The Seneca Radio Club is ready to help you become an amateur radio operator.
- Our mentors can help you study for the exam. More info about the exam prep is here.
- Our Volunteer Examiners hold classes on a regular basis.
- 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 Seneca County area.
Are you ready to get started?
- Click here to go to our About Us page, where you can email us, or use the contact form to send us a message. In the form, tell us a little about yourself and why you want to get involved in the wonderful hobby.
- Explore the web sites mentioned at the bottom of the page
- Come to SRC meetings and activities. Our general membership meeting is the Second Monday of every month at 6pm. More info can be found on our home-page.
- Connect with one of our mentors, 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 dedicated study
While you are getting started, if you have a radio or scanner:
- Listen to our club repeaters (145.450 & 145.150 MHz). Full list can be found on the Frequency Guide under Downloads.
- Monitor a repeater during bad weather.
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 explains how to find other ham operators in your area.
What does it cost?
- About $40 in books for the class.
- About $50 to $500 for first (2 meter/70cm) radio and other gear depending on what you buy. A Baofeng Handy-Talky currently sells for under $50. Get the higher power one (about 8 watts). It’s not the quality of an Icom, Kenwood, or a Yaesu, but it will get you into the local repeaters without having to buy a separate antenna and coaxial cable.
- Used equipment is often available online (Craigs List, Ebay) and at various hamfests. See the latest edition of the ARRL Ohio Section Journal for info on Hamfests in Ohio.
- $15.00 for the exam fee.
Where can I find more information about ham radio?
- Check out some YouTube Videos that we have linked. Everything from general information about Ham Radio to specifics like FLDigi.
- Here are some books available from ARRL. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual is the only book you will need for your first license exam.
- Wikipedia on Amateur Radio — a quick overview.
- Arrl.org – the national club — a great resource — covers all aspects of our hobby.
- www.emergency-radio.org — ARRL overview on how to get started.
- See the article Discovering Ham Radio!
- Here’s another resource Amateur Radio and Emergency Communications
- FCC – 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.
- Ham radio in the 21st century — Ham radio today differs greatly from that of past years, but it still offers a fascinating way to explore electronics. Here’s a look at how it has changed and what it has to offer both old hands and newcomers alike.