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How to get your ham radio license
It’s actually easy to get your ham radio license (also called an amateur radio license). I always wanted to get mine but didn’t actually do it until the Morse code requirement was dropped. Here’s why you need one, how I got mine, and how you can get yours. If you want a quick answer, just get this book. If you want more info, keep reading…
Every time I bring up the need to get a ham radio license, some idiot always pops up and says, “You won’t need a ham radio license if SHTF.” WTF? Read How to communicate when the world goes silent (hint: ham radio is the best way to do that, and you need a license to use it).
Operating a ham radio and actually getting a hold of someone is a bit more difficult at first than you might seem. You may be able to transmit without getting in trouble, but no one will hear you, and you won’t hear them. Using a ham radio to transmit long distances in a variety of circumstances is quite complicated and takes decades to master. You might be able to get in touch with the guy down the street (maybe) but you won’t be able to figure out long distance (called dx) communications by just picking one up and plugging it into an antenna. Do yourself a favor and get a license.
Just like with FCC investigators and volunteers who track down offenders (you have to call out your FCC every 10 minute on the air or you’ll probably get some unwanted attention), if you find yourself in martial law and don’t want to be found, they can track you down pretty easily. ABSOLUTELY read this book if you’re a prepper and going to use ham radio for comms: Stealth Amateur Radio: Operate From Anywherehttps://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/...1&a=0872597571.
For many years, you had to learn Morse Code to do it. That requirement was dropped – now it’s a no-brainer. In 2011, I didn’t work a full-time job because I was finishing my degree and doing all the preparation for Warrant Officer School (WOCS) for the Army. During that time, I started getting pretty heavy back into survival. One of the key things to survival, especially in a disaster situation, is communication. Nothing beats Ham Radio for survival communication. I finally got my ham radio license.
So what is ham radio? Check out this link from ARRL (American Radio Relay League) to explain it. They’re actually called the National Association for Amateur Radio so I don’t know why they’re called dd and not NAAR. Whatever. Essentially, it’s a radio that lets you talk to people kind of like a CB radio but with a lot more frequencies you’re allowed to use. The frequencies you can use depend on what level of licence you have, as you’ll see below.
I first went to Barnes and Noble to read up on the subject, as I’m wont to do on occasion, read several books, and then got the official ARRL ham radio test manual (there are tons of ham radio study books available if you don’t like that one). It looked like a pretty daunting endeavor at first. I was thinking it was going to be too much work in addition to school and beer. Then one day at Starbucks, I perused the Internet for a while to study the subject and I came across the idea that you can practice easily online because all the test questions and answers are out there – exactly as they are written on the test. You just have to drill them into your head over and over.
I settled on QRZ and HamTestOnline and downloaded a $5 iPhone ham radio test app. They have a free version but it doesn’t have all the questions. I then spent about 30-60 minutes for a few days a week for a month or so. I passed easily. This, in spite of the fact that the free versions of the websites don’t give you all the questions. By going to several sites and using the iPhone app, I managed to get enough to pass. It did help, however, that I know electronics and RF theory quite well, but if you don’t, it won’t take you much longer to study to get it since you just have to recognize the question and match it to the correct answer. If you’re not familiar with electronics and RF, I’d get the book and study online to test yourself.
Here is now what I’m allowed to transmit:
Ham Radio License Frequencies for the Technician Class:
Band |
Frequencies (In MHz) |
Mode |
Notes |
80 Meters |
3.525 – 3.600 |
CW |
200-watt limit |
40 Meters |
7.025 – 7.125 |
CW |
200-watt limit |
15 Meters |
21.025 – 21.200 |
CW |
200-watt limit |
10 Meters |
28.100 – 28.300 |
CW, RTTY, Data |
200-watt limit |
10 Meters |
28.300 – 28.500 |
CW, Phone, Image |
200-watt limit |
|
Above 50 MHz |
|
All amateur privileges |
Knowing what I know now from starting into my General License studying, using an app like Amateur Radio Exam Prep, I would have gone this route first. For just a few bucks, you get all the questions and answers you need to pass, right in your pocket. Why would I want to get another ham radio license? In addition to all the frequencies you get from the tech class, you get the following:
Ham Radio License Frequencies for the General Class:
Band |
Frequencies (in MHz) |
Mode |
160, 60, 30 Meters |
All amateur privileges |
|
80 Meters |
3.525 – 3.600 |
CW, RTTY, Data |
|
3.800 – 4.000 |
CW, Phone, Image |
40 Meters |
7.025 – 7.125 |
CW, RTTY, Data |
|
7.175 – 7.300 |
CW, Phone, Image |
20 Meters |
14.025 – 14.150 |
CW, RTTY, Data |
|
14.225 – 14.350 |
CW, Phone, Image |
15 Meters |
21.025 – 21.200 |
CW, RTTY, Data |
|
21.275 – 21.450 |
CW, Phone, Image |
17, 12, 10 Meters |
All amateur privileges |
|
Above 50 MHz |
All amateur privileges |
|
I’m still interested in learning Morse Code; it’s one of the things on my Bucket List. I currently have about 11 characters down at a character speed of about 40wpm and effective speed of 5wpm. More on that to come on a later post.
One of the things you should do when you get your license is join ARRL. According to their site:Founded in 1914, the ARRL is the national association for amateur radio in the USA. Today, with more than 158,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the United States.
They do a lot of good in the community by helping out with emergency planning and response. I have a few friends who work exercises with them by setting up at hospitals and police stations to run communications during emercencies or mass casualty practice events. Sounds right up my alley! The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) is a great group to do things like this too.The ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. I’m a member of the Maricopa County Special Forces Posse and a certified for search and rescue operations. Having a ham radio really comes in handy.
One thing you’ll realize as soon as you get your amateur radio license is hams are REALLY helpful. If you’d like to get started meeting people, check out the Prepared Ham forum. My buddy AD runs it (we actually met during our amateur radio license test).