If you think about Amateur (Ham) Radio, you may picture a dark and musty basement smelling of coffee and surrounded by all sorts of low-hanging wires running in dozens of different directions along with the required amount of cobwebs. There are scores of buttons, knobs, switches, and dimly lit dials and meters in old equipment sitting on countless dusty shelves casting a soft glow into the room. Look closely. There's a small desk lamp barely lighting up what appears to be a wrinkled figure sporting a white beard, wearing a baseball cap, and sitting at a desk talking into a desk microphone. "CQ, CQ, CQ..."  Or even better, "- . - .   - - . -" (CQ in Morse code).

If your first vision of Ham Radio paints that kind of picture, you're not alone. While sometimes the stereotype of a ham operator is true, more often they are not. Since there is no age limit, a ham can be almost anyone. If you can pass the test for a ham license, you can operate on any of the ham bands that your license class allows. Becoming a ham has some serious advantages and we'll show you why you should consider making amateur radio your new hobby.

An entry-level (Technician class) licensee using the VHF, UHF, or even some HF bands holds a powerful communications tool. While CB radio, so popular in the 70's and 80s (and still used by many truckers today) is prone to atmospheric interference and very short range, the ham operator has the advantage of using higher frequencies (among others) that aren't as prone to noise. Instead of the 4 watts output the CBer is legally limited to, it's not unusual to find 2 meter mobile radios transmitting with well over 50 watts and a range of several dozen or more miles. There are even specific "call channels" (similar to CBers using 19 and 21) that are used.

Generally, hams are far more professional and courteous. It is required that you use a call sign that identifies you quickly, as well. While on the higher frequency amateur bands that are available to all amateur license holders, you'll likely have access to nearby repeaters or repeater networks that increase your range to many tens or even hundreds of miles, even with a handheld. If EchoLink or IRLP, or the like are available on nearby repeaters, you can talk across the country or around the world using plain analog (similar to AM or FM radio) transmissions. No EchoLink enabled repeaters nearby? Run the EchoLink app on your cell phone or computer and you're connected. DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) or similar digital systems can instantly link a simple handheld with any similar radio or repeater all over the world. No digital repeaters in range? Use your home or cellular internet connection and an interface (usually referred to as a "digital hotspot") and you're on the air!

 Repeaterbook.com List of Indiana Repeaters 

Emergencies

In an emergency, many local repeaters are made available to government emergency services through amateur operators to inform the public about extreme weather conditions or keep them abreast of disasters. Many hams are trained as weather spotters or search-and-rescue personnel. Hams can join groups like ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or work closely with the FEMA government agency in a group called RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service). As an amateur radio licensee, you can become active in either group (or both) after going through proper training. Be aware that if you have a radio in-hand and you're involved in a life-or-death emergency, all frequencies are open to you, licensed or not.

Stay Connected When Disaster Strikes

Though without power most other communications systems either stop working instantly or will eventually fail, ham radio hobbyists are an inventive group and are typically prepared for emergencies. Radios can be run on commercial power, generators, solar, car battery, or other means to get power to the radio. Ultra low power radios powered by a 9 volt battery or solar and use CW (Continuous Wave or Morse Code) can get amazing range when atmospheric conditions are right. When nothing else works...it's ham radio. Visit Code Green Prep to learn more about emergency radio use.

When disaster strikes, the communications infrastructure can be destroyed by fire, storm, or other disasters. Ham radio messages are typically the only ones that get out. Amateurs can get informational messages to the world faster than practically any other news outlet. It also played a vital role during the 9/11 disaster and Hurricane Katrina. For the CNN news story on how amateur radio operators helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, click here.

A Great Skill to Learn

Ham radios are easy to come by, however, you don't become an amateur operator by just owning a radio. It's normally illegal to transmit on ham frequencies without being properly licensed. Getting a license is not necessarily rocket science, but it does take some study. There are many places on the Internet where you can take practice tests or study courses for all of the license classes or you can attend in-person courses occasionally held by independent ham radio groups or individuals. We do have links to both video and flashcard study on this site, as well.

Your first license class will be the technician's license and obtained by passing a 35 question written exam out of a 423 pool and is valid through June 30, 2026. The test is usually $14 (pass or fail) and is reasonably easy to pass with just a little study.  This license class allows you to operate legally on some frequencies in the 10 meter band (just above CB range) using voice (phone), Morse code (CW) in lower areas of the HF band, and ham frequencies above 50 MHz on phone (voice), CW (Morse code), and digital modes. Links to (currently) free study resources can be found below or the quick links section at the top of this page.

The general class is the next level and allows for use in many ham allocated areas of the HF band (from just above the AM broadcast band up to 30 MHz, plus some new long wave frequencies).  There are still some amateur frequencies this class does not allow, but it's the first license class that will allow you to use a radio on most the amateur long-range HF spectrum. There are 35 questions of which you must get 26 correct (74%) on the written exam out of a 432 question pool expiring on June 30, 2027. Study links can be found below and in the quick links section at the top of this page.

The extra class is a bit more intense with a current question pool of 622 (expires on June 30, 2024) and allows for use of all frequencies allocated to ham radio. You'll have to correctly answer 37 of the 50 questions taken from the pool to pass. We have some tips here that are published on the website Ham Study to help with your trek to your extra class license. They refer to it as a "hack." Here is that link. Though it is from a previous version question pool, the ideas are still valid. However you do it, take and pass a LOT of practice tests!

Incidentally, you can take all three tests in one session for a single testing fee, but failing one test brings an end to the testing session. Theoretically, if you're ready, you could take all three tests at one time and become an extra in a single session. Even if you fail one (except technician) you will get your license for the highest class that you passed.

But why a license?

Once you receive your tech license in the US (it will be posted on the FCC site), you'll have access to amateur bands that include Morse code (CW) privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meter bands, plus all amateur bands above 50 MHz. And there are many. Play nice and try not to interfere with the neighbor's electronic devices. When you get your general class license, you'll be able to use phone (voice) and digital modes on a great deal of the rest of the amateur HF (shortwave) bands. Obtain your extra "ticket" and the entire amateur spectrum is available to you.

Another plus, if you carry your amateur license with you and have a radar detector or similar device, many times in areas where they're considered illegal by the public, you may operate those in a vehicle. The same goes for radio scanners. But do check the laws in your area before you decide to take advantage of that benefit.

In some cases, once you've passed your general exam, power limits increase. In many bands, but not all, you can use up to 1500 watts. But you're only expected to use just enough power to make the contact you're attempting. Using that much power to make a contact a quarter mile away is both unwarranted and unnecessary. Most contacts can be made with just 100 watts or less, even to the other side of the planet. It's more about the antenna than the power, but having both available can help you to be heard on top of the pile-ups.

As a licensed ham, you can legally build, modify, and tune your own radios and other devices as long as you pay attention to FCC rules regarding transmissions. However, with greater latitude comes more responsibility. You can damage equipment, cause interference, and maybe injury to yourself or others.  It's a good idea to study Part 97 of the FCC Rules in order to stay within those confines. Licensing can help assure that you understand what's involved in and the dangers of working with electricity and RF energy. Even though you might understand RF energy, it's really brought home to you when you get your first RF burn by being careless with a connection, ground, or even an antenna.

Licensing can also show others that you understand emergency procedures. Many radio amateurs are active as communications volunteers with local public safety organizations. In addition, in some disasters, radio frequencies are not coordinated among relief officials and Amateur Radio operators step in to coordinate communication when radio towers and other elements in the communications infrastructure are damaged. You can work with your local clubs and coordinators to make sure you understand what you can do to help in an emergency situation.

Join a Ham Radio Club

The Jay County Amateur Radio Club is a great example of how a social ham radio club works. Every Saturday morning, you can find a bunch of the hams getting together for coffee telling fish stories, showing off new equipment, and bragging about a new contact they've made somewhere in the world. Once a month we have a meeting where our group gets together to discuss business, tell more fish stories...well, you get the idea. But during those get-togethers, it's not unusual to have new people come in and ask all sorts of questions. Ham folks are open to that and will share their wealth of knowledge. Need an antenna put up and can't do it yourself? Just ask, you never know who will be there for you.

The Cost of the Hobby

At one time, ham radio was quite exclusive, being very expensive to even buy basic equipment. And could be very dangerous. A radio could cost upwards of $500 or more in 1950s or 1960s dollars, and even a cheap radio was at least $200. Then there was the antenna. Fast-forward to the 21st century: Chinese manufacturers came along and did for ham radio what they did for cell phones and TVs...made 'em cheap. Even the major players (Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood) have priced much of their low-end equipment competitively. The antenna? Well, some things never change.

In the case of inexpensive Chinese handhelds and mobile radios, it doesn't mean that they're not durable. Some are not, however, the most feature-rich radios that can be had. The receivers of the iconic brands are usually much tighter (less likely to accept transmissions from close radios on nearby frequencies), and "auto repeater shift" is generally a standard feature that makes keyboard programming quite a lot easier.  With the case of Baofeng (pronounced "Bow-Fung"), TYT, Quansheng, and other Chinese brand names, keyboard programming is considerably more difficult, but still possible if you're in the field and need to program just one or two frequencies. Unless you're used to it, make sure you have an English version of the manual handy (Chinglish can be a really tough read). Fortunately, there are computer apps such as Chirp that make programming these radios a breeze and allows cloning (duplicating) not only from the same model radio, but to other models and brands. With a $10 connecting cable and free software, it's a snap. Even DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) is getting cheaper and easier to program. With some Chinese analog handhelds going for well under $30 in late 2023 and DMR starting at around $70, it's a great way to get introduced to your first radio. Connect to a local repeater and your range goes from a couple of miles to up to 30, 40, or more, including worldwide...yes, on a handheld. We even have some Chirp image files for our local area and some codeplugs that will work with a digital hotspot anywhere that has Internet connectivity that you can use as examples of how to program the radios or make a few changes and use them as-is. With Chirp Next, it's easy to have it search for repeaters in your area and program your radio properly in under 5 minutes. Meanwhile, check out these links: Amazon Search Handheld Ham Radios | Ham Radio Buying Guide 2021

Another cost to consider is a new FCC fee that started in 2022. at a fee of $35 for many transactions. Profile info changes are free and they do require a current email address. Also, most VECs (they do what the FCC used to do back in the day) charge about $14 for the test, pass or fail. The nice thing is that if you're prepared to take all three elements, you can do so with one fee. You can go from nothing to Extra in one sitting. But if you fail one element, the testing stops and you get licensed for the highest element that you passed (if any). Study up and save some cash! Incidentally, there is also one group that charges nothing for the tests. But you still have to pay the FCC for their license fees once you pass. (Page: Laurel VEC)

As a side note, the $500 to $13,000+ radios still exist, if that's what you're looking for. Signal boosters, both incoming and outgoing are available and still pricey, and with the higher current and voltage requirements of high-powered amplifiers, you will likely need an electrician to run new 117v or 220-240v line, plus you'll need a heavy-duty grounding system. Towers, beams, rotators, antenna tuners, and much more...yes, you can still spend lots of money on the hobby if you really want to. MFJ Catalog Download (PDF - 29Mb)