First, you’re just like everyone that ever started in amateur radio! Don’t worry about your skills or lack thereof. No one was born knowing this information. You can get your license with a few easy steps.
Licensing
First, you will need to pass a test to get your Technician license. We encourage you to keep studying and get your General license. The study material between these two tests is very similar, and once you get your General license, you will have access to all of the capabilities of amateur radio. There is an Amateur Extra license, but it really doesn’t gain you many usable privileges, it’s more for bragging rights, and you can work on that later in your career.
Online Studying
There are tons of study material available online. These sites are our favorites for studying the questions and taking practice tests to gauge your abilities.
- https://hamstudy.org (tracks your progress)
- http://hamexam.org/ (tracks your progress)
- https://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ (tracks your progress)
- http://www.eham.net/exams/
- http://aa9pw.com/radio/
Typically, when you’re getting 82% or higher on the practice exams, you’re ready to take your test. Study to pass the test. You will gain knowledge as you start to operate. An amateur radio license is a license to learn. Think of these tests like a driver’s license. The day you passed your driver’s test, you started to learn how to drive.
Video Training
YouTube has many good videos. Our Technician classes are available online at https://w5nor.org/tech/. Other videos include David Casler KE0OG’s page at http://dcasler.com/ham-radio/training/ and the Ham Radio Crash Course.
Test Sessions
In Norman, we have test sessions on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm at Norman’s Firehouse #7. The test is free. ($15 tests can be found across the country at this link). The license is free. Each test consists of 35 multiple choice questions (out of a total pool of about 400), and you must get at least 26 questions correct. (Miss 9, you’re doing fine. Miss 10, and you’re doing it again.) You can sign up for the test at https://w5nor.org/license.
Club Membership
The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) operates this website and manages all training and licensing operations. Membership is not required, but it is suggested, and it’s only $25 annually. You can join online at https://w5nor.org/membership/.
ARRL National Membership
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio. They have a lot of great information, send out lots of good magazines, and work hard to save our radio spectrum. Their annual membership costs only $49, and you can join online at https://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership/.
Weekly Elmer Nights
And feel free to join us on our Elmer Nights. In the amateur radio world, mentors are called “Elmers.” Each week we meet virtually on Zoom, on the telephone, and YouTube. Twenty-five or so folks show up to have fun, learn something, or teach something. You can ask a question and get lots of answers<g>. We have someone in our group that has done _everything_ in amateur radio, so we can always point you in the right direction. Join us Tuesday nights from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. You will find all of the connection details at https://w5nor.org/elmernights/.
Facebook Group
You can get more information and answers to your questions 24 x 7 in our Facebook group. There are over 550 SCARS folks that will help you learn more about the hobby. You can locate this group at https://w5nor.org/facebook/.
Weekly Newsletter
SCARS generates a weekly newsletter that provides new information at the local, regional, and national levels. Current and past weekly newsletters can be seen at https://w5nor.org/newsletter/.
You can sign up for the weekly newsletter at https://w5nor.org/email/.
Costs
- Study Materials – The online materials above are free and will get you licensed. There are many books and study guides that you can buy, and they are all effective. It is a matter of personal preference based on how you learn best.
- License Test Fees – SCARS offers our license test sessions for free. The club pays for the paperwork and shipping costs, and the examiners volunteer their time.
- FCC License Fees – The FCC provides amateur radio licenses for free.
- Radio, antennas, and all the rest – You can start with a $25 handheld radio and then expand from there. Just like any hobby, what you spend depends on your interests. You can buy pieces and parts as you progress through your activities. Much of the equipment is available second-hand, and you can build antennas and radios.
Summary
There is a TON of stuff to do in amateur radio. Finding a place to start is always difficult. You can get started with a $25 radio. And as you get more involved, you can add to your radio inventory. Again, welcome aboard, lean on us and we’ll get you going!