About HAM Radio

It would take volumes to tell you all about HAM radio and I'd probably leave out alot of important stuff. But I'll try to keep it short and to the point for those who may be interested in getting started in HAM radio.

Around the world, individual governments establish rules and regulations to govern the use of Amateur Radio. Some are extremely strict while others are not so strict. Most governments work together through the International Telecommunications Union to determine which frequencies HAMs can use. For the most part, allowed frequency use is pretty common around the world. However, some have more and some have less frequency spectrum allowed.

In the United States, the Amateur Radio Service is governed by PART 97 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations. It is an official government program with the following specific purposes:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advance of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the comunications and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

WHEW! That seems like a pretty heavy load, doesn't it? But within these purposes lies a multitude of diversity that allows one to expand his horizons in many different directions. For instance, one doesn't HAVE TO participate in emergency communications. One may choose to put all his/her effort into designing and building equipment to operate on any of the many frequency bands we are allowed to operate. He/she may choose to become an expert in Amateur Radio Television, bouncing signals off the moon, or strictly in kit building. Further, one can choose to be active in public service nets, or specific 'informational' nets about any number of popular areas of interest - from antique radio collection to recreational vehicles to antenna design and construction, or one may choose to use his/her radio just for chit chat with other HAMs. The list goes on and on. There's no way any one individual can 'always' participate in such a way to meet 'all' the purposes defined by the FCC. In fact, I don't believe that any one person, in his life time, could ever participate in all the various facits and potential interest areas of Amateur Radio. We participate in the 'Service' as a hobby, and whatever way we participate is governed by specific rules and regulations of PART 97.

For a tour and much more information on what Ham radio is all about, check out the American Radio Relay League website at www.arrl.org

There are currently three levels of license: Technican, General and Extra. Each has its define set of operating priviledges. The Technican is the entry level license with limited priviledges while the Extra is the highest level of license with all priviledges. The Technican license is the easiest to obtain based on passing a short test covering basic electronic theory, operating skills and knowledge of rules and regulations while the Extra class is the longest and hardest. We no longer have to know or show proficiency in the use of morse code (CW). There's lots of sites on the internet where you can find study materials and take practice exams. The questions on the tests are public domain.

If you need help, you can join in a very informal study group. This group is lead by Richard Battles wk 334-705-8667, hm 334-745-0540. It meets at 6:30PM the 1st, 2nd and 4th Tues of each month at the Lee County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in downtown Opelika AL, next to the Court House at 908 Ave B. However, the study group is currently in summer recess until early September.

All HAM radio license tests are given by Volunteer Examiners, or VE's. There are about five Volunteer Examiner Organizations in the Country who receive test results from their VE teams who then electronically submit the paper work to the FCC where the license application is processed and callsign assigned. Here in Lee County, the East Alabama Amateur Radio Club sponsors a VE team under the auspices of the American Radio League VE. Tests are given at 6PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Lee County EOC. Anyone desiring to test should first contact Mary Moore, our VE Team leader at wx4mm@wx4tm.com

Typically, a newly licensed HAM will first get involved using a VHF mobile or portable radio working through area repeaters which provide area-wide communications range. As his expertise and interest grows, he will upgrade to the General class license and acquire an HF radio that allows him, even with simple antennas, to talk around the country and world. From these first steps, a HAM is likely to develop interest, and choose to dedicate his time and energy, to one or more of the many specific interest areas in HAM radio.

CLUBS. Almost all HAMs initially join a Ham Radio Club for the purpose of learning more about HAM radio through participation in Club events and social activities. In our area, there is the East Alabama Amateur Radio Club EAARC, the Russell County ARC (RCARC), the Columbus ARC (CARC), and the newly formed Heart of Dixie ARC (HODARC) in the Auburn/Lochapoka area.

So that's a very basic first look at Ham Radio and how to get started. As I said on the 'Welcome' page of this site, it's not all that hard. My 86 yr old mother-in-law recently passed the Technician License Test. At the same test session, a 17 yr old passed her EXTRA Class license exam. You too can do it. It only takes a little desire and commitment. If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me (see the 'Welcome' page for email address).

73, de Tom WX4TM