You passed. Now let's get you on the air.
Congratulations — you're about to be a licensed amateur radio operator. Most new hams stall out in the first week; this page makes sure you don't. Five modules, one first contact.
Pay the FCC, then watch for your callsign
SANVEC submits your exam to the FCC electronically, often the same day you test. The FCC then emails you a link to pay their $35 application fee — anywhere from minutes to a few days later, since they process applications hourly on weekdays but sit idle from Friday 6 PM ET to Monday 8 AM ET. Watch your inbox and spam folder, pay the fee, and your callsign appears in the FCC License Search within a business day or two. The moment it shows up you're legal to transmit — no paper license needed.
Load these San Diego repeaters first
No radio yet? Any dual-band (2m/70cm) handheld from the usual brands is plenty to start — many new hams begin with a radio under $50. A repeater rebroadcasts your handheld's signal across the whole county — it's where everyone hangs out. Program these memories (or use CHIRP, free software that does it over USB):
| MACHINE | FREQ | OFFSET | PL TONE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Peak | 146.640 | −600 kHz | 107.2 | wide county coverage |
| Sample Mesa | 147.130 | +600 kHz | 107.2 | active daily nets |
| Sample Ridge | 449.640 | −5 MHz | 114.8 | 70cm · quiet, friendly |
| ISS crossband | 437.800 | split | 67.0 | yes, the space station |
What to actually say
Everyone freezes before keying up the first time. Here's the whole script — it's shorter than ordering coffee:
Join a scheduled on-air gathering this week
A net is a scheduled roundtable — the net control operator will walk you through checking in, and newcomers get a warm welcome. Say "this is KN6ABC, new ham, first check-in" and enjoy the pile of congratulations.
| NET | WHEN | WHERE |
|---|---|---|
| Club social net | MON 19:00 | 146.640 |
| New ham / Elmer net | WED 20:00 | 147.130 |
| ARES training net | THU 19:30 | 449.640 |
Join a club — it's a cheat code
Every SANVEC member club runs meetings, antenna builds, field days, and license classes. A club is where you'll find an Elmer — ham-speak for a mentor — and where the hobby actually gets fun. Browse SANVEC's affiliated clubs →
Made your first contact?
Then you're officially one of us. Next stop: more spectrum. The General upgrade opens worldwide HF — and your exam is free, forever, with SANVEC.
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