I was working away in my virtual home office one day recently when I received an email that the Audible title that I was interested in was ready for download. I had not requested a title, but it turns out that Will had (our Amazon account is associated with my email address). That's when I learned that he was in another room deciding he wanted to study for the Amateur Radio (often called ham radio) exam to obtain a Technician license. And I decided to join him.
At first, I thought it would simply be fun to do it together, but from a more practical point of view, I want to know how to use a radio in an emergency. As weekend campers who aspire to take week-long off-grid trips (or longer after we retire), we want another level of security in communication. Here's why we decided to get our license and why you should consider learning more about it.
Control over our communications
Because we only camp on weekends, we haven't invested in any cell signal boosters (yet), so we rarely have a good signal. We also like to hike, which can sometimes take us even further from the campsite's signal.
Ham radio operators can use an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) to transmit their location and send messages to each other. With APRS, we can share our real-time location with family. Should something go very wrong, this will allow search and rescue to pinpoint our location.
Don't get me wrong. We plan to buy a signal booster for the camper so we (I) can stay connected to work, stream TV and keep in touch with family. But the added level of security the radio offers will provide peace of mind both for remote camping and hiking. Mind you, we're not planning to hike the entire Appalachian Trail or climb mountains, so the need for the APRS system is low. But you just never know what might happen, and this is a great backup communications system.
Staying connected during a disaster
We have both worked at an electric utility for more than 20 years, and just recently, our co-op experienced the worst damage ever in its 83-year history due to Tropical Storm Zeta. Outside of the record-breaking number of utility poles that needed to be replaced, communications were jammed in the aftermath of the storm. Just like a tree breaking a utility pole and disrupting your power or internet, a natural disaster or hack can cause communications outages. One thing a weather disaster can't disrupt is radio broadcasts. Should another extreme weather event strike—whether we're at home or on the road—we'll be able to stay connected. Plus, any licensed ham radio operator can voluntarily assist their communities with emergency communications.
Assisting during an emergency
Because we're already on the front lines during disasters impacting power, the idea of being able to help our community further is appealing. Amateur radio is often used in times of crisis to assist with emergency communication when conventional communications fail. Ham operators can volunteer to serve the public and government organizations, becoming a vital link to help keep people safe and informed.
Talk to astronauts
While calling space is not a reason we got our license, we learned while studying that we could make contact with astronauts. Any amateur with a Technician or higher class license may make contact with an amateur station on the International Space Station using specific radio frequencies. A quick online search reveals ways to listen to or connect to them using ham radio.
Learn a new skill
Does all of this feel a little prepper-ish? Sure. But becoming an amateur radio operator has these practical advantages and more. We're not likely to build a custom ham radio home set up, but we will carry radios with us on camping trips.
If ham radio sounds interesting to you, it's important to know that you must obtain a license before you can operate a ham radio. Will and I studied for the Technician exam and aced the test (we both scored 35 out of 35). There were many options to take the test in our area, at the cost of only $15.
For the Technician exam, we used the following resources to study:
· The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (Spiral)
· No-Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: For tests given between July 2018 and June 2022 (Audible, but also available as a paperback)
· Clay County Radio Club Technician Class Question Pool videos
· Understanding the Ohm's Law formula
· Ham Radio Technician Prep (paid version to get all the questions)
· Ham Study (the paid version of the app)
· For the General exam: No-Nonsense General Class: License Study Guide: For Tests Given Between July 2019 and June 2023 (Audible, but also available as a paperback)
When the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner handed us our certificate of completion, he mentioned that he is hosting a free General license class for three consecutive Saturdays, followed by a free General license exam. You'll likely find a variety of courses and exams in your area.
We can't legally transmit until our names and call signs are posted to the FCC license database. While we wait, we ordered our first radio and know we still have so much to study and learn. Will has also started studying for the General license, and I'm trying to decide if I'll join him. He'll be authorized to communicate in the High Frequency (HF) band with a General license.
We hope to connect with you on the radio soon!
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