Finding a club that does classroom work and finishing up with the test is a good start. During the classroom work just about any question you have now will be answered. Goto http://www.w5yi.org/ as they have links to classroom and testing session along with other information. Testing cost $15 and the book from w5yi if that's the one they use is $20.carlson1 wrote:I just bought a hand held HAM radio to put in my travel/get home bag in case of emergencys. I know I can talk on it (unless there is an emergency), but I can listen to it and so now I am intrigued and would like to learn more about this. I understand to get a license there is a test involved? How much money (not counting equipment) does it take to get started and can someone give me a few of the benefits for having a license?
Thanks,
Carl
W5yi book is high level information to get you to have a very basic understanding and pass the test. ARRL has instructional books that go much deeper and if you are not into the hardware and electronics can be mind numbing for some. The real learning begins when you have that license and start actively using the radio. The test is 35 questions from a pool of 462 and you can miss 9 question and still pass. It is pass/fail no grade given.
You will also have privileges (transmitting) in 3 of the HF bands using CW only and one other HF band with RTTY/DATA & phone in addition to the VHF and above mentioned in another post.
73, Mike KE5MC
P.S. What's he talking about in the last paragraph?
Come join us and get your license. It's great fun. 