Volunteering in all types of weather and all times of the day and night.

Amateur Radio is a Mixture of fun, community service, and learning. Licensed by the FCC, radio amateurs, "Hams". Communicate across the country, around the world, and even with astronauts on the International Space Station.

Hams build equipment, launch rockets carrying amateur TV, bounce signals off the moon, and talk to celebrities and royalty.

The entry-level Technician license provides privileges in the VHF-UHF bands upon passing a 35-question test. The General class license permits operation on portions of the HF bands after passing a five word per minute Morse code test and a written test. The Extra class license allows operation on all segments of the amateur frequencies.

Hams operate using a variety of modes that include voice (AM, FM SSB)' digital (packet, PSK32 Morse Code, RTTY,) and TV (slow & fast scan). They may have extensive base stations with multiple transceivers and an "antenna farm" or their stations may consist of a single HT (handy-talkie) used for local repeater operation. The cost for a station ranges from less than $100 to many thousands of dollars.

TALK to a Ham! We love to bring new people into the hobby. READ the magazine, CQ, QST, 73, and World Radio are several of the most popular ones. Read a book. Your local library has, or can obtain, books on amateur radio. The ARRL Operating Guide is a good one to start with.

Listen in. Most communities have near-by ham repeater that can be monitored with a basic scanner. (Star/Biscoe's is the KI4DH repeater transmitting on the 147.09 MHZ FM.) Earn your license, Becoming an amateur has never been easier.

The local Radio Shack store usually has the "Gorden West Technician study guide" and /or the ARRL manual "Now You're Talking". Either one of these will prepare you for the Technician Test. Tests are given locally by Volunteer Examiners.

Amateur Radio Talking to the World!
What do the moon, a rocket to mars, the International Space Station, space satellites, little kids, kites, balloons, kings, rescue from pirates, and desert islands have in common?

They have all been involved with amateur radio.