtesy and respect (No bad language) when transmitting, non-interference to other radio operators and other remote radio stations, never use ham radio for personal profit or business, and finally be licensed by the FCC.
Note that no license is needed to listen to any radio band signals you receive and if you don't wish to become a HAM, at least plan on purchasing a portable shortwave radio. I use the XHDATA D-808 and it is nearly a perfect bugout bag emergency radio. The licensed amateur radio bands are given exclusively to licensed hams and will locate and save human lives when all other means of communication fail.
Ham operators play a crucial role in providing communication during emergencies and disasters when traditional communication methods may fail. They can assist with coordination and relay important information, contributing to community safety.
Becoming a ham radio operator involves several steps, including obtaining the necessary knowledge, passing an examination, and obtaining a license. Here are the general steps to becoming a ham operator:
Research and Learn:
Find a Ham radio club nearby to you. (search the internet) They will get you in touch with a VE (Volunteer Examiner) who will get you set up with all the materials you need to get your no morse code technician license which is the entry-level license for all ham radio operators. It is very reasonable to get the ham radio student book and get your unique FCC call license. Once licensed, you can buy your first handheld UHF/VHF ham radio for as little as $35.00. Once you have your license call sign you can buy HF equipment that can send and receive signals all over the world and also excellent HF radios can be purchased and used for as little as $500.00.
Note you do not need a big ugly antenna. I have talked to people all over the world using a 60 ft. wire antenna up in the trees that I would have to show you where it is for you to see where it is located on my property. My antenna is a dipole wire antenna which is not big, not ugly, goes thousands of miles on a 100 watts, and the neighbors don't know I have a worldwide transmitting radio station sitting in my front window. Familiarize yourself with the basics of amateur radio. There are many online resources, books, and local clubs that can provide information about the hobby.
Select a License Class:
Amateur radio licenses are divided into classes (e.g., Technician (beginner no morse code license), General, and Extra = (More bandwidth, more power, more privileges licenses) in the United States). Choose the license class that aligns with your interests and the level of radio frequencies you wish to operate on.
Study for the Exam:
Obtain study materials, such as the official question pools, study guides, and online resources. There are numerous online practice exams available to help you prepare.
Find a Testing Session:
Amateur radio licensing exams are typically administered by volunteer examiners (VEs) at scheduled testing sessions. Locate a testing session in your area. Local amateur radio clubs often organize these sessions.
Register for the Exam:
Contact the organizers of the testing session and register to take the exam. There may be a small fee associated with the exam.
Take the Exam:
Attend the testing session at the scheduled time. The exam will consist of multiple-choice questions covering various aspects of amateur radio. Exams are usually divided into sub-elements; you must pass each sub-element to pass the overall exam.
Receive Exam Results:
After completing the exam, the VEs will grade your test, and you will typically receive your results on the same day.
Obtain a Call Sign:
Once you pass the exam, you will be assigned a call sign. This unique identifier is used when communicating on the airwaves.
Get On the Air:
Set up your amateur radio station and start operating on the frequencies your license class allows. Consider participating in local nets and joining amateur radio clubs to connect with other operators.
Upgrade Your License (Optional):
If you wish to access more frequencies or modes, consider upgrading to a higher license class. The process for upgrading is similar to obtaining your initial license, but the exams may cover additional topics.
You will learn a lot about electronic communication and make many friends talking on your ham radio. You will soon discover that the ham radio community provides the ultimate in emergency and family-friendly communication and is well worth your time and money.
My Radio Recommendations
The base station I recommend, if you can afford it, is an ICOM 7300 . It is the highest quality radio for the price, and its features are equal to the most expensive radios. You cannot buy a better radio given the current technology.
A cheap Baofeng radio for a handheld works fine. They make one for around $62 that does everything a ham radio ought to do. It has good range, up to 50 miles, but you can use repeaters and get hundreds of miles on the handhelds. The one that is linked does all the emergency repeaters. I really recommend this hand held for your first radio after you get your license. Get one for every family member and you will never be out of communication. Of course, everyone will need to be licensed.
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