Train,
How hard is it to get a ham license? It isn't that hard at all, but does require you to have some knowledge to pass a test. Every question that will be asked, and the answers to those questions is published, public knowledge. There are a few places on the internet where you can either get those Q & A's, or take practice tests. Taking the test isn't free. Not sure what the examination fee is now, but it's less than $20. (A 10 year license, $20, about $2/year, and no, those examiners don't get to keep any of it.)
What's a 'ham radio' cost? It's about like cars. Start off around $100 - 200 for a used one. And as many of those dollars as you want to throw at a brand new, whiz-bang, chopped, channeled, slammed, tubbed, nitro-methane'd, hopping, Rolls Royce that does everything except wipe the sweat off your brow while it does everything for you. In other words, that's up to you, sort of. Like shopping for anything, the bargains are there, you just gotta find them, and know what a bargain is to start with. Ham radio isn't as 'cheap' as CB radio. Then again, that ham radio typically does much more than the typical CB radio does. Many more bands, all kinds of bells-n-whistles, adjustments for dang near everything, and if you want to 'change' things, modify it, have at it, it's even legal. If whatever you happened to modify isn't the best idea in the world, someone will certainly tell you about it.
Ham radio is also a different 'attitude' than CB radio on the average. Different ways of doing things, typically more regimented, sort of. So, it isn't -THE- thing for everyone. Only way I know of finding out if you might like it, is to try it. Do some listening for a while. Think you might like it? So try it. If not, don't. Simple as that. And like every other group of whatever kind'a thing that get's grouped together, there will be those you will like and those you will not like. So what else is new? Enjoy what you like, pass on the others.
Have fun. (It's habit forming too, be careful!
)
- 'Doc
Go the the ARRL web site. They have all of the up to date information you could think of about licensing and privileges.
http://www.arrl.org/