Get Your Ham Radio License

Get Your Ham Radio License

Every day more and more Rally competitors, crew, volunteers,

media, & organizers are realizing the value of having a

Ham Radio license. Getting a Ham License is much easier than it used to be,

the exam is multiple choice and there are

No Morse Code requirements at all!

License exams are given by volunteer examiners (VE) ,

these are just regular people (I am a VE myself.

Here are some websites where you can study, take practice exams,

get more information, or find an exam session in your area

Practice Amateur Radio Exams: http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

Below are just a few places you can look at equipment

Mobile Radios

Prices range from $119.00 to $499.00 the least expensive will do the job fine

I use several dual-band (2m/70cm) mobile radios the IC-2800H, IC-706mkIIg, & TM-D700A

Icom

Kenwood

Yeasu

Alinco

Handheld Radios

All of the manufactures above offer portable Handheld radios

I would only recommend a handheld unit if you were in a very open flat area (find a Rally where that happens).

It's kind of like trying to tow your Rally car with a lawn tractor.....you can do it

BUT WHY WOULD YOU

Antennas

I recommend a 1/4 wave magnetic mount ($20. - $35.) you can get these from any Ham Radio supplier

(I list some at the bottom of the page).

You may get away with mounting the antenna inside the car,

but if you do be sure to attach some kind of tether to it so it does not become a flying missile in a crash (which you are not supposed to have)

DC Power

If you "wreck" you're going to throw the battery cutoff switch for safety,

you'll have to check with your individual sanctioning body to find out how you can hook this up safely. One idea is to use an extra battery.

Check with the guys that make & enforce the rules

Places to Purchase Ham Radio Gear

(this is only a partial list, pick up a copy of QST magazine for more info)