HAM Radio Crash Course for preppers

------------------------------------------------- Revised 02/25/2021
(C) Copyright 2012-2021 by HappyPreppers.com. All rights reserved. The site happily targets concerned
citizens who are self-reliant survivalists, preppers and homesteaders with original content on survival following
societal collapse. You may link to our site, but you may NOT reproduce any part of our content, or store our
content in any retrieval system to represent it as your own. Further, you may not transmit content in any other
form or by any means, including (but not limited to) electronic, photocopy, mechanical, or recording without
written consent. HappyPreppers.com makes no warranties.

HappyPreppers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com,
amazonsupply.com, or myhabit.com. Amazon is a great place to buy emergency supplies. In other words, we
recommend prepping gear sold on Amazon. It's a great place to shop.

Get prepared! Read more e mergency preparedness information on our home page.

This prepping article on getting started in HAM radio been saved on F eb 25, 2018 . It's been saved as many as 2
time between February 25, 2019 and May 17, 2019. his helps protect our copyright.

Do NOT copy. Linking is okay.

sitemap
privacy policy

Happy Preppers site for survivalists + preppers

Prepper Deal Alerts Check
our daily deals for prepping
gear and food storage.

Morse Code for Amateurs

Pocket sized survival cards

Prepper communications - try Midland products

How preppers can prepare for a cyber attack

Above, TinHatRanch.com imparts basic knowledge of HAM radio in around 9
minutes. It's well worth a watch and has had more than 146,000 views!

Crash Course for Preppers on HAM Radio
If you're a prepper you know that a HAM radio is how you'll
communicate when the world goes dark. If it's the end of the
world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI), then you don't need a
license. That's why many preppers just get the equipment and
never intend to get a license, but they should!

It's just a radio, why do you need a license?
It's against the law and for good reason. You may feel like you're
not doing much harm, but you could be on the wrong frequency
and cause major harm to others if you're on the wrong frequency.
Plan on getting your HAM radio license. Just do it.

Here's a crash course on HAM radio:

Ham Radio Lesson #1: Delve into a great Web site.
Don't go it alone. The National Association for Amateur Radio can
help the inexperienced and students of HAM radio alike.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) offers an extensive
online resource for HAM radio. Bookmark the site! will help you
with finding a license class in your area, finding an exam session,
help you with all the FCC license information and more so you can
get on the air! The site continues to help you as you grow in HAM
radio. If you're a volunteer instructor you can access a variety of
resources.

Ham Radio lesson #2: Know about the frequencies.
One of the primary considerations for learning how to use a HAM
radio is knowing the frequencies. A HAM radio receives and
transmits within a high frequency range typically between 3- and
30 MHz. There are different frequencies for different use, for
example:

Air traffic control
AM and & FM radio
Fire and Emergency Management Service
Military

HAM radio lesson #3: Get into HAMspeak.
Know the lingo of HAM and get it from QRZ.com! HAMspeak is the
verbal expression of HAM radio and there are some fun words in
HAM radio you'll like to know:

Bird = satellite
Elmers = HAM radio mentors (stick to them like glue)
Eyeball = meeting with someone in person (see their eyes).
General Ticket = General License required for HAM, your FCC
license
Green stamp = dollar bill
Homebrew = equipment you built yourself
IQ? = someone with questionable intelligence
LID = bad HAM radio manners, poor practices
RIG = Radio
WOLF = Weak-signal Operation on Low Frequency
XYF (sometimes YF)= Wife

Ham Radio Lesson #4: Find an Elmer.
As explained in lesson #3, an Elmer is a mentor. Elmering is a
long-standing tradition in Amateur Radio because it's a way to
draw in others. You'll have lots of questions in HAM radio and an
Elmer is invaluable. Some organizations even offer an Elmer
Award as incentive, but really none is necessary. It's great to
have a protégé and it's great to be a mentor. A

An Elmer can help you understand the rules of HAM radio. An
Elmer will give you the final push so you get your HAM license.

Where to find an Elmer?

2 1 Things to do: Find an Elmer!

Ham Radio Lesson #5: Get to studying.
Yes there's a math component to getting your HAM license, but
don't let that deter you. Just get a good calculator and know how
to use it.

Get an easy manual. There's an "Easy Way" to get your
Technician Class amateur radio license and the secrets come
from Pass Your Amateur Radio Technician Class, pictured
right. Instead of working through test questions and filtering
through the wrong answers, this guide focuses only on the
right answers with hints, cheats and explanations to help
you pass. You can read the book free with Kindle Unlimited.

Shake off the jitters. It's typical to have a nervous
anticipation about your test. Like any test you've ever taken
in your life, the more you prepare the less nervous you'll be.

Ham Radio Lesson #6: Watch a video on how to use!
Learn how to use some basic equipment to see if you want to get
into HAM Radio. Below is a popular video on using the Baofeng
UV-5R(TP) to talk with FRS radios. This will give you an idea of
how to use the equipment to "test before you buy."

HAM Radio
HAM radio ~ a crash course for preppers

HAM radio crash course for preppers:
Getting a HAM radio license is relatively easy, though using a
HAM radio isn't as easy. One thing's for sure, don't use a HAM
radio unless you have a license. It's the law whether you're in
Canada or the United States. Once you have your license you can
go above 30 megahertz (MHz) including a 2-meter band.

Below are some ham radio and equipment tips for beginners...

Considering getting started in HAM radio?
Knowing how to operate a HAM Radio is an excellent survival skill
and getting started in HAM radio is easier than you think, though
it's not for everyone. If you have the bug to get started in HAM
radio then read below are some pointers to inspire you and get
started in HAM radio...

Prepper communications
handbook

Get to know how to use your equipment. Bob Nagy above shows you how to
set up the Boafeng UV-5R.

Ham Radio Lesson #9: Get your "General Ticket."
The final thing do is take the exam and get your "General Ticket" so
you have the license to operate your HAM radio legally.

Pick a test location and time. You'll need to pre-register and
commit to a time.

Know what to bring. You'll need a social security number, two
forms of identification such as a driver's license and a
passport. You can also bring that calculator.

Know that passing FCC Element 2, 3, or 4 is much easier now that
they've removed the Morse Code requirement. Mind you it's still
important to get an overview of Morse Code, but to the pass the
test it's no longer required.

Ham Radio Lesson #10: Get a Crash Course in Morse
While you no longer need to learn Morse Code as a prerequisite to
HAM radio, you can get a C rash Course in Morse Code.

Get a crash course on Morse Code:
Can you crack the code? Morse code is a language to communicate
distress signals by transmitting short and long signals called "dots"
and "dashes." Developed by Samuel Morse in 1844, this code was
useful in broadcasting messages over telegraph wires, and it's still
in use today. Uses of Morse Code include amateur radio, as well as
aviation, military, prepping and survival, and also for people with
disabilities. This survival skill is relatively easy and fun to learn and
it's a great way for preppers to get started in Amateur Radio. Like
any new language, it just takes practice and memorization.

Ham radio equipment for beginners
So now that you're ready to begin, get started with some begining
radio equipment, like the Radioddity GD-73A DMR/Analog Two Way
Radio. Compatible with MOTOTRBO, the GD-73A features
lightweight and mini size that can easily fit your pocket. The clear
LCD screen and compact keypad achieve a simple but effective one-
hand radio operation, perfect for both business use and hams.

The Radioddity two way radio is a small and lightweight, low
powered HAM radio that features a small fixed antenna. This radio
is charged and programmed with a standard USB cable. A small USB
charger is included too. You'll need to download the latest software
package from Radioddity. Just start Windows with driver verification
off to install it. Getting the radio programmed and ready to use can
take just a few minutes.

It has a great battery life! The light-weight portability, high
capacity battery, and user-customizable design all make it the
perfect radio for both experienced and new HAM users.

Happy endings...
If you're looking for ham radio equipment for beginners, know that
HAM radio is a complicated hobby. Even so, don't let it deter you!
You'll be a licensed amateur operator before you know it. Get the
tools, get an Elmer, and get started in HAM radio today. It's a
survival skill worth bragging about.

Related articles...

More popular articles...

Prepare to live happily ever after with us at happypreppers.com - the emergency
preparedness Web site of prepping, survival, homesteading, and self-reliance.

Above, learn how to use the Baofeng UV-5R(TP) to talk with FRS radios.

Ham Radio Lesson #7: Join an Amateur Radio Club.
Join up with an Amateur Radio Club! The American Radio Relay
League (ARRL), mentioned in #1, helps connect HAMs in the
United States with news, information and resources. Use their
site to connect to ARRL affiliated clubs.

It's one way to find an Elmer.

Ham Radio Lesson #8: Pick your gear wisely.
Surf Youtube to see some equipment reviews. Below is a popular
review on the Boafeng UV-5R.

Pass your Amateur Radio
Technician Class Test

Boafeng UV-5R

HAM Radio License Manual

BoaFeng UV-5R

10 things to know about bleach before you buy too much

How to live in your car for fun, camping or survival

Nitrile Gloves

Radioddity two way radio