Get Your Ham Radio License in Only One Day

Nearly half who pass at "Get Your License in One Day" NEVER become active hams. They may (1) be uneasy about talking on the radio, (2) not know the radio frequencies in their area, or (3) not know how to obtain or operate a radio. Here are the main keys to avoiding these.

GO TO A LOCAL RADIO CLUB

Associate with those who've done it for a long time. Its the best way into any hobby. The "pros" know the best choices by real experience. Ask in club if theres a member who'd be your mentor. Dont "go it on your own."

Estero Amateur Radio Club, www.sloradio.net
Satellite Amateur Radio Club, www.satellitearc.com
Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club, www.w6bhz.org
Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, www.sbarc.org
Santa Ynez Vally Amateur Radio Club, www.syv.com/hams
Santa Maria Radio Club, pweb.netcom.com/~memeyer
Santa Maria ARES, www.santamariaares.org
Santa Cruz Amateur Radio Club K6BJ, www.k6bj.org
SLOECC, www.sloecc.org

GET ON A LOCAL 2M REPEATER

This is the easiest way into ham radio. Try at first to borrow, not buy, a radio. At least ask at club or on the air what to buy. It takes a little experience to know what youll be happy using for a long time. Dont make the mistake of buying an inexpensive "starter radio."

We recommend the repeater below in Many Santa Maria area hams congregate there. So do we at "Get Your License in One-Day."

146.670 (-) 127.3 Tasajara Peak, San Luis Obispo
146.700 (-) 127.3 View Hill, Arroyo Grande,
Monday night on-air get-together, 7:30 PM
Tuesday night ARES/RACES net, 7:00 PM
146.800 (-) 127.3 Cuesta Peak, San Luis Obispo
147.210 (+) 131.8 Figueroa Mountain, Santa Barbara County
147.000 (+) 131.8 Broadcast Peak, Santa Barbara County

YOUR FIRST CONTACT

Pick a repeater above and just listen for a few days. Ham radio is not to turn on only when you want to use it.
Be patient, repeaters are not active 24 hours a day. Midday most are dead. Go-to-work time is usually best.
Wait until you hear a conversation (a QSO). Then "tail end" it. That is, make note of a callsign and give him or her a call, eg: W6XXX (their callsign) then KG6XXX (your callsign).
Tell them that you are new first thing. Theyll welcome it.
Break into an ongoing conversation. At a "lull," simply say "break" and release the mike button. Breaking is not impolite.
From here on, ham radio is like any other public conversation. You do not have to talk "tekky" stuff. Newcomers with yet little knowledge of ham radio are generally a delight to experienced hams.

HOW TO GET YOUR CALLSIGN

Normally within a week, the FCC will post your callsign on their Web Site below. As soon as you know it, you may go on the air. Your actual license may not come for several weeks. Here are three Web Sites to go to check daily. The FCC site is awkward, but the freshest. The qrz site is the easiest, but may have a one-day delay.

www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls/
www.arrl.org/
www.qrz.com/