Getting Your Amateur Radio License
It is possible for anyone to become a licensed Amateur Radio operator.
There are more than 725,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the United States, as young as 9 and as old as 100. And with clubs in nearly any region it’s easy for anybody to get involved right where they are. Where ever you’re located, there is sure to be a ham radio club in your area to help you.
In the early 2000’s, as I surveyed the situation in worldwide Geo-politics and the fragile economic systems, it became apparent to me it might be a good idea to become more prepared for whatever might develop including a SHTF scenario and TEOTWAYKI.
I spent considerable time and effort in beefing up my own preps with storable food, water, medical supplies, emergency gear, and guns and ammo. It wasn’t too long before I recognized one of my prepping weaknesses was in the area of EMCOMM (emergency communications). I felt it might be important to have more situational awareness with a communication plan in case the electrical grid were to fail knocking out cell towers and more.
To get a ham radio license and become a ham radio operator you need:
- Get an FCC Registration Number (FRN)
- Pass a written exam demonstrating a knowledge of some basic skills of radio communication technique, theory, rules and regulations, and more.
There are three levels of Amateur Radio license; to get a higher level you must pass the requirements for the lower level plus the exam for the higher level. The removal of the Morse Code requirement makes it easier than ever to become a licensed amateur operator.
- Technician Class
- General Class
- Amateur Extra class
Following are great study aids to help you at each level.
The General Class license is the second of three US Amateur Radio licenses which conveys extensive HF privileges. Once you have passed the written examination, the entire range of operating modes and the majority of the amateur spectrum below 30 MHz become available to you.
Here are some great online sources for studying for the test.
There are also a number of videos available on YouTube to help study for the test.
