Becoming an Amateur Radio Operator
Are you interested in:
- Radio Communications
- Connecting with people
- Computers
- Electronics
- Taking things apart
- Putting things back together again
- Experimenting
- Science
If so, perhaps Amateur Radio is for you. It is also known as Ham Radio. Ham Radio is a popular term for Amateur Radio, derived from "ham" as an informal name for an amateur radio operator.
Amateur Radio is many things to many people. Your first step to become a ham could be as simple as dropping in to one of the SaDARA Informal Coffee Gatherings on a Saturday morning and introducing yourself as interested in Amateur Radio. There is usually about 10 of us there and one or all of us will be happy to assist you in your journey to become a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. Feel free to contact us at the club email as well with any questions you have.
What does it take to become a licenced Amateur Radio Operator? You will need to learn some simple electronic theory and pass an examination. While SaDARA does not currently offer courses, there are some online self study courses and once you are ready, SaDARA can set you up with a local examiner.
Note:
The Basic exam is changing as of July 15, 2025. Refer to the information on the ISED website. Those people planning to write their exam after that date should be studying the new questions provided here:
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/amateur-radio-operator-certificate-services/en/amateur-radio-exam-generator
The following are some of the online resources:
- Amateur Radio Courses - Radio Amateurs of Canada
- Online Study Course - https://www.clares.ca/
- ALGOMA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
- The standard reference books are the Coax Publications Basic (Green) and Advanced (Blue) study guides. Ron Ford has copies available for purchase.
Coax Publications Inc - UBC Amateur Radio Basic Licensing Manual
https://github.com/niallp/ubcars-basic - Toronto Emergency Communication (Emcomm) Group
https://archive.org/download/emcomm-ham-radio_202408/emcomm-ham-radio.pdf
This course is a bit dated (2009) but is a good study guide. - There are other written materials available as well from the Internet. Google search:
https://www.google.ca/search?query=Canadian+Amateur+Radio+Club+Basic+Course&search=1#ip=1
Alvin VE5XAM is the examiner for the Saskatoon area.