ARCUV - Useful Links

Useful Amateur Radio Links

This list is a work in progress, of course. If you know of any good Ham radio related sites – or find any of these links to be stale – please submit them to the ARCUV Webmaster. These links are presented in no particular order … well maybe the webmaster has some subliminal ordering, but he's not divulging it.

Getting Started in Amateur Radio

About the best way to get started in Amateur Radio is to know somebody – a relative, neighbor, or co-worker – who is an active Ham; they'll likely know who to contact in your area to help you get started, if they don't volunteer to do the job themselves.

"Hello…" Radio page: http://www.hello-radio.org/ — An introduction to Ham radio and some of the many fun and rewarding activities you can have as a licensed Amateur Radio operator. The site is sponsored by the Amatuer Radio Relay Leage (ARRL), the national organizaion for Ham radio in the US.
ARRL's Getting Started page: http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html — Not sure if Amateur Radio is for you? Decided that you do want to get your license, but don't know how to start? This is the page for you. (Has been changed to take you to the "Hello…" page above.)
QRZ's Practice Tests: http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl — This page will give you a simulated test for any of the three written tests. Not the best for general learning, in my opinion, but certainly good to practice what you've learned and to help "take the edge off" when you are getting ready to go take the test for real.
Trent's Technician Study Notes: http://www.arcuv.org/exam/e2-extra-notes.php — stuff Trent has put together to help review some of the high points of the technology and stuff included in the Element 2 (Technician) license exam. (Recommendations for additional info appreciated.)
The DXZone — Morse code software: http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Morse_Code_Training/ — the Morse Code section of their software library; lots of good stuff

Amateur Radio Organizations and Clubs

ARRL — Amateur Radio Relay League: http://www.arrl.org/ — "The national association for Amateur Radio" in the US. They have an extensive site with information on just about any topic, including how to get started in Amateur Radio. Membership in the ARRL also includes a subscription to their monthly magazine, QST.
ARCUV — The Amateur Radio Club of Utah Valley: http://www.arcuv.org/ — One of the finest radio clubs in … oh wait, if you're reading this, you've already been there, hihi.
This is a general interest group. Topics discussed at their monthly meetings include HF operating, Morse code, repeaters, Radio Direction Finding (RDF), antenna building, general electronics, and various other topics.
Utah County ARES — Utah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service: http://www.ucares.org/ — This is the Utah County chapter of ARES, the national Amateur Radio Emergency Service organization. This group works with the Sheriff's Office, Utah County Search and Rescue, the American Red Cross, and other public safety and emergency response groups. If there's something going on in Utah County, these guys will be there to help.
In addition to the emergency services that they provide, this group also helps out with vaious public service events throughout the year: city parades, like the Provo Freedom Festival Parade; bike races, like the 100mi ULCER (Utah Lake Century Epic Ride); various foot races, including the Wasatch 100, the Ka'china Mosa, and the 50k; and events like March of Dimes walks, etc. They meet monthly to discuss various topics and to train, and have a weekly training net.
N7BSA — Radio Explorer Post 1973: http://www.n7bsa.org/ — Our local Radio Explorer post, N7BSA, open to all teens (young ladies, as well as the young men), which meets throughout the year to do fun activities, to build radio projects, and to provide public service for various events. They have a monthly post meeting, in addition to the other activities.
TERT — Timpanogos Emergency Response Team: http://www.tert.org/ — "The Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (TERT) was organized in 1983 to assist hikers and climbers on Mt. Timpanogos. TERT is composed of an all-volunteer group of emergency medical technicians (EMT), climbers, radio communicators (licensed amateur radio operator), and other interested persons. …" They have two training sessions early in the year, and a Closing Social after the season.
BYUARC — BYU Amateur Radio Club: http://radioclub.byu.edu/ — "The Brigham Young University Amateur Radio Club (BYUARC) serves BYU and its surrounding communities by providing means for emergency communication and coordination, communication for special events both on and off campus, and furthering the art and FUN of Amateur Radio." They hold a weekly training net on the club repeater. (The "new" URL http://byuarc.byu.edu/ seems to be dead.)
UDXA — Utah DX Association: http://www.udxa.org/ — Originally the Great Salt Lake Contest Club, the club was reformed as UDXA in 2005. UDXA is open to all amateurs interesed in HF DX or contesting. Meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month.
UARC — Utah Amateur Radio Club: http://www.xmission.com/~uarc/ — "… [UARC] is the oldest and largest amateur radio club in the state of Utah. It holds the call W7SP, a memorial call for Leonard (Zim) Zimmerman, early UARC member and radio pioneer. It also publishes a monthly newsletter called The Microvolt, electronic versions of which can be found here."
Utah VHF Society: http://www.utahvhfs.org/ — "The Utah VHF Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to promote and coordinate the installation and use of VHF/UHF amateur repeaters throughout Utah. …" This site has lots of useful information about Utah repeaters and VHF/UHF (plus 10m) band-plans. (The previous URL was http://www.ussc.com/~uvhfs/)
LDS Utah County ERC Net — Emergency Response Communications Net (LDS Church): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ERC_Lindon/ — (Yahoo! Group subscription required; contact WA7LBA) Information primarily for Stake Emergency Communications Specialists (or whatever they decide the name of the calling is in your area). Has some good documents to help you prepare for emergencies in your Stake, and to help you help your Stake Presidency prepare the Stake's Emergency Response plan.

Amateur Radio Equipment

CPI — Communication Products Inc.: http://www.commproducts.net/ — Bob Wood's shop in Salt Lake. Pretty much the only Ham radio shop in Utah. (Next to "Some Guys Hobby Shop") If you're near 75th South and Redwood Road in SLC, stop in and say "Hi." and see if he doesn't have something you need. (Subliminal message: you feel the self-serving need to support our local equipment dealers so they stay in business and we don't have to drive all the way down to Las Vegas just to visit a Ham radio store.)
AES — Amateur Equipment Supply: http://www.aesham.com/ — Friendly folks and good prices; one of the best Ham radio catalogs for equipment. (Free for the asking.) Competitive prices, and with the service, well worth it.
HRO — Ham Radio Outlet: http://www.hamradio.com/ — Anyone have experience with these folks? Seem to have good prices, but I haven't purchased from them yet, so have no data to share.
GigaParts: http://www.gigaparts.com/ — Ham radio and computer gear; typically some of the lowest prices for mail-order gear.
Batteries America: http://www.batteriesamerica.com/ — Batteries, batteries, and more batteries. Everything from AAA and AA, to D cells; Ham radio batteries, camera batteries, cell-phone batteries, gel-cells, chargers, etc.
Battery Space: http://www.batteryspace.com/ — Lots of batteries at what appears to be really good prices. Can't vouch for their quality yet. They seem to do more of the standard batteries (AAA, AA (including 1/3 and 2/3 sizes), C, D) than the specialized batteries (Ham radio, cellphone, etc.) but they do make R/C packs, which could easily be adapted for Ham use, of course.
MFJ: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/ — Wide variety of equipment and tools.
Elecraft: http://www.elecraft.com/ — Makers of the "Cadillac" of HF radio kits. Very well designed kits, if a bit on the pricey side. I had a blast building the radios I have from them. (This is admittedly a subjective claim, but I sure am impressed by their gear. — N7GMT)

Miscellaneous

Repeater List for Utah: http://utahvhfs.org/rptr.html — List of "all" the repeaters in Utah, as generated daily from the State Repeater Coordinator's database. Page maintained by the VHF Society of Utah (see above).
FCC Licensing Site: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ — This site has just about all the details you could ever want to know about anything "wireless" – from Commercial Broadcast, to FRS/GRMS and Amateur Radio, to Citizens Band (CB).
Utah Division of Emergency Services & Homeland Security - Radio Communications: http://dhls.utah.gov/radio/ — This is the Utah State Emergency Services website. Here you'll find information about volunteering, including how to request memebership in Utah State RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) so you can help out in a Communications Emergency; follow the "Volunteers" link on the left. They also have links to Amateur Radio resources, both in-state (clubs and the like), and general.
Utah DMV — Amateur Radio License Plates: http://dmv.utah.gov/licensespecialplates.html#radio — Want to show your interest in Ham radio? Why not get license plates for your vehicle with your call sign on them. Small one-time fee (no renewal fee; these are considered identification plates, not vanity plates).
QRZ.com: http://www.qrz.com/ — QRZ is a "Q code" (developed as shortcuts when using Morse code) for "I am calling …" or "Who is calling me?" This is a good site to find Ham-related stuff. I use it all the time for two things: a quick callsign lookup, and for practice tests. They also have links to lots of advertisers so you can find good stuff to buy. :)
The DXZone — a starting point for finding Ham radio resources: http://www.dxzone.com/ — Home page containing list of groups and subjects
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/index.shtml — All kinds of software (freeware, shareware, and commercial) to help you do just about anything Ham radio related.
Hampedia — a wikipedia for Ham radio information: http://www.hampedia.com/ — An on-line encyclopedia, generated by the community, about all things that are (or might be) Ham radio related. Since the information is generated by anyone who wanders by, some of the information will be quite useful, some will be more apocryphal, and some simply specious.
QRPedia — a wikipedia for QRP (low power): http://www.qrpedia.com/ — Another community-generated on-line encyclopedia; this one is dedicated to QRP (low power operation). As with anything Wiki-Wiki, the information is generated by anyone who wanders by, so some of the information will be more useful, some more anecdotal.

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