Here's your invitation to a friendly, high-tech hobby that's got something fun for everyone! You can become an Amateur Radio operator--no matter what age, gender or physical ability. People from all walks of life pass their entry-level exams and earn their Amateur (Ham) Radio licenses. They all share the diverse world of activities you can explore with ham radio. You never know who you'll run into when communicating with Amateur Radio: Young people, retirees, teachers and students, engineers and scientists, doctors, mechanics and technicians, homemakers... boatersand pilots...and even entertainers! Getting started in ham radio has never been easier! We invite you to explore the following information and learn about Amateur Radio. We know you'll enjoy this fascinating world of Amateur Radio, and we hope to have the chance of meeting you on the air--when you become an Amateur Radio operator! A Fun Hobby... What Can Amateur Radio Operators Do? Ham radio operators use two-way radio stations from their homes, cars, boats and outdoors to make hundreds of friends around town and around the world. They communicate with each other using voice, computers, and Morse code. Some hams bounce their signals off the upper regions of the atmosphere, so they can talk with hams on the other side of the world. Other hams use satellites. Many use hand-held radios that fit in their pockets. Hams exchange pictures of each other using television. Some also like to work on electronic circuits, building their own radios and antennas. A few pioneers in Amateur Radio have even contributed to advances in technology that we all enjoy today. There are even ham-astronauts who take radios with them on space shuttle missions and thrill thousands of hams on earth with a call from space! ...with Serious Skills Using even the simplest of radio setups and antennas, amateurs communicate with each other for fun, during emergencies, and even in contests. They handle messages for police and other public service organizations during all kinds of emergencies including: * Hurricanes* Earthquakes* Tornadoes and floods* Motorist accidents* Fires and chemical spills* Search and rescues Sounds interesting.... Where Do I Start? In the US, there are three license levels (Technician, General, & Extra), or "license classes." These licenses are granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As of 2/23/07 the Morse Code Requirements for General and Extra Class were dropped so now once you achieve your Technician license class, it is even easier to upgrade to operate on the HF bands. A Beginner License To Choose From The most popular license for beginners is the Technician Class license, it gives you all ham radio privileges above 30 megahertz (MHz) I.E. VHF/UHF Frequencies. These privileges include the very popular 2-meter band. Many Technician licensees enjoy using small (2 meter/70 cm) hand-held radios to stay in touch with other hams in their area. Technicians may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes. They can even make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple equipment. To earn a Technician license, you'll need to pass the Technician written exam. These are multiple-choice tests, written with beginners in mind. You'll study topics such as radio operating practices, FCC rules and basic electrical theory. How Do I Get Started? Getting started in Amateur Radio has never been easier. First, come to our club office (3rd Floor Student Center, Room 310). We offer help for ham radio licensing classes, or we can answer your questions. You can also e-mail us at PioneerARC@wpunj.edu. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) publishes popular ham radio license study guides to help you learn the things you'll need to pass your exam and have fun with Amateur Radio. The Amateur Radio license examinations are administered by ham radio volunteers. When you're ready to take your exam, the Pioneer Amateur Radio Club will even help you to get to the testing site. http://www.arrl.org/get-on-the-air
