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Beginner Information

If you have an interest in Amateur Radio but are a beginner, you are probably confused and wonder where to start. All hams were there at one time, so don't feel bad. Here is some background information to get you pointed in the right direction.

Amateur Radio (often referred to as Ham Radio) is defined as follows by Industry Canada (the federal government agency that regulates radio in Canada): 

"'amateur radio service' means a radiocommunication service in which radio apparatus are used for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication or technical investigation by individuals who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest."

The term "without pecuniary interest" simply means you can't get paid for being a ham, for example you can't use it for business purposes like dispatching taxis.

Everyone has used a radio receiver to listen to AM, FM broadcast stations or to watch TV. Those broadcast stations are licensed by the federal government to use the radio frequency (such as 680 Kilohertz on the AM band, or 104 Megahertz on the FM band). 

Also, most of us have used a radio transmitter  to talk to someone if we have used a cellular phone. When you pay for the use of a cell phone service from a supplier like Bell or Cantel, they are licensed to allow you and others use the cell phone frequencies.

Ham radio operators are licensed by the Canadian federal government to receive and transmit on a variety of  dedicated (or sometimes shared) ham frequency bands using either their spoken voice, or a variety of other operating modes (don't worry, you can start simple with voice) to carry out their self-training, intercommunication or technical investigation. There is NO CHARGE use the frequencies, but to get this license you must study, either using reference material yourself or by taking a course and then pass one or more examinations. There is no longer a need to learn Morse code (unless you want to):

    Click here for more information on preparing for and taking the exams.

There may be a nominal charge for taking the exams (the volunteer examiner can recover expenses), but there is NO CHARGE for your initial license from Industry Canada.

After passing the exam, you get a ham radio callsign, like VE3LON.  You can choose any available call signs, and then get on the air! You can then make arrangements to use the club station, or make a minor investment in a new or used handheld or base station radio and start communicating. If you run out of things to try, here are some ideas.

There are many, many activities that you get involved in which you can learn about by browsing this website, some more focused on the communications aspects, and other more focused on the technical aspects. Whatever you find most interesting you will be sure to have a of fun and to learn a lot of skills and knowledge that will be valuable in your life and perhaps your job.

We recommend that you work with a mentor (hams traditionally call a ham mentor an "elmer") to help, just drop by the LARC club meeting and introduce yourself to one of the executive (or contact one of them directly) and someone will be glad to help.

Here are some other good articles and beginner sites on what ham radio is all about:

 

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