Ham Radio

[Patti]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Patti

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]

Originally Posted by Crotalus

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/verteile...tternut_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]

Originally Posted by walvord

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=...FQ_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.