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1991-08-21
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47KB
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| 30-Jul-91 10:10 dls update, see changebars (|)
The following is a monthly posting of frequently asked questions for
Amateur Radio. Due to the increasing size of this list, I've broken it into
4 Parts (and will break it further if necessary) to keep each Part under
10K bytes.
Part 1 - Beginning Amateur Radio questions
Part 2 - "Where can I find ..." computer questions
Part 3 - Amateur Radio Organizations and Publications
Part 4 - Common Advanced and Technical questions
If you have any questions you think should be added, please email to me at
dls@genrad.com.
This FAQ should ONLY be reposted once a month. If someone asks a question
that is answered by this FAQ, I suggest emailing to that person, or,
alternately, post only the section that answers the question, NOT the entire
FAQ posting. Read news.announce.newusers for proper net etiquette.
|This FAQ is available via anonymous FTP from ftp.cs.buffalo.edu.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Part 1 - Beginning Amateur Randio questions
Table of Contents:
** What is Amateur Radio?
** Who can become a ham in the United States?
** OK, so how do I become a ham in the United States?
** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio?
** How much does it cost?
** Where can I take the tests?
** What are the tests like?
** What can I do with a ham radio license?
** What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license?
** I'm interested, who will help me?
** Should I build my own equipment?
** Should I build my own antenna?
** Do I need a huge antenna and tower like my neighbor?
** Where do I buy equipment?
** I've only got one 'meter' on the front of my radio - does this mean
it's a 'one meter' radio? (Wow - some guys have 80 of 'em??? :-)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur Radio is a non-commercial radio communication service
whose primary aim is public service and communication between
private persons. Amateur Radio operators are commonly called
hams. It's great fun to talk to someone in Japan on the radio!
Here's one ham's description of Amateur Radio: "Climbing towers,
roofs, trees, or any other fixed object to hang antennas. Restoring
ancient equipment to operation. Playing with glitzy new equipment.
Blowing up finals. Cutting holes in your (or your buddie's) car.
Building your own stuff. Wiping out your neighbor's TV and then
having to explain and fix it. The joy and magic of communicating
with someone half way around the world with a few bits of glass and
wire."
** Who can become a ham in the United States?
Anyone who is not a representative of a foreign government can
be an Amateur Radio operator in the USA. There are tests that
you must pass to get a license, however the tests are not
insurmountable. There are 7-year-old hams and 80-year-old
hams. There are many handicapped hams who get great enjoyment
out of Amateur Radio.
** OK, so how do I become a ham in the United States?
There are now two entry-level class licenses in Amateur Radio.
A Novice license requires passing a 30-question written test
and a Morse code test given at 5 words per minute. A Technician
license requires passing the 30-question written Novice test and
a 25-question written Technician test, but no Morse code test.
See local radio clubs or radio stores in your area for more
information. Note that you can get a higher class license instead,
simply by passing the required tests.
** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio?
Your local Radio Shack sells some ham radios and Amateur Radio
license books. Books can also be obtained through the mail
from ham radio organizations, such as ARRL in Newington, CT
(203-666-1541) and W5YI in Dallas, TX (1-800-669-9594). There
may be one or two ham radio stores in the local area (ie,
within 50 miles). Try looking in the Yellow Pages under Radio
Communications. Be assured that once you get a callsign, the
mail order ham radio companies will find you :-).
For the Novice license, get a Novice License manual, plus 5-word-
per-minute Morse code tapes, costing around $25. For the
Technician license, get a Novice License manual, a Technician
License manual, and an FCC Rules manual, costing around $32.
The FCC Rules manual is a good idea for Novice also, but not
necessary, since the Novice License manual contains all the FCC
Rules that are required for the Novice License.
** How much does it cost?
To take the Novice tests, it's free. To take the Technician or
higher class tests, there is a small charge (around $5 currently) to
cover copying costs and running the testing sessions. The cost
of a radio is really dependent on what you want to do. You can
make your own radio and antenna for under $150. You can buy a used
single-band radio for $150-$300. Or you can buy a new multi-band
multi-mode radio with all the doodads for $300-$3000. I'd suggest
you learn more about ham radio, talk to local hams, find out what
you want to do with ham radio first.
** Where can I take the tests?
The Novice tests can be given by any two qualified hams of General
class license or above. The Technician tests and all higher class
license tests are given by three qualified Volunteer Examiners (VEs)
who volunteer their time.
** What are the tests like?
Each of the written tests (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced,
and Extra) are generally a multiple choice test of approximately one-
tenth of the question pool. For example, if the question pool is
approximately 300 questions, then the test will be a 30-question
test. You need to get 75% correct to pass. Note that they truncate
to determine the correct number of questions. That means for a 30
question test, you need to get 22 right, which is actually only 73.3%.
Once you've paid the small fee for Technician-Extra tests, it costs
no extra to take another test, so I'd suggest you keep taking the
next more advanced test until you fail. If you pass the written
but not the Morse code (or vice versa) for a specific class license,
you have up to one year to take the other test before you would have
to retake the written test again. Note that some VEs will not allow
you to take the written test unless you've first taken the Morse code
test.
The Morse code test is a receiving test only. The test run 5 to 7
minutes. After the test, you are given a 10-question multiple-choice
or fill-in-the-blank test. Passing grade is 7 or more. If you fail
the 10-question test, the examiner team will examine your copy sheet
to see if you have 1 minute of solid copy with no errors. For 5 wpm,
that's 25 characters, for 13 wpm, that's 65 characters, for 20 wpm,
that's 100 characters. If they can find 1 minute solid copy, you've
still passed.
Hints on Morse code tests: Generally, it will be a standard QSO
(conversation), and it MUST contain at least one of each of the
following:
26 letters A-Z, 10 numbers 0-9, comma (,), period (.), slant or
slash (/), question mark (?), double dash prosign (BT), end of
message prosign (AR), end of contact prosign (SK).
The letters count as one character, all others count as two
characters. There are a couple other prosigns which are worth
knowing, but will not be on the test, like "I'm done talking, next"
is K, "I'm done talking, back to you" is KN, "Please wait" is AS.
** What can I do with a ham radio license?
There are so many things, it's a difficult question to answer, but
here's some ideas:
* Talk to people in foreign countries.
* Talk to people (both local and far away) on your drive to work.
* Help in emergencies by providing communications.
* Provide communications in parades or walkathons.
* Help other people become hams.
* Hook your computer to your radio and communicate by computers.
* Collect QSL cards (cards from other hams) from all over the
United States and foreign countries and receive awards.
* Par