Frequently
Asked Questions
Who
are Amateur Radio operators or Hams?
Anyone you know could
be an Amateur Radio operator or "ham"
--no matter what age, gender or physical ability. From
ages 8 to 80, people in many countries of the world can
have fun as radio amateurs. If you've had fun with CB
radio or trying new things with your computer, wait till
you see what you can do with ham radio!
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What Can I Do
With Ham Radio?
You can communicate
from the top of a mountain, your home or behind the
wheel of your car. You can take radio wherever you go!
In times of disaster, when regular communications
channels fail, hams can swing into action assisting
emergency communications efforts and working with public
service agencies. At other times, you can talk to
Shuttle astronauts or bounce signals off the moon. You
can use
telegraphy, voice, digital, even images in
communication with other hams. Our club also has severe
weather nets where we keep an eye on dangerous storms,
report vital information to Net Control where it then
gets relayed to the National Weather Service. Know any
other hobby with so much to offer?
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Why Do I need A
License?
Although the main
purpose of the hobby is fun, it is called the "Amateur
Radio Service" because it also has a serious face. The
FCC created the "Service" to fill the need for a pool of
experts who could provide backup emergency
communications in times of need. In addition, the FCC
acknowledged the ability of the hobby to advance
communication and technical knowledge, and enhance
international goodwill.
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What will this cost me?
A basic new handheld
radio can cost about the same as an inexpensive 19-inch
color TV. Flea market bargains can cost a lot less. A
new tabletop multi-band unit for your home radio shack
can cost about the same as the PC you're reading this
on. Materials
to get you started are relatively inexpensive, and the
exam fee you'll pay when you're ready to test is
nominal.
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When was
Amateur Radio started?
Nobody knows when
Amateur Radio operators were first called "hams", but we
do know that Amateur Radio is as old as the history of
radio itself. In 1912, Congress passed the first laws
regulating radio transmissions in the US. By 1914,
amateur experimenters were communicating nation-wide,
and setting up a system to relay messages from coast to
coast.
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I don't have a lot of time. Can I still enjoy the hobby?
You bet! The beauty of
ham radio is it can fit the time, space, and budget that
YOU decide is right for you. It's got that low stress,
high fun ratio that many busy people seek in their
off-hours. It can also be great family fun or a solitary
pleasure.
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I want to talk to a real, live ham. Who can I contact?
Send us an email at
ccarc@culcom.net
or stop by one of our meetings on the third Saturday of
every month in the Logansport EMA Building 1227 North
State Road 17 at 9am. You do NOT have to be a member to
attend, everyone is welcome!
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