Chapter 19 · Communications without a cell phone
19.8 Amateur radio (ham radio)
In this section (3)
It is the most powerful and flexible option for communicating when everything else fails, and the one emergency volunteers use. It requires studying, but the first level is within reach of any adult.
The Technician license
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam | 35 multiple-choice questions. You pass with 74% (26 correct; you can miss up to 9). |
| Who gives it | Accredited volunteer examiners (VEs). Some teams charge their own fee to cover expenses; it varies. |
| FCC fee | $35 for the license (since 2022), plus the exam fee if there is one. |
| Term | 10 years, renewable. |
| What it allows | All bands above 30 MHz (VHF and UHF, including local repeaters) and limited parts of shortwave. |
| Next levels | General and Amateur Extra: more shortwave access for long-distance communications. |
How to prepare
- Get the question pool. All the possible exam questions are public. Use a study guide updated to the current pool.
- Practice with online practice exams until you pass several times in a row with room to spare.
- Take a class. Local clubs offer courses for the Technician license, sometimes over a weekend.
- Create your FRN in the FCC's CORES system before the exam; you will need it.
- Take the exam at a volunteer examiner session (in person or, in some cases, online). Bring official photo ID.
- Pay the FCC fee when the notice arrives by email and wait for your call sign to appear in the ULS database.
- Start listening and taking part in the weekly nets in your area. That way you learn the protocol before an emergency.
Repeaters, nets, and emergency services
- Amateur radio repeaters: most cities have several on VHF (2 m) and UHF (70 cm). With a handheld radio and a Technician license you can talk through them across much of the metropolitan area.
- Nets: on-the-air meetings at a fixed time, with an operator who controls the order. In emergencies, nets are activated to pass along damage information and welfare messages.
- ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service): an ARRL program made up of licensed amateur operators who register as volunteers to provide communications in disasters. Only licensed people can join; you don't need to be an ARRL member. You find the local group at arrl.org/ares and submit the registration form to the local Emergency Coordinator.
- RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service): amateur radio operators who work under the authority of local governments and are activated by emergency management officials. It is a last-resort backup so the government can communicate when other systems fail.
