​Amateur Radio License

---

There are usually two kinds of radios on cruising boats, VHF which is short range (~15 miles) and SSB which stands for Single Side Band or Ham radio. The VHF marine radio is licensed to your boat, while the SSB is licensed to you as an individual. The VHF is used to hail a marina or to have a bridge open or to talk to another boat or to call for help. The SSB radio is used to send email from the middle of the ocean, talk to people all over the world and even get phone patches to talk to loved ones back home. Getting a SSB license is not hard, but it does require some studying and taking a test. 

---

Articles

• ​Cruiseheimers Net - A SSB net for Cruisers
• Should You Get Your Ham License?
• FCC license filing and a lot more
• Ham Versus SSB for the Sailor
  

---

Sites that can help you get your license - it is not that hard 

• ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio
• Ham Study Help
• Ham Test online - Online courses for the U.S. ham radio license exams
• Ham Universe - Ham Radio Universe of fun and information for amateur (ham) radio.
• eHam.net - Ham radio on the net - Free test exams for you to take on line to test your skills.
• QRZ - Another site to take free practice exams.
• Technical Study Guide in PDF form so you can print it out to study when you are away from a computer.
• Another Technical Study Guide in PDF format

---

Last update: 6/3/17