I would like to encourage everyone to take the initiative to do this. The effort is minimal. While a license is required to be a "Ham," I just got my amateur license after a virtual lifetime of wanting to do so, and it simply isn't that difficult to do so, and the rewards and opportunities are great. The Technician License Manual can be obtained from www.ARRL.org and even contains the complete test question pool with the answers for study. No Morse Code is needed for this license class, which for most people is the entry level license. It is simply one more communication device available to us, and the radios aren't that expensive either. I would encourage all to look in to it. Clubs in your area who would give the exam are also found on the ARRL website. I took the exam two weeks after receiving the book in the mail. It is very straighforward and interesting to read. More helpful people you will never find. Why not? Duke