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amateur radio operators are not restricted to use of type approved equipment and may construct and modify equipment freely as long as they comply with spurious emissions standards. Signals outside a transmitter's assigned channel, for example, would be considered spurious emissions.

Your local groups are a good source of information on the best retailers and the best deals around to suit your current needs. Other sources include eBay and amateur radio rallies. A rally is an event where radio amateurs can meet, talk and buy from a wide selection of local and national traders. In general you do not need to take your licence with you when you purchase your radio but some suppliers may ask for proof of your being licensed before making the sale.

For beginner's buying second hand, damaged or customised equipment is not recommended. The best approach is to take a hands on approach with the radio you want to buy and see if you can find your way around it (turn it on, test local repeator etc).

Your first radio will probably cost no more than $200 but some looking around will probably dredge up cheaper options. As a beginner a good approach is to start with a basic radio and then over time expand and customize in league with your improving skill level.

You may ultimately wish to use a home computer to communicate digitally by connecting to your radio and installing some appropriate software and you can also use a TV to send pictures or broadcast once you get going.

What equipment to start out with also will be affected by desired scope and budget.

It is advisable to buy a basic SWR meter and a multimeter to enable you to test your equipment.

The least expensive choice is a single band handheld but this will also be quite limited, there are setups that cost more and with any setup there are expenses such as antenna or chargers. Handheld radios are not good for extended periods of use as they have limited range and battery life, additionally the handheld itself will heat up a lot during use.

As to more expensive and involved rigs it's best to approach friends, fellow operators or the person selling you your equipment and give them a breakdown of your budget, abilities and what you want from the equipment.

The world of ham radio is a friendly and supportive one so you're very likely to receive all the advice you could wish for to make the right choice. As soon as you set foot in your first course session or meeting you're well on your way to embracing a set of skills where the boundaries and limitations are always being pushed back. The sky, and your own imagination are the limits.

To finish here are a couple of useful links.

The ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio. Membership includes many benefits to enhance your abilities as an amateur radio operator.

https://www.arrl.org/

Hello Radio

http://www.hello-radio.or g/

Learn more about this author, Stefanina Hill.
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