A U.S. Postage Stamp from 1964, commemorating amateur radio.

Throughout history, Amateur Radio has made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, and social services. Research done by amateur radio operators has founded new industries, built economies, empowered nations, and saved lives in times of emergency.

What is Amateur Radio:

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How to Become a Licensed Amateur Radio Operator:

Licenses are issued by the FCC to individuals in order to operate an amateur radio station for personal use, of any age, and free of charge, once they demonstrate an understanding of both FCC regulations, knowledge of radio station operation and RF safety considerations. Operator licenses are divided into different classes, each of which correlate to an increasing degree of knowledge and corresponding privileges.

• Technician - The license grants individuals full operating privileges on all amateur bands above 30 MHz and limited privileges in portions of the high frequency bands.

• General - The licensees are granted full operating privileges on all amateur bands above 30 MHz and more frequency privileges than a Technician in all the high frequency bands.

• Extra - Those with Amateur Extra licenses are granted full privileges on all US amateur bands.

For many years, amateur radio operators were required by international agreement to demonstrate Morse Code proficiency in order to use frequencies below 30 MHz. In 2003 the World Radio Communications Conference (WRC) met in Geneva, Switzerland, and voted to allow member countries of the International Telecommunications Union to eliminate Morse Code testing if they so wished .

So on December 15 2006, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Report and Order eliminating all Morse code testing requirements for all American Amateur Radio License applicants, which took effect February 23, 2007.

Amateur radio licenses are issued and renewed without charge here in the US by the FCC, although the private individuals who administer the examinations may recoup their expenses by charging a small fee. Licenses remain valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. For more information;

• Amateur radio licensing in the United States

• W5YI Group

• Hello Radio

Amateur Radio Exam Practice Sites

• AA9PW's Amateur Radio Exam Practice Page
  You can take the exams at the Ham Exam page maintained by Stephen McClaran, KK5QE.

• http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl
  You can take the exams at the QRZ Ham Exam

If you're ready to get your Ham License and Get a Real Radio....

For more Information about the Amateur Radio Hobby on the Web:

Famous People and Pioneers of Amateur Radio:

Amateur Radio Organizations

• American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

• Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)

• Radio Amateurs of Canada - Canadian amateur radio organization.

• Radio Society of Great Britian (RSGB)

Be Nice to your children, they may choose the nursing home you check in too.

Internet Radio Linking

Robotics

• Internet Radio Linking Project, is the official home of the Internet Radio Linking Project. This site provides general information about the IRLP.

• EchoLink is software which allows Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.  The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, from computer to station, or from computer to computer. NOTE: you MUST have a valet FCC AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE to use this system. HOT

• Robot Magazine the latest hobby, science and consumer robotics, artificial intelligence.

• South Eastern Combat Robotics is an organization devoted to the promotion of competitive robotics and excellence in engineering. Combat robotics is a fun and exciting sport that teaches good sportsmanship and introduces many engineering disciplines to its participants. SECR has been part of the robotic community for over 3 years, holding robot competitions around the Southeast. SECR’s largest competition, Robot Assault, is held annually every Labor Day weekend in North Carolina.