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How to
become a Ham?
Any individual above the age of 12 is
permitted to appear for Amateur Station Operator License Examination
conducted by Ministry of Communications. One should qualify a simple
test conducted in three subjects namely I) Morse Code (Transmission
& Reception) ii) Communication Procedure iii) Basic Electronics.
The
Officer-In-Charge, Wireless Monitoring Station, Dept. of
Telecommunication under Ministry of Communication, Govt. of India is
the authority for conducting these tests in their own town provided
there are sufficient number of applicants. The licenses are issued
by Wireless Planning & Co-ordination Wing of DOT, Govt. of India
after passing the test in any of the following grades:
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Restricted Grade II -Permitting
use of VHF/UHF only (i.e Walkie-Talkies).
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Grade
II - Permitting HF/VHF/UHF
frequencies but with limited transmitting power.
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Grade
I- Permitting all amateur
frequencies with higher power including latest techniques.
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Advance Grade- Permitting
higher power and advanced techniques including Satellite
Communication.
The Morse
Code of 5 words per minutes sending-receiving will make eligible to
get grade-II and 12 words per minutes sending-receiving will get
grade-I. For advanced grade higher level of technical knowledge in
electronics is essentially required.
It takes
just two months (say two hours a day training) to become eligible
for the examination. Any Indian citizen over 12 years of age is
eligible to write the test and No Educational qualification is
prescribed.
Basic
knowledge can be obtained by purchasing study manuals, books on
Morse Code from many Amateur Radio Clubs in India Ex: Amateur Radio
Society of India, Kerala Amatuer Radio League, Indian Institute of
Hams, NIAR etc.,. There are many ways to go about preparing
for and taking your ham radio license test.
•Local clubs - For those that like a
structured approach, many clubs organize meetings and classes to
teach the basic skills of radio operation and prepare people for
their ham radio license test. At the end of the classes, a test is
given. If you pass, you're a ham!
•Self-study - It doesn't seem right to
tell you about going it alone, because then you're not doing it all
by yourself! Taking a class is a far better way to get your license;
and when you pass your test you will already have friends to talk
to. But if you insist, I feel obliged to tell you how to do it
because this is the way I did it.
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