Ham Radio
Ham radio, also known as amateur radio, has a rich history in Utah, with the first amateur radio club established in 1927. Today, ham radio continues to be a popular hobby and service that involves using radio frequencies for non-commercial communication, experimentation, and self-training.
People use ham radio in a variety of ways, including:
Contesting: Hams participate in competitions to contact as many other stations as possible within a specific time period.
DXing: Hams seek to contact stations in distant countries and regions.
Public service events: Hams provide communication support for marathons, races, and other community events.
Northern Utah has a vibrant ham radio community, with numerous clubs, repeaters, and events for enthusiasts of all levels. This site provides a brief overview of ham radio in northern Utah, covering regulations, licensing, clubs, events, repeaters, emergency communications, educational resources, and nets.
Regulations and Licensing
In the United States, ham radio operation is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To operate a ham radio station, you need a license issued by the FCC.
There are three license classes: Technician, General, and Extra.
The Technician class license is the entry-level license, granting operators privileges to use portions of the VHF and UHF bands.
The General class license grants some operating privileges on all Amateur Radio bands and all operating modes, opening the door to world-wide communications.
The Extra class license conveys all available U.S. Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and all modes.
FCC Registration Number (FRN): Before taking a licensing test, you must register with the FCC and obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN). You can register online at the FCC's website.
To obtain a license, you must pass an examination on radio theory, regulations, and operating practices. The number of questions and the difficulty of the exam vary depending on the license class. You can find information about exam sessions and study resources on the websites of various ham radio clubs in Utah, such as the Davis County Amateur Radio Club and the Utah Amateur Radio Club.