Ham it up with this handy how-to guide

Welcome to the "ham" club! A classic pastime that has captured hearts and minds for generations, amateur radio is a great way to connect with people around the world. And it's one of our most important communications systems, too. Ham Radio For Dummies will help you get started in the ham community, operating your own radio station. Plus, you'll have the latest tips and trends at your fingertips. This is a perfect reference for both established hams and those new to the fun of amateur radio!

Inside. . .

• Connect with other hams
• Explore tools and test instruments used by hams
• Obtain your license and call sign
• Use computers and digital ham radio
• Provide emergency communication
• Determine your operating specialty
• Interpret ham radio jargon

Respond to the call of ham radio

Despite its old-school reputation, amateur radio is on the rise, and the airwaves are busier than ever. That's no surprise: being a ham is a lot of fun, providing an independent way to keep in touch with friends, family, and new acquaintances around the world--and even beyond with its ability to connect with the International Space Station Hams are also good in a crisis, keeping communications alive and crackling during extreme weather events and loss of communications until regular systems like cell phones and the internet are restored. Additionally, it's enjoyable for good, old-fashioned tech geek reasons--fiddling with circuits and bouncing signals off the ionosphere just happens to give a lot of us a buzz

If one or more of these benefits is of interest to you, then good news: the new edition of Ham Radio For Dummies covers them all In his signature friendly style, longtime ham Ward Silver (Call Sign N AX)--contributing editor with the American Radio Relay League--patches you in on everything from getting the right equipment and building your station (it doesn't have to be expensive) to the intricacies of Morse code and Ohm's law. In addition, he coaches you on how to prepare for the FCC-mandated licensing exam and tunes you up for ultimate glory in the ham radio hall of fame as a Radiosport competitor With this book, you'll learn to:

• Set up and organize your station
• Communicate with people around the world
• Prep for and pass the FCC exam
• Tune into the latest tech, such as digital mode operating

Whether you're looking to join a public service club or want the latest tips on the cutting edge of ham technology, this is the perfect reference for newbies and experts alike--and will keep you happily hamming it up for years