Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Licensing
Decide which license class is desired. Licenses range from the Novice class to Expert class. Each degree of licensing requires more knowledge of the electrical side of amateur radio. All classes require a working knowledge of FCC laws governing the airwaves. Most operators begin with the Novice class and then proceed on as time passes. It is possible to jump ahead to a higher class. There is a specific test for each class, and if you can pass the test, you can become that class at any time.
Find a testing site. Amateur radio clubs organize regular testing times in their respective communities. Find out what clubs exist in your area and contact them. If you live in a rural area, it may be necessary to travel to a larger city to find a testing site.
Take the test on the appropriate day. It may be a few weeks before test results are returned. If successful, an amateur radio license will be issued, as well as a call sign. A call sign is the personal identifier for your amateur radio station on the air. It is a sequence of letters and numbers and is unique for each licensee.
Equipment
Decide what frequency bands you plan to operate on. This is determined by several factors. The first is license class; the license you obtained determines what bands you are allowed to operate on legally. Then comes the distance you plan to be communicating over. If you are looking to talk across town, bands such as 2-meter and 70-centimeter will suffice. If looking to talk across the world, the higher frequency bands will be necessary. Some operators may need more than one equipment setup to cover all the bands they wish to operate on.
Choose a transceiver that meets the band requirements. Transceivers come in different styles, with higher models covering multiple bands. Lower models may isolate just one frequency band. Find transceivers online at manufacturer websites or buy them second-hand through auction sites or acquaintances. Manufacturers demonstrate their products as well as sell them at regional ham shows.
Find the antenna that is right for you. An antenna allows the transceiver to transmit and receive signals. Antennas come in many varieties, and the frequency band will once again determine which one is right for you. It is possible to build your own antenna with some electrical knowledge. Amteur radio clubs are usually fill of people who will willingly help you with this.
Get an antenna tuner. A tuner balances the antenna being used for the transceiver. This is very important, as operating without balancing can cause internal damage to the radio. It may be necessary to tune the antenna when changing frequency bands.
Set up your amateur radio station. Connect the transceiver to the tuner, and connect the tuner to the antenna. Power on the transceiver and use the antenna tuner's dials to adjust until the proper balance is acquired. The tuner will have lights or a display that will help you achieve this.
Operation
Use the transceiver to make your first transmission. There are two ways to proceed here. Either find a frequency band that is empty or find a band where another operator is requesting a conversation.
Turn the frequency dial on the radio to listen to the band. Some radios have a round dial to do this. Others may have up and down buttons. Turn the dial until a free frequency is found.
Pick up the microphone and press the transmit button. Usually a light on the transceiver will indicate that you are on the air. "CQ" is an amateur radio abbreviation for "calling all stations." Say "CQ" into the microphone several times, followed by your call sign. FCC laws require that any station on the air be identified.
Continue the CQ until someone answers. When contacted, the other operator should immediately identify themselves with their own call sign. After this, ordinary conversation can take place.