H. Ward Silver - Ham Radio For Dummies

As mentioned earlier, lots of events are being conducted entirely online through Zoom or other multi-user platforms. This has become so popular that some events are being redesigned to be completely online!

Even if you can’t attend, the “proceedings” (a compilation of material presented at the event) are often available at little or no cost for downloading as PDF or for watching as recorded video.

Even if the conference isn’t a ham radio conference, it might have a group of hams hosting ham radio-themed events or presentations. For example, look for the Ham Radio Social at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium or HamCon at the Hackercon convention. Maker Faires ( www.makerfaire.com ) frequently feature one or more ham radio groups, too.

TABLE 3-3Themed Conventions

Part 2

IN THIS PART …

Tour the Federal Communications Commission’s amateur radio licensing system, see how call signs are structured, and find out how the call sign system works.

Find out about the exam itself, as well as how to study for it by yourself and with a mentor.

See how to locate and register for an exam session, and get ready to take the exam.

While you’re waiting for your brand-new call sign, decide whether you want to customize your call.

Chapter 4

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering communication services

Understanding license types

Learning about license exams

Getting a call sign

Like most people, you’re probably familiar with the process of getting a license to drive your car, to fish, or to get married, but ham radio licensing is a little different. The process is easy to deal with when you know how it works, however. This chapter explains the FCC licensing system for amateur radio in the United States.

Hams call their license a “ticket” for good reason since it’s a ticket to all of what ham radio has to offer.

Amateur radio is one of many types of communication services that use radio. Similar services include broadcast (AM and FM radio, television), public safety (police and fire departments), aviation, and even radar systems (radionavigation).

When the name of a specific service is capitalized, such as Amateur Radio Service or Citizens Band, that’s a formal reference to the set of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules for that service. Each service has a different set of rules for its type of operating and use.

To maintain order on the airwaves, the FCC requires that each signal must be transmitted by an authorized station. Stations in all the different services must abide by FCC regulations to obtain (and keep!) their licenses, which give them permission to transmit. That’s what a ham license is: It authorizes you to transmit on the frequencies that licensees of the Amateur Radio Service are permitted to use.

By international treaty, amateur radio in every country is a licensed service — that is, a government agency has to grant a license for a ham to transmit. Although regulation may seem to be a little quaint, given all the communications gadgets for sale these days, licensing is necessary for a couple of reasons:

It allows amateurs to communicate internationally and directly without using any kind of intermediate system that limits their activities.

Because of amateur radio’s broad capabilities, hams need some technical and regulatory training. This allows hams to share the radio spectrum with other radio services, such as broadcasting.

Unlike some of the other types of radios available to the public, you can’t transmit using a ham radio without a license — why? Hams are allowed more flexibility than other services which are restricted to use low power on only a few frequency channels. Other services are limited to specific types of equipment that can’t be modified. Hams are encouraged to build our own equipment, operate on any of our many frequencies, and even invent new types of signals and ways of operating! This requires us to have a certain amount of know-how to operate legally and be good citizens on the air. Getting a license requires us to learn some of that know-how just as getting a driver’s license requires you to show that you understand the basic rules of the road.

By requiring licensees demonstrate some basic knowledge of radio and the FCC rules, licensing helps ensure that the amateur service makes the best use of its unique citizen access to the airwaves. Licensing sets ham radio apart from the unlicensed services and is recognized in the FCC rules, Part 97. Summarized below, the very first rule states the basis and purpose for ham radio as Rule 97.1: