AMATEUR RADIO!!
Imagine......being able to talk to someone around the block or around the world.....all through the magic of radio.
Getting your "ham" license is now even easier! On December 30, 1999 the FCC restructured the licensing system to a more "simpler" method of getting your "ticket". There are now 3 license classes: Technician, General and Extra and for General & Extra tickets a 5 word per minute Morse Code exam.
The TECHNICIAN class license privileges are mainly for frequencies above 50 MHz, but if you pass a 5 word per minute Morse code test, you gain extra HF privileges!
There are many clubs in the Greater Cincinnati area that sponsor licensing classes and exam sessions. Check below for links to these great clubs.
WHO can be a ham? ANYONE!!!! Whether you're 5-99, YOU can be a ham.
WHO can you talk to? King Hussein of Jordan, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Joe Walsh, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap........ these are just a few.... hams are people like you that have a common interest---an interest in radio.
DOES it cost much? NO!! You can get on the air for just a couple of hundred dollars, much less if you construct your own equipment. You can put in however much you wish!
WHAT do hams do? JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!!! They provide communications for parades, they provide emergency communications during times of disasters, experiment with digital modes and computers, pass messages from friends & family throughout the U.S. and other countries that have signed an agreement with the U.S.
DO you have questions? Check out the links below for more information.
The American Radio Relay League THE national amateur radio association. An excellent source of info for those just starting out or that want to know more about ham radio.
The Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association One of the largest clubs in the area, it offers license classes and exam sessions as well a Communications Expo every September at Scarlet Oaks Career Development Center. The GCARA meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday at 7:30 PM at Maple Knoll Village (the Breeze Center) in Springdale, OH. Talk-in on 145.27(-) PL 123.0 Hz.
The Cincinnati FM Club The club devoted to VHF/UHF operations. The club meets the first Wednesday of EVEN months at 7:30 PM at MobilComm 1211 W. Sharon Rd.
OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society Another of the larger clubs in the area, they also sponsor classes & exams. They also have a gathering in July at the Diamond Oaks Vocational School. OH-KY-IN meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM at the Western Hills Church of Christ.
Weather Amateur Radio Network An extension of the National Weather Service, they observe & report severe weather conditions to the NWS office in Wilmington, Ohio. They are NOT "storm chasers". The training net is called up on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM on the 146.88(-) Cincinnati FM Club repeater with a PL of 100.0 Hz. During severe weather, the net is called on 146.88(-) with a PL of 100.0 Hz.
Queen City Emergency Net A club sponsored by the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the Red Cross. This club provides emergency communications in times of disaster and handles health/welfare types of messages for the Red Cross. The Tuesday Ten net, sponsored by QCEN, meets every Tuesday at 9:00 PM on 147.24(+) with a PL of 123.0 Hz.
My favorite mode is CW (Morse Code). It is the oldest of modes and to me the most efficient. It doesn't take a lot of fancy equipment or a lot of power to get the signal out. Many hams have literally worked the world with just a few watts of power and a modest antenna. CW is easy to learn and is THE international language of ham radio. I support "KNOW CODE"!!
Please take some time to visit the Ohio Single Side Band Net an NTS affiliated section net.
Also take a peek at the Ohio Slow Net a Slow speed NTS affiliated CW traffic net that welcomes the beginner and the experienced traffic handler.
Here are some links to some excellent CW web pages. Give them a look!
Support the National Traffic System
Check into an NTS-affiliated net today!
The residence of K8IG!!
(This is about the size of my house & lot, too!)
update 12 May 2006 2201 Hrs