If you or a friend are interested in getting your basic amateur radio certification in Canada you may find it useful to go to the ldsradio.ca web site, the training page. There you will find significant study help. It will also provide access to self testing programs that are free. It also will give you links allowing you to find the nearest qualified examiners.

The web site has lots of other information on it , too, regarding emergency preparedness, alternate energy sources, antenna construction. There's something for everyone.

This is not just for Canadians but anyone who can benefit. There are many links to it from American web sites such as Mercury NorthWest.

Why would you ant to be a ham radio operator anyway? Well, in times of difficulty its communications that make the difference. Military people know that all too well. If you can't communicate you're, dead, or will be. During powerful natural events such as storms, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, often the commercial communications is totally disrupted and amateur radio is the only communications left working. Many hams have portable power systems, generators, batteries and solar panels. They have grab-and-go radio kits c/w antennas that they can take to a safe place and get on the air. In almost all large catastrophic natural disasters such as Katrina the hams have done a terrific job. Outside of that ham radio is used by volunteers in municipalities and counties for search and rescue and weekly practice exercises. And you make new wonderful friends. Volunteers are generally the best group of people to associate with. They give of themselves without asking anything back.