Amateur radio has something for everyone, that is one reason there are clubs . These clubs promote that mode of operation, some by sponsoring “DXpeditons” to places which are scarce on operators but you can get credits for communication with that area. These can be promoted with T-shirts, coffee mugs, and/or paperweights sporting the dates and locations of what they are going to do!
Some clubs sponsor “Hamfests”, which again has a lot of areas and equipment for about everyone and everything. They have vendors that sell everything from equipment to books. There are vendors that sell antennas, there are vendors that sellcomputers and parts. There is usually an area where “hams” can sell anything from used equipment to remote doorbells! Again you will see some of these clubs advertise these “hamfests” using coffee mugs and paperweights, and giving the t-shirts to the people working the floor, or the mic, or the “talk in” radio for the club.
Clubs also sponsor testing sessions for people to acquire a new license or upgrade the one that they have. These are usually advertised with either the “hamfest” or if they are separate by their own means. A paperweight, coffee mug, or t-shirt fromAmateur Radio Gifts is really a good way to advertise this.
The lower levels of testing mainly consists of the rules governing the use of a Amateur Radio. As a person progresses through the different classes of operation, more of the questions are of a technical nature. All of the written tests are multiple choice ( four answers each) and several amateur radio web sites have the questions and answers for each of the level of tests which is patterned after the written portion of the air pilots test (another government test). Paperweights, coffee mugs, or T-shirts are a perfect way to advertise this from amateurradiogifts.com..
Due to the changes that the World Organization on Frequency Allocations has made the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has deleted the requirements of Morse code (against some of the older “hams” wishes) for all levels. This means that none of the levels of Amateujr Radio Operations need any Morse code. With these new requirements for licenses more people are getting into this amazing hobby or are upgrading to a new level. A nice gift for someone (male or female) that has accomplished this is either a t-shirt or coffee mug that has their name and call letters on the product.
Dave did not change his call sign from KD4YFL to his current call of KS4LI until he was licensed as Amateur Advanced in 1995. After receiving his Amateur Extra License in 1996 he served with several teams that gave licensing exams from Amateur Novice to Amateur Extra including the Morse code exams that were part of the licensing structure at that time.
Dave has been involved in his current project of Amateur Radio Gifts where you can find information on coffee mugs.
Source: www.isnare.com
