How To Get Into Ham Radio Quickly and Cheaply To start - this is nominally a tech blog, so I won't have too many more articles about this topic on here. Once the gopher server on radiofreqs.space is up and running, I'll keep the ham stuff over there. I use my callsign over there, which is KC3NTG. With that out of the way, there's been some interest among the folks here on colorfield about how to get into amateur (ham) radio. It is very daunting at first because the hobby is so vast. Since I've only had my license for a few weeks, I think I'm qualified to talk about how to get into the hobby. Of course, that also means I reserve the right to contradict any advice I give here at a later date :-) Furthermore, I am in the USA and anything I say here may not apply to anyone outside the USA. First, a TL;DR of my advice: Amateur Radio and pubnix systems to hand-in-hand for me. You'll find a *strong* homebrew culture among hams. 1. Buy a Baofeng HT (Handheld Transceiver) on Amazon. Either the UV-5R or the one I have - the BF-F8HP. The UV-5R can be found for around $30 and the BF-F8HP is around $60. 2. Buy the ARRL Technician Class Study Guide or use KB6NU's No-Nonsense Study Guide [1] - it's free! 3. Use either HamExam.org or HamStudy.org to do test question flashcards. 4. Look up (using ARRL's website) clubs that administer the tests. If you can find one through the Laurel VEC [2], those are free. Otherwise it might be up to $15 to take a test. 5. Find local repeaters using repeaterbook.com (or their Android app) and get on the air. [1] https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf [2] https://www.laurelvec.com/ Now for some expansion on the above. You'll see quite a bit said about Baofeng HTs on the internet. I can tell you this: they are popular because they are good enough and they are cheap. Are they as nice as HTs from the "Big Three" (Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom)? No of course not, but with an upgraded antenna (I recommend the Signal Stick from the guy that runs HamStudy.org), I've gotten on repeaters over 30 miles away. Repeaters are usually run by amateur radio clubs and are placed in high locations. They take your signal and retransmit it a greater distance than you'd ever be able to with your 5 watt handheld. Now, this has improved a bit I'm told, but programming repeater frequencies into the Baofengs using the front-panel keys is not fun. So don't do that - use CHIRP instead. Get the programming cable (Amazon will suggest it when you go to buy the HT) and get CHIRP here [3] [3] https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home It will query RepeaterBook and let you upload all your local repeaters automatically. Now, for the testing. If you use the resources above and you're reading this phlog, I will guarantee you can pass the Technician exam. It sounds intimidating, but all the hams I have interacted with have been universally welcoming to newcomers. I've told you to buy the HT first (before you get licensed) so you can get comfortable by listening to your local repeaters. DO NOT TRANSMIT until you get your license! Listening and getting those frequencies in will get you familiar with your equipment which for me was crucial in overcoming fear when I first got on the air. OK so you have your license - congrats! What now? Well, it's time to key up your local repeater. Just get on after work between 6-8pm (that's been the sweet spot for me) and say "This is , could I get signal report into the repeater?". Another ham will answer and tell you how you sound. Some people will tell you to say " monitoring", but I've found people don't respond to that. You'll want to have a copy of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet handy until you learn it in case someone can't hear you well. My call is "Kilo Charlie Three November Tango Golf" Another way you can get over those initial scaries is to join a net. If you find a local amateur radio club, they will typically have nets a few times a week. These will be listed on their website (which, warning, might be 90s-esque). That is a time where interested hams (and club members) get on the repeater and chat. You check into the net when the net operator asks you to (by giving your callsign) and then when they say your callsign again, just give a blurb about how you're new and just getting your feet wet. When I've done this, there's an outpouring of support and suggestions. OK so you've been chatting with people ("rag chewing" in ham jargon) and that's fun, but that's not going to keep you interested forever most likely. I'll briefly touch on where to go from here with the disclaimer that...I'm not there yet! I have done research and I think I know where I'd like to expand. 1. If you want worldwide communications, you have a couple options. You can study for your General exam and get on HF (lower frequencies that can achieve communication over great distance - "DXing"). You can also look at digital voice, where the main options are D-Star, DMR, and Yaesu System Fusion. This could be a whole article series, and I recommend Amateur Radio Notes [4] for a *great* overview. [4] https://amateurradionotes.com 2. Try to work Amateur Radio Satellites (and the ISS!) with your HT. You can get handheld Yagi antennas for this purpose (or make them - look up Tape Measure Yagi). I have not had success at working satellites so far but then again I haven't been trying very hard. I'm definitely looking to get into building my own antennas. The ISS Detector app for Android has an amateur satellites extension that will show you when they are coming overhead. 3. Check out ARES and other emergency management groups for how you can help in the event of an emergency. Hams were critical in maintaining communications in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. 4. I recommend the amateurradio subreddit (reddit.com/r/amateurradio) because people always post interesting ideas there. The usual warnings about online communities apply here. 5. APRS - you can share your location and send text messages over the air There's way way more you can do that I haven't covered but this post is already insanely long. If you have any questions PLEASE email me at kc3ntg@radiofreqs.space. I've learned already that the biggest part of ham radio is helping others, so take me up on the offer! 73 (a common ham sign-off which means best regards!)!