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Last update: 2001.06.05
Amateur Radio offers so many different types of communications that nearly everyone can find one or more communications methods that suits their present skills and interests. Whether youth or elderly, whether non-technical or experienced scientist/engineer, the fascination of Ham Radio can become a wonderful hobby to enjoy. To help you get started the material given in the following should prove helpful.
A New FCC License Plan - Effective April 5, 2000 Amateur Radio licensing in the US has been simplified to provide just 3 levels of Amateur Radio licneses. They are:
Getting Started:
There are two easy ways to get started on your way to this hobby:
(1) A Formal lLicense Class. You can find and join an Amateur Radio license class in your community. It will likely be sponsored by a local Amateur Radio Club. If you know a Ham, ask i f their club has on upcomming soon. If you do not know any Ham operators, ask the manager of the nearby Radio Shack or other electronics store. If you still have difficulty locating local Hams, send an Email message to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and and ask for the name of someone in a local Amateur Radio Club. the address is rwhite@arrl.org
(2) Self Study. Another way to get your first license is independent self study. Text books are available from several sources. One of the most useful to the Would-be Ham is entitled Now You're Talking, and is published by the ARRL and costs $19 if available locally in a bookstore. It is also available from some Radio Shack stores and can be obtained from most Radio Supply houses with the addition of shipping and handling costs. If you are unable to locate a local source, either the Amateur Electronic Supply (AES) at 1.800.558.0411 or the Ham Radio Outlet at 1.800.444.4799 will be able to provide a copy.
If you have other questions about Amateur Radio, send an Email to Ken Pierpont kf4ow@amsat.org.
Prepared by:
Ken Pierpont KF4OW
April 2001