Ham Radio

About This Book - Author

I wrote Ham Radio For Dummies for beginning hams. If you just became inter¬ested in ham radio, you find plenty of information here to explain what the hobby is all about and how to go about joining the fun by discovering the basics and getting a license.If you already received your license, congratulations! This book helps you change from a listener to a doer. Any new hobby, particularly a technical one, can be intimidating to newcomers. By keeping Ham Radio For Dummies handy in your radio shack, getting your radio on the air and making contacts is easy. I cover the basics of getting a station put together properly and the funda-mentals of on-the-air behavior. Use this book as your personal radio buddy and soon you’ll sound like a pro!

How This Book Is Organized

Ham Radio For Dummies has two major sections. Parts I and II are for readers getting interested in ham radio and preparing to get a license. Parts III and IV explain how to set up a station, get on the air, and make contact with other hams.The Ham Radio For Dummies Web site, at www.dummies.com/go/hamradio, offers a list of Web resources and more information on the technical aspects of this wonderful hobby.

Part I: What Is Ham Radio All About?

If you don’t know much about ham radio, start reading this part. You get the ham radio big picture. Then I send you on a tour of the various radio tech¬nologies necessary to get you on the air. I round out this first part with an overview of the ham community: clubs and organizations.
Part II: Wading through the Licensing Process

The four chapters in Part II take you every step of the way through the process of getting a ham radio license. I explain the overall licensing system, including the types of licenses and the volunteers that administer the exams. Then I move on to studying, including Morse code, for your exam. Finally, I discuss the actual exam process so you know what to expect when the time comes. Part II concludes with what to do after you pass your test.

Part III: Hamming It Up

The sky is the limit, but first you have to learn to fly. Part III is where you delve into the fundamentals of ham radio operating. Then you get down to the brass tacks of basic operation, including how to make that elusive first contact! I cover the different kinds of casual operating and then get into some of the popular specialties of the hobby, including public service and emergency communications.

Part IV: Building and Operating a Station That Works

Part IV takes you through the basics of setting up and using a suitable sta¬tion. I cover the different kinds of ham radio equipment and how to acquire what you need to get your station up and running. Ham radios take a little maintenance and troubleshooting, and I devote a chapter to these topics.

Part V: The Part of Tens

Familiar to all For Dummies readers, this part is where the accumulated knowl¬edge and wisdom of the ages is boiled down into several condensed lists. I cover the tips and secrets of ham radio along with general guiding principles for successful ham radio operation.

Part VI: Appendixes

If you come across an unfamiliar term, turn to the glossary. I have also col¬lected a long list of excellent references — both online and off — for you to find and use.
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