Ham Radio

The real beginning of DigiKey was about 1969. Ron Stordahl was a Ham Radio enthusiast and, while a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, he developed an electronic keying device for sending Morse code which utilized integrated circuits and other electronic components. The device could not only smooth out the ham operator’s dits and dahs, but could make them machine perfect.

He decided to sell this device in the form of a kit to other Ham Radio hobbyists. The kit included the components and an etched circuit board on which one could solder the components. He advertised this kit as the “Digi-Keyer.”

The makers of radio transmitters liked digital keying so much, they eventually built it into their own machines. As a result, interest in the Digi-Keyer Kit was short lived. However, Stordahl pivoted quickly to meet the needs of others like him and began selling the components. And he decided to sell them individually, breaking the industry’s pattern of only selling in bulk.

With a desire to provide key components and service tailored to those in the early stages of technology innovation, not just already-established companies, he began by advertising in magazines. What began as a modest inventory began to grow. From a one-page, typewritten and mimeographed “catalog” to becoming a pioneer in direct mail the DigiKey catalog became the holy grail for hobbyists and design engineers alike.

By 2010, the DigiKey catalog had essentially outgrown the capacity of efficient traditional printing, and the internet was robust enough to accommodate a product offering today that exceeds more than 11.7 million unique devices.

Long before buzzwords like Maker, Startup and Unicorn were a thing, a young man pursuing his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota launched what has since become a $4 billion business that employs more than 4,000 people worldwide.

And it all started with an interest in ham radio.

Before you can transmit on the air, you need to become a licensed Ham operator and know the rules to operate legally. In the United States Ham radio licenses held by individuals are good for 10 years before requiring renewal. In the US there are three license classes—Technician, General and Amateur Extra.

Technician Class License

The Technician Class License is the basic, entry level license type and to earn it requires passing a test with 35 written questions covering radio theory, radio operations and radio regulations The Technician Class License gives access to all Amateur Radio frequencies above 30 megahertz, allowing holders the ability to communicate locally and regionally. It also allows for some limited privileges on the High Frequency (also known as "short wave") bands used for long range communications.

General Class License

The General Class License is the next step up from Technician Class and allows for operation on most of the shortwave band (10 ~ 160 meters) To earn a General Class License, you must already hold a Technician Class license (or passed the Technician license exam). The General license only requires passing a written 35 question exam. Once you do that however, the whole range of operating modes and most of the amateur spectrum below 30 MHz become available to you.

Amateur Extra Class License

The Amateur Extra Class License is the top license level available and allows for operation on all amateur bands and operation modes. Earning the license is more difficult; it requires passing a thorough 50 question examination. In addition, Amateur Extra class licensees must also have passed all previous license class written examinations for both Technician and General Classes Here are some resources on the Ham radio exams, both where to find one near you and some practice exams so you can know what to expect at each testing and license level.

• http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class
• http://www.arrl.org/exam-practice
• https://hamstudy.org/

Finding a Ham Radio License Testing Location

There are always Ham radio classes practice exams and tests happening all across the country, nearly every day so finding one near you should be no problem. The American Radio Relay League or ARRL is the national association for amateur radio in the United States, and is a great starting point for finding testing information, practice questions for exams and getting in contact with Ham radio clubs and mentors in your area or around the nation.

There are strict rules on what is and is not allowable to bring to a testing location so be sure to read over the requirements before your testing date.

If you have trouble going to a testing location, as of April 30th, 2020 the Federal Communication Commission now allows Ham radio tests to be conducted remotely, but beware, they often have their own special rules and set ups requirements so be sure to carefully read the instructions.

From the earliest days of ham radio, over a hundred years ago to today, amateur radio operators have been designing and building their own equipment. This was a practical necessity in the early days when commercial equipment was very limited. Today, even though you can purchase everything you need to set up a ham radio station, many hams choose to build their own equipment and accessories. The availability of a vast variety of electronic components, low-cost test equipment and fabrication services, makes it's easier than ever to build your own gear.

One of the cornerstones of amateur radio is the goal of advancing the state of the art. Amateurs are often the earliest adopters of new technology. Amateurs have been instrumental in all aspects of technological development from design and deployment of small satellites in orbit, to building mesh data networks for emergency communications in times of disaster. The growth of the maker movement fits perfectly with the spirit of hands-on experimentation in the amateur radio world. For example, microcontrollers and embedded Linux boards have become integral components in many amateur radio projects from RF test equipment to antennas that track satellites, to digital communications gateways to the heart of any modern amateur radio. If you are a hands-on builder, you will find amateur radio can offer an endless list of projects that can inspire, educate and benefit your community.

The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio