Ham Radio License? How to Start?

Question

I'm interested in obtaining a LEVEL 1: Technician Class License.

Can I listen to Aircraft (Local ATC) with the LEVEL 1: Technician Class License?

I'm leaving for the Caribbean in a few months and before bringing a radio scanner or any transmitting device the foreign Customs Official told me I must forward my LEVEL 1: Technician Class License to the local Spectrum Management Authority and they will issue me my "Alien Amateur Operators License"

So would I be able to hear anything interesting with the basic LEVEL 1: Technician Class License? What what you recommend that picks up Aircraft, Boats, and other HAMS (I'm looking for something that is portable)?

Answer 1

Get in-touch with the ARRL ( Amateur Radio Relay League) they will help you get started getting your license ( Level 1: Technician ) and receiving all the paper work for working in a foreign land.

    As for just having a receiver for listening to, no license is required at least not in the states, maybe in foreign lands, though?

As for just a portable short wave receiver, Sony, Sangean, and a few others are good. But to receive VHF, UHF aircraft, public serivce (police, fire ect.) you will need a good scanner.   Also check out portable amateur transceivers from Kenwood,Yaesu and Icom they have models that cover Shortwave plus VHF and UHF amateur bands.

Here are a few links:

www.arrl.org

http://www.aesham.com/

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/p...

http://www.bearcatscanner.com/

Add-on :  Putting an antenna on the roof is a good idea, aways higher is better. A good discone antenna from AES or Radio Shack is a good one for the scanner and a multi-trapped dipole for the amateur low bands would be great. Ask the sales personal at AES for help on your situation.

Answer 2

Usually it depends upon the country and apparently the one you want to visit requires a ham radio license and a ham radio that catches air bad to be able to listen to the frequency.

Depending upon the island, all you are doing is listening and some frown on air band listening. But as the other poster suggested, if it requires a license, get in touch with the ARRL and they can set you up with no problems on getting your technician no-code license in the US.. IF not in the US, please repost with the two countries names and we will try to research the legalities of listening in that country.

But basically look for a Hand-held where you can set up a simple antenna with a small run of coax and I hear signals out 50 miles normally at second story level.

Basically you are looking for a radio that will receive 108-174 Mhz with 108-135 MHZ if I remember being aircraft AM band (Make sure the radio receives AM, some won't recive Am or the air band) Most VHF marine is on 156-157 MHZ FM and hams depending upon the country are usually 144-148 Mhz FM