williaty
03-09-2009, 09:30 PM
Do I have to learn Morse Code?
No.
What does an Amateur Radio Service license do for you?
In an amazing bit of not selling out (for once), the US government allows US citizens to use certain ranges (bands) of radio frequencies for private, non commercial use. You can do a staggering amount of things with this privilege like talk to friends, keep a convoy together on the road, provide communications for public events like rallies, send amateur TV broadcasts, use wireless internet, talk to the International Space Station, and much more.
What kinds of Amateur Radio Service licenses are there?
At the current time (March of 2009), there are three classes of Amateur Radio Service licenses.
A Technician Class license gives you full privileges above 50MHz as well as Morse-Code-only privileges on certain frequencies below 50MHz. The Tech test can be passed by anyone willing to put a little time into it. It's 80% common sense (literally questions about hardhats and not touching metal in lightning storms) and 20% regulatory crap.
A General Class license gives you all the privileges of the Tech Class plus increased privileges for voice and data below 50MHz. The General test is barely harder than the Tech test. Pretty much anyone can pass it with some studying. Again, it's mostly common sense.
An Amateur Extra Class license is the highest license class a US citizen can hold in the Amateur Radio service, giving full privileges in the US and in many other countries around the world. The Extra test is in a whole different league. It will take quite a large amount of studying unless you work with electronics on a daily basis. Most people study daily for 6 months or so to learn the material.
Who controls Amateur Radio Service licenses?
The FCC is the ultimate authority for radio in the US. However, you'll almost never have to deal directly with the FCC unless they're knocking on your door with handcuffs. Most of the time, you'll be dealing with a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). VECs are organizations sanctioned by the FCC to give licensing exams to the public. You will almost certainly deal with the ARRL VEC or the W5YI VEC.
What's the testing process like?
In general, you will look on a website to find an exam session near you. On the day of the exam you will show up, making sure you have the required IDs (the requirements change, so I'm not going to list them). You hand (as of 02/2009) $14 to the VEC team to be allowed to take your test. You sit down and are given an answer sheet and a test booklet. For the Tech and General exams, you have 35 multiple choice questions to answer. For the Extra exam, you have 50 multiple choice questions. The exam will then be graded right in front of you by a panel of three Volunteer Examiners (VEs). If you get 74% or more of the questions right, you pass.
What happens when you pass?
When you pass, you have the option of immediately taking the next-level test for free. In other words, if you go to your exam session, pass the Tech test, they will offer you the opportunity to take the General test for free. Pass the General and they will then offer you the opportunity to immediately take the Extra for free. It's always a good idea to take the next level exam even if you feel you're not ready for it because you might get lucky. Once you have finished testing, the VEs and the VEC will fill out some paperwork for you. They will hand you a document confirming that you have passed whatever exams you passed that day. You need to hold onto that piece of paper. While the VEC will submit all the paperwork to the FCC, sometimes someone screws up and you need the proof that you passed the test(s).
What happens if you fail?
If you fail a test, you have two choices. First, you can simply go home for the day. Second, you can pay the testing fee a second time and re-try the test.
Once you pass, when can you get on the air?
The written proof of passing the exam does not legally let you get on the air. After passing the test, wait 3-4 days and then go to the FCC Universal Licensing System Search Page (http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp), switch the search type to "Name" and search for your name. You will be presented with a list of names. If you have a common name, there may be a long list. To find out which one is you, click the call signs in the "Call Sign/Lease ID" column at the left. The one that has the correct address for you is, obviously, you. If you don't find yourself in the search results, it just means that your paperwork hasn't cleared yet. As soon as your call sign appears in the ULS database, you are legally allowed to start transmitting. You do not have to wait for the paper copy of the license to arrive.
How long do licenses last?
If you don't do anything to screw it up, a license is good for 10 years from the date it was issued. At 10 years, you will have to renew your license which is, currently (03/2009), free.
What am I required to do to maintain my license?
Honestly, not much. You must keep your mailing address in the ULS current. If the FCC mails you something and you don't respond, they'll cancel your license. Beyond that, just don't do anything illegal.
No.
What does an Amateur Radio Service license do for you?
In an amazing bit of not selling out (for once), the US government allows US citizens to use certain ranges (bands) of radio frequencies for private, non commercial use. You can do a staggering amount of things with this privilege like talk to friends, keep a convoy together on the road, provide communications for public events like rallies, send amateur TV broadcasts, use wireless internet, talk to the International Space Station, and much more.
What kinds of Amateur Radio Service licenses are there?
At the current time (March of 2009), there are three classes of Amateur Radio Service licenses.
A Technician Class license gives you full privileges above 50MHz as well as Morse-Code-only privileges on certain frequencies below 50MHz. The Tech test can be passed by anyone willing to put a little time into it. It's 80% common sense (literally questions about hardhats and not touching metal in lightning storms) and 20% regulatory crap.
A General Class license gives you all the privileges of the Tech Class plus increased privileges for voice and data below 50MHz. The General test is barely harder than the Tech test. Pretty much anyone can pass it with some studying. Again, it's mostly common sense.
An Amateur Extra Class license is the highest license class a US citizen can hold in the Amateur Radio service, giving full privileges in the US and in many other countries around the world. The Extra test is in a whole different league. It will take quite a large amount of studying unless you work with electronics on a daily basis. Most people study daily for 6 months or so to learn the material.
Who controls Amateur Radio Service licenses?
The FCC is the ultimate authority for radio in the US. However, you'll almost never have to deal directly with the FCC unless they're knocking on your door with handcuffs. Most of the time, you'll be dealing with a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). VECs are organizations sanctioned by the FCC to give licensing exams to the public. You will almost certainly deal with the ARRL VEC or the W5YI VEC.
What's the testing process like?
In general, you will look on a website to find an exam session near you. On the day of the exam you will show up, making sure you have the required IDs (the requirements change, so I'm not going to list them). You hand (as of 02/2009) $14 to the VEC team to be allowed to take your test. You sit down and are given an answer sheet and a test booklet. For the Tech and General exams, you have 35 multiple choice questions to answer. For the Extra exam, you have 50 multiple choice questions. The exam will then be graded right in front of you by a panel of three Volunteer Examiners (VEs). If you get 74% or more of the questions right, you pass.
What happens when you pass?
When you pass, you have the option of immediately taking the next-level test for free. In other words, if you go to your exam session, pass the Tech test, they will offer you the opportunity to take the General test for free. Pass the General and they will then offer you the opportunity to immediately take the Extra for free. It's always a good idea to take the next level exam even if you feel you're not ready for it because you might get lucky. Once you have finished testing, the VEs and the VEC will fill out some paperwork for you. They will hand you a document confirming that you have passed whatever exams you passed that day. You need to hold onto that piece of paper. While the VEC will submit all the paperwork to the FCC, sometimes someone screws up and you need the proof that you passed the test(s).
What happens if you fail?
If you fail a test, you have two choices. First, you can simply go home for the day. Second, you can pay the testing fee a second time and re-try the test.
Once you pass, when can you get on the air?
The written proof of passing the exam does not legally let you get on the air. After passing the test, wait 3-4 days and then go to the FCC Universal Licensing System Search Page (http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp), switch the search type to "Name" and search for your name. You will be presented with a list of names. If you have a common name, there may be a long list. To find out which one is you, click the call signs in the "Call Sign/Lease ID" column at the left. The one that has the correct address for you is, obviously, you. If you don't find yourself in the search results, it just means that your paperwork hasn't cleared yet. As soon as your call sign appears in the ULS database, you are legally allowed to start transmitting. You do not have to wait for the paper copy of the license to arrive.
How long do licenses last?
If you don't do anything to screw it up, a license is good for 10 years from the date it was issued. At 10 years, you will have to renew your license which is, currently (03/2009), free.
What am I required to do to maintain my license?
Honestly, not much. You must keep your mailing address in the ULS current. If the FCC mails you something and you don't respond, they'll cancel your license. Beyond that, just don't do anything illegal.