--------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Almost) Everything the Beginner Should Know About Amateur Radio --------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sandra M. Hawley, N5OLU and James D. Heil, KB5AWM Houston Amateur Radio Helpline Copyright 1991 by James D. Heil and Sandra M. Hawley 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 How do you become an Amateur Radio Operator? Actually, it's pretty easy. First, you've come to the right place! The Houston Amateur Radio Helpline is THE place for information. (Forgive us if you don't live in Houston. The Helpline is available to anyone - anywhere. If you can't find the information you are looking for, give us a call and we'll help you 713-488-4HAM.) To be an Amateur Operator, you have to have a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, and to get the license, you have to pass a test. Easy enough. The Choices There are two paths to take to your first license: No-Code, and Code. The "code" in question is Morse Code. To make things easier for would-be amateurs, the FCC has made it sound more complicated... Life is like that occasionally. (And your government frequently....) You may take a Novice license, which involves passing a Morse code test, or a Technician license, which bypasses the Morse code but involves more questions and more knowledge of Amateur theory and practice. To obtain a Novice license, you must pass two separate test parts: a series of 30 questions about radio theory and practice, and a five word per minute Morse code test. To obtain the No-Code Technician license, you have to pass a 55- question written test (actually there are two tests - Novice and Technician) about radio theory and practice. The Technician license gives you more privileges at first than the Novice, but to go on to higher level licenses and fuller privileges (what frequencies you can work, what equipment you can use, the ability to do long-distance radio work) you will have to pass a 5 wpm Morse code test. Don't worry if this sounds confusing - it is, but we can help you get it straightened out and get on the right path to the fun of Amateur Radio. A Class Act Probably the easiest way to work toward your license, whichever one you decide to obtain first, is to enroll in an Amateur Radio class. Most general purpose amateur radio clubs sponsor classes, and the Helpline can help you find out what classes are available and when in your area. Most classes for the Novice license will run about six to eight weeks; experienced hams will explain the theory and practice to you and help you study for your test. Amateurs are delighted to help people get involved in Amateur Radio. There are also several books available that you can study on your own if classes don't fit your time schedule. Most of them feature both the questions from which the tests are chosen and - this is the wonderful part - the answers! You can obtain these books at electronics and radio stores; if you can't find them, let the Helpline know and we'll help you. There are also tapes that will help you learn Morse code and a nifty computer program (for IBM compatibles) called Super Morse that you can use to learn the code. Testing, testing.... Once you've mastered the information and (if you choose) the Morse code, it'll be no problem to find a Testing Session. Several clubs in the Houston area run tests on a monthly basis, and quite a few others maintain a bi- or tri-monthly schedule. Again, the Helpline can give you the right information when you're ready for it. After you've passed the test comes the hardest part of all - waiting for your license to arrive so that you can finally get on the air and start doing all the wonderful things you've been learning about. Sadly, this can take up to a couple of months, but while you're waiting, you can either borrow some equipment or begin investing in your own "shack" and listen in to local and long-distance communications so you'll know what to do when your "ticket" finally arrives. Joining an Amateur Radio Club The best way to get on the air is through an Amateur club in your area. A lot of clubs have equipment "loaner" programs so that you don't have to hit your bank account right after your license arrives, and all of them have experienced operators who'll be glad to "Elmer" you - to teach you the ropes and help you become comfortable operating. After that, it's up to you. Amateur Radio is a wonderful and rewarding hobby, and you can become involved in just about any part of it you want - emergency communications, assisting community events by providing communications support, participating in a local club, operating long-distance (your first conversation with Japan or Russia is really a kick!), putting Amateur Radio and computers together with a packet station, using Amateur Radio to send television signals.... Over the Rainbow.... You get the idea. The sky is literally the limit - and maybe not even then, since Amateurs have been using both satellites and even "moon-bounce" signals for decades. QUESTIONS MOST OFTEN ASKED IS AMATEUR RADIO REALLY FOR ME? Let's try a simple quiz. 1. Do you like people? 2. Do you like talking to people? 3. Do you enjoy meeting new friends? 4. Do you like learning new things? 5. Do you like having fun? Scoring: If you answered yes to ANY of the above, amateur radio is for YOU!!!! CAN ANYONE BECOME AN AMATEUR? Anyone can become an amateur radio operator - anyone! Whether you are 8 years old or 80 years young, you can become a ham radio operator. Amateur Radio knows no boundaries and Amateurs have no limitations - there are blind amateurs, amateurs confined to wheelchairs or to their beds, male amateurs, female amateurs..... There are hams who are astronauts, actors, comedians, politicians - you name it, there is bound to be an amateur who is one. Most of all, YOU can become an amateur! I'M PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. CAN I GET A LICENSE? Amateur Radio is for everyone. Depending on the severity of the handicap, the FCC has recently allowed license examiners to waive at least some parts of the morse tests. Physical handicaps don't prevent use of your mind, and that's what you need to be an Amateur Radio Operator. There's even an organization specifically for Amateurs who are handicapped: Courage HANDI-HAM System, Courage Center, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN, 55422 (612-588-0811). WHAT DOES HAM STAND FOR ANYWAY? That's a good question. Problem is, nobody really knows. There are all kinds of theories and "explanations" - lack of information has never stopped a good story from spreading. One of our favorites is that H, A, and M were the initials of three amateurs who founded one of the first clubs, up at Harvard University, back in 1907 or so. Unfortunately, nobody up at Harvard has ever heard of them, but it's a neat story. Or then there's the one about an early magazine called H.A.M. And then there's the version about Helping America - Marvelously. (Actually, that's a brand-new version we just made up! It's fun, and everybody else does it.....) Luckily, it really doesn't matter that much. A ham is a person just like you who enjoys Amateur Radio and has fun with it. WHY DO I WANT TO JOIN AN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB? Clubs provide the quickest way to get involved in Amateur radio. They run classes, stage programs, and have a wealth of experienced hams to help you get started, and keep going. A lot of clubs also run "repeaters" for the benefit of their members, so that you can use a low-powered radio to talk over substantial distances. (What's a repeater? You'll learn that in your class.) Clubs also organize special events, sponsor contests, publish newsletters, help at community events, and generally let you find out what your interests are and follow them. Joining a club will put you in touch with others who share your interests and who also want to have fun with amateur radio. Do it. ARE THERE ANY RADIO CLUBS IN MY AREA? After you've checked your phone books, called electronic stores, and haven't saved up the nerve to knock on a door with a large antenna in the back yard, you only have one reliable source left - the ARRL. Contact the American Radio Relay League (203-666-1541). They'll ask for your Zip Code and send you a computer printout of the local clubs in your area. While you're at it, go ahead and ask for a list of volunteer teachers ("Elmers") - they register with the ARRL in order to help people get started in Amateur Radio and will be delighted to hear from you. WHAT KIND OF RADIO SHOULD I GET? There are different kinds of radios for different kinds of communications. For local communications, you'll probably want a small, hand-held radio (a handie-talkie or HT) that can operate on the repeaters in your area. You can also get a more powerful (and, alas, more expensive) mobile rig to mount in your car for local communications. For long-distance you'll need a good HF rig; there are lots of used rigs available at swapfests and auctions. If you like playing with wires and capacitors and so forth, you can build your own equipment - "homebrew" can be lots of fun, and not very expensive. HOW MUCH WILL MY FIRST RADIO COST? That's pretty much up to you, and what you want to do with it. Amateurs are always buying and selling equipment, and there are always swapfests and auctions where you can pick up used equipment for good prices. A nice handie-talkie, used, can cost from $75 up, depending on how fancy it is, while a new one can run anywhere from $250 to $500, again depending on how many features it has. Generally, the smaller (and more convenient) the size, the higher the price tag. HF equipment, the stuff you will use for long-distancing, is more expensive. You can pick up a 10-meter rig at Radio Shack for under $200, but as you upgrade your license you'll want a radio that can be used on more bands. Good used multi-band equipment starts at $300 or so; the new stuff will run $750 or more. And then there are the antennas. They can range from a simple Slinky stretched out (no, we're not kidding) to an elaborate beam-and-tower - stuff that would put your local AM/FM station to shame. Not surprisingly, the beam and tower are a lot more expensive than the slinky. You get what you pay for... However, don't let price tags dismay you. A lot of hams will gladly let you borrow equipment so that you can find out what you need, and many clubs also have "loaner" programs for new hams. It's not awfully cheap, and can get to be quite expensive, but then so can most hobbies. Whether you're interested in woodworking or photography or scuba diving or needlepoint, you're going to end up spending money. Even a certified couch potato can end up spending big bucks for a good TV and a VCR, not to mention the couch.... HOW FAR CAN I TALK? How far do you want to talk? No, that's not just a smart-alec answer - it's the truth. You can talk across the street or across the world - to your old friends in Freeport or your new friends in Mauritius and the Seychelles. It all depends on what you want to do. Two main things determine what distances you can talk: what license you have, and what equipment you have. Novices using Morse code can talk all over the world on HF. Technicians can talk by voice locally and use satellites (how's that for long distance?). And those holding higher class licenses - General, Advanced, and Extra - can use more frequencies and can play with the same satellites and moonbounce. DO THEY USE ENGLISH OVER THERE? You're not multilingual? Shame on you. Neither are we. Luckily, the majority of Amateurs all over the world are - with English as their second language! Thank goodness. And if you're studying a foreign language, there's no better (and no cheaper) way to find thousands of genuine native speakers than on the airwaves. WHAT IS MORSE CODE? It is not, despite what you might hear, a form of medieval torture. It's actually just a system of dots and dashes combined into letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and abbreviations. You can send and receive Morse in lots of ways - electronically, as light signals, by blinking your eyes..... Usually in Amateur radio it's an aural signal. There actually was a Morse who made up the code, incidentally: Samuel F.B. Morse, who had invented the telegraph but needed something to send on it. (Okay, that's an oversimplification, but close enough.) Learning Morse code is pretty much like the old joke about getting to Carnegie Hall... practice, practice, practice. It helps if you have a good ear and sense of rhythm, but anybody can learn it (one of the authors of this piece is a case in point). Although it's sometimes hard to understand why Amateurs have to learn a signalling system invented in the mid-19th century here on the eve of the 21st century, it actually does have some use, since it can be sent intelligibly on much lower power than any other form of radio signal. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? The largest amateur organization is the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Don't be afraid to give them a call at 203-666-1441 or write them at ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111. They can give you all sorts of information - rules, local radio clubs, testing, books, pamphlets and just about anything you can think of. And membership is cheap!! If you have a computer and a modem, you can tap into bulletin board systems (BBSs) that feature amateur radio forums and have thousands of public domain programs available. The ARRL has a BBS with lots of amateur related information; give it a call at 203-665-0090. For a fee, you can join Genie (800-638- 9636) or CompuServe (800-848-8199 ext. 48) or any of the commercial information systems. Local hams can probably tell you about bulletin boards in your area that carry ham information (another one of the great reasons to join a ham club). If you live in or around Houston, Texas, give the Houston Amateur Radio Helpline a call @ 713-488-4HAM. ....and don't forget your local library. WHEN IS THAT NEW COMMUNICATOR LICENSE SUPPOSED TO BE IN EFFECT? The new no-code Technician license went into effect on February 14, 1991. The name of the license remains Technician. The communicator moniker was the proposed name the FCC suggested but was never used. WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO GET THE NO-CODE LICENSE STUDY MANUAL? Until further notice, you will need to pick up both the Novice and Technician study guides in order to get your Technician license. No, it's not a conspiracy by study guide publishers to make more money. Since newcomers have the choice of becoming a Novice or Technician, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to make the two tests into one. PRINTED VERSION ONLY For a document that answers over 50 more often asked questions please send a large self-address-stamped-envelope (with at least $1.50 in postage) to: Houston Amateur Radio Helpline Need to Know Answers 16410 Havenhurst Houston, Texas 77059-5307 713-488-4HAM. GENERAL INFORMATION WHICH LICENSE SHOULD I START WITH? The no-code Technician was created for people interested more in local communication and technical innovations such as packet radio; while the good ole' Novice with 5 WPM code is still probably the "best" entry into the world of long distance communications. Some might even say that in order to effectively talk around the world you need at least a general license, which requires 13 wpm code. (Un)fortunately, the decision is up to you! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU AMATEURS DO ANYWAY? Amateur Radio operators can do almost anything they want, from talking across the street to speaking to other amateurs across the world. Amateurs are often involved in emergency communications, such as in the aftermath of earthquakes and hurricanes. Amateurs assist officials with communications for almost any community event. Be it the Rose Bowl Parade, the New York Marathon, or your local March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, chances are that amateurs are involved in one way or another. What do we do? We experiment, build, learn, educate - all with Amateur Radio. But most of all, we have fun! HOW DOES AMATEUR RADIO RELATE TO CB RADIO? Both Amateur Radio and CB radio operators use radios, but the similarities end about there. Both services have their places in the world, although we're sure some in one service would have some "choice" words for the other. Politics aside, here's the straight dope. Amateur Radio operators may use over 15 bands (areas that contain hundreds of frequencies or "channels") including UHF, VHF, and High Frequency (HF) in many different modes while CB is somewhat limited by 40 AM channels and just a few modes. An amateur can use Morse Code, packet, SSB, FM, AM, TV, and other modes while CB is limited to AM and SSB. On the other hand, Amateurs must pass an increasingly rigorous series of tests to enjoy these privileges, while CB is available to anyone who owns the equipment. The two elements of the radio community probably spend too much time quibbling with one another about which is best; the most important thing is that operators in each service use their talents to help others and to enjoy their hobby. OKAY, YOU'VE SOLD ME. BUT WHAT STUDY GUIDE DO I NEED AND WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET? There are several publishers of amateur radio study guides. A few of the popular ones follow: The ARRL publishes many study guides and books. Including: CLASS Name of Publication Edition Novice Tune in the World 8th edition, 3rd printing Technician Technician Guide 1st edition, 3rd printing General General Guide 1st edition, 4th printing Advanced Advanced Guide 3rd edition, 1st printing Extra Extra Guide 5th edition, 1st printing Gordon West Radio School distributes kits and various guides: Radio Amateur Callbook, Inc. 925 Sherwood Dr., Lake Bluff, IL HOW CAN I STUDY MORSE CODE? The most commonly used tapes of Morse Code are distributed by the Gordon West Radio School and the ARRL (see above) and other various vendors. This isn't a commercial, remember, just a way for you to obtain what you need. If you have an IBM compatible computer, we swear by and sometimes at (the code not the program) the Super Morse program by WD5CID. It's a shareware program that you can obtain from most BBSs. However, if you can't find it on your local BBS, you may send $15 to the author at the address below. Be sure to enclose a FORMATTED 360K 5 1/4 inch diskette in a postage paid return diskette mailer. Lee Murrah, WD5CID 10 Cottage Grove Woods, S.E. Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 319-365-6530 GEnie: L.MURRAH I'D LIKE TO READ ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO. ARE THERE ANY MAGAZINES? Are there any magazines? Yes yes yes, there are magazines. Magazines galore.... below are a few (certainly not all) of the ones most commonly encountered. We've included some general magazines on Amateur Radio, some dealing solely with DX (long-distance), and a couple written for radio listening more than operating. THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST!!!! AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINES QST (with ARRL membership) World Radio 225 Main Street 201 Lathrop Way, Suite D Newington, CT 06111 Sacrament, CA 95815 203-666-1541 ($30 per year) 800-365-SUBS 73 Amateur Radio Today CQ Magazine WGE Center 76 North Broadway Hancock, NH 03449 Hicksville, NY 11801 603-525-4201/800-289-0388 516-681-2922 RADIO RELATED MAGAZINES Popular Communications Monitoring Times 76 North Broadway PO Box 98 Hicksville, NY 11801 140 Dog Branch Road 516-681-2922 Brasstown, NC 28902 704-837-9200 DX MAGAZINES The Long Island DX Bulletin, PO Box 173, Huntington, NY 11743-0173 - bi weekly. The DX Bulletin, PO Box 50, Fulton, CA 95439 - 707-523- 1001 - weekly DX News Sheet, Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Herfordshire EN63JE, England - weekly QRZ DX, PO Box 832205, Richardson, TX 75083 - weekly W6GO/K6HHD QSL Manager list - Jay and Jan O'Brien, Box 700 Rio Linda, CA 95673-0700 OPERATING ON THE AIR WHAT'S THE FCC? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a Federal Government organization that governs, among other things, the amateur radio service. Within the FCC, the Private Radio Bureau (PRB) is directly responsible for the amateur radio service. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS EVERYDAY. HOW DOES THE OTHER PERSON KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR HIM/HER? While normal amateur communications is pot-luck, friends sometimes set up schedules so they can talk more often. At a certain time and frequency the friends can get together and chat. WHY ARE YOU GUYS MESSING UP MY TV? Many times a neighbor of an amateur experiences some interference. This may or may not be caused by the amateur. eliminate any interference - also, the FCC insists on it! Talk with the operator and see whether he/she can offer any help. Helping solve interference problems, whether or not they're caused by Amateur Radio operators, is something we want to do. Most clubs maintain an Interference Committee expressly for that purpose, so check with them for help - in the meantime, don't berate your Amateur Operator neighbor - odds are, he or she's not the source of your problem. CAN I USE MY TV ANTENNA? Well..... While your current television antenna could provide some use, it is best to purchase an antenna specifically for amateur use. Many types are available such as beams, verticals, satellite, dipoles, etc. (Yet another reason to join a local club - to find out what antenna is best for your particular task.) I HAVE AN APARTMENT. HOW CAN I PUT UP AN ANTENNA? A large antenna is not necessary to enjoy amateur radio. For instance, the Technician license will allow you to talk with other local amateurs. A small hand-held radio is all you need. No large beam antenna or long dipole. It's so simple, it's amazing! If you want to get into DXing from your apartment, consider using a Slinky rigged as an antenna - local Amateurs can help you with that - or you can put up an inside dipole by running copper wire, cut for the frequency you'll be using, around the interior of your apartment and connecting it to your radio. Be careful when you operate - this kind of antenna can give your neighbors lots of interference. CAN I HOOK UP MY COMPUTER TO THE RADIO? Computers are used in many different ways with amateur radio. One of the important uses is amateur packet, or AX.25. It is essentially a computer network. However, while most computer nets use wires or telephones, the amateur radio packet network uses the airwaves. To do this, you will need a TNC (terminal node controller), a black box (literally) you connect between your transceiver and your computer. There are several companies that make these "packet boxes;" one of the best known is the Pakratt 232 manufactured by Advanced Electronic Applications, Inc. (AEA). You don't have to tie up your good rig with packet; a lot of hams just pick up an old 2-meter rig and use it. Using packet radio, you can send messages to other Amateurs and to friends all over the world at near-lightning speeds. Admittedly, all those little electrons are travelling at the speed of light, but their journey will be interrupted from time to time as they're forwarded to various packet terminals. It's taken as little as 11 hours to send traffic nationwide via packet, and as long as 48 hours. The Postal Service is green with envy. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TALK ON A HAM SATELLITE? How much do you want to spend? No, that's not just another smart-alec remark. It's true, you can spend as much - or as little - as you would like. Like other hobbies, working amateur satellite does require a basic set of tools. At a minimum, you would need a receiver and transmitter (nowadays it's more often than not a transceiver), and a beam antenna that can follow the satellites. To allow the antenna to "track" a satellite, it is equipped with a special rotor which allows it to not only turn around but also to go up and down (azimuth and elevation, in technical terms, with azimuth the horizon). For new equipment, expect to spend at least $1500.00 to have what a satellite user would consider adequate. HOW DID THEY GET THOSE SATELLITES UP THERE? Rockets. Okay, so that's another smart-alec answer, albeit the short version.... Amateur satellites are launched, usually at a reduced cost, by various non-profit organizations that seek to improve satellite use among amateurs. By far the largest organization of amateur satellite enthusiasts is AMSAT, Inc. For more information, you may contact AMSAT at (301) 589-6062 or write: AMSAT, PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044. Please include a business-size self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). Or if you happen to know anyone sending up a rocket anytime soon, call us! DO I NEED A HAM LICENSE TO TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S RADIO? An FCC issued amateur license is for one specific person. It can not be transferred to anyone. Your relatives and friends may use the radio, but only when you are the control operator, i.e. you must be there when someone other than yourself is using the radio. Beware - you are responsible for anything and everything that goes out on your radio. MY SON'S HOBBY IS STAMP COLLECTING. IF I TALKED TO A HAM IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WOULD IT BE LEGAL FOR HIM TO SEND ME STAMPS FROM HIS COUNTRY? Yes, and Hams often exchange stuff with one another - we've received flags and stamps and booklets and all kinds of nifty stuff, and sent Americana and Texana all over the world. The most important things Hams give one another are friendship and insight into another culture - but all those bright stamps on the letters and QSL cards are nifty too. WHAT'S THE CHARGE TO USE AN AUTOPATCH? An "autopatch" is a service that many clubs provide on their repeaters. It allows club members to make non-business phone calls via their radios. While there isn't a per-minute charge, it is often suggested that anyone planning to use the repeater and autopatch donate to a club repeater fund. That way the repeater is kept up to par so everyone can enjoy it. ARE YOU SURE I'LL BE ABLE TO OPERATE ON 2M WITH THE TECH LICENSE? Yes, we're sure. The Technician license allows one to operate all modes above 30 MHz. For updated information, call the ARRL. CAN I USE MY HANDIE-TALKIE ON AN AIRPLANE? Most airlines do not allow any electronic equipment to be operated while the plane is in flight. However, some people have been very creative. For instance, one amateur is known to always carry a QSL card with him during his travels. As soon as he settles in his airline seat he visits the pilot and introduces himself as an amateur. He mentions that he has an HT along with him and would like to see if he can use his HT while the plane is in flight. The pilot usually allows him to use his HT as long as the plane is not landing or taking off. So can you use it? Ask the pilot. Who knows, if he isn't thrilled about your transmitting he may allow you to at least listen! Getting your handie-talkie through airport security may be an interesting experience - you will probably need to show your license and demonstrate that it is a working rig. Security guards tend to be nervous people. Hurrah.... WHAT'S DX? DX is amateurese for long distance communications. Many amateurs enter DX contests and seek QSL cards from afar. Since many places on the Earth aren't normally inhabited, many DXpeditions are usually funded by an amateur radio manufacturer, but often by the amateurs' own pockets. To keep track of the DXpeditions many DX enthusiasts subscribe to one or more of the many DX magazines or newsletters. See INFO section for selected DX magazines. WITH SO MANY HAMS IN THE WORLD, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE EVERYONE IS? Luckily we don't have to memorize everyone's callsign and address (don't we all have troubles remembering our own name sometimes?). Several firms publish listings of either North American amateurs (that's the US and its possessions, and Canada) or an International edition (everyone but those included in the North American Edition). The Radio Amateur Callbook 925 Sherwood Drive PO Box 247 Lake Bluff, IL 60044 708-234-6600 North American & International Editions If you have a computer (doesn't everyone??), an MS-DOS in particular, you can purchase the Buckmaster Call Sign CD-ROM. It contains the current FCC amateur database as well as over 200 megabytes of shareware and public domain software. Buckmaster Publishing Route 3, Box 56 Mineral, VA 23117 703-894-5777/800-282-5628 Microfiche, computer disk, and CD-ROM versions, North America only WHAT'S A QSL CARD? A QSL card is a confirmation of contact between two amateurs. It is usually a custom printed postcard that each amateur mails to the other. Some of the more popular QSL printers: (random order) Visual Concepts Mac's Shack 7715 W. 63rd St. Box 43175 Overland Park, KS 66202 Seven Points, TX 75143 1-800-869-7527 Sams Cards Chester QSL Cards 48 Monte Carlo Dr. 310 Commercial Pittsburgh, PA 15239 Emporia, KS 66801 316-342-8792 Little Print Shop Rusprint PO Box 1160 Rt. 1 Pflugerville, TX 78660 Box 363-KNOW 512-990-1192 Spring Hill, KS 66083 Gilmores Printing N4ZDU Shell Printing Route #3, Box 1151 Box 50 Oldtown, FL 32680 Rockton, IL 61072 815-629-2193 WHAT ARE ALL THESE QSL'S AND QSO'S AND FB OM'S RUNNING AROUND? Amateurs love to use abbreviations - it's a holdover from the days of almost nothing but Morse code transmissions. There are entire lists of "Q" signals - check a call book. Other common abbreviations are: FB - fine business OM - Old Man (used by hams as a friendly term) YL - young lady or wife If you don't understand the abbreviation, request that your contact use plain English. It's really possible. CAN I USE A LINEAR AMPLIFIER ON 10 METERS LEGALLY? Amateurs are allowed up to 1500 watts on 10 meters. Many firms manufacture amplifiers that are capable of being used on 10 meters. However, the FCC does not allow any firm to sell an amplifier that may be operated on 10 meters without modification. Most firms will tell an amateur how to modify their amplifier to be used on 10 meters. HOW CAN I USE AMATEUR RADIO IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY INTEREST IN FLYING RADIO CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT? You're in luck! Many amateurs use 6 meters for controlling their radio-controlled devices. As a matter of fact, many of the amateurs who do use 6 meters actually became amateurs to get away from the very crowded "unlicensed" radio control frequencies (or so we're told). I KEEP HEARING HAMS ON MY SCANNER REFER TO "GOOD AMATEUR PRACTICE." PLEASE CLARIFY THIS CONCEPT FOR ME. This is a touchy question. Essentially "good amateur practice" is being civilized and courteous to each other. If activity, don't do it. WHAT RADIOS ARE OUT THERE ANYWAY? There are tens of different types of radios. By far the most popular are Kenwood, Icom, and Yaesu. Below are the address (and phones if available) of many of the most popular brands of amateur radio equipment. A quick call or a short note will get you brochures on a particular radio. Information on radios may also be received from "where" you can get your radio. SELECTED AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ICOM American, Inc. Kenwood USA 2380-116th Ave NE 2201 E. Dominguez St. Bellevue, WA 98004 Long Beach, CA 90801-5745 206-454-7619 800-999-9877 GREAT Place for INFO! Alinco Electronics, Inc. Ten-Tec 438 Amapola Ave. #130 Highway 411 East Torrance, CA 90501 Sevierville, TN 37862 213-618-8616 615-428-0364 Standard (Amateur Radio) Advanced Electronic Applications PO Box 48480 2006-196th St. S.W. Niles, IL 60648 PO Box C2160 312-763-0081 Lynnwood, WA 98036 206.775.7373 Alinco Electronics, Inc. Yaesu USA, Inc. 438 Amapola Ave. 17210 Edwards Road Unit 130 Cerritos, CA 90701 Torrance, CA 90501 203-618-8616 WHERE CAN I GET MY AMATEUR RADIO? Many amateurs get their new and used radios from mail order houses. Below are some of the more popular vendors: SELECTED AMATEUR RADIO VENDORS: Madison's Electronics Ham Radio Outlet 12310 Zavalla They're everywhere! Houston, TX 77085 West 800-854-6046 Amateur Electronic Supply C-Comm 5710 W. Good Hope Road 6115 15th N.W. Milwaukee, WI 53223 Seattle, WA 98107 414-358-0333/800-558-0411 206-784-7337/800-426-6528 R&L Electronics RF Enterprises 1315 Maple Ave HCR Box 43 Hamilton, OH 45011 Merrifield, MN 56465 513-868-6399/800-221-7735 218-765-3254/800-233-2482 Austin Amateur Radio Supply Jun's Electronics 5325 North I-35 3919 Sepulveda Blvd. Austin, TX 78723 Culver City, CA 90230 512-454-2994/800-423-2604 213-390-8003/800-882-1343 Barry Electronics Texas Towers 512 Broadway 1108 Summit Ave. #4 New York City, NY 10012 Plano, TX 75074 212-925-7000 214-422-7306/800-272-3467 WHAT RADIO'S FOR ME? See above. There are several major manufacturers of Amateur equipment - Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood are the three largest, or at least the biggest advertisers. Browse through the magazines devoted to Amateur radio - QST and 73 are two of the largest - 'cause they're filled with advertisements and technical data. Talk to your fellow club members, who will be only too happy to sing the praises of their current equipment. WHAT AMATEUR SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FOR MY COMPUTER? Amateur Radio software is available for virtually every computer. Many public domain copying services have special sections just for us amateurs. Check with your local Computer user's group for more details. While this isn't a commercial, you may want to try Public Brand Software at 1-800-426-DISK. They have a diverse selection of software including some amateur radio related titles. It is reported that each disk is $5.00 (see related question on 'Where can I get more information'). GEnie and CompuServe also have extensive software libraries that include Amateur Radio related programs. HOW DID HAMS GET TO BE ASTRONAUTS? Unfortunately having a license doesn't guarantee us a seat on the Space Shuttle. No, the question should read "how does an astronaut become an amateur." Too bad, eh? "Hams in Space" started in 1983 when Owen Garriott, W5LFL, went up in the shuttle Columbia and used a 2-meter rig to carry on conversations with people back on earth. This was so successful, and so popular, that NASA now runs the SAREX program (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment) from time to time, coordinating the shuttle with hams at various NASA sites. SAREX has been tremendously popular, both with Amateur Radio enthusiasts and astronauts, and quite a few members of the astronaut corps either have or are working on their amateur radio licenses. AMATEUR TESTING QUESTIONS I'M ONLY GOING TO OPERATE ON VHF. WHY TO I HAVE TO KNOW ALL THIS HF STUFF? It doesn't hurt to know more than you need, does it? Who knows, you may want to get into other facets of amateur radio. If you do, you'll be prepared! And that's what the FCC tells us. NOW THAT I'VE DECIDED TO GET MY LICENSE, WHAT DO I NEED TO STUDY? There are five levels of amateur radio licenses - Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra. The following tables describe the levels and what it takes to earn each license as well as a description of each of the current elements (tests). Class Elements required for each license Novice - 1A, 2 Tech - 2, 3A Advanced - 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A Extra - 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B Element Name of Element Number of questions/needed to pass ------- ------------------ ---------------------------------- 1A 5 wpm telegraphy 25 characters in a row or 7 questions correct out of 10 1B 13 wpm telegraphy 65 characters in a row or 7 questions correct out of 10 1C 20 wpm telegraphy 100 characters in a row or 7 questions out of 10 correct 2 Novice written 30 questions, 22 correct 3A Technician written 25 questions, 19 correct 3B General written 25 questions, 19 correct 4A Advanced written 50 questions, 37 correct 4B Extra written 40 questions, 30 correct DO I HAVE TO RETAKE THE TEST EACH TIME I RENEW MY LICENSE? No. An Amateur Radio license is valid for 10 years. To make sure your renewed ticket (we amateurs sometimes call our licenses tickets) arrives in time, a few months before your ticket expires you should submit a 610 form requesting a renewal to the FCC (be sure to attach a copy of your license!). A month or so later you'll be good for another 10 years! A retest is not necessary. All you have to do is submit the FCC 610 form DIRECTLY to the FCC. Your club secretary probably has some 610 forms available, or you can request them directly from the FCC. ANY HELPFUL HINTS ON TAKING MY TESTS? First, as that all-knowing hitchhiker said - Don't Panic! Most test sessions start with the Morse code exam. Usually the 20 wpm test will go first, then the 13, and then the 5 wpm. Some people find it helpful to sit in and simply listen to the faster speed, so that their test sounds much slower and easier to copy. By the time you go in to take the Morse test, you probably should be able to copy at least a little bit faster than the speed you intend to pass - that allows for nerves. You can take the Morse code elements out of sequence - that is, start with the 20 wpm and work your way down to your level, but you must take the written tests in order, from Novice up to Extra. In other words, you can take any level of the code whether or not you have passed the lower level, but you may not take a higher level written test until you have passed its precursors. You can't take the Advanced written until you've passed Novice, Tech, and General. When taking exams at your local VEC approved session, you pay the current rate ($5.25 for 1991) to take an exam. AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO PASS EACH ELEMENT YOU TAKE, YOU MAY CONTINUE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL EXAMS. Once you have FAILED an exam, you must pay an additional fee. If possible, the VEs will allow you to take the element you failed (but different from the last). The IF POSSIBLE means that the VEs have a CHOICE to administer another exam for you -- we're not talking the Constitution here, you know! Most VEs help conduct the tests because they like helping people get licensed and then upgrade, and will do as much as they can to help you. When taking a Morse code exam, TAKE YOUR TIME! Many people just don't take the time to rewrite what they copied during the test. If you take the time to rewrite what you received and fill in whatever you may have missed, chances are you'll do better. I've even seen several people fail because they didn't spell TEXAS correctly (they had TEX S on their paper!). TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT! You have two ways to pass your CW test. First, you can answer 7 of 10 questions about the message that was sent. Most Ves have relied on fill-in-the-blank questions, but many VECs are planning on allowing VEs to administer multiple choice morse code exams - check with your local testing group to see what they offer. The second way you may pass the test is by copying the message correctly for one minute; for the 5 wpm test you must have 25 consecutive characters correct, for the 13 wpm test 65, and for the 20 wpm 100. WHO GIVES THE TESTS? Tests may be given two ways: either by 2 hams with a license of General or above, or at an accredited VEC (volunteer examiner coordinator) testing session. According to the FCC rules, a Novice test may be given by two amateurs with General class licenses or above. The test may be held in your living room, at a regular session of the Novice class, or just about anywhere you can get two General licensees. ALL Novice TESTS ARE FREE. The only prohibition is that the testers may not be related to you. However, if you're taking a Technician or higher level test, the test must be administered by accredited VEs. These VEs must hold at least an Advanced license and must have passed a written exam required by the VEC (Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, such as the ARRL or W5YI). Usually the higher level exams will be given at a formal examination session. Many clubs hold these test sessions monthly; the ARRL can give you information on who, when and where (800-927-7583). For 70 years the FCC administered all amateur examinations. However, with the onslaught of governmental budget cuts, the FCC was forced to reduce costs incurred by the amateur radio service. In 1982 the FCC proposed that the amateur service begin testing itself. While the history lesson could go for many pages, the result was...(TA DA!) the Amateur Radio Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. A VEC is an organization that is large enough in scope to be able to administer exams wherever the FCC has authority. Volunteer Examiners (VEs) administer amateur radio exams all throughout the US and its possessions on behalf of the FCC approved VECs. Every year the FCC determines the maximum fee all VECs may charge for amateur exams. Since the fee is based upon the Consumer Price Index, one can almost be assured of an increase each January 1. The current fee most VECs charge is $5.25 Exams are registered with their VEC's headquarters. For information regarding ARRL-VEC exams you may call 800-927-7583. For W5YI-VEC testing sites you may call either 800-669-W5YI or 817-461-6443. Or if you're lucky enough to live near Houston, you can call the Houston Amateur Radio Helpline @ 713-488-4HAM. Good luck! IF I PASS MY NOVICE WRITTEN BUT FAIL MY TECHNICIAN WRITTEN, DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE NOVICE TEST OVER? No, you do not have to retake the Novice test. You receive Certificate of Successful Completion of an Examination (CSCE) for each exam you successfully pass. The CSCE is valid for one year from the date it was issued. If you are already licensed as a Novice, for instance, and you pass the Technician written, the CSCE is proof that you have passed the required exam until you receive your updated license from the FCC. WHAT IF THE FCC RUNS OUT OF CALLSIGNS? To coin a phrase, the FCC has billions and billions of choices for our call signs. (Thank you, Carl Sagan.) Well, maybe not billions, but think about this: there are 10 call sign districts and four distinct groups (A, B, C, D), each with a different number of letters in both prefix and suffix. Our math won't take us all the way, but we're pretty sure the FCC has a long way to go! OF THOSE SILLY TESTS? Yes. Sorry, but that's the way life goes sometimes. A license is valid for 10 years. Because the FCC is such a nice organization, they have a 2 year grace period. If you realize your license is expired within the 2 year grace period you may still renew your license. Outside of two years, grab that book and start studying! HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY LICENSE FROM THE FCC? Unfortunately, it's truly hard to say. For a new license you should expect up to a 90 day wait. If after 90 days you still haven't received your license you have several options. First and foremost, contact the people who gave your exam. If they have no idea, contact the FCC at their consumer information number (717-337-1212). The FCC will need your name, call, and testing date. Remember, the FCC's database may not have your new license entered yet, so don't despair (it must be actually printed before Gettysburg knows about your license). It is reported that the FCC prints licenses on Thursdays. If your exam was taken at a VEC testing session, contact the VEC. (ARRL 800-927-7583; W5YI 817-461-6443). I'M WAITING FOR MY LICENSE - ANY IDEA WHAT MY CALLSIGN WILL BE? Many amateur publications publish the latest calls issued by the FCC. If you can't find the latest call list try calling the FCC at 717-337-1212. The end of the month is usually when the FCC releases the latest call sign list. IS THE NO-CODE TECH ONE TEST OR TWO? The no-code license (Technician) requires two tests - the Novice and Technician written. There are no current plans to merge the two tests into one. However, things change. WHY IS THE TECHNICIAN LIMITED TO >30 MHZ? By international agreements no person shall be eligible to transmit below 30 MegaHertz (MHz) without successfully showing that he/she can send and receive Morse Code. IF I FAIL A TEST, CAN I RETAKE IT? IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD? First, sorry you failed the test. However, it isn't the end of the world, right? There is no required waiting period between tests. However, if you fail a test and wish to retake it you will be required to pay an additional testing fee. But what the heck, it's only money! (luckily, it's your money, not mine!) CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE The authors would like to thank the amateur community for the enormous enthusiasm it had towards this project. The questions are from many different sources including ourselves, the GEnie Information Service, Prodigy, and local BBS systems in the Houston area. A special thanks is in order to Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ, for his many helpful suggestions and contributions. All trademarks mentioned in the document are copyrighted by their respective owners. This document is not a commercial for any product; it's one and only purpose is to inform. Please forward any unanswered questions that you feel should be a part of the next edition of this document. James D. Heil, KB5AWM Sandra M. Hawley, N5OLU 16410 Havenhurst 16301 Buccaneer # 207 Houston, Texas 77059-5307 Houston, Texas 77062 713-488-4HAM Prodigy: GTMS56A GEnie: J.HEIL4 This document is copyright 1991 by James D. Heil & Sandra M. Hawley Table of Contents How do you become an Amateur Radio Operator? . . . . . . . . . 1 The Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A Class Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Testing, testing..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Joining an Amateur Radio Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Over the Rainbow..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 QUESTIONS MOST OFTEN ASKED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 IS AMATEUR RADIO REALLY FOR ME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CAN ANYONE BECOME AN AMATEUR? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 I'M PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. CAN I GET A LICENSE?. . . . . 3 WHAT DOES HAM STAND FOR ANYWAY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WHY DO I WANT TO JOIN AN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB?. . . . . . . 4 ARE THERE ANY RADIO CLUBS IN MY AREA? . . . . . . . . . . 4 WHAT KIND OF RADIO SHOULD I GET?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 HOW MUCH WILL MY FIRST RADIO COST?. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 HOW FAR CAN I TALK? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 DO THEY USE ENGLISH OVER THERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WHAT IS MORSE CODE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WHEN IS THAT NEW COMMUNICATOR LICENSE SUPPOSED TO BE IN EFFECT?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO GET THE NO-CODE LICENSE STUDY MANUAL?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 GENERAL INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 WHICH LICENSE SHOULD I START WITH?. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 WHAT THE HECK DO YOU AMATEURS DO ANYWAY?. . . . . . . . . 8 HOW DOES AMATEUR RADIO RELATE TO CB RADIO?. . . . . . . . 8 OKAY, YOU'VE SOLD ME. BUT WHAT STUDY GUIDE DO I NEED AND WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 HOW CAN I STUDY MORSE CODE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 I'D LIKE TO READ ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO. ARE THERE ANY MAGAZINES? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 RADIO RELATED MAGAZINES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 DX MAGAZINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 OPERATING ON THE AIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 WHAT'S THE FCC? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS EVERYDAY. HOW DOES THE OTHER PERSON KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR HIM/HER? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 WHY ARE YOU GUYS MESSING UP MY TV?. . . . . . . . . . . 11 CAN I USE MY TV ANTENNA?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I HAVE AN APARTMENT. HOW CAN I PUT UP AN ANTENNA?. . . 11 CAN I HOOK UP MY COMPUTER TO THE RADIO? . . . . . . . . 12 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TALK ON A HAM SATELLITE? . . . 12 HOW DID THEY GET THOSE SATELLITES UP THERE? . . . . . . 13 DO I NEED A HAM LICENSE TO TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S RADIO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 MY SON'S HOBBY IS STAMP COLLECTING. IF I TALKED TO A HAM IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WOULD IT BE LEGAL FOR HIM TO SEND ME STAMPS FROM HIS COUNTRY? . . . . . . . 13 WHAT'S THE CHARGE TO USE AN AUTOPATCH?. . . . . . . . . 13 ARE YOU SURE I'LL BE ABLE TO OPERATE ON 2M WITH THE TECH LICENSE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CAN I USE MY HANDIE-TALKIE ON AN AIRPLANE?. . . . . . . 14 WHAT'S DX?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WITH SO MANY HAMS IN THE WORLD, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE EVERYONE IS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WHAT'S A QSL CARD?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 QSL printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 WHAT ARE ALL THESE QSL'S AND QSO'S AND FB OM'S RUNNING AROUND?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 CAN I USE A LINEAR AMPLIFIER ON 10 METERS LEGALLY?. . . 16 HOW CAN I USE AMATEUR RADIO IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY INTEREST IN FLYING RADIO CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT?. . . 16 I KEEP HEARING HAMS ON MY SCANNER REFER TO "GOOD AMATEUR PRACTICE." PLEASE CLARIFY THIS CONCEPT FOR ME.. . 16 WHAT RADIOS ARE OUT THERE ANYWAY? . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SELECTED AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS . . 16 WHERE CAN I GET MY AMATEUR RADIO? . . . . . . . . . . . 17 SELECTED AMATEUR RADIO VENDORS:. . . . . . . . . . 17 WHAT RADIO'S FOR ME?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 WHAT AMATEUR SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FOR MY COMPUTER? . . 18 HOW DID HAMS GET TO BE ASTRONAUTS?. . . . . . . . . . . 18 AMATEUR TESTING QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 I'M ONLY GOING TO OPERATE ON VHF. WHY TO I HAVE TO KNOW ALL THIS HF STUFF? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 NOW THAT I'VE DECIDED TO GET MY LICENSE, WHAT DO I NEED TO STUDY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Elements required for each license . . . . . . . . 19 DO I HAVE TO RETAKE THE TEST EACH TIME I RENEW MY LICENSE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ANY HELPFUL HINTS ON TAKING MY TESTS? . . . . . . . . . 20 WHO GIVES THE TESTS?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 IF I PASS MY NOVICE WRITTEN BUT FAIL MY TECHNICIAN WRITTEN, DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE NOVICE TEST OVER? . 22 WHAT IF THE FCC RUNS OUT OF CALLSIGNS?. . . . . . . . . 22 I LET MY LICENSE EXPIRE A FEW YEARS AGO, DO I HAVE TO RETAKE ALL OF THOSE SILLY TESTS? . . . . . . . . . 22 HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY LICENSE FROM THE FCC? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 I'M WAITING FOR MY LICENSE - ANY IDEA WHAT MY CALLSIGN WILL BE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 IS THE NO-CODE TECH ONE TEST OR TWO?. . . . . . . . . . 23 WHY IS THE TECHNICIAN LIMITED TO >30 MHZ? . . . . . . . 23 IF I FAIL A TEST, CAN I RETAKE IT? IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Index of Selected Topics Advanced Electronic Applications, Inc. (AEA) . . . . . . . . . 12 American Radio Relay League (ARRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 AMSAT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARRL-VEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Callbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CompuServe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Courage HANDI-HAM System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Federal Communications Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Gordon West Radio School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Hams in Space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Houston Amateur Radio Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Morse Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 QSL printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Super Morse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) . . . . . . . . . . . 21 W5YI-VEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Introducing the Houston Amateur Radio Helpline "Lending Houston a Helping Ham" - that's what the Houston Amateur Radio Helpline is doing. All it takes is an interested person, a touch-tone phone and a call to 713-488-4HAM to find out the latest information about clubs, classes, tests, rules and amateur radio in general. "We wanted to find a way to get the word out about amateur radio - how much fun it is, how easy it is to get involved with and how to do it," according to Jim Heil, KB5AWM who has spearheaded formation of the Helpline. To do this, the Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club (CLARC) is using a computerized telephone answering system that provides callers with a menu of choices and access to information by simply punching in numbers from their touch-tone phone. "We're still working on it," Heil said, "but even now we've got an enormous amount of information available. If people ask us, we can refer to them to clubs in their area, give them information about classes and tests, and send them packets of material about amateur radio." The Helpline has been created for the benefit of everybody in the Houston area and will include information about any local club that wants to participate. "All a club has to do to get on the Helpline is fill out a questionnaire that we'll be glad to send them. As soon as we get the information back, we'll get it on the Helpline." Although the Helpline has been operating just over a month, it has already received nearly 200 phone calls and sent out over 50 information packets - free. "Right now CLARC is paying for this," Heil says, "but we hope other clubs will see its value and help out - it gets very expensive." According to Heil, even the Houston FCC office has greeted this project with enthusiasm and gives out the Helpline number to people looking for amateur radio information. "'Lending Houston a Helping Ham' is far more than just a terrible pun. It is our motto and our goal. Amateur Radio is a wonderful hobby and an important public service, and the more people we can bring into it, the better." Give the Houston Amateur Radio Helpline a call - it's easy! 713- 488-4HAM. The Houston Amateur Radio Helpline (713.488.4HAM) is sponsored by the Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club and Jim Heil, KB5AWM. If you are out of our calling area you can write the Helpline at 16410 Havenhurst, Houston, Texas 77059-5307. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------