Amateur Radio (HAM radio)
Ham radio is a great hobby! There are many aspects to it: emergency preparedness, community, and recreational activities. Activities like field day, fox hunts, POTA (Parks on the air) and SOTA (Summits on the air). It is the perfect time for starting too, as the 11 year sun cycle that effects RF propagation is starting over. Over the next few years the radios will be more and more efficient due to this.
GCARC
Feel free to listen in to our club nets. You will need a license from the FCC before you can legally transmit on the ham bands, but nothing is required to listen. On the nets we discuss various things, ARES and Skywarn, as well as general discussions (called a rag chew).
Testing and licenses
There are 3 tests and 3 corresponding licenses classes. The entry level license is the technician, and the test is 30 questions. I recommend the following book for study: The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual Spiral https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625950829/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_08XHYA6YDEYBP13EGMSW. There are several online practice tests, both free and paid. We host a test session every month for free. So when you are ready come on down and take the test.
Welcome to the hobby
There is much more that could be said but for now I’ll just say welcome to the hobby, and I encourage you to take the test and join the club. 73.