The Fast Track to (Finally!) Getting on the Air With Ham Radio

by Michael Burnette, Kerry Burnette

If you have your amateur radio license and still haven’t gotten on the air with it, you’re not alone! There’s a lot the license exams don’t cover. The Fast Track to (Finally!) Getting on the Air With Ham Radio fills in the gaps so you can go from "licensed" to "operating." In this lively guide, award-winning ham radio author Michael Burnette, amateur radio call sign AF7KB, covers what you need to know to set up your station, get over your “mic fright,” and start enjoying the fun of ham radio. You’ll learn what to plug into what, and exactly “what you’re supposed to do” on VHF, UHF, and HF frequencies. * How to build a station. * What the real rules are. * Conquering “mic fright. * Working repeaters. * Buying and using handheld transceivers. * How to program a VHF/UHF radio. * Mobile transceivers and installations. * Choosing a mobile transceiver. * VHF/UHF fixed stations. * Grounding an amateur radio station the right way. * Advanced VHF/UHF operation. * Digital voice modes. * Building your first HF station. * Choosing an HF radio. * HF antennas and feed lines. * HF antenna tuners. * All those knobs and buttons! A guided tour of HF radio controls. * Operating HF phone. * Operating HF digital modes. * And much more, including over 130 illustrations and a massive (650+ entries) amateur radio glossary! Created by one of the nation’s leading ham radio educators, this nuts and bolts, “turn on the microphone and say these words” guide is designed to get you through the “now what?” after “I got my license!”

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2020

Reviews

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone that doesn't give this book a high score, I just don't know what to say.

For those who have a license but have no elmer, this is probably the best book out there to help out.

Both my parents are hams but one had a stroke, the other has no radio, so hard to learn from them. Local radio club would not even help me by doing a test even though they GIVE the test.

This might be the best option if you are a similar position to me.

[John Lomnicki, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory insight

I really do not know where to begin. The book gives suggestions as well as a roadmap to get started in the hobby.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting an helpful.