Wanna Be a Ham?

The North Fulton Amateur Radio League is ready to help you become an amateur radio operator.

• Our Mentors can outline a self study course.
• Our Volunteer Examiners can administer your license test at one of our monthly test sessions.
• We can advise you on equipment purchases.
• Our club meetings and activities provide opportunities to visit with and learn from active hams who live in the North Fulton area.
• Our HamCram sessions are designed to prepare you to pass the technicians license exam.  The session lasts one day and the technicians license exam is administered by our volunteer examiners at the end of the day.  Check here to see if we currently have a HamCram class scheduled.
• We can mentor you through our self-paced Technician Exam Study course.

Self-Paced Technician Exam Study

In addition to periodic HamCram sessions, NFARL now offers a self-paced approach to studying for your Technician class license. There are four parts to getting your license but the key is to let us help by assigning a mentor (Elmer) from our club to guide you in your study.  You proceed at your own pace - getting a license in 4 weeks to 4 months - it's up to you.  To view how this works, click here.  It will take about 10 hours or study - more or less. Good luck. Questions? elmer@nfarl.org

Are you ready to get started?

• Click here to go to our Contact Us web page where you can send us an email.  In the email, tell us about yourself and the facet of ham radio that interests you most.
• This page is a bit lengthy but it covers in fine detail how to study for the Technician test:  http://tinhatranch.com/how-to-get-your-ham-radio-license-in-7-days/#.X9eZkndKhPb.  Use this link: https://hamstudy.org/ for the question pool.
• This link covers the Technician test using the KB6NU's material: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG2S_xV3zJE&feature=youtu.be and here is the link to the KB6NU study guides which is freely downloaded for the Technician guide: https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/.
• Explore the web sites mentioned at the bottom of the page.
• Come to NFARL club meetings and activities.
• Link up with a Mentor, find out when the next HamCram or license exam session will be held, and start studying!
  • Morse code testing is no longer required, so entry level licensing is easy.
  • Usually no more than a week or two of study.
• Study on your own and take the licensing test at one of our monthly license testing sessions or sign up for our next HamCram session.

While you are getting started, if you have a radio or scanner:

• Listen to our club repeaters (145.47 & 147.06 MHz)
• Monitor a repeater during bad weather.  Try 146.82 MHz, a Skywarn linked repeater.

Odds are there's a ham operator in your neighborhood who would be happy to help you get started.  Here's a web page that shows a map of ham operators in your zip code. What does it cost?

• About $40 in books and fees
• About $200 for first radio and other gear
  • Used equipment is available

Where can I find more information about ham radio?

• Wikipedia on Amateur Radio — a quick overview
• www.arrl.org – ham radio's national association — a great resource — covers all aspects of our hobby
  • What is Ham Radio
  • ARRL Book: Getting Started with Ham Radio — Good info on setting up a station after you get your license
• www.eHam.net — The site has helpful forums covering equipment and ham activities, and sample license tests.
• FCC | Public Safety and Homeland Security Service Bureau | Amateur Radio Services The FCC established amateur radio as a voluntary, non-commercial, radio communications service. It allows licensed operators to improve their communications and technical skills, while providing the nation with a pool of trained radio operators and technicians who can provide essential communications during emergencies. ... more