Frequently Asked Questions

  What is amateur radio?     (the best hobby in the world!)

How do I get an amateur radio license?     (pass a short written test)

How do I become a member of HOTARC?     (complete membership application)

What are typical HOTARC activities?     (service and education!)

How can I use my radio(s) to help during emergencies?     (join local ARES chapter)


What is amateur radio?

Amateur radio, or "ham radio" as it is often called, is a hobby that can actually save lives. Using privileges granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), licensed operators in the U.S. are able to transmit and receive powerful radio signals all over the world—and even outer space. Amateur radio operators, or "hams" (as they are often called), use their radio skills and equipment to serve the public during severe weather events and other emergencies when there is a need for backup communications. Following severe storms and other disasters, hams are often the first to be able to communicate when cell phone towers and police/fire communications systems may falter.

To maintain a state of readiness, hams typically provide free communications for non-emergency events like marathons and walk-a-thons, bike and boat races, festivals and fairs, and so forth. And, as part of the fun of the hobby, hams participate in many contests and other challenges to practice their skills and test their equipment, such as the annual Field Day, when radio clubs all over the nation will operate for 24 hours using only battery-, solar-, or generated-power. For more information, visit this excellent web page.


How do I get an amateur radio license?

In the United States, there are three license levels, or "license classes": Technician class, General class, and Extra class. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grants these licenses, and specifies what privleges come with each license class. Here is a nice one-page summary of these three license classes.

To obtain the first-level Amateur Radio license, you must pass a short written examination. No Morse code is required! These exams are given by Volunteer Examiners—usually qualified local ham radio operators. The Baylor Amateur Radio Club and HOTARC jointly sponsor test sessions—usually monthly. See the last page of our current newsletter (the HOTLINE) for testing times and location, and who to contact.

Getting started in ham radio has never been easier! Many study guides to help you pass the 35-question multiple-choice exam for the Technician Class license are available, such as
HOTARC also periodically offers training sessions to help you prepare for the exam. Contact one of the Club Officers for further information about these sessions.


How do I become a member of HOTARC?

A Full Member of HOTARC must have a valid Amateur Radio License, and has the privilege of voting at Club business meetings and holding elected offices. An Associate Member can be anyone with an interest in Amateur Radio. Immediate family members of a Full member can be a part of the Club as a Family Member. (For more information, see our Club bylaws.)

The steps to becoming a HOTARC member are:
  1. Complete a HOTARC Membership Application and mail it to one of the HOTARC Directors, or submit it to the presiding Officer at the next HOTARC meeting.
  2. The Board of Directors will vote whether to accept the application.
  3. The Full Members will vote on the application.
  4. If your application is accepted (almost a sure thing!), pay the appropriate membership dues (as noted on the application form).

What are typical HOTARC activities?

HOTARC meets once a month to conduct a little Club business, and then enjoy a short program on a technical or entertaining topic—usually related to amateur radio. In addition to these monthly gatherings, we also
  • Provide emergency communications, as needed, for area Emergency Management officials and the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth, TX (i.e., storm spotting).
  • Conduct weekly on-the-air training "nets" to keep our skills honed for emergency communications during actual disasters.
  • Participate in four to six "special events" each year, where our members provide radio communications for the event organizers. These special events are great practice for real emergencies, and also fun opportunities to use our radios!
  • Offer instructional classes for those interested in obtaining their first ham radio license.
  • Offer presentations and other educational programs for scouts, students, and other interested groups, upon request.
  • Conduct radio-direction-finding (RDF) exercises, called "fox hunts," where the participants try to locate a hidden radio transmitter. These exercises are great practice for locating a transmitter that is accidentally stuck "On," or an illegal transmitter.
  • Conduct amateur television (ATV) meetings, both "fast scan" and "slow scan," to practice the exchange of images via amateur radio.
  • Participate in a 24-hour emergency communications drill known as "Field Day," when we operate our radios without commercial power from a location away from our homes (e.g., a public park), and contact as many other stations around the world as possible. Treating it as a contest with other clubs around the nation, this is one of our most fun annual Club events!

How can I use my radios to help during emergencies?

The best way for amateur radio operators to use their skills and equipment to help their community in an emergency is to register and practice with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). With the rising number and severity of national-scale disasters, the need for adequate preparation and identification of amateur radio operators has risen dramatically. It is now imperative for those wanting to really contribute to service and have access to restricted emergency sites to register with their local ARES organization, and complete required training courses (see below). We fully expect the next large disaster to call upon amateur radio operators more than ever before, and effective in 2008 enforce the need for proper identification and training. To this end, it is imperative that you:
  1. Complete and submit an ARES application—before the emergency comes! The form includes instructions on where to mail it.
  2. Complete at least the following four free online training courses available from FEMA:
    IS-700 (NIMS), IS-100 (ICS), IS-200 (ICS), and IS-800 (NRP).
  3. Though not required, you are strongly encouraged to complete at least one (and preferrably all) of the online Emergency Communications training courses available from the ARRL: EC-001, EC-002, and EC-003.
  4. Check in to the weekly training nets and ARES activations (e.g., storm spotting). The central Texas ARES training net currently meets every Monday at 8:00 PM on the HOTARC 145.15 MHz repeater.
  5. Upon registering with ARES, a list of local repeaters will be provided to you. Program your radio(s) with these area repeaters and know how to use them. During an emergency is not the time to be learning how to use your radio's features and functions!