OneCardboardBox@lemmy.sdf.orgtoNo Stupid Questions@lemmy.world•Why do radio stations all seem to go on commercial at the same time?English
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1 month ago- Study free materials available online.
- Take free practice tests.
- Look for license exams in your area, or take an online one. Exam fees in my experience have been ~$25 and go towards whichever club is proctoring.
- Pay the $35 FCC licensing fee and get your callsign.
Theoretically, that’s all you need. It’s possible to use certain internet linked amateur transmitters for no cost as long as you have a valid callsign. However, I promise it’s a lot more fun with a real transceiver. You can buy a bare minimum, highly hackable handheld VHF/UHF transceiver for as little as $20.
Or you can slowly give your soul to the moneypit of HF equipment…
Not that I was ever interested in being military, but I was at a lunch with two older lifelong army retirees. They kept talking about how military service broke their bodies and politicians won’t cover their medical costs. These injuries were independent of any combat: It’s just expected that you sell every part of yourself when you sign up.
Who wants to be 45 years old with a limp, be unable to hear a quiet conversation, and have horrible back problems?