Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 14:21:38 +0000
Reply-To: samcvt@COMCAST.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sam Conant <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Radio
Reading through these quickly .... and have a couple of recommendations.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the legal authority which provides large amounts of radio and electronic communication information to the general public and to amateur (ham) radio licensees.
Until 2006, all applicants for an amateur radio licensed were required to pass a mininim morse code (CW=Continuous Wave) exam. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is actually the legal licensing and law enforcement authority in the United States of America. The US has agreements with just about every nation in the world which helps facilitate applications by US citizens to operate their amateur radio equipment in other countries. The ARRL provides information in their publications inre how and where to apply for operating privileges by US licencees in foreign countries. Times for application processing by various countries vary, and ARRL can provide some helpful information regarding the process. Mexico, the other North and Central American nations have agreements with the US.
I recommend anyone interested in obtaining a US amateur radio license and any type of equipment (receivers, transmitters and/or transceivers) which will access frequencies allocated for amateur radio use go to the www and the ARRL and purchase the basic license text, "Now You're Talking." The basic test is based on the easy to understand text.
Other local amateur resources which are typically available to citizens are the hundreds of Amateur Radio Clubs which meet, hold classes, and administer the FCC amateur radio license exam for interested persons. Radio hams are often willing to be available to coach and assist aspiring and new licensees learn about, set up radio shacks and antennas, and operate their new equipment.
Ham radio equipment operates in several modes, many inter-connected with today's computers, and can be used on High Frequency (HF), Low Frequency (LF), Medium Frequency (MF), Very High Frequency (VHF ) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) frequency bands. Many licensees "play" with micro-wave and television as well as with other communication modes. Many of the US space flights' crews include one or more amateur radio licensee and communication with radio hams during their travel through space.
One other aspect of amateur radio pertains to the effective integration abd utilization of ham radio licensees within each state's official disaster/ermergency management and response legal organizations to facilitate emergency communications, and many radio hams monitor assigned maritime frequencies where difficulties at sea can be reported and resources alerted and sought.
I have ham radio equipment installed/or installable easily in my 1984 Westy, at home, and on Quetzal, my Cataline 25 sailboat. During distaster response operations in Vermont, the Westy has become an emergency operations communication resource, and it has been used as well as a communication and security coordination center for various public events such as marathons, bicycle races, etc.
Finally, while it is true that some ham radio equipment is expensive, getting started is not particularly costly. There is a lot of used equipment which is made available for competitive prices by ham radio stores and on various internet sites. Before buying, though, become acquainted with a local ham radio licensee, and ask for advice about equipment.
So, before going out to your local store and/or perusing the internet and postal catalogs to buy that best, most portable radio receiver, contact a local amateur radio licensee, access the ARRL web site, and go get your ham radio license. The ARRL monthly journal (QST) is an excellent source of information and is included as a membership benefit.
Sam Conant (License/Call Sign: N1PDL
Colchester, Vermont
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