Ham Radio For Dummies

4. Edition May 2021
448 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Respond to the call of ham radio
Despite its old-school reputation, amateur radio is on the rise, and the airwaves are busier than ever. That's no surprise: being a ham is a lot of fun, providing an independent way to keep in touch with friends, family, and new acquaintances around the world--and even beyond with its ability to connect with the International Space Station! Hams are also good in a crisis, keeping communications alive and crackling during extreme weather events and loss of communications until regular systems like cell phones and the internet are restored. Additionally, it's enjoyable for good, old-fashioned tech geek reasons--fiddling with circuits and bouncing signals off the ionosphere just happens to give a lot of us a buzz!
If one or more of these benefits is of interest to you, then good news: the new edition of Ham Radio For Dummies covers them all! In his signature friendly style, longtime ham Ward Silver (Call Sign NØAX)--contributing editor with the American Radio Relay League--patches you in on everything from getting the right equipment and building your station (it doesn't have to be expensive) to the intricacies of Morse code and Ohm's law. In addition, he coaches you on how to prepare for the FCC-mandated licensing exam and tunes you up for ultimate glory in the ham radio hall of fame as a Radiosport competitor! With this book, you'll learn to:
* Set up and organize your station
* Communicate with people around the world
* Prep for and pass the FCC exam
* Tune into the latest tech, such as digital mode operating
Whether you're looking to join a public service club or want the latest tips on the cutting edge of ham technology, this is the perfect reference for newbies and experts alike--and will keep you happily hamming it up for years!
Part 1: Getting Started with Ham Radio 5
Chapter 1: Getting Acquainted with Ham Radio 7
Chapter 2: Getting a Handle on Ham Radio Technology 21
Chapter 3: Finding Other Hams: Your Support Group 35
Part 2: Wading through the Licensing Process 63
Chapter 4: Understanding the Licensing System 65
Chapter 5: Preparing for Your License Exam 77
Chapter 6: Taking the Exam 85
Chapter 7: Obtaining Your License and Call Sign 95
Part 3: Hamming It Up 105
Chapter 8: Receiving Signals 107
Chapter 9: Basic Operating 133
Chapter 10: Public Service Operating 185
Chapter 11: Operating Specialties 209
Part 4: Building and Operating a Station That Works 263
Chapter 12: Getting on the Air 265
Chapter 13: Organizing a Home Station 307
Chapter 14: Computers in Your Ham Station 323
Chapter 15: Operating Away from Home 341
Chapter 16: Hands-On Radio 359
Part 5: The Part of Tens 385
Chapter 17: Ham Radio Jargon -- Say What? 387
Chapter 18: Technical Fundamentals 395
Chapter 19: Tips for Masters 405
Index 409