Becoming an Amateur Radio Operator
Becoming a Ham
You don’t have to be an amateur radio operator (“ham”) to be a part of SKYWARN, but we’re sure you will find the experience much more enjoyable and rewarding when you can participate in our SKYWARN "nets" and other field activities. The FCC has made certain changes to its licensing requirements making it easier than ever to get your “ticket” and get on the air!
To get your ham radio license, you must pass a 35-question multiple-choice examination covering FCC rules, good radio operating practice, entry-level license privileges, and basic radio and electrical theory. Once your license is issued by the FCC, you’re ready to go on the air and begin talking to other hams around town and around the world!
You don’t have to be an amateur radio operator (“ham”) to be a part of SKYWARN, but we’re sure you will find the experience much more enjoyable and rewarding when you can participate in our SKYWARN "nets" and other field activities. The FCC has made certain changes to its licensing requirements making it easier than ever to get your “ticket” and get on the air!
To get your ham radio license, you must pass a 35-question multiple-choice examination covering FCC rules, good radio operating practice, entry-level license privileges, and basic radio and electrical theory. Once your license is issued by the FCC, you’re ready to go on the air and begin talking to other hams around town and around the world!
Getting Started
The entry-level amateur radio license is the Technician Class license, which, in general, allows transmission on the radio bands used for most SKYWARN Sector 1 operations.
How you prepare for the Technician Class license examination is completely up to you, many of the local ham radio clubs offer classes locally or if you'd rather take your class on line and work at your own pace I recommend this YouTube Channel they take you through the exam step by step just as if you were attending in person and they are available via email to help answer your questions.
Need help finding a class in your area? Contact using the contact form on this website for more information. We’d be glad to lend a hand!
Taking the Test
Once you’ve worked your way through the material, take some time to go through a few practice tests. If you’re taking a licensing class through a local club, you’ll probably have an opportunity to do this toward the end of your class. Online training courses such as the one linked above will recommend on-line practice tests such as hamstudy.org
By the end of the course you should be feeling much more confident. Now it’s time to take the real thing!
At this point you'll want to find a testing site near you and find out when they are testing. Some charge a small fee (usually around $15) to administer the exam. The Volunteer Examiners will then grade your test and submit it to the FCC for them to issue your license. Depending on where you take your exam you will usually have your license within 2-3 weeks!
Again, if you need help finding a test center in your area, use the contact us form on this website for more assistance or use The ARRL web site's Exam Finder.
In most areas you should be able to find a session within a 30-minute drive at least once every two months. Like we said earlier, you may have to drive a bit to get to an exam when you’re ready to take one.
The entry-level amateur radio license is the Technician Class license, which, in general, allows transmission on the radio bands used for most SKYWARN Sector 1 operations.
How you prepare for the Technician Class license examination is completely up to you, many of the local ham radio clubs offer classes locally or if you'd rather take your class on line and work at your own pace I recommend this YouTube Channel they take you through the exam step by step just as if you were attending in person and they are available via email to help answer your questions.
Need help finding a class in your area? Contact using the contact form on this website for more information. We’d be glad to lend a hand!
Taking the Test
Once you’ve worked your way through the material, take some time to go through a few practice tests. If you’re taking a licensing class through a local club, you’ll probably have an opportunity to do this toward the end of your class. Online training courses such as the one linked above will recommend on-line practice tests such as hamstudy.org
By the end of the course you should be feeling much more confident. Now it’s time to take the real thing!
At this point you'll want to find a testing site near you and find out when they are testing. Some charge a small fee (usually around $15) to administer the exam. The Volunteer Examiners will then grade your test and submit it to the FCC for them to issue your license. Depending on where you take your exam you will usually have your license within 2-3 weeks!
Again, if you need help finding a test center in your area, use the contact us form on this website for more assistance or use The ARRL web site's Exam Finder.
In most areas you should be able to find a session within a 30-minute drive at least once every two months. Like we said earlier, you may have to drive a bit to get to an exam when you’re ready to take one.
Get on the Air
Once you pass your exam you’re ready to get on the air! There are a multitude of vendors selling amateur radio equipment online and in retail stores. Some of the popular mail-order vendors include Gigaparts, Universal Radio, & HRO.
NOTE: The links above are for convenience only. AZ Skywarn Sector 1 and the National Weather Service do not endorse any specific vendor of amateur radio equipment.
Many new hams start off with a simple 2-meter handheld transceiver (HT). This is an inexpensive way to get on the air– two of the major manufacturers, iCom and Yaesu, both offer HT’s in the under-$150 price range for a good rugged radio, but a search of Amazon will find manufacturers such as Baofeng and TYT have offerings in the $30 price range that could also work for you. Something as simple as an inexpensive magnet-mount antenna for your vehicle or home, a plug-in hand microphone and a car or ac power cord should compliment your HT purchase if it’s going to be your only radio for a while. The additional investment in a few accessories will pay off in the convenience of operating safely and efficiently from home and on the road.
While an HT can get you into most of our repeaters, you'll want to look at getting something a bit more robust down the line and again, it doesn't have to break the bank. For significantly greater operating distance, a mobile radio can be used in the car or at home. While HT’s transmit with between 0.2 and 5 watts (some as high as 7 watts), inexpensive mobile radios can be found operating with up to 75 watts of power, which will considerably enhance your ability to get a signal out to the other station or a distant repeater.
Before investing in any new equipment, take a moment to think about your requirements. Where will you primarily use the radio? What bands do you want to be able to use (SKYWARN uses both the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands in some areas).
When it comes to the “new vs. used” question, bear in mind that for most entry-level equipment there is usually no significant savings in buying used equipment from eBay, Craigslist, or other sources. Since there are so many things one can do to a radio to adversely affect its operating condition, do yourself a favor and make your first purchase a new radio from a reputable vendor with a warranty attached. The warranty won’t cover your silly mistakes, but it will ensure you’re not buying a $200 boat anchor!
You may want to stop by your local ham radio club’s monthly meeting and ask for advice (you’ll get plenty of it!) and many hams are more than willing to let you play with their radio, or maybe even borrow one of their old clunkers until you get a station of your own on the air!
Not Just for Skywarn
Having your ham license opens up a world of communications possibilities for you. During any type of national emergency or disaster, phone lines get tied up. Many times the only way to get messages in and out of the area is through Amateur Radio.
Interested in Search and Rescue? Ham radio is used extensively? How about joining a CERT team? Again, ham radio is key. How about getting involved with local community events or emergency communications response? The local Offices of Emergency Management all have groups of amateur radio operators at the ready.
Whatever you end up buying, have fun with it, and never stop exploring. Ham radio is a fascinating hobby and the possibilities are endless. Whatever you’re interested in, there are others out there in our hobby that share the same interests and perhaps years of experience you can benefit from every time you turn on the radio.
Once you pass your exam you’re ready to get on the air! There are a multitude of vendors selling amateur radio equipment online and in retail stores. Some of the popular mail-order vendors include Gigaparts, Universal Radio, & HRO.
NOTE: The links above are for convenience only. AZ Skywarn Sector 1 and the National Weather Service do not endorse any specific vendor of amateur radio equipment.
Many new hams start off with a simple 2-meter handheld transceiver (HT). This is an inexpensive way to get on the air– two of the major manufacturers, iCom and Yaesu, both offer HT’s in the under-$150 price range for a good rugged radio, but a search of Amazon will find manufacturers such as Baofeng and TYT have offerings in the $30 price range that could also work for you. Something as simple as an inexpensive magnet-mount antenna for your vehicle or home, a plug-in hand microphone and a car or ac power cord should compliment your HT purchase if it’s going to be your only radio for a while. The additional investment in a few accessories will pay off in the convenience of operating safely and efficiently from home and on the road.
While an HT can get you into most of our repeaters, you'll want to look at getting something a bit more robust down the line and again, it doesn't have to break the bank. For significantly greater operating distance, a mobile radio can be used in the car or at home. While HT’s transmit with between 0.2 and 5 watts (some as high as 7 watts), inexpensive mobile radios can be found operating with up to 75 watts of power, which will considerably enhance your ability to get a signal out to the other station or a distant repeater.
Before investing in any new equipment, take a moment to think about your requirements. Where will you primarily use the radio? What bands do you want to be able to use (SKYWARN uses both the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands in some areas).
When it comes to the “new vs. used” question, bear in mind that for most entry-level equipment there is usually no significant savings in buying used equipment from eBay, Craigslist, or other sources. Since there are so many things one can do to a radio to adversely affect its operating condition, do yourself a favor and make your first purchase a new radio from a reputable vendor with a warranty attached. The warranty won’t cover your silly mistakes, but it will ensure you’re not buying a $200 boat anchor!
You may want to stop by your local ham radio club’s monthly meeting and ask for advice (you’ll get plenty of it!) and many hams are more than willing to let you play with their radio, or maybe even borrow one of their old clunkers until you get a station of your own on the air!
Not Just for Skywarn
Having your ham license opens up a world of communications possibilities for you. During any type of national emergency or disaster, phone lines get tied up. Many times the only way to get messages in and out of the area is through Amateur Radio.
Interested in Search and Rescue? Ham radio is used extensively? How about joining a CERT team? Again, ham radio is key. How about getting involved with local community events or emergency communications response? The local Offices of Emergency Management all have groups of amateur radio operators at the ready.
Whatever you end up buying, have fun with it, and never stop exploring. Ham radio is a fascinating hobby and the possibilities are endless. Whatever you’re interested in, there are others out there in our hobby that share the same interests and perhaps years of experience you can benefit from every time you turn on the radio.
