HAM Radio Information

HAM Radios

We have received some interest in people wanting to know the best ways to get certified to operate HAM radios.  We have found a few good study tools that we are currently using and also have found out when and where (in the Nampa area) testing is available. We will share them with you so you can take advantage of them. We recommend that you set specific goals. For example we are setting the month when we want to go in and take our tests by, so we have to be studied up by that point. Tests are available once a month.

There are 3 levels of HAM Radio Licenses:


Technician Class: This license is granted after passing a 35-question test on basic regulations, operating practices, and electronic theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications. No Morse code is required. With a Technician Class license, you will have all ham radio privileges above 30 megahertz (MHz) including the 2-meter band. Technicians may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other modes. Technicians may also operate on the 80, 40, and 15 meter HF bands using CW, and on the 10 meter band using CW, voice, and digital modes.

General Class: Technicians upgrade to General Class by passing a 35-question examination on regulations, operating practices, and electronics theory. No Morse code is required. In addition to Technician Class, General Class operators may use high power transmitters and have access to the 160, 30, 17, 12, and 10 meter bands and access to major parts of the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands.

Extra Class: An upgrade to Extra Class is accomplished by passing a 50-question examination on regulations, specialized operating practices, advanced electronics theory, and radio equipment design. No Morse code is required. While this may seem a challenge it results in the privilege of operating on all authorized Amateur Radio frequencies.

For additional detail on Amateur Radio licensing in the U.S. check out the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) web site and search for Licensing.

When you receive your license you will also be granted a call sign by which you identify your station on the air. The section Call Signs explains call signs and their make-up.


If you do not have a license, you can still use certain common bandwidths of HAM Radio, but it's not very much.

Practicing for Getting the Licenses

The test will take the questions out of a pool of 350 questions. The test itself isn't that long though (above  we stated that the exam for the technician license is only 35 questions). We have heard the best way to get ready for the test is to take the practice tests and correct yourself as you go along.

Study Guide:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m86wlp87am8yom1/Tech_Study_Guide_2010.pdf

Websites to take Practice Exams for Free:
http://www.eham.net/exams/
http://aa9pw.com/radio/
http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/
http://hamexam.org/ - Also has 'Flash Cards' for studying.
If you don't like the formats for these websites, you can Google or Bing for other Practice Exams.


Amateur Radio Clubs

There are two Amateur Radio Clubs in the Nampa Area that I'm sure would love to help you even more:

http://k7si.org/
http://k7lcd.org/