[TNham] New to the list and ham radio

[bfarnham]

Don - I got so busy typing to welcome you, I forgot to answer your question.

Beginning with General class license... Depends on how fast you want to get 
SOME kind of license and where you already are with regard to your knowledge 
base. If you already know a bunch of radio stuff, have knowledge of the FCC 
Part 97 rules, especially those governing band use for General class licenses, 
the your big task is learning the code to 5WPM proficiency. If you're not 
there yet, you can get your Technician license and get on the air much more 
quickly than that.

Of course, if your goal is to start as a General and you're prepared to do the 
work first, even if it means waiting for a license, then the choice is totally 
yours.

You can get lots of advice Thursday night. Fine 5 hams and you'll find at 
least 7 opinions :-)

73,
Bill
KI4FZT

>===== Original Message From Donald McMurray <donmcm63 at bellsouth.net> =====
>Hello everyone!
>
>I just joined this list last night, and I wanted to introduce myself.
>My name is Donald McMurray, and I'm from Kingston, TN. That is about
>30 minutes west of Knoxville on I-40.
>
>I am 28years old, and I am still in college. I have become very
>interested in ham radio over the past year or so. I am going to my
>first meeting of our local amateur radio club tomorrow night. I am on
>a tight budget, so I wanted to ask the list if anyone could recommend
>an inexpensive way to get started? My main intrest is on HF DXing on
>lsb and usb, especially on the 75 meter band.
>
>I am going to get some study materials from the club tomorrow night
>to practice so I can take my licensing test. Do you all think it is
>okay to try to start with the general class license?
>
>I look forward to being an active member of this list and learning
>from all of you!
>
>Thanks,
>
>Donald McMurray
>mailto:donmcm63 at bellsouth.net