Ham Radio License

Understanding Ham Radio License

Amateur Radio enthusiasts know that there’s a lot of knowledge and training that go into being a successful Amateur Radio operators (hams). Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed.

The rules for earning an Amateur Radio license vary depending on which country you live in. You need to know the rules to operate legally. You also need to know how to operate safely and you’ll need some knowledge and training to operate successfully.

Getting licensed is a long standing tradition for hams. US licenses are good for 10 years before renewal, and anyone may hold one except a representative of a foreign government.

Here are some tips for getting your amateur radio license:

1.       Contact a local Ham radio club. Many clubs will have members who can mentor or "elmer" you. Take advantage of that. Ham radio operators are always looking for new people to talk to and share the hobby with so they will be glad to help you. Almost certainly, some member will be willing to let you talk on his radio and see if you like it.

2.       Read a good Ham License Book or go to classes provided by a club

3.       Download the appropriate question pool from the ARRL - The American Radio Relay League.

One of the best sources for ham radio license exam information is The ARRL. This is the national organization for ham radio. It contains lists of ham radio license exams (locations, times, check-in procedures, etc.).

4.       Go take your test. Don't worry, it's really not that hard if you study the question pools.

There are three levels of ham radio licenses. Technician (basic - low power), General (more power - more frequencies) and Extra (highest power allowed - most frequencies allowed). Take the Technician license exam first. You can also take practice exams on-line as for free or for pay as well. Take the practice exams.

5.       Once you pass the test, buy a radio and use it. Don't be intimidated. When you make contact for the first time, let your contact know it's your first time and he will probably help you along.

It's a great time to be involved in Ham Radio. Getting involved is easier than it has ever been and there is a huge supply of radios. Now it's your turn to get started in Ham radio today.

Check Out My Other Guide on Ham Radio - Overview

Ham Radio - What Do You Need to Get Started

Executive Summary about Ham Radio by David Thorson

Starting your hobby as an amateur Ham Radio operator is often easy and just needs a little effort. The next thing you will need is a license. The three levels of licensing are Technician which is an easy level, General which is the next level, and Extra Class which is a rather difficult one. Each license allows you different broadcasting levels and allows you different types of broadcasting hardware.

Many people start off with cheap CB radios to gain practice and to learn the basics of local radio communication. Once you have decided to follow through, choosing the adequate radio to transmit from is crucial. 10 meter radios are very similar to CB radios, they can be mobile or setup as a base station.

Spend some time researching how to setup equipment properly and broadcast safely. Ham Radio equipment can be expensive and you do not want to damage equipment because you were in a rush.

Ever Need to Know How to Begin in Ham Radio

Ham radio differs from CB radio as a amateur radio can have up to 1000 watts. The Novice license allows operations on several High Frequency bands via Morse code as well as single sideband communication by voice between 28.3 and 28.5 MHz and also between 28.1 and 28.3 for radio teletype.

To access these frequencies all you need is a ten meter radio Although these radios are commonly referred to as a 10 meter radio they are actually quite different as a CB radio does not require a license and a 10 meter radio does. Getting a Technicians License is not that difficult, you need to complete a radio theory test and FCC requirements test..

The next step, the General radio amateurs license, grants you the UHF band. The highest license for ham radio operators in the USA is the Extra Class license. People who have this license have complete access to all HF VHF and UHF channels which are relegated to amateur radio. Unlike amatuer radio there is no license requirement for cb radio.