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Getting Started with Ham Amateur (Ham) Radio

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BassWrangler:
We have a few members here who are interested in Amateur (Ham) Radio. There are also several of us who are licensed ham radio operators, including @Bigun who has been active with the hobby for many years. I am starting this thread to give folks a place to ask questions and discuss the topic.

It's been 12 years since my last exam, but I'll try to answer any questions, and hopefully some of the folks more recently active in the hobby can fill in the gaps.

General Resources

The AARL (Amateur Radio Relay League) s the largest US association for amateur radio. They publish the study guides for the exams, and other reference material, and are sort of like the NRA for amateur radio: https://www.arrl.org/
HamExam.org has practice tests and flash cards that will help you prepare for taking the license exam: https://hamexam.org/
HamExam also has a page with links to the study guides for the different license tests: https://hamexam.org/study-materials
Repeater listings (good to find repeaters, but always try and confirm info with the web site of the repeater owner): https://www.repeaterbook.com/i
Unofficial callsign database: https://www.qrz.com/
RadioID.net: Where you would get an ID to transmit on a DMR radio: https://radioid.net/

(There are tons of resources - if you know of some good ones, post to the thread below and I will add them to this list)

Getting Licensed
To transmit or own a radio capable of transmitting on the US amateur radio bands, you will need to get a license from the FCC. There are three levels of license:

* Technician
* General
* Amateur ExtraAs you go up in license, you are allowed to transmit on additional bands.

You can find a place to take the exam, along with some instructions on what you need to do ahead of time here: https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
Many amateur radio clubs administer the exams, and it's a good idea to meet the people in the club. You can find the closest club here: https://www.arrl.org/find-a-club
I recommend checking into the clubs, seeing if there is a "Hamfest", or at least a club meeting, you can go to. You will find people there are happy to help beginners, and a Hamfest is a good way to take a look at equipment, and observe radio operation and procedures.

Equipment
There's a ton to say about Ham radio equipment, but I strongly recommend waiting to buy until you have your license. Your local radio club can help steer you in the right direction. I generally recommend people start out with a handheld radio. You can do a lot with just a handheld, including talking to other Hams via repeaters, listening to satellite transmissions, and there are even times where, with the right antenna, you can talk to the International Space Station. If you retain an interest in the hobby, you may eventually get a more powerful Mobile radio (which can be used in your car, or at home), or even a base station, fixed installation antennas, etc.

Cyber Liberty:
 :bkmk:

libertybele:
Thanks for the info on getting licensed @BassWrangler

BassWrangler:
Here's some motivation for the seasoned citizens on the forum:



Elderly couple breaks out of Tennessee assisted living facility using Morse code
By Tamar LapinMay 2, 2021 | 3:48pm | Updated

A series of dots helped them make a dash for it.

An elderly couple used their knowledge of Morse code to escape from an assisted living facility in Tennessee, according to a report.

The husband and wife, who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, were able to decipher and memorize the code to an electronic door lock at the Elmcroft of Lebanon home, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

They were missing for about 30 minutes on March 2 before a stranger found them walking about two blocks from the facility, according to state Department of Health documents obtained by the newspaper.

The husband said he had “previously worked with Morse code in the military” and used that experience to learn the code of an electronic keypad as staffers punched it in.

He and his wife were then able to unlock the door of the home’s secure memory unit — and make a break for it.

https://nypost.com/2021/05/02/elderly-couple-breaks-out-of-assisted-living-facility-using-morse-code/

rustynail:
Buy used equipment.  Buying new may put you on a list. 

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