Ham Radio

[Bumper]

Somewhere up in my office closet, I have an old CB radio. Somewhere in the same closet I have a couple of GMRS radios. I guess I have lost track of them because they are limited in their use. Does anyone here have a Ham license? I have been interested in them for years but never seriously thought about them because of the costs involved. I'm starting to think it might be a good hobby that would come in handy in an emergency situation. The Sheriff's Office offers two license classes per year for those that are interested. I guess the Ham operators come in handy in search and rescue efforts up in the more remote areas.

If you have one, what kind of equipment do you have and what is a good source of reasonably priced equipment, including used. I see a lot of it on eBay but who knows what you are getting there....

[PointnClick]

My hunnee's uncle is a ham operator... I don't know anything about it... I could hook ya up if you wanted to talk to him. But I'd do some internet research... Al is one of those oldtimers that "has all day, and talks that way..."

He was a radio operator on a bomber in Korea... his military portrait is in his office/radio room... he was 19 or 20 years old, wearing a leather bomber with a fur collar. He was a fuggin' stud... looked like a damned Hollywood matinee star. Hard to believe this doddering old fart was that guy. "Old fart" is his term... LOL

But he knows his radio, he looooooooooves to talk, and he's got all day...

[walvord]

I'm a ham. Have an ICOM-745 and ICOM-735. My antenna is a Butternut Vertical but I haven't been on the air for some time. Used to do the contesting in the '90's to keep up to speed, but with raising kids, I've been off the air for a while. The wife is a ham too. I have QSL cards from all over the world and usually was on 10 meters. The 2 meter band is sort of the hams CB. You can go to www.arrl.org for more information or PM me.

[Patti]

I looked into getting an amateur license, but I was turned off by the cost of the equipment, the antena, (the technology) and the test.

I did find a base unit that runs 122 channels and has 6 hand-held radios. The base unit is also an emergency radio, runs off of electricity or battery, and has a crank. The radios stretch to 36 miles.

I know one thing, whoever has a unit can listen in on conversations.

So, you would need to come up with a code. Each day you should switch your base number.

For example, today's base number is 10. So you would say base plus 16. Then, everyone would go to channel 26. The next day, you change your base number.

Might come important some day.

[OMEGA2669]

I am pretty interested in getting my beginner license but am not quite sure where to start. Like what equipment to get once I have a license and stuff. It's all pretty overwhelming trying to dive into something you have zero experience with.

Like this.

I did find a base unit that runs 122 channels and has 6 hand-held radios. The base unit is also an emergency radio, runs off of electricity or battery, and has a crank. The radios stretch to 36 miles.
No idea if that is a good or cool thing or whatever.

I've actually started asking friends and family if they know any hams in my area that would be willing to mentor me.

[Patti]

Omega, I saw the radio (and walkie talkies) at Cabelas. You don't need a license. And it's not very expensive. It's definitely on my list of things to get. Right now I'm concentrating on my one-year food supply and 5.56 ammo for my new A.R.

This radio unit is a good way to communicate if the grid goes down.

For example, let's say my son and his buddy go out in the woods to hunt. I'm at home alone and a BG comes along.

I can radio them to get home quick.

I guess it could be used to communicate with neighbors if they had a receiver also.

[OMEGA2669]

Haha, thanks for proving how uneducated I am on the subject. :rofl:

[Bumper]

Patti's correct on the GMRS radios, no license is required. If I'm not mistaken they also remove the requirement that you have a license for a CB although I'm not positive. For Ham you do need a license but I heard that since they removed the code requirement that it is much easier to get. I know that the Sheriff's Office has you read a text book/study guide and then attend the class. Once the class is done they will proctor the class when you are ready.

While I don't know a lot about it, I do know that the ICOMs that walvord has are the best and are wicked expensive. I have also seen a lot of "reasonably priced" Ham transceivers out there on eBay and several websites. I will probably go to AARL as walvord suggested. One time I asked an old guy that worked at Radio Shack about it and he said there were some local clubs that would help you get licensed.

[Patti]

That's awesome, Bumper.

I can see an amateur license and equipment a very valuable asset in the future.

As a reminder - make sure you have an alternate power source (rechargeable batteries, solar power, etc).

[Bumper]

As a reminder - make sure you have an alternate power source (rechargeable batteries, solar power, etc).

I want a generator, too.... :yup:

[walvord]

Many "hams" have generators, batteries, etc. and get to try these methods out during "field day" which is held every summer - June I think it is. A lot of contesting going on and just general "rag chewing". Many have their antennas on trailers to make things a little easier and head to a park or somewhere in the woods away from their QTH -(code for home). My wife & I have had our licenses for about 20 years now.

[namvet]

I had a novice license back in the 60's. CW only. never got to take my general test. had to leave for Nam. I was a communicator in the USN 4 years. but after i got home i never had the desire to to go back to it.

[Crotalus]

Years ago I decided to move up to ham from CB. I didn't stick with it long enough to get the license. It's more expensive than guns, if that's possible. Also, hams usually like to talk, and that ain't me. I'll just stick with my Motorola hand-helds for emergencies.

[namvet]

http://www.jproc.ca/rrp/urc32.jpg

here was my ham radio station for 4 years provided by the US gov the Collins URC-32 transceiver-call sign NKDE

[farronwolf]

Make sure that the generator delivers "clean" power, or you will have to get a line conditioner for it. Lots of generators deliver modified square wave power instead of sine wave power. Some electronics won't run off of modified square wave, even UPS backups won't run off of square wave.

Higher end generators like the Hondas have clean power, the construction type do not.

[2ndAmend]

I got one in the truck and a base station at the house. I just never got around to hooking up the one at the house. (I didnt know i needed a license!!)

[Bumper]

I got one in the truck and a base station at the house. I just never got around to hooking up the one at the house. (I didnt know i needed a license!!)

Just don't use it until you are in an emergency situation.....

[Patti]

I got one in the truck and a base station at the house. I just never got around to hooking up the one at the house. (I didnt know i needed a license!!)

After the shit hits the fan, I doubt that you will need a stinking license.

[Bumper]

After the shit hits the fan, I doubt that you will need a stinking license.

That's sort of what I was thinking. Buy one, set it up and just monitor until you really need it to communicate....

[2ndAmend]

That's sort of what I was thinking. Buy one, set it up and just monitor until you really need it to communicate....

I use the one in my truck alot but I have never used the one at the house. I think I will just keep it. Just in case!!

[Patti]

Years ago I decided to move up to ham from CB. I didn't stick with it long enough to get the license. It's more expensive than guns, if that's possible. Also, hams usually like to talk, and that ain't me. I'll just stick with my Motorola hand-helds for emergencies.

How expensive is it?

I might be taking a class in a few weeks. But if it's out of my price range, I'm not sure I want to waste the time.

[namvet]

if I were interested I would contact the ARRL

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio
225 Main Street
Newington, CT, 06111-1494 USA
Tel:1-860-594-0200 Fax:1-860-594-0259
hq@arrl.org

http://www.arrl.org/home

[Crotalus]

How expensive is it?

I might be taking a class in a few weeks. But if it's out of my price range, I'm not sure I want to waste the time.

By the time I figured in the price of antennae, mast, coax, plus the radios and amplifiers, I just couldn't justify the cost, considering it wouldn't get much use. In addition, there are other "must have" toys that go with the hobby, just like guns.

[namvet]

By the time I figured in the price of antennae, mast, coax, plus the radios and amplifiers, I just couldn't justify the cost, considering it wouldn't get much use. In addition, there are other "must have" toys that go with the hobby, just like guns.

unless you need new check out used. as a rule Electronics depreciates fast.

[Bumper]

If you bought old, but still usable, equipment, you could probably get setup fairly inexpensively couldn't you? The problem is the inevitable (at least for me) scope creep to get all of current technology's bells and whistles....

[walvord]

You can make a J-Pole two meter antenna out of copper water pipe. I have one and it works great and there's hardly any cost. Butternut verticals can be had for around $350.00 -$500.00 depending on the model purchased. http://www.wimo.com/cgi-bin/verteiler.pl?url=antenna-butternut_e.html

The 2-meter band is good for local contacts and use the repeaters in the area you are located. A good 10-meter band radio is good for talking around the world - is good only during the daylight hours and best during the sunspot cycle.

[Bumper]

The 2-meter band is good for local contacts and use the repeaters in the area you are located. A good 10-meter band radio is good for talking around the world - is good only during the daylight hours and best during the sunspot cycle.

So the radio you should look for should cover those two bands. Are there any more useful ones (as in more useful than others)?

[walvord]

Those two bands were just an example - I've got both the 2 meter & 10 meter mobile rigs. Most base station rigs have the usual 10, 20, 40, 80 meter ham bands - just depends on how much you want to spend. If you don't have a 2 meter rig, then 40 or 80 meters will do. Most 2 meters rigs are for the car or are handheld. I think Radio Shack still sells a 2 meter handheld, but there are many out there on the market. You can also put up a dipole antenna which just requires some wire and a couple of trees or something to tie it to (there will be some measurements that need to be done & some insulators used). The ARRL antenna book is something every ham shack should have - has lots of examples and "how to's" of antenna building on the cheap. Getting into ham radio is no more an expensive hobby than stocking up the gun safe - just depends on the bells and whistles you want.

http://www.jpole-antenna.com/?gclid=CJWzndvik6ECFQ_xDAodvD-cOA

[Bark'n]

I've been interested in getting my Amateur Radio license as well. Anyone can purchase a Ham radio without a license just for listening, however you must be licensed to broadcast. However, I really don't see the point in getting any ham equipment or radio's unless you are going for your license.

It does seem pretty daunting for the beginner. I do know the three classes of Amateur Radio Licenses are Technician; General; & Extra. Each level of licensing allows more privileges and more frequencies you can broadcast on.

One thing which has kept a lot of people from getting an Amateur Radio License has been taking the morse code test for each level of license. The FCC has since dropped that requirement for all levels of licensing and that has opened the door for a lot of people finally obtaining their license.

While knowing and sending morse code has always been considered a "rite of passage" among a majority of ham operators and it is still a good thing to know and learn and can be useful it is no longer required by the FCC to obtain your license. Both the Technician level and the General level require a 35 question written multiple choice test.

I will say after about 6 or 7 attempts, without any training or study other that what I already know about radios for EMS and Fire Dept. I was able to pass the sample technician level tests consistently available on the internet.

I'm not saying, this is the way to do it, and I don't intend to do it that way if I do decide to go for my license, I'm merely pointing out it is easier then one might think.

The good thing is there are amateur radio clubs all over. I have two clubs less than 30 miles away from me in two different counties. That is where you go to find mentors and people who will help you along the way.

As I said, I've been seriously considering getting my license. More so since I have been worried about major societal events and the direction this country seems to be headed. I am one who believes things are going to get a lot worse before it gets better.