It’s almost like a rite of passage for a follower in the ways of the chips; to be able to assemble and operate a ham radio is what quite a few people have already done. And yet, it is what sets the hobbyists from the sincere lovers of electronics.
The concept is as complex as the market have made it simple; you can buy an entire ham radio set right off the Internet, or you could wing it like the fanatics of old and start from scratch! This article focuses on the middle road of assembling the different parts and then work on the operation of it all.

THE ARRL
The American Radio Relay League is the official association for amateur radio operators across the U.S. Two books that you need before you start your journey into ham radio are the “ARRL Operating Manual” and the “ARRL Antenna Book”. Consider them your bibles on hamming and refer to them as and when you require.

GETTING A LICENSE
The most critical step in owning your very own ham radio station is to get the operating license. A Technician class license will allow you to use a ham radio, depending on which level of license you earn. Licensing is a tad different in the U.S. and Europe. You can get the details on the Great Britain ham radio licensing procedure from rsgb.org.
For American ham users, this site will guide you in taking the exams and earning the license.

THE HAM SHACK: STARTING UP
Once you get a technician class license, you can operate a ham radio on the 6 meter ham band and higher. You also have operating privileges on a few HF bands. Most new ham operators start out on 2 meters, which is the most popular VHF ham band.

The average 2 meter ham includes a small transceiver, an SWR/power meter, a coax, and connecting cables. The final piece of the puzzle is the trusty armchair that will soon become like a new home for you! Mount your license on the closest wall and operate away!
But first, back to the basics. Are there other ham operators you wish to communicate with? Or would you be only broadcasting from your station? These are the questions that you need to answer before you know exactly which equipment to buy.

Transceiver - Transceivers are commercially available and vary vastly in cost. A single handheld can set you back by almost US$100. If in case you need to set up a mobile station inside a van, the cost for the mobile equipment will be a lot higher. If you’re an absolute beginner in the ham world, my suggestion is to get some hands-on experience before you choose your first rig. Contact your local ham operator or dealer and ask them all the specific questions that you have. Or, you could visit the local junk market or flea market and try to find a used ring for a decent price.

Antenna - One of the most important parts of your ham station is the antenna. The piece that converts electrical signals into radio waves will always be built for a specific band of use. The size of the antenna needs to be just right in order to match the feeder and the transmitter. It is only then that the power from the transmitter be converted and radiated by the antenna. Using the wrong antenna will only mean wastage of power as some of it will be reflected back to the feeder.
SWR Meter - You will need an SWR meter to adjust your antenna and match the frequency you need to operate on.

Power Supply - Larger and powerful radios require a DC vehicle battery or a base power supply with an AC to DC convertor in order to supply the radio. Operating manuals of your equipments will give you their operating voltages, helping you fix the right magnitude for your power supply. Average mobile ham radios require 12 to 15 volts DC.

Coax - The output stage of any ham radio and all modern transceivers needs an attachment of 50 ohm type coaxial cable. Commonly known as “coax”, the cable becomes the main pipe for feeding rf from your radio to the antenna. All in all, a poor antenna and coax will result in a poor output signal, regardless of how good your transceiver is.

OPERATING A HAM STATION: PROPAGATION AND COMPATIBILITY
Once you have set up your ham radio, you can move on to figuring out the band of operation. If your antenna can be mounted high up, you can easily operate with VHF and UHF frequencies. The height reduces the number of obstacles that the radio waves need to clear before hitting on a receiver. The final stage is to attune your ham radio for electromagnetic compatibility. This is necessary to avoid interference between two pieces of electronic equipment. The many things you need to take care of are:
1. Moving the antenna away from household wiring and other antennas
2. Making sure you have grounding in the ham shack
3. Using appropriate filters to prevent RF signals from leaving the shack
4. Using high immunity equipment that can withstand interference, in case you are located in a heavy interference area

And there you have it! Once you’ve set up your own ham radio station, you’ve opened for yourself a world of unlimited fun and contact! So set it up and get ready to talk to the hams!
Source: http://electronics.wesrch.com/articles-details/articles-paper-EL1AB9GRPOVYJ-a-guide-for-beginners-on-how-to-setup-a-ham-radio-shack

About the Author: Arun Prabhu

Arun Prabhu is a writer with Transparency Market Research – a market intelligence firm based in the United States. His area of expertise includes electronics and semiconductors, a field which he has studied for as an engineer. With his background in the theoretical areas of electronics, he seeks to impart knowledge about the realm of circuits and hopes to learn more while doing so.