How to Communicate Using Shortwave Radio

Now that you have begun listening to shortwave radio, you are going to want to take that next step and begin communicating with other amateur radio enthusiasts via voice or data. In order to do this, you need to obtain an amateur radio license. This is a fairly simple process. You are required to pass a test consisting of 35 questions. For different levels of licensing, there are different exams.

Once you have you license, you are ready to talk with other amateur enthusiasts all over the world. How do you go about finding someone to talk to? One way is to answer a CQ. If you send CQ's, along with your call sign, you are letting other operators know that you want to talk with them. Sometimes it can be difficult to draw people into conversations, especially if you are a new operator, but be patient, and you will begin communicating with others real soon. Once you begin talking, your conversations can be as long or as short as you wish.

An amateur radio station

You will be able to begin operating your amateur radio station as soon as your license grant becomes available on the amateur service data base. If you are operating from an area governed by the FCC, there is no need to wait for your documentation to arrive. You can operate immediately, without prior permission from the FCC, as long as your license has been issued and you work within the FCC rules. So, you can jump right in and start having fun in the world of amateur radio.

Club Station Vanity Call Signs
Once your club station has received its operator license, you may want to apply for a vanity call sign. This application can be filed under the request-by-list provision for the class operator license that is held by the trustee. Since the amount of club station license grants a club can have is limitless, each club station license grant may have a vanity call sign.