Getting Started
One of the best ways to learn about all aspects of amateur radio is to join your local radio club. You can also find out more by listening to hams talking to each other on air. No licence is needed to listen in and little or no radio knowledge is required to get started.
Many rallies are held every year and they provide a great opportunity to meet radio amateurs, see what they do and view the type of equipment used to set up an amateur station.
With amateur radio the world really is at your fingertips!
If you do not know where your local club meets, contact your National Society for information. They are always willing to help.
As already stated above, prospective licensees may find out more by listening to hams talking to each other on air. Indeed I would encourage all operators both new and experienced, young or old, to take time out to listen to live QSO’s because so much can be learnt from the good ham radio operator. I spent more years than I care to remember just listening to hams from across the world and when I first got my license, knew what to expect and, more importantly, knew what would be expected of me, when I went “on-air”. It didn't stop me making mistakes but I quickly learnt how to cope and really enjoy communicating with my friends world-wide.
Whilst on the question of listening, let us not forget that many people are content to operate as Short Wave Listeners and spend years just listening around the amateur radio and other short wave bands. Many of the listeners provide valuable SWL reports to the stations they hear on air and look for QSL cards in return. I always QSL any SWL report I receive and would ask all hams to do likewise.
Once the licence has been obtained many Foundation licencees in the United Kingdom face considerable difficulty in knowing where to go next. Mentoring programmes are few and far between but the Eagle Radio Group is one organisation that has set such a programme in place. As part of that package they have produced a booklet "Getting Started for New Licencees" which may be found by clicking here. New licencees are encouraged to use the booklet and the Eagle Radio Group are to be commended for making this available.
Updated 30 August, 2010 12:46:20 GMT