I subscribe to 5 major modeling magazines and it seems that most every issue contains comments on frequency problems. It is the writer's opinion that a good percentage of the problems R.C. modelers have are not frequency related but "frequency" becomes an excellent excuse to use for our failures. We must admit, however, that some frequency problems do exist. It does not take long for major interference problems to be pin pointed in specific locations and a certain frequency called "no good" because of repeater activity or other commercial uses.

It is not the purpose of this brief article to propose ways to prevent Third Order Intermodulation or other quirks some seem to be experiencing. Others have covered this subject with great care and detail. I would like to suggest one way to prevent major frequency problems as well as eliminate much time spent waiting at any flying site for a frequency to be "open".

After purchasing a Good Brothers radio in 1951, I soon discovered that the radio was on the 6 meter Ham band and that in order to operate this radio a license was required.

At that time there were no license-free frequencies and the Citizen Band, which was examination free but not license free, had not yet appeared. It was not long after this that the Citizens Band became useable by modelers and the general public.

I prepared for the Amateur Radio General class license and became a Ham radio operator with the call letters W8NTK. The privilege of operating on the 6 meter Ham band (50-54 MHZ) has been very worthwhile and worth every minute of the time and effort it took to become licensed.

Today it is much easier to be licensed on 6 meters as there are several classes of licenses now available within the 6 meter band i.e., Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra Class. Each of these licenses offer certain privileges and require different levels of knowledge and skills.

The easiest way to become licensed for R.C. activity is to learn some basic electrical theory plus the ability to send and receive International Morse Code at the rate of 5 words per minute. This will qualify you for a technician's license. (Ednote: the knowledge of code to obtain a Technician Class License is no longer required.)

The Novice license, while allowing limited operation on 50-54 MHZ (6 meters), does not qualify one to operate R.C. The Novice license, like the Technician license, requires 5 words per minute but a little less theory. Since all R.C.ers would benefit from basic electrical knowledge, it is recommended that a person go directly for the Technician license. The General license requires 13 w.p.m. and a greater amount of theory. Only the more serious Hams go for the Advanced and Extra Class licenses. The Technicians license is all the R.C. person needs.

Complete license requirements, study materials, and cassette tapes for code practice are available from American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. Study guides and cassettes are also available from Heath Co., Dept. 016-339, Benton Harbor, Ml 49022. Local Ham Radio clubs and many community colleges offer classes for those desiring to pursue a Ham Radio license.

Please allow me to cite some personal experiences as an R.C.er on 6 meters. 50-54 MHZ is so little used that many clubs do not have frequency pins for those frequencies. Most fun flys I attend do have some frequency pins for the lower portion of the band i.e. 53.1, 53.2, and 53.3, but no pins for 53.6, 53.7 and 53.8. This means that very few persons are taking advantage of these uncluttered and unused frequencies. I have attended many fun flys with from 50 to over 100 flyers and have been the only person on the upper portion of the 6 meter band.

My most recent experience was at the 1987 International Miniature Aircraft Association Annual Festival in Converse, Indiana where there were 262 registered pilots and over 500 aircraft. I was the only person on 53.6 and 53.8. No one was on 53.7 and there were less than 10 persons on all other 6 meter frequencies. A licensed radio amateur does not experience any long waits on any of the 6 meter frequencies.

As I observe my own life, there are very few meaningful tangible and intangible possessions I have acquired that did not take a little extra time and effort. My Ham license is one of these. Try it. You'll be glad you did.