140 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
140 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
Getting an Amateur Radio License
|
|
Terry R. Dettmann/WX7S
|
|
|
|
I've been watching HamNet and other sources for a while
|
|
and it seems like there is a need to answer the question
|
|
"How can I become a Ham?" for many people. This file is
|
|
an attempt to create a starting point for someone to
|
|
get information about Ham Radio.
|
|
|
|
Anyone who reads this is asked to send comments to me
|
|
on Compuserve at 72076,2611 or care of:
|
|
|
|
National Amateur Radio Association, NARA
|
|
16541 Redmond Way #232
|
|
Redmond, Wa 98052
|
|
|
|
I would like to see this file get the widest possible distribution
|
|
to any and all bulletin boards, etc. If you make changes, please
|
|
send me a new copy for distribution. I will attempt to keep
|
|
the most accurate and up-to-date copy available for use by
|
|
anyone who wants to get into the hobby.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT an attempt to list comprehensively
|
|
EVERY source of entry into Amateur Radio nor to list EVERY
|
|
source of information about Amateur Radio. The objective of this
|
|
file is to list books, magazines, and so forth which would be a help
|
|
to someone who wants to become a Ham. If you have a product or
|
|
service for new hams you would like added here, please contact
|
|
me via NARA. We keep a data base of services and products
|
|
for New Hams as well as information about 'Helping Hams' who
|
|
want to help new people get started in the hobby. I would like to
|
|
hear from you about what you can do to promote the hobby. This listing
|
|
is also personal ... opinions expressed here such as 'best', etc. are
|
|
based on my own experience and that of people I know who have used the
|
|
materials. Something which is NOT listed here is not bad, I am personally
|
|
just not familiar with it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==================== BECOMING A HAM ==========================
|
|
|
|
To become a Ham Radio operator, you presently have to pass
|
|
two tests, an written examination covering basic radio theory
|
|
and regulations and a proficiency test covering Morse Code
|
|
at a 5 Word per Minute rate. The best sources for help
|
|
on these are:
|
|
|
|
Radio Shack NOVICE Course ($19.95) available through
|
|
any Radio Shack store
|
|
|
|
ARRL (American Radio Relay League) 'How to Tune in the World'
|
|
Novice Course ($12.00) available at most Amateur Radio Stores
|
|
or from the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street,
|
|
Newington, Ct. 06111.
|
|
|
|
|
|
For practice on Morse Code, your best bets are:
|
|
|
|
The best tapes around are produced by Harry Lewis, W7JWJ,
|
|
10352 Sandpoint Way, NE, Seattle, Wa. 98125. Harry has been timed
|
|
76 words per minute while he was loafing along.
|
|
|
|
Another excellant study device for Morse Code is the program
|
|
Super Morse, available for download from Compuserve or
|
|
from the National Amateur Radio Association, NARA,
|
|
16541 Redmond Way #232, Redmond, Wa 98052. NARA charges $3
|
|
for the program and it is Shareware (so you owe the author
|
|
something if you like it).
|
|
|
|
|
|
==================== MAGAZINES ===============================
|
|
|
|
Magazines are the source of the most current information no
|
|
matter what field you're in. You can sometimes pick up copies
|
|
of Amateur Radio magazines at stores (especially at Amateur
|
|
Radio stores), but in general, they aren't available just
|
|
any place. If you want, the following magazines specializing
|
|
in Amateur Radio will send you a sample copy. Contact the magazine
|
|
for information about prices for samples.
|
|
|
|
CQ Magazine
|
|
76 North Broadway
|
|
Hicksville, NY 11801
|
|
QST Magazine
|
|
American Radio Relay League
|
|
225 Main Street
|
|
Newington, Ct. 06111
|
|
73 Magazine
|
|
WGE Center
|
|
Hancock, NH 03449
|
|
Ham Radio Magazine
|
|
Communications Technology Inc.
|
|
Greenville, NH 03048-0498
|
|
|
|
==================== ORGANIZATIONS ===========================
|
|
|
|
All amateur radio operators should belong to the ARRL:
|
|
|
|
American Radio Relay League
|
|
225 Main Street
|
|
Newington, Ct. 06111
|
|
|
|
Membership is currently $25.00/year. This is the major
|
|
representative for hams in Washington and they run many
|
|
programs for the benefit of Amateur Radio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NARA is interested in publicizing Amateur Radio and getting new
|
|
amateurs involved. Your help and donation is appreciated
|
|
and will get you a quarterly newsletter with information about
|
|
NARA's efforts:
|
|
|
|
National Amateur Radio Association, NARA
|
|
16541 Redmond Way #232
|
|
Redmond, Wa 98052
|
|
|
|
|
|
==================== MORE INFORMATION ========================
|
|
|
|
|
|
For more information about becoming a Ham, please write to
|
|
me either through Compuserve (72076,2611) or care of the
|
|
National Amateur Radio Association:
|
|
|
|
National Amateur Radio Association, NARA
|
|
16541 Redmond Way #232
|
|
Redmond, Wa 98052
|
|
|
|
I will look in the references available to me and attempt to locate
|
|
Amateur activity in your area. If I can, I will send you names
|
|
and addresses of Amateurs in your area, stores which sell
|
|
amateur radio gear, and anything else which can help.
|
|
|
|
Even if you don't want anything in particular, feel free
|
|
to write and let me know about your progress in
|
|
becoming a Ham.
|
|
|
|
73 DE WX7S |