My Words Fly Up, My Thoughts Remain Below

I've wanted to try HAM radio for quite some time. I bought the entry-level study guide (Technician Class) several years ago, but like most of my great ideas, it gathered more dust than steam.

This past summer, my interest piqued again. After doing a little digging, I discovered that the cost of a handheld transceiver didn't contain any round numbers. In fact, it would cost less than 100 rounds of 22LR. I'm not sure if that speaks more to the affordability of the former or the exorbitance of the latter, but I happily purchased a Baofeng UV-5R+ on Amazon for $35.

It's compact, sleek and intuitive to operate. The learning curve on programming frequencies was a little steep, however, but it eventually became second nature. There are many online resources, too, and they've proven to be very helpful.

My next step was to find a local radio club and hopefully a mentor who could guide me. The kind gentlemen at W4CQ promptly replied to my inquiry and invited me to attend their weekly open house. I got to meet their members, was given links to the online study guide and received direction on how to best prepare.

After a week of studying and taking the practice exam, I'm consistently scoring in the 90's. Believe me when I say that if a semi-Luddite like me can do this, anyone can.

Confident that I could now pass the Technician Class exam, I made a reservation with the York County Amateur Radio Society (YCARS). Their next available test date is February 15th, and all that's required is $12 and a photo ID. Upon passing, I will then be granted a call sign by the FCC and permitted to transmit above 30MHz.

As the Million Vet March proved, there will not be fair reporting of the American Spring by the state-run media. It will be up to Citizens to share the truth, and for as dramatic as it may sound, that's a pretty heady thing. I'll have my smartphone and a solar charger, but if cell phone service in Mordor becomes unavailable, word will still get out.

Here's a list of steps, if you're interested:

• Buy a radio here. 
• You can transfer settings from your PC to the Baofeng with a free program called CHIRP and this cable.
• I'd recommend eventually replacing the factory antenna for $20 with a Diamond RH-771.
• Find a local HAM radio group here, if you're so inclined. 
• Download a study guide here. 
• Take the 2010 Technician Exam Practice Test here.
•  Find out when and where you can take the actual exam here. 

Voila! I'm not sure how long it takes for the FCC to send a license and call sign, but I'll continue to share my experiences along the way.

The irony is not lost on me that I have to ask the Federal government for permission to speak during a petition for a redress of grievances...