Ham Radio
You will also meet some of the most interesting, and kind people in the ham radio world. Some of my best friends I’ve barely met in person, but there is a kinship and mutual respect that you’d sparsely find other places. That being said, amateur radio is not for everyone. Many people get their license and become disinterested, or maybe it’s not just the right time of their life. No matter people’s circumstances radio is still around and is not going anywhere. Once you find something in radio you enjoy, it’ll stick around in your life too.
Getting Started
Thinking about Ham Radio? You can read all you want here, but if you need to study or find a test, I recommend hamstudy.org. This tool is in my opinion one of the best tools out there to help you prepare and find a testing session.
Already got a license?
GET ON THE AIR! If there is one thing I learned from my journey, it was that by lowering the barrier of entry to participation, you are more likely to get involved. BUT! Don’t let that be your excuse to spend a bunch of money on something you’re not sure you will enjoy. What changed my involvement in Ham Radio was getting an antenna outside my apartment/house. Many people have their opinions on how you should do that, but keep it simple when you are getting started. For me, I bought a cheap piece of 10ft conduit from Home Depot and put a JPole on the top of it. Combined with that, and some coax, I was able to get my handheld on the air for cheap.
My Journey
Calling this section “My Journey” makes it seem like i’ve reached the end… But that is so far from reality. I’m always learning something new. It’s the principle that the more you know about a topic the more you realize you don’t know. So forgive my ignorance or misunderstandings. I’m learning just like you are.
I was first interested in radio when I was a Boy Scout. I bought my first radio, grabbed a book to study for the test, and went to take the test. I failed it…. and was devastated. I was discouraged enough to put the radio in the drawer and forget about it. Many years later in college, a friend of mine asked if I knew what Ham Radio was. There was a class he was going to go to prepare for the test and he invited me to go along with him. For some reason, that was when things clicked for me. I passed the test, bought some radios, and didn’t really find any involvement so I kind of forgot about it.
A few years later, I decided that I wanted to start participating again. The area I lived in around Utah County has an amazing radio group so I started joining the New Ham net again. I fell in love with participating in the New Ham Net. Within a few weeks, I found a way to get an antenna outside my apartment window so that I could have a better signal in the repeater to help join. It was about this time I met another group called the Sultans of Simplex. They are a group that focusses on simplex and working to get the best signal and just being good friends. I finally really got involved with Ham Radio more seriously.
Currently I volunteer with the local Utah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and keep learning and honing my craft. Some months I’m better at participating than others, but isn’t that life? We all have to find a balance with our hobbies and the fun stuff we all have going on. If you’re thinking about Ham Radio, find the thing that you really enjoy and it will be so rewarding. There are so many parts to Ham Radio. It also helps when you can make friends! So be friendly! hahaha…
Related Links
