INTERESTED IN BEING A HAM?

NO LIMITS

There are no limits on who can become a ham. Ages range from under 8 to
over 80. Hams come from all walks of life. Some are rich. Some are
poor. Most are in between. Ham radio is also wide open to handicapped individuals. There are blind hams, deaf hams, paralyzed hams, you name
it. There's some way just about anyone can use ham radio to open their
door to the world. As long as you're not a representative of a foreign government, and you either live in the United States, or have a U.S.
mailing address, you're eligible to take the exams necessary to become
a ham radio operator.

BECOMING A HAM...

...can be very easy. With just a little study, just about anyone can
qualify for an Amateur Radio license. What you have to study depends on
which level of license you want to go for. There are three classes of
amateur radio licensees...and there is no longer any Morse Code exam
required for any class of U.S. Amateur Radio license. Most people start
with:

THE TECHNICIAN LICENSE

This is now the entry class license into Amateur Radio. It gives you
all Amateur Radio privileges above 50 Megahertz, including the popular
"2 meter" band. World-wide contacts, via satellite, are now possible on
these bands. Technician Class licensees can also use the Voice Over
Internet Protocol (VoIP) modes, such as Echolink...see the Echolink
Overview in this area for details.

To get the "Tech" license, you have to pass an examination covering
rules, regulations, and basic electronic theory.

As of Feb. 23, 2007, Technician class licensees...whether or not they've
passed a Morse Code exam...also have these HF privileges:

80 meters: CW (Morse Code) only: 3.525 Mhz to 3.600 Mhz
40 meters: CW (Morse Code) only: 7.025 Mhz to 7.125 Mhz
15 meters: CW (Morse Code) only: 21.025 Mhz to 21.200 Mhz
10 meters: CW (Morse Code), RTTY, and data only: 28.000 Mhz to 28.300 Mhz
10 meters: SSB Phone Only: 28.300 Mhz to 28.500 Mhz

These HF privileges are identical for Novice Class licensees. Note that
NO OTHER HF PRIVILEGES EXIST for Novice or Technician Class licensees.

THE GENERAL LICENSE

This is the one most hams hold. It lets you operate voice as well as
code on all amateur bands. The theory test deals more with operating
on the high frequency bands. All amateur radio privileges, except the
500 kilohertz of frequencies on the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands,
reserved for Extra Class licensees, are available.

THE EXTRA LICENSE

This higher grade of license lets you with all amateur radio privileges, including operating on frequencies closed to other hams. You need to know
more theory...a combination of the former Advanced and Extra exams.

LICENSE COURSES

More information on the license exams, classes, and callsigns will be
posted in future messages.


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