Sign up to learn here: cityprepping.tv/3NyyM0R (use coupon code: cityprepping) *Step 1* - FRN Registration: cityprepping.tv/3FMu3H0 - Step-by-step guide for FRN registration: cityprepping.tv/3NxJpRD - Email example after FRN registration is completed: cityprepping.tv/3fyJ1Wi *Step 2* - Find test location: cityprepping.tv/3U8cTYz - Online test locations: cityprepping.tv/3Ww5LqI *Step 3* - Study for test: cityprepping.tv/3NyyM0R (use coupon code: cityprepping) *Step 4* - Go to the test location of your choosing *Step 5* - Pay FCC after passing your test. - Example email from the FCC to pay for the license: cityprepping.tv/3UqhB3P *Step 6* - Use your HAM radio - Baofeng UV-5R: amzn.to/3Wrxk4p - Upgraded Antenna: amzn.to/3E0t4By - Other HAM radio options: cityprepping.tv/3sSSKtP
Regarding Step 2, another reason to take the test in person. There are A LOT of helpful people that you can meet in your area if you take the test in person. Our county ham radio club administers the test before each monthly club meeting. So whether you pass the test or not, most test takers come to the meeting and meet the 40-50 people who are at the monthly meeting. Good luck!
@DialM4Microcontrollr great point! Yes, good way to meet your local HAMs and meet the local clubs too! Another reason to add to the growing list of reasons to go ahead and get your license...
Hope you truly understand this: "If a Civil war 2.0 or a Nuclear war WW3 SHTF situation ever happened, trust me, your license will be useless, because during war times, the enemy will be able to track you, you using a call sign, located in the Government data".
@VirgilWalker if it comes to WWIII/Nukes, no sane person will be using call signs, AND I will not be located at the post office box where my HAM license was sent. North Korea will not be able to target me with a missile based on any gov't location (or other) data.
@@virgilwalker683 During something like that Hams would go to using Handles and encryption methods such as one time pads. Yes we hams have thought about those things. You should not let a gov. form keep you from preparing to learn and practice the proper ways to use your equipment and be able to help out in emergencies. The reason the FCC gives us our frequencies is so we can be a backup to normal commercial communication.
@@virgilwalker683 if you are worried about your home address being in a gov database, then when you register your FRN, just use a PO box. Plus, do you realize how many gov and other databases your name and address is in?
I'm an Amateur Extra class and happy to see your video. An often overlooked "gateway" to ham radio is GMRS. My wife and family would never study for a test but with GMRS, are allowed to transmit (including repeaters) with common, inexpensive radios. The fee for a no-test license is $35 for 10 years and can be obtained the next day! FRN is necessary, just like with ham.
Getting my HAM license is on my "to do" prep list of 2022. Relocating from CA to NC in 2 weeks. I plan on taking the test in mid-December. Great video Kris! Great info to complete my quest!
Eastern NC here. Hope ya like it here better than Cali. Moved here 15 years ago from up north. Took 2 years to slow down and adjust a bit, but SO worth it and love it here
It's a great hobby. Once you get your "ticket" (your call sign) get involved with a local club and community. There are many other fun activities such as Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air. It's a great way to enjoy the hobby.
Excellent how-to video, Kris! 👍🏾 Another reason as to why it’s important to get licensed is something that I hadn’t previously considered until recently. The FCC is charged with managing the various frequencies being accessed among American citizens, agencies, and corporate entities within its jurisdiction. There’s always a push by certain elements to grab specific frequencies that are both valuable and not heavily accessed by the designated end users. Often the ONLY way the FCC is made aware of the traffic that are on the ham frequencies is through the number of licensees being applied for and renewed. It’s super important to remind the FCC that ham radio operators are committed to retaining their privileges and being responsible users on the airwaves. Be licensed is the most effective way to do so. 73 from Southwest Oklahoma! 😉
Money talks B.S. walks...they do not care how many are licensed, history clearly shows, if they can make money from selling a ham band they will do so in a flash. If not even powerful multi billion dollar broadcast corporations could prevent the sale of spectrum they actually paid tens of thousands of dollars licensing fees per channel / per year for how much power do you think hobbyist have?
Thank you for this Information about the importance of having a ham radio and the license to operate it. I have my late husband’s ham radio and plan to get my ham license in the near future. Be blessed and stay safe and healthy.
Common steps; CB, GMRS, Amateur radio. It's a fun hobby, if you're looking to do less dangerous stuff, due to geyting older and having a family etc. The experimentation with antennas and propagation is fun, but perk I've found is meeting like-minded people (astronomy, firearms, camping, motorcycles, etc. )
@@michaell7877pay a $35 fee, no test, and you can use frequencies within the GMRS spectrum. You can also communicate with FRS radio owners on some of the GMRS channels as well (FRS is a free subset of GMRS with some limitations). HAM radio license owners are NOT permitted to use GMRS UNLESS they also possess a GMRS license.
Congradulations! Welcome to the hobby! You'll find virtually all the Hams you'll meet will be glad to help you out (even with such things as putting up a home antenna, etc.) and answer questions as they come up. People who do this for you are often called "Elmers". I would be proud to be that for you, if I wasn't in Denver! Let us know when you're ready to go for a full-on base station, we'd be glad to advise you. Just as with the Baofeng walkie talkies, there are pretty good world radios for cheap! Like only a few hundred dollars cheap! Like with not skimping on the speakers with home stereos, just don't skimp of the HAM radio antenna!
I've been a ham since April of 1992! Pretty much the coolest hobby ever! Everytime I talk to someone who is interested, I always tell them not to just settle for a tech ticket. When circumstances and finances allow, it's always best to shoot for a general ticket and jump onto the HF bands.
@@freedomfighter1861 never known anyone or anyone who knows anyone, that ever had them do a search. Don't do anything illegal and you won't get searched. They don't have nearly enough agents. They only look at your radio equipment when they do a search anyway.
Ive been following a Ham Facebook group and those guys act like being licensed is the greatest and most difficult achievement of their life and they should be worshipped.
Thank You! I used your code and got $7 off…I’m currently studying for the Technician License…one chapter and step at a time!!! Been listening to you for years!!
Great info. I’m a complete novice. Heard of ham radio enthusiasts but am completely ignorant about the process. Thank you for informing us & beginning my education.
Got the test prep right after this video dropped. Took my test and passed my technicians test three days later and ordered my radio. Thank you for the steps!
You may want to get a PO Box before getting your FRN number. They will publish the address you use in the FCC database for all to see. I used the same study program to get my license earlier this year and loved the materials and practice tests.
Absolutely! This is extremely important... not only do they publish the address, but even if you change it later they still publish ALL previous addresses. It is permanently online if you don't use a P.O. Box from the very beginning. @CityPrepping Maybe you should pin this.
@@rainmannoodles it matters not since cities will publish your actual address lol. Moreover even using a p.o. box you still give the FCC unlimited access to your home as soon as you get the license.
@@germanjohn5626 It does matter. Even if your city would be publishing your address (exactly why and what you're referring to would help for discussion, otherwise that sounds like fearmongering), there's a world of difference between having to search in the thousands of cities that might be publishing addresses and having a single well-known website (the FCC database) that contains your address.
Ham license is waiving your 4th amendment!! So.. I studied to obtain the General license class. A few days before my test something in the FCC rules caught my attention!! Section 303- When you agree to get these Ham tests you agree to pretty much waiving your 4th amendment. At anytime when you have a ham radio the fcc can “search”. When you get a license you are agreeing to opening your doors to the govnt. If the fcc comes to your house you let them in or you lose your license, simply put. Several law groups are fighting this with “meh” results. The chances of the FCC coming and “checking” your radio equipment and home is slim if your following the rules. But still a chance. I cherish my liberties that many of us faught for and decided not to proceed with the license. I still have the knowledge and radios in case of emergencies (because then idk what the fcc says). Thank you Chris for all your awesome videos
I know your post is a year old and a lot has happened since then, but we're literally on a platform right now that ignores our 1st amendment rights. They don't need you to waive anything. As far as searching your home, they will violate your 4th amendment whenever they want and by the time a high court finds them guilty, 4 years will have passed. Besides, not getting your license just increases you chances of them knowing on your door, doesn't it?
"...your following..." all too common grammar error. It should read you're or you are. Yes, when spoken your and you're sound the same, when written they have completely unrelated meanings and usages. Remember, when writing your, that which follows belongs to the person you are writing to. Yes, it does make a difference.
I grew up with my Dad having a ham radio loved hearing from people all over the world. If the weather was just right he would be talking to people in South America or the Virgin Islands. It was so much fun! CQ CQ!
Thanks for putting this information out. I got my Technician License back in June and I'm studying for my General License to get the really cool HF bands.
Thank you. Been working on mine for a few years now. Had surgery twice since then and then The 19. Was going back after it this winter. God Bless and stay safe.
I think the biggest question is under which situations do you want to use your radio and for what purpose? In a local, or even regional event, it may be OK to transmit to get help or support an emergency, but in a long term SHTF you do not want to let everyone know you have power and probably other supplies they can come to you for (when you transmit you need to use your call sign which identifies you and your address). Other items: 1) Just because there is an emergency in your area does not mean you can legally transmit. You, or someone around you, must be in an emergency situation and require immediate help, and you must not have any other legal way to communicate. 2) I do not think the FCC mails out licenses anymore. You now need to print them out yourself. 3) Find a local club, even before starting to study. They can tell you what resources are in your area and help you get started. Some clubs will also loan out (or give you) a radio to try out. You can also get on the air at a radio club using the club call sign with one of the club members as the control operator (helping you and making sure you do not do something wrong). That will allow you transmit on more bands and different modes so you can find out what you would like to do. Once you get your license, they can help you program your new radio for the local repeaters and simplex frequencies.
I'd think if there's an SHTF situation and literally no other way to communicate (cell towers and cell networks have been attacked or whatever), and security is an issue, just don't give your call sign.
I just signed up, and thanks for the coupon code on the training video. Now if I can find someone in my area to talk to after I get my license, that will be great.
Great job! I took my tests in June of this year. Local clubs will help you with engaging with other members! Keep it up ! I hope many will join in this effort!
Thanks for the information, I have been considering getting my Technician license but had not begun and your video convinced me to just begin. Thanks again.
Awesome! Welcome to the Ham Club! This is a great video and has great advice. I got my Technician license in September of last year (2021) and passed my Extra in April of this year. I always tell my prepper friends that they need to get their license because there is a learning curb. I look forward to catching you on the air in the future. KO4THA
Recommend also getting the BL-5 AA battery pack. The radio comes with a rechargeable pack which will limit it’s usable life as the pack goes bad while you can store 10’s if not 100’s of AA batteries or POSSIBLY find some somewhere after SHTF
The test to get your tech license is very VERY easy. You can study the question pool for a week or less and 100% a tech test. That’ll get you on VHF and UHF bands, get you on many local repeaters, etc. Even getting a General isn’t THAT hard. Extra is tough but not needed unless you like the challenge and/or you want to go deep into HF Dxing.
Easy means different things to different people...I know folks who are very smart in other areas, or maybe they don't do well taking exams, but had to take the tech level test 5 times to pass. The important thing is they didn't give up, and, as long as you keep renewing their license, they're set for life, never jave to take the test again! I agree with you on not everyone needing to go to General level. I do recommend it for Preppers, though, as it lets you get on the long distance world wide bands.
@@ColoGrayWolf get used to it. Many are “Experts” aka sad hams. The ham world is great but many “this is the right way and the only way” attitude. They are “experts”. 😂
@@charliegoodnight7560 This is THE reason I don't belong to any Ham Radio Club! I listen to the Nightly Nets on our local repeaters, and what a bunch of DWEBES! The "Try" to use the Phonetic Alphabet to SOUND Professional, and they come off like A$$HOLES 99 % of the time. 99% of the current Ham Population of Clatsop County Oregon are Techs, and they THINK they know EVERYTHING about Ham Radio! Then there's this Old-timer in the Seaside Club who's been a Ham for Many Years. He has set himself up as the Local Radio Guru, and has been wrong MANY more times than he has been right! I left that club of my own accord 4 Years ago, because I was tired of his BS! I still watch this club from afar. I feel I can safely state that if a REAL SHTF event were to go down, I do not believe that ANY of the new folk who have joined the Seaside club in the last 4 years would make it a WEEK! I have Had my EXTRA Class Ticket since 1991, I've been on a Red Cross Deployment to the SOCAL Wildfire event years ago, PERSONALLY coordinated the repair of the Cluster Flock during the Cholera Outbreak in Peru (My work on that is DOCUMENTED!), so I think I have EARNED the right to my Opinions!
You’re right, I mastered the technician test questions in 5 days, then I started on the general and that took about more 10 days. I passed both the same day with exceptional scores. With my license, it was time to “learn” what the tests suggested I knew. Long road…..
You might not want to hear it, but if you have any interest in upgrading to your "General" license, do it now. I waited about 2 months, and that wasn't too bad, but the sooner the better. A general level license really opens up the world. I have had my license for about a year now, welcome to the club. KD9TJL
Ham radio was a vital communications mode during Pearl Harbor. When phones were down at that time. Ametur radio operators were the vital link to the community
Just went gmrs mode. No test, $35, can hit repeaters and talk to people 50+ miles away. I’m sure ham has better range but I’m also just on a 5 watt handheld. Pretty excited overall. Just got my HT today, took me a bit to figure out how to program repeaters, already connected to all of them and got replies from a few. Def going to keep it on me at all times and interested to see what I hear while monitoring. I’m in Arkansas too so LOTS of like minded folks out here
It's perfectly legal to transmit without a licence *in cases of emergency* The real reason to get a licence is to have a standard level of knowledge which makes this far more useful because, like any tool, it's usefulness is directly proportional to how much you know how to use it.
Absolutely awesome. You alleviate a lot of the stressors ! thankyou sooo very much! Greatly appreciated. Because of ur excellent teaching and info , All of us realize it is doable and necessary , for adequate emergency communicaton, or back up.
It's been 33 years since getting my Licenses back when morse code was required and there were 5 licenses, and communicating with over 180 Countries, all 50 states and multiple satellites, the ISS and NASA Space shuttle in 2010. It is now easier with no morse code requirement and only 3 license classes. It has been a great hobby to meet many friends, contacts, emergency mangement groups and agencies as well as to learn Radio/electronics/computers/satellite/data off grid and mobile, as well as combining multiple electronic fields. I strongly recommend working toward your General class Amateur Radio license as this gives you the ability to use all Amateur HF shortwave bands to communicate across U.S. or overseas, without the internet or Shore/Grid power. Good luck, have fun and now if you get some practice, practical radio experience and radio gear, you can be useful for emergency communications for family, friends and community through volunteer groups like ARES, RACES, MARS and local Ham Radio clubs. 73 and have have fun learning. 🙂👍
Hi Chis, important video. I just passed my general and plan to take the extra exam. I’d love to see a video by an experienced HAM to correlate HAM, in particular HF, for prepping. Great job and congrats on the technician license
A sdr could be very useful during a communication outage. Something like the sdrplay could be run from a laptop and you could record and monitor huge chunks of spectrum. 20 and 40 meters would likely have worldwide activity during shtf with useful information. not much on shortwave radio anymore. I have a hustler 5btv setup for amateur bands.
Having my license allowed me to provide & assist emergency comms for our local LEO/Fire/Rescue/Hospitals when our 2 counties experienced major flooding due to a levee break. We even assisted CNN media as they were covering the disaster. I've had my license for about 40 yrs.
Welcome to the Hobby. It's a great idea to have this in your prepper toolbox. Great Video. Once you get into this you will find out how much potential there is. If at all possible continue past the Technician class and upgrade to General, you have so many more frequency options when grid is down.
Excellent timing. I have had a UV 5R5 for years and have been postponing prepping for the test... thinking about doing the test now that I watched ur video. ...maybe.
Great information. I've wanted to do this for awhile but I've been a little hesitant. No one has really gone through it and I don't know anyone that has it. Thanks!!
INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT GET THE LICENSE. THERE IS ALOT MORE INFORMATION on THE HAM FREQUENCIES While you're there also get your GMRS license. 35 bucks for 10 years and your immediate family can use your callsign ( no test)
Thank you for all you do. Can we look forward to a video about which radios would be good for Preppers ? Something simple easy to use radios for analog DMR or HF. I've started studying for my technician's license. But it seems most radio list are for people who use this as a hobby. Not so much for down and dirty communication only
Thank you for getting your license! And for putting Ham Radio in the spotlight. I can honestly say i was into Ham Radio before i was into preparedness. Most of the advice on ham radio is actually really good. My one and only gripe will be with Baofengs. Its the on point i will always disagree with everyone on. Theyre cheap, but theyre too cheap. They are not good for emcomm. Please go out and actually field test them. Unless ur in a repeater theyre next to useless. The ‘receiver’ part of the radio is so subpar they barely pickup even the strongest of signals. Don’t believe me? Go do a simplex test with a Baofeng and literally any other radio. I know theyre cost effective and easy to use. But I believe they have a significant invisible drawback that very few would be able to spot.
My first radio was a handheld Yaesu Ft-65. I live in suburbia but couldn’t make contacts. My first contact was to myself after I bought a UV-5R to test the first radio. Then I bought a ftm-300, 50 watt mobile and the ham radio world became accessible. Next I bought a ft-891 and I bounce my signal off the stratosphere I have a ~400 mile reac. Or, i slope the antenna in any direction I want to reach and the word.
Family has Tech and General. 14-year-old daughter is preparing for Extra and learning code. 11 yr and Mom are doing General next week. Rest of the family to upgrade to extra soon.
Amazing coincidence. I had bought my first Baofeng radio only a couple days ago on the recommendation of a few prepper forums and was just starting the painstaking process of researching how to use it, but it seems the answers have fallen right into my lap.
Even just basic understanding and a little studying will expand your knowledge by miles! You'll meet people who can explain and teach you what to do and get you pointed in the right direction. You can go buy a really good radio, not some chinese junk because they'll sell it to you without a license. Once you start to know what you're doing you'll start to have fun.... and most of these guys will help you pass your test and help you study what you need to study.
Yes, If SHTF you should probably be mostly listening. However if you need help suddenly and a radio is all you have it may be your only hope. There is also the ability to outfit a small prepper group with hand held radios and keep the power way down to your local area only. Keep the transmit time very short and sweet and try not to ever transmit from the base area itself.
This license gives the FCC (The Government) the ability to enter your home at any time to "inspect your equipment". Not sure how comfortable you are with that but i would just prefer to keep using mine without the license.
Nice intro video. One point though - HAMs cannot “broadcast”. We can “transmit” and talk to another HAM. The term broadcast implies a general transmission out to the world. It’s a bit of a nitpick, but newbies sometimes can get the wrong impression about what we do (and what we are legally allowed to do).
Other useful radio solutions are GMRS, $35 for 10 year family license in US, and MURS, no license needed. Both can be more useful than the limited range FMRS “walked talkee” without have to go all the way to ham.
One thing about broadcasting on the amateur bands without the appropriate license in an emergency, it is only if there is an immediate threat to life or property and you have no other option available. Also your chances of getting help hinges on someone listening when you attempt to call on the radio for help. Amateur radio shouldn't be the only tool you have. The Tech Prepper, another channel geared toward amateur radio as a prepping tool, recently uploaded a video where he was hiking on Mt. Whitney with some family members and they had a medical emergency. He wasn't able to reach anyone with his amateur radio gear, but one member of the group had a Garmin inReach and they were able to use that to call for help.
Heresy! A prepper channel that is focused on prepper advice rather than doom-mongering! How dare someone offer decent practical advice when they should be frightening us into buying products. For the record I actually own one of these radios and I should really work out how it works. That said, thanks for staying sane and offering sound practical advice mate.
I was searching: How to get your HAM Radio License and watched your video but I also watched another you tuber (Nota Rubicon Productions) and he mentions that you don't need a license to transmit and the FCC won't attempt to find and fine you if you are located. I am just passing along this information that I heard. I love to watch your videos and their informative nature. Thank you.
I think the other RU-vid channel was talking about GMRS licenses. He said that if your using a GMRS radio without a license the FCC won’t hunt you down, but I wouldn’t try using an open GMRS repeater without a license. The repeater owner will not be happy with you. Same would definitely be true of ham radio but more so.
Just a small correction. Broadcast is one-way communications. AM/FN broadcast radio and television are examples of this. Ham radio is two-way communications. When you transmit, you're looking for a response. EXCEPTION - The ARRL's RTTY bulletins and code practice are examples of broadcasting. There are very specific rules the league needs to follow to do this. Is anyone going to really care if you use broadcast vs. transmit? Probably not. But there is a difference.
I bought a pair of Chinese GT 5Rs from eBay, but I didn't know I needed a license until after i bought em. I need to look into getting a family license.
Great video. Thanks Kris. I’m currently studying for my amateur license. I’m in Texas…. Hope to talk to you on the radio soon. Stay safe! Stay free! God bless!
