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Getting Started with Ham Radios

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The best way to get started with ham radios is to find a local ham radio club. Hams make up a community, and groups such as the International Amateur Radio Union and the American Radio Relay League have many local chapters. Alternatively, if you already know a ham, he (or she) can serve as your elmer—your guide into the world of ham radio.

Your local ham radio chapter can help you get the license that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires you to have to operate a radio. You’ll need to pass the FCC exam, which tests your knowledge of ham radio mechanisms, your competence in using a radio, and your understanding of the restrictions governing ham use. It sounds more complex than it really is, and study guides are readily available. Pass this test, pay a small fee, and you’re ready to go.

Once you’re licensed, the government will give you a unique call sign. This call sign is what you’ll use to identify yourself on the air. A standard call sign might be W9JK4. The prefix represents your region (W9, for example, represents Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin), and the suffix is your personal identifier.

Your license does not give you access to the entire world of ham radio. A beginning license allows you to use VHF and UHF frequencies, which are primarily local bands. Before long, however, you can earn a license that allows you access to HF frequencies as well.

Finally, you’ll need to set up your radio. Ask your local ham radio club or elmer for specific help, but as a beginner, you’ll probably want to purchase, rather than make, your radio. You can purchase a handheld or a desktop radio. If you purchase a desktop radio, place it near a window in a fairly secluded area of your home; hams refer to this private area as “the shack.” Now, you’re ready to ham it up.

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