All About Ham Radio

During the first fifty years of the twentieth century, ham radio went from being an experiment to virtually an art form. Because of the few government restrictions and the low monetary investment required, the concept of ham radio appealed to various people. More than just a simple hobby, however, ham radio required its operators to understand radio theory, be able to trace a schematic and know how to build a transmitter and receiver with whatever material they might have available. With the advent of World War II and the increased need for cutting-edge communications, the United States government drew upon the knowledge and skill of these amateur ham radio operators. This book explores the history of ham radio operators, emphasizing their social history and their many contributions to the technological development of worldwide communications. It traces the concept of relays, including the American Radio Relay League, from contacts as close as 25 miles apart to operators anywhere in the world. The book highlights the part played by ham radio in many of the headline events of the half century, especially exploration and aviation "firsts". The ways in which these primarily amateur operators assisted in times of disaster including such events as the sinking of the Titanic and the 1937 Ohio River flood, are also examined.

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!

To an outsider, the world of ham radio is one of basement transmitters, clunky microphones, Morse code, and crackly, possibly clandestine, worldwide communications, a world both mysterious and geeky. But the real story is a lot more interesting: indeed, there are more than two million operators worldwide, including people like Walter Cronkite and Priscilla Presley. Gandhi had a ham radio, as do Marlon Brando and Juan Carlos, king of Spain. Hello World takes us on a seventy-year odyssey through the world of ham radio. From 1927 until his death in 2001, operator Jerry Powell transmitted radio signals from his bedroom in Hackensack, New Jersey, touring the worlds most remote locations and communicating with people from Greenland to occupied Japan. Once he made contact with a fellow ham operator, he exchanged postcards known as QSLs cards with them. For seven decades, Powell collected hundreds of these cards, documenting his fascinating career in amateur radio and providing a dazzling graphic inventory of people and places far flung. This book is both an introduction to the fascinating world of ham and a visual feast for anyone interested in the universal language of graphic design.

THIS EDITION IS FOR TESTS AFTER JULY 1, 2020 Amateur radio license tests are multiple-choice with three wrong answers and one right answer for each question. Traditional test-prep materials go through the questions and all the possible answers. For the Extra test, you see 622 questions and 2,488 answers but 1,866 answers are wrong! Why be confused and frustrated studying three wrong answers for every one right answer? Pass Your Amateur Radio Extra Class Test - The Easy Way is different. The focus is on the right answers and only the right answers with full explanations - All Ham and No Spam. The book is in two parts. The first explains the concepts covering every single test question with hints and cheats to help you understand recognize the correct answer. The second part is a condensed Quick Summary with only the questions and correct answers. Since you never see the wrong answers, the correct answers will pop out when you take the test. You learn to recognize, not memorize, the right answer. It couldn't be easier! Here are two testimonials: "I just wanted to let you know that I purchased all 3 of your amateur radio license study books, read them all 3 repeatedly and passed all three tests in 3 weeks! 1st week Tech, 2nd week General, and 3rd week Extra class. Your books give the information needed to understand the material and questions and in turn, give the reader the knowledge and confidence to pass the exams. I have wanted to get involved in amateur radio for years and now I have! I will be sure to let everyone interested in amateur radio study material to be sure and read Easy Way Ham Books! Thank you for writing these books." "Thanks for writing the "Pass Your Test The Easy Way" books! I got my Tech license in May, I scored 34/35. I got my General in June, scored 35/35. I just passed my Extra Class test this week and scored 50/50. I went to the same VE's for each test and after the Extra exam and some handshakes, they had questions about how I studied. I showed them my copy of your Extra class book, highlighted, notes written in the margins and so on. I used your books for each exam and they definitely made a difference for me. I did my part as well but your books definitely made it easier. The books are now part of the ham radio reference section in my library. I don't normally go out of my way to thank an author, in fact, I've never done this before but your books made such a big difference for me I felt I should reach out and let you know about it. So, thanks again for writing this series, 73! "

This guide for the HAM radio operator, which was first published in the late 1960s, is fully updated and includes the most recent information on HAM technology, regulations, and ideas.