How To Get Into Ham Radio Quickly and Cheaply

To start - this is nominally a tech blog, so I won't have too
many more articles about this topic on here. Once the gopher
server on radiofreqs.space is up and running, I'll keep the ham
stuff over there. I use my callsign over there, which is KC3NTG.

With that out of the way, there's been some interest among the
folks here on colorfield about how to get into amateur (ham)
radio. It is very daunting at first because the hobby is so
vast. Since I've only had my license for a few weeks, I think I'm
qualified to talk about how to get into the hobby. Of course,
that also means I reserve the right to contradict any advice I give
here at a later date :-) Furthermore, I am in the USA and anything
I say here may not apply to anyone outside the USA.

First, a TL;DR of my advice:

Amateur Radio and pubnix systems to hand-in-hand for me. You'll find
a *strong* homebrew culture among hams.

1. Buy a Baofeng HT (Handheld Transceiver) on Amazon. Either the UV-5R
or the one I have - the BF-F8HP. The UV-5R can be found for around $30
and the BF-F8HP is around $60.
2. Buy the ARRL Technician Class Study Guide or use KB6NU's No-Nonsense
Study Guide [1] - it's free!
3. Use either HamExam.org or HamStudy.org to do test question flashcards.
4. Look up (using ARRL's website) clubs that administer the tests.
If you can find one through the Laurel VEC [2], those are free. Otherwise
it might be up to $15 to take a test.
5. Find local repeaters using repeaterbook.com (or their Android app) and get
on the air.

[1] https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf
[2] https://www.laurelvec.com/

Now for some expansion on the above. You'll see quite a bit said about Baofeng
HTs on the internet. I can tell you this: they are popular because they are
good enough and they are cheap. Are they as nice as HTs from the "Big Three"
(Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom)? No of course not, but with an upgraded antenna (I recommend
the Signal Stick from the guy that runs HamStudy.org), I've gotten on repeaters
over 30 miles away. Repeaters are usually run by amateur radio clubs and are placed
in high locations. They take your signal and retransmit it a greater distance
than you'd ever be able to with your 5 watt handheld.

Now, this has improved a bit I'm told, but programming repeater frequencies into
the Baofengs using the front-panel keys is not fun. So don't do that - use CHIRP
instead. Get the programming cable (Amazon will suggest it when you go to buy the HT)
and get CHIRP here [3]

[3] https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home

It will query RepeaterBook and let you upload all your local repeaters automatically.

Now, for the testing. If you use the resources above and you're reading this phlog,
I will guarantee you can pass the Technician exam. It sounds intimidating, but all
the hams I have interacted with have been universally welcoming to newcomers.

I've told you to buy the HT first (before you get licensed) so you can get comfortable
by listening to your local repeaters. DO NOT TRANSMIT until you get your license!
Listening and getting those frequencies in will get you familiar with your equipment
which for me was crucial in overcoming fear when I first got on the air.

OK so you have your license - congrats! What now? Well, it's time to key up your
local repeater. Just get on after work between 6-8pm (that's been the sweet spot for me)
and say "This is <call sign>, could I get signal report into the repeater?".
Another ham will answer and tell you how you sound. Some people will tell you to say
"<callsign> monitoring", but I've found people don't respond to that. You'll want
to have a copy of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet handy until you learn it in case
someone can't hear you well. My call is "Kilo Charlie Three November Tango Golf"

Another way you can get over those initial scaries is to join a net. If you find a
local amateur radio club, they will typically have nets a few times a week.
These will be listed on their website (which, warning, might be 90s-esque). That
is a time where interested hams (and club members) get on the repeater and chat.
You check into the net when the net operator asks you to (by giving your callsign)
and then when they say your callsign again, just give a blurb about how you're new
and just getting your feet wet. When I've done this, there's an outpouring of
support and suggestions.

OK so you've been chatting with people ("rag chewing" in ham jargon) and that's fun,
but that's not going to keep you interested forever most likely. I'll briefly touch
on where to go from here with the disclaimer that...I'm not there yet! I have
done research and I think I know where I'd like to expand.

1. If you want worldwide communications, you have a couple options. You can
study for your General exam and get on HF (lower frequencies that can achieve communication
over great distance - "DXing"). You can also look at digital voice, where the main
options are D-Star, DMR, and Yaesu System Fusion. This could be a whole article series,
and I recommend Amateur Radio Notes [4] for a *great* overview.

[4] https://amateurradionotes.com

2. Try to work Amateur Radio Satellites (and the ISS!) with your HT. You can get
handheld Yagi antennas for this purpose (or make them - look up Tape Measure Yagi).
I have not had success at working satellites so far but then again I haven't been
trying very hard. I'm definitely looking to get into building my own antennas.
The ISS Detector app for Android has an amateur satellites extension that will
show you when they are coming overhead.

3. Check out ARES and other emergency management groups for how you can help
in the event of an emergency. Hams were critical in maintaining communications
in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

4. I recommend the amateurradio subreddit (reddit.com/r/amateurradio) because
people always post interesting ideas there. The usual warnings about online
communities apply here.

5. APRS - you can share your location and send text messages over the air

There's way way more you can do that I haven't covered but this post is already
insanely long. If you have any questions PLEASE email me at [email protected].
I've learned already that the biggest part of ham radio is helping others, so take
me up on the offer!

73 (a common ham sign-off which means best regards!)!

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