UPDATED: 3/3/2016, 10:16
Many people prevent themselves from becoming Amateur Radio, or HAM, operators for many reasons. One is, perhaps, the “mystery” that surrounds the hobby. Another is the requirement to do Morse Code. A third is probably that the equipment is so expensive.
It may surprise you to learn that as a former technician in the Navy, I was even confused about the aura that seems to surround the hobby. The electronics was not much of a problem to understand, but the different bands and where I would be allowed to operate was confusing even for me. That quickly dissipated when I finally decided to sit down and study for the license. There are three licenses the FCC grants for amateur radio; Technician Class, General Class and Amateur Extra. To obtain the first two licenses, you must pass an examination of by answering 26 of 35 questions correctly. For Amateur Extra you have to pass an exam of 50 questions with 74%. Do you really need the Amateur Extra though? I will explain presently.
The second reason is Morse Code. You no longer have to pass a test for Morse Code, or CW as it is called in Amateur Radio.
The last is probably the most likely excuse for not getting into Amateur Radio. A high frequency transmitter can run into the thousands of dollars. An antenna can cost as high as $600 if you do not want to build it yourself. If you decide to build yourself, you will have to have access to an antenna analyzer. You will have to get an SWR meter which can run about $250 depending on what you want. And you will have to learn to fight HOAs to put up antennas or towers and on-and-on.
There are, however, several ways you can enjoy Amateur Radio without spending a nickel (except, of course, for the fee to take the test and the fee for any classes you decide to take or books you want to read). There are online services that allow you to communicate with other Ham operators. Two of these I review require an amateur radio license. The others do not. I have not used all of the services, so you will have to consult their web sites for requirements. They all require a sign up.
I do not want to get too technical for this article, but some are based on a Ham project called Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) and some are Voice Over the Internet Protocol (VOIP). The difference is that IRLP actually connects to amateur radio repeaters and radios and therefore you need a license. Services, such as Skype, use VOIP which is strictly over the Internet and therefore require no license.
No Ham License Required
One service that does not require a Ham Radio license is HamSphere. To use the service without a license, you have to use one of their HamSphere call signs. The interface, however, gives people an idea of what a Ham HF transmitter looks like and how it operates. There is also an app for your smart phone.
HamSphere boasts simulating wave propagation, fading and other things that effect your communication on a real Ham radio. So if you are interested in learning what Ham radio is like before you take the test, this site will give you and idea. There is a free trial and then there is a fee of about $34 a year should you decide to continue using it. This service is not located in the United States and the pricing is in Euros. They add a conversion chart so you can find the current charge in dollars. You can read more about it here.
UPDATE: I have not tried this service. With any of the services I always recommend reading the fine print. I have been informed by someone who used HamSphere that you might have to buy “virtual” equipment, such as antennas and amplifiers, to add to your program.
Some Ham operators communicate via the old-fashioned Internet means. Skype seems to be popular. There is also another messaging service that I learned about through Ham operators called Telegram. Skype is a VOIP phone service which has nothing to do with amateur radio, as most people know. Telegram is a message service that I have not used and know little about. The only reason I even mention these is they are other services Ham operators have told me they use.
There is also another social media site that I have reported on called HamConnect. It is a new site still in development that I have used for a couple of weeks. I have made some new amateur radio friends that I would not have met otherwise based on the limited Ham equipment I have available to me. I learned about many of these online services from them.
License Required
There are two IRLP online services that require an amateur radio license. There is an important difference between the non-license communications and these. You are require do use proper radio protocol as defined by the Federal Communications Commission and Amateur Radio operators. That is because these services connect to real amateur radio repeaters and radios. Operating on these services you are actually connecting to the Ham world.
Both of these services require that you submit a copy of your amateur radio license before you can use them.
Canadian-based QsoNet is a program much like HamSphere. That is you download a program and the interface resembles and HF radio. My friend Clay W1PI, who alerted me to the service, refers to it as CORMAC vice QsoNet. That is the name of the software interface “radio.”
This service requires that you observe strict amateur radio procedures just as if you were using a radio. You are required to identify with your call sign frequently, no transmitting music, no commercial use or advertising and so forth.
This system allows you to do CW, but it is simply typing it in with the keyboard as I understand from their web site. You don’t key it in like you do with a regular CW transmitter. I do not know if this system allows a key system, but it would be great to practice with. Ham operators know about “bands,” but it is not common knowledge in the general populace. Certain portions of each frequency band is set up so that you can do only CW and only digital communications. Some portions allow only voice, commonly called phone, communications. You must what you can operate where to use this system (though I do not think this system allows digital communications).
I have not used this system, but intend to try it soon.
The second license-required IRLP system is EchoLink. This does not have an interface similar to a radio. I have used this system for a couple of months and am only now starting to fully understand it. With this system you do not have to worry about frequencies and so-forth. You simply look for the call sign of the Ham operator you want to talk to and connect, provided that person is on.
If you know no one, you can look through the list of users that are online and make contacts directly. You will also find a list of repeaters that you may, or may not, be able to connect to to make contacts with someone over the air.
There is another service, that I have not used, called AllStar Link that appears to be similar to EchoLink. I have not used it so I do not know what their interface looks like. I mention it because it is available and you can research it at their web site.
Technically speaking
These are basic descriptions of Internet services. I have left out technical details. Mainly because I am still learning. You can connect
The purpose was just to show that there are low-cost means of using amateur radio without a big expense of radio equipment.
There are many popular, low-cost radios which allow you to operate over the air in the UHF/VHF ranges. Programming them to work on repeaters will allow you to communicate with a number of other Ham operators and continue to learn and expand on your new experience.
You must be logged in to post a comment.