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Using a Ham Radio

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Ham radios are great hobbies in that they are relatively simple to learn, but you can keep expanding your knowledge to make more and more contacts. In this article, however, we’ll focus primarily on beginner ham radio usage.

Spend your first couple ham radio sessions listening rather than talking. Learn the lingo and explore different frequencies to find out what is a popular range and what times of day offer the best reception. Different frequencies work better during different parts of the day.

When you’re ready to talk, set your radio on a frequency suggested by your elmer, and then press the microphone button (just as you would on a walkie-talkie), and say something such as, “_________(your call number) is listening.” You might also call “CQ,” which is a ham radio term that signifies you’re willing to talk with anyone. Hopefully, someone will respond. If no one does, wait a few minutes and try again, and then switch to a different frequency. If you keep having problems, adjust the frequency or turn the antenna, or ask for help.

When someone does respond, begin a regular conversation. Talk about where you’re from or ask for tips on using your ham. Never give out personal information such as your last name. In addition, be respectful of ham conversations; don’t ask for money or talk in an inappropriate manner for children. After all, many hams are kids.

As you become more confident, consider DXing. DXing is a quest to communicate with hams from as many different locations as possible, often one hundred countries or more. Your radio will, however, need lots of power in order to DX. Once you make contact, you’ll likely exchange QSL cards via the mail; these cards display your call sign and provide proof that you made contact.

In addition to individual contacts, you can take part in nets (networks) or roundtable groups in which several hams participate in one conversation. If you’d rather see hams face-to-face, head to a hamfest, such as the May event in Dayton, Ohio.

You can also earn awards or compete in contests. Earn the “Worked All States Award” or the “Worked All Continents Award,” or win a contest by contacting the most different hams in a specified amount of time.

The more advanced you become as a ham radio operator, the more challenges you may want to try. Many hams eventually build their own radio or try to operate on QRP (reduced power). Other hams communicate via radioteletype or television images instead of merely their own voice.

Next Page: What are the differences between ham radios and other radios?

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