SLIDE 1
www.coppellhams.org
Educational topic: Getting on the air Two parts to this topic How - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Educational topic: Getting on the air Two parts to this topic How - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Educational topic: Getting on the air Two parts to this topic How to earn your Technician license Textbook, Classroom, Practice exams, Finding an Elmer What to do once you earn your license Essential equipment: Radio, power supply, antenna
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
www.coppellhams.org
There are three license classes
Technician General Amateur Extra
The Amateur Extra license grants full operating privileges
The other two have restrictions, with Technician having the most restrictions
How to earn your Technician license
SLIDE 4
www.coppellhams.org
Do you need to learn Morse code?
Not anymore, for any license class While it used to be a requirement, it has slowly been lifted Learning Morse code does enable communicating with others, and because it’s a tone rather than voice, it can reach further
How to earn your Technician license
SLIDE 5
www.coppellhams.org
Some options include
Textbook Classroom Practice exams Finding an Elmer
Preparing for the Technician exam
SLIDE 6
www.coppellhams.org
ARRL’s Ham Radio License Manual is a first-choice for many hams-to- be
Provides information on everything you will need for the Technician exam Serves as a reference as you continue building your amateur radio skills Make sure it’s current – the 4th edition covers the July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022 question pool
Preparing for the Technician exam: Textbook
SLIDE 7
www.coppellhams.org
Some find a classroom environment to be more helpful as there is an
- pportunity to ask questions
Local amateur radio groups or clubs may offer classes
CARE plans to start offering classes and exam sessions by the middle of this year
The textbook is a useful companion to the classroom
Preparing for the Technician exam: Classroom
SLIDE 8
www.coppellhams.org
You can find practice exams online There is no need to pay for practice exams Some will highlight the areas needing focus Search online for amateur radio practice exam, or search the CARE Wiki for practice exam
Preparing for the Technician exam: Practice exams
SLIDE 9
www.coppellhams.org
An Elmer is an amateur radio operator that helps a non-ham through personal guidance and assistance
Loosely, it also refers to an amateur radio operator that helps another amateur radio
- perator learn more about the hobby, again through personal guidance and assistance
Elmering is an important part of amateur radio You can find an Elmer through your local amateur radio club, in online forums or social media, or even by talking to someone on the air
Search the CARE Wiki for Elmer to find links to online forums and the CARE discussion group
Preparing for the Technician exam: Elmer
SLIDE 10
www.coppellhams.org
Begin your financial journey into purchasing amateur radio equipment Start talking on the air
Repeaters are a good place to listen and talk We have a list of area repeaters on the CARE Wiki: DFW area repeater list
Continue learning
What to do once you earn your license
SLIDE 11
www.coppellhams.org
All VHF All UHF Limited operation in certain HF frequencies
Check the band plan (search the CARE wiki) for more information
The Texas VHF-FM Society also has a band plan This plan is how we determined the repeater’s current frequency pair
What frequencies can you use as Technician
SLIDE 12
www.coppellhams.org
Minimum bar to get
- n the air
- Radio (transceiver)
- Antenna
- Power
- A way to hook all of this
together
Essential amateur radio equipment
SLIDE 13
www.coppellhams.org
It just so happens that a handheld (HT) has all those things in one
Essential amateur radio equipment
SLIDE 14
www.coppellhams.org
What radio should you get
Baofeng/Pofung Yaesu Kenwood Icom Alinco And so on…
Some hams really like…
Baofeng/Pofung Yaesu Kenwood Icom Alinco And so on…
Some hams really don’t like…
SLIDE 15
www.coppellhams.org
What radio should you get
One that you like One that fits your budget
SLIDE 16
www.coppellhams.org
Try them out
Ham Radio Outlet in Plano has several units on display, connected and powered up for you to try out
Look for one that offers an interface you can get used to
If you buy a radio that’s too difficult to use, you won’t use it – you’ll hate it
Tips for selecting a radio
SLIDE 17
www.coppellhams.org
Handhelds are a great place to start
Everything in one Gets you access to nearby repeaters
Mobile radios are a great stepping stone
Can serve as a base radio Later, can serve as a second base radio, or be placed in your car
Consider a base radio for something more long-term
Should you get a handheld, mobile, or base?
SLIDE 18
www.coppellhams.org
Do not undersize
Your radio will let you know
Do not overload the circuit
Your breaker will let you know This is more of a concern if you purchase an amplifier for HF, at which point you may need a dedicated 240V circuit
You’ll probably get a switching power supply rather than linear
Prices are lower, they’re lighter and smaller, and they work fairly well, but sometimes they can generate noise
Power supply
SLIDE 19
www.coppellhams.org
This is the most important part of your setup
You can have the best radio ever, but a bad antenna will get you nowhere
We could devote several talks to this subject and still have more to cover There are so many variables here, it’s best to ask for advice
Antenna
SLIDE 20
www.coppellhams.org
Power cables are probably in the box
If you do need to buy power cables, make sure they’re the right gauge to minimize loss
You will need coax to connect your radio to the antenna
There are all sorts of coax cable types (LMR-400, RG-58, RG-8X, RG-213…)
Each type has a different signal loss (called Attenuation), and this can differ based on the frequency you’re using
What to get depends on how far you need to run the cable, what frequencies you plan to operate on, your budget…
No info on the wiki (yet)
Hooking it all together
SLIDE 21
www.coppellhams.org
Antenna tuner for HF
If your radio has one in it, it may or may not be great
SWR meter
Almost an essential; you can use the radio’s SWR meter but be careful
Antenna analyzer Anderson Powerpole connectors and kits This list could go on for quite a while…
Additional accessories to consider
SLIDE 22
www.coppellhams.org