How do I Become a Ham? It’s reasonably easy! Becoming an Amateur Radio Operator (Ham) opens many doors to a fun and rewarding hobby with many aspects (see ARRL –What Is Ham Radio). But, to become a Ham you must pass an exam administered by a Volunteer Examiner Team. The test is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This is because being a Ham carries with it some responsibilities and capabilities that the Family Radio Service (FRS) or Citizen’s Band (CB) does not. FRS operators can only use up to 1/2 watt of power, and CB is limited to 4 watts, while Ham operators can use up to 1,500 watts on most bands! FRS is good for about 3 miles, and CB is limited by law to 150 miles. With Ham Radio, the world is not even your limit. You can bounce signals off the moon or use orbiting satellites to talk to any licensed Ham worldwide. Whereas all other radio services are allowed only very few channels or frequencies to work with – Hams have literally thousands! The Technician License The first level of the Amateur Radio Operator is the Technician Class which allows you all Ham Radio frequency use privileges above 30 MHz, as well as additional privileges on certain HF frequencies (below 30 MHz) including the 80-, 40- and 15- meter bands using Morse code (CW), and on the 10-meter band using CW, voice, and digital modes. On frequencies above 30 MHz, Technicians may operate FM voice, digital modes, amateur television (ATV), single-sideband voice, CW, and several other interesting modes. As mentioned before, you can even make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple station equipment, or even through linked networks using D-STAR or linked repeater networks. The Exam Morse code is no longer required for any Amateur Radio license! The Technician Class License exam covers basic regulations, operating practices, and basic electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF (above 30 MHz) applications. Don’t let this scare you. You can do it! – Many folks from all walks of life routinely pass their Technician exams on the first try. There is no age requirement. The youngest known Ham in the US was 5 years old. There are several study materials available to help you pass the exam. Many people rely on the study materials from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). They provide both study guides and a CD (ARRL Training and Education). One of the most popular and more intuitive study guides is published by the W5YI GROUP, Gordon West, (WB6NOA). Visit the ARRL or books sellers such as Amazon.com to purchase a Technician Class study manual. Next Page