I Want To Be A Ham...
Are there classes available?
Several clubs offer free classes on a regular basis:
Tri-County Amateur Radio Club – http://wc5c.org/
Kilocycle Club (in cooperation with the LDS Church) – http://w5sh.org/
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class To find a class in your area.
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class To find a class in your area.
I can't attend a class – can I study on my own?
Yes! There are a number of free resources available on the internet to help you learn what you need to know, as well as several different books / CDs available at a reasonable cost:
ARRL Study Materials ($):
W5YI Study Materials ($):
The materials offered by the ARRL and W5YI are also available on Amazon.com and other online vendors.
Online Questions Pools / Study Guides (Free):
Be aware that the test questions are updated / changed every few years, so be sure the materials you use / purchase are for the most current question pool. Links on this document should be valid for current exams, but check to make sure the study guides cover the current year.
Many outdated books, etc... turn up on Craig's List, eBay, et al, and will not be helpful in passing the current
exam.
Where can I take practice exams?
http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ (Requires free log-in)
Be sure to verify the practice exam is for the current question pool(s).
OK – I'm ready! Where can I take the test?
Be sure to take appropriate identification / documentation and cash, preferably exact change, to pay for the exam.
Depending on the testing organization, the exam fee will be either $14 or $15. Keep in mind you pay the exam fee
whether you pass or fail, and if you don't pass the exam and you want to try again, you will have to pay again.
Special Note:
Certain accommodations can be made in the testing procedure for people with disabilities. You should contact the organization offering the test well in advance to allow them time to make the appropriate preparations.
Woo-Hoo! I passed the test – now what?
Your exam results and paperwork will be turned in to the VEC organization and filed with the FCC. It will take from 3 days to a week for the license to be issued.
You license will be posted on the FCC website. Use this tool to search for your new license:
In the License Search box, change the search criteria to BY NAME and type in your LAST NAME,
FIRST NAME and click SEARCH.
QRZ.com will also let you search for your license by last name, first name. However, their database will
lag the FCC database by 24 hours or more.
Once you are assigned a callsign, you can get on the air. Just remember, listen first to get a feel for things before keying up. Your actual paper license will usually show up 3-4 weeks after you take your exam.
What radio should I buy?
Every ham has their own preferences as to brand and model of radio – much like car owners and their brand loyalty. What works for them, may not work for you. However, selecting a radio that is popular in your area means there are people who can teach you how to operate it, who can program it for you, etc...
Important Note:
There are a number of Chinese manufacturers flooding the U.S. market with inexpensive radios, and for the most part these are good units and will work as well as name-brand radios. However, their
documentation is generally poor, and they can be very difficult for the beginner to program and operate. In addition, the software and drivers are often problematic. These radios are not a good choice unless you have advanced computer skills or help from someone familiar with programming and operating them.
The big three manufacturers (Yaesu / Kenwood / Icom) offer a wide variety of radios, accessories, support and a good warranty. Their products are typically more expensive than the Chinese radios, but for the beginner, they are much easier to program and operate, and quality accessories are more widely available.
Used radios are often a good choice, provided you get one in full working order. As with everything else in life, there are crooks who prey on new hams by passing off junk as working equipment. Let someone familiar with these radios assist you in any used equipment purchases. Avoid any internet purchase that requests Western Union or other wire transfer methods as payment – these are likely a foreign-based scam to steal your money.
Remember, you don't absolutely have to run out and get a radio as soon as your license posts. You can always buddy up with a local ham and ask if you can visit his shack and see how to do things. Chances are, he'll let you operate the radio in order to show it off.
As with everything else, prices on radios vary widely. While it is important to support our local vendors, they are few and far between in DFW, and don't often have convenient hours. Shop around and do your homework when pricing a radio – sellers will often price the radio cheaply, or offer free shipping, but gouge you on the accessories or software.
Where can I find a list of Texas repeater frequencies?
Just pick your city or county from the pull-down list and click search.
There are also published repeater directories, guides, etc... available for sale or for download. Keep in mind, none of the repeater frequency sources are 100% accurate, so you may or may not hear any activity on the repeaters because they are no longer functional, they have been shut down, or the list is just wrong.
I want to join a club!
Tri-County Amateur Radio Club
Amateur Radio Club of Parker County
Kilocycle Club of Fort Worth
Arlington Amateur Radio Club
For a more complete list of clubs for the entire state, visit:
Are there any events I can attend?
Search by city, ZIP code, etc...
In addition, there are a number of group events held in public places...
Information provided by KF5FEI
Last updated 9/30/2014 by N5JLD
Information provided by KF5FEI
Last updated 9/30/2014 by N5JLD
Since Nov 2010