How To Get A Ham Radio License
Ham Radio: A Brief Introduction
Ham radio is a personal radio station. The radio operator can’t get any monetary or other benefits by running this radio channel.
Any person can start his/her ham radio channel and the person can communicate with other people. A ham radio station could be stationary, mobile, or temporary.
In the US, thousands of people are ham radio operators. But, you must have a license to run this station. Federal Communications Commission or FCC approves this license.
To get this license, you have to pass tests. The tests could be on technical or theoretical knowledge regarding radio. Without passing the exams, you may not get a Call sign and a private frequency. Hence, a ham radio license is really important for a ham radio operator.
How To Get A Ham Radio License
Step One: Papers That You Will Need
To take this exam, you need to show certain papers or documents. These documents will prove that you are a legal US citizen.
You have to bring – FFC regulation number, social security number, exam fees, and legal ID with a photo. You should also have a valid taxpayer identification number. If you are upgrading your license, then you should bring a copy of your current ham radio license.
You should also bring pencils, pens, and an eraser. Electronic devices won’t be allowed in this exam. But, you may bring a new calculator.
Step Two: Choose A (License) Exam
Now, you have to know – what kind of ham radio license do you want? There are three types of licenses and these levels have separate exams.
1) Technical License
This is the basic license. So, every ham or amateur radio operator has to pass this exam to start their ham radio stations.
The exam will give you a local radio frequency and you may operate your radio station within North America. The exam has 35 multiple-choice questions. You have to score at least 26 questions to pass this exam.
2) General Class License
This license is an up-gradation of the technical license. Hence, you have to have a technical license to appear in this exam.
The license will give you the freedom to communicate with worldwide audiences. Almost all kinds of amateur radio frequencies will be under you and you will enjoy a really wide listener.
The exam of this license will have 35 questions and you have to give 26 or above correct answers to pass this general class license exam.
3) Amateur Extra License
To enjoy a full ham radio operator’s limits, you should go for an Amateur Extra License. This license will open all the limits of a ham radio operator and you can talk to even Astronauts.
The exam of this license will have 50 questions for you. Out of 50 you have to score at least 35. But, the questions of this exam are sophisticated and complicated. You may have to know everything about the latest technical advancements (radio). Moreover, you also have to know about radio operations.
You can do Morse coding under this license. In short, this is the highest license of a ham radio operator.
Step Three: Begin Your Study Program
To pass these license exams, you need to find the right study materials. There are free and paid study materials. The technical license exam is not so tough. You may have to study for around 10 hours to pass it.
However, general and amateur extra licenses may require in-depth studies. In that case, you may need good study materials.
Free Study Materials
ARRL or American Radio Relay League offers different types of study materials. The majority of these materials are free and you can have them in PDF version.
They can show you previous year’s questions or you can take small practice tests. ARRL’s study materials are good and they can help you to form an idea about this exam.
Online Classes
Online classes can be a great choice to study for these exams. The best part of these classes is that you can ask different types of questions. Furthermore, you can watch videos and images in online classes.
You can use mobiles, tablets, or computers to attend these online classes. However, you may have to pay for these classes.
Books
Books can truly help you to prepare for these exams. Some people don’t like virtual classes. So, they can buy great books to study for these exams.
A well-organized book is a boon to prepare for these exams. A book may explain various technical terms in a better way. Moreover, there are many books in the market. Just choose a great book and pass your ham radio operator license.
Mobile Apps
Mobile or smartphones have almost all kinds of solutions. Some apps are completely free and some apps are paid. Mobile apps can supply you with well-structured lessons. You can easily access these lessons and you can study whenever you want. So, find great mobile apps for ham radio license exams.
Step Four: Complete Your Exam
After preparing for your exam, you have to give the exam. So, you have to visit an FCC accredited center in person. Volunteer Examiner Coordinator is a legit exam taker. You should find a VEC authorized center to take your ham radio license exam.
Nowadays, if you can’t attend an exam center in person, then you can take online exams. ARRL affiliated clubs can give you an opportunity to take your online exams. So, choose an in-person or remote exam center.
Step Five: Get Your License
If you touch the minimum passing marks, then you can have your ham radio operator license. The examiners can give you signed papers if you have passed the exam. The FCC authority will also send you your Call Sign at your email address. It will come in PDF format and you can print it.
In case, you are a child or disabled person, you should follow the ARRL and FCC guidelines. However, a ham radio operator can communicate with a wide range of people. You can share knowledge, facts, data, statistics, news, and more information. Hence, it’s really exciting to be a ham radio operator.